Test your basic knowledge |

AP Government

Subjects : civics, ap
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The means by which individuals can express preferences regarding the development of public policy.






2. An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on minimal government - promoting a free market economy - a noninterventionist foreign policy - and an absence of regulation in moral - economic - and social life.






3. A writ issued by a magistrate that authorizes the police to search a particular place or person - specifying the place to be searched and the objects to be seized.






4. The right of women to vote.

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


5. A jury of 12 to 23 persons who - in private - hear evidence presented by the government to determine whether persons shall be required to stand trial. If the jury believes there is sufficient evidence that a crime was committed - it issues an indictm






6. Congress appropriates a certain sum - which is allocated to state and local units and sometimes to nongovernmental agencies - based on applications from those who wish to participate. Examples are grants by the National Science Foundation to universi






7. Theory that opposes governmental interference in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property.






8. Interpretation of the First Amendment that holds that the government cannot interfere with speech unless the speech presents a clear and present danger that it will lead to evil or illegal acts.






9. The first governing document of the confederated states drafted in 1777 - ratified in 1781 - and replaced by the present Constitution in 1789.






10. Clause in the First Amendment that states that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion.






11. An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official.






12. Constitutional arrangement in which sovereign nations or states - by compact - create a central government but carefully limit its power and do not give it direct authority over individuals.






13. The number of Americans who are out of work but actively looking for a job. The number does not usually include those who are not looking.






14. The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot - especially the president.






15. The rights of all people to dignity and worth; also called human rights.






16. A judicial system in which the court of law is a neutral arena where two parties argue their differences.






17. Weakening of partisan preferences that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of independents.






18. Primary election in which any voter - regardless of party - may vote.






19. A philosophy that encourages individual nations to act on their own when facing threats from other nations.






20. The rule of precedent - whereby a rule or law contained in a judicial decision is commonly viewed as binding on judges whenever the same question is presented.






21. Clause in the First Amendment that states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. The Supreme Court has interpreted this to forbid governmental support to any or all religions.






22. A rise in the general price level (and decrease in dollar value) owing to an increase in the volume of money and credit in relation to available goods.






23. Federal laws (starting with the Sherman Act of 1890) that tried to prevent a monopoly from dominating an industry and restraining trade.






24. A term the founders used to refer to political parties and special interests or interest groups.






25. A company in which new employees must join a union within a stated time period.






26. Presidential power to strike - or remove - specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.






27. Constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate.






28. A congressional district created to include a majority of minority voters; ruled constitutional so long as race is not the main factor in redistricting.






29. Initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states.






30. Constitutional doctrine that whenever conflict occurs between the constitutionally authorized actions of the national government and those of a state or local government - the actions of the federal government will prevail.






31. Programs in which eligibility is based on prior contributions to government - usually in the form of payroll taxes.






32. Electoral system used in electing the president and vice president - in which voters vote for electors pledged to cast their ballots for particular party's candidates.






33. Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and thus interest rates.






34. Trial or punishment for the same crime by the same government; forbidden by the Constitution.






35. Constitutional requirement that governments proceed by proper methods; limits how government may exercise power.






36. Divisions within society that reinforce one another - making groups more homogenous or similar.






37. An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted.






38. A provision attached to a bill






39. A requirement the federal government imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds.






40. Method whereby representatives of the union and employer determine wages - hours - and other conditions of employment through direct negotiation.






41. An agency of Congress that analyzes presidential budget recommendations and estimates the cost of proposed legislation.






42. Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.






43. Elections in which voters determine party nominees.






44. Clause of the Constitution (Article I - Section 10) originally intended to prohibit state governments from modifying contracts made between individuals; for a while interpreted as prohibiting state governments from taking actions that adversely affec






45. The informal list of issues that Congress and the president consider most important for action.






46. Retroactive criminal law that works to the disadvantage of a person.






47. Literally - a 'friend of the court' brief - filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.






48. Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending.






49. Clause in the Constitution (Article 4 - Section 1) requiring each state to recognize the civil judgments rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid.






50. Established by Congress in 1978 as a flexible - mobile corps of senior career executives who worked closely with presidential appointees to manage government.