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 authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.






2. The convention in Philadelphia - May 25 to September 17 - 1787 - that debated and agreed upon the Constitution of the United States.






3. Exemption from prosecution for a particular crime in return for testimony pertaining to the case.






4. Congress appropriates funds for a specific purpose - such as school lunches or for building airports and highways. These funds are allocated by formula and are subject to detailed federal conditions - often on a matching basis; that is - the local go






5. A government agency that operates like a business corporation - created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program.






6. A PAC formed by an officeholder that collects contributions from individuals and other PACs and then makes contributions to other candidates and political parties.






7. Proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William Paterson of New Jersey for a central government with a single-house legislature in which each state would be represented equally.






8. The proportion of the voting age public that votes - sometimes defined as the number of registered voters that vote.






9. Formal orders issued by the president to direct action by the Federal bureaucracy.






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






11. 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.






12. A court with appellate jurisdiction that hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts.






13. Directive issued by a president or governor that has the force of law.






14. The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election.






15. 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.






16. The widespread belief that the United States is a land of opportunity and that individual initiative and hard work can bring economic success.






17. An opinion disagreeing with a majority in a Supreme Court ruling.






18. The residents of a congressional district or state.






19. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.






20. Synonymous with 'collective action -' it specifically studies how government officials - politicians - and voters respond to positive and negative incentives.






21. Programs such as Medicaid and welfare under which applicants must meet eligibility requirements based on need.






22. Voting by member of one party for a candidate of another party.






23. A tax whereby people with lower incomes pay a higher fraction of their income than people with higher incomes.






24. An election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.






25. A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans.






26. Censorship imposed before a speech is made or a newspaper is published; usually presumed to be unconstitutional.






27. The right to keep executive communications confidential - especially if they relate to National Security.






28. Relationships among interest groups - congressional committees and subcommittees - and the government agencies that share a common policy concern.






29. People who favor national action over action at the state and local levels.






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






31. Powers expressly or implicitly reserved to the states.

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32. A policy-making alliance that involves a very strong ties among a congressional committee - an interest group - and a Federal Department or agency.






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






34. A rising public approval of the president that follows a crisis as Americans 'rally 'round the flag' and the chief executive.






35. Government by the people - both directly or indirectly - with free and frequent elections.






36. A belief that limited government insures order competitive markets and personal opportunity.






37. Statement required by Federal law from all agencies for any project using Federal funds to assess the potential affect of the new construction or development on the environment.






38. Conservative Christians who (as a group) have become more active in politics in the last two decades and were especially influential in the 2000 presidential election.






39. The head of the White House staff.






40. Presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work.






41. Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.






42. 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.






43. Promoting a particular position or an issue by interest groups or individuals but not candidates. Much issue advocacy is often electioneering for or against a candidate and - until 2004 had not been subject to regulation.






44. The tendency of presidents to learn more about doing their jobs over time.






45. Formal accusation against a president or other public official - the first step in removal from office.






46. Court order directing an official to perform an official duty.






47. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Federal grants may establish certain conditions that extend to all activities supported by federal funds - regardless of their source. The first and most famous of these is Title VI of the 196






48. A social division based on national origin - religion - language - and often race.






49. The process by which provisions of the bill of rights are brought within the scope of the Fourteenth Amendment and so applied to state and local governments.






50. A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.