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. Clause in the Fifth Amendment limiting the power of the national government; similar clause in the Fourteenth Amendment prohibiting state governments from depriving any person of life - liberty - or property without due process of law.






2. Constitutional requirement that governments act reasonably and that the substance of the laws themselves be fair and reasonable; limits what the government may do.






3. A policy that emphasizes a united front and cooperation between the major political parties - especially on sensitive foreign policy issues.






4. 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.






5. Holding incumbents - usually the president's party - responsible for their records on issues - such as the economy or foreign policy.






6. A procedure for terminating debate - especially filibusters - in the Senate.






7. Remedial action designed to overcome the effects of discrimination against minorities and women.






8. Written defamation of another person. For public officials and public figures - the constitutional tests designed to restrict libel actions are especially rigid.






9. Implies that although federalism provides 'a sharing of power and authority between the national and state governments - the state's share rests upon the permission and permissiveness of the national government.'






10. An economic system characterized by private property - competitive markets - economic incentives - and limited government involvement in the production - distribution - and pricing of goods and services.






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






12. 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.






13. A minor party that believes in extremely limited government. Libertarians call for a free market system - expanded individual liberties such as drug legalization - and a foreign policy of nonintervention - free trade - and open immigration.






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






15. In this type of sample - every individual has unknown and random chance of being selected.






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






17. A theory of government that holds that open - multiple - and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.






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






19. The set of arrangements - including checks and balances - federalism - separation of powers - rule of law - due process - and a bill of rights - that requires our leaders to listen - think - bargain - and explain before they act or make laws. We then






20. Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority.






21. Election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.






22. Programs such as unemployment insurance - disability relief - or disability payments that provide benefits to all eligible citizens.






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






24. The precise legal definition of how government will implement a policy.






25. Voting based on what a candidate pledges to do in the future about an issue if elected.






26. The widely shared beliefs - values - and norms about how citizens relate to governments and to one another.






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






28. The idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals who make up the nation.






29. Election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.






30. Views the Constitution as giving a limited list of powers—primarily foreign policy and national defense—to the national government - leaving the rest to the sovereign states. Each level of government is dominant within its own sphere. The Supreme Cou






31. Procedure whereby a certain number of voters may - by petition - propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters.






32. The powers of the national government in foreign affairs that the Supreme Court has declared do not depend on constitutional grants but rather grow out of the very existence of the national government.






33. A specific course of action taken by government to achieve a public goal.






34. A collection of people who share a common interest or attitude and seek to influence government for specific ends. Interest groups usually work within the framework of government and try to achieve their goals through tactics such as lobbying.






35. Quality or state of a work that taken as a whole appeals to a prurient interest in sex by depicting sexual conduct in a patently offensive way and that lacks serious literary - artistic - political - or scientific value.






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






37. The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy - confers with other party leaders - and tries to keep members of the party in line.






38. The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or a government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or - in a state court - the state constitution.






39. During the Great Society - the marble cake approach of intergovernmental relations.






40. An election during periods of expanded suffrage and change in the economy and society that proves to be a turning point - redefining the agenda of politics and the alignment of voters within parties.






41. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






42. Powers that the Constitution gives to both the national and state governments - such as the power to levy taxes.






43. An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator.






44. A tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals (each limited to $2000) and present them to a candidate or political party as a 'bundle -' thus increasing the PAC's influence.






45. A court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody.






46. Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.






47. The process - most notably in families and schools - by which we develop our political attitudes - values - and beliefs.






48. Review of all executive branch testimony - reports - and draft legislation by the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that each communication to Congress is in accordance with the president's program.






49. Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.






50. Agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having to stand trial for more serious offense.