AP US Government| 300 questions| Graded A
Affirmative Action Correct Answer: A policy designed to give special compensation to a
previously disadvantaged group.
amicus curiae briefs Correct Answer: Briefs submitted to the court by outside parties to
influence the decision.
Anti-Federalists Correct Answer: At the time of the Con, they argued that the Con was a class
based document, would erode fundamental liberties and weaken the states.
appropriations bill Correct Answer: Act of Cong that funds programs within authorized limits.
Usually these bills are annual.
Articles of Confederation Correct Answer: First Con, adopted in 1777, enacted in 1781. They
established a national legislature (Continental Congress), but left most authority with the states.
authorization bill Correct Answer: Act of Cong (type of bill) that makes or continues a
government or entitlement program, also defines budget limits for said program.
bicameral legislature Correct Answer: A legislature divided into 2 houses, such as the US
Congress and most state legislatures.
bill Correct Answer: A proposed law written in legal language. Only o member of Congress can
submit one, although anyone can write one.
Bill of Rights Correct Answer: First 10 Amendments written to satiate Anti-Federalists. They
define basic liberties and rights.
blanket primaries Correct Answer: Primaries in which voters can be from and vote for any party.
block grants Correct Answer: Federal grants automatically given to states to support broad
programs. (Compared to categorical grants)
Brown v. Board of Education Correct Answer: 1954 SuCo: School segregation is
unconstitutional because it violates the 14th Amendment guarantee of equal protection.
Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson.
budget Correct Answer: A policy document allocating taxes and expenditures,
budget resolution Correct Answer: The bottom line for all federal spending.
bureaucracy Correct Answer: A system of departments and agencies formed to carry out the
work of government.
,cabinet Correct Answer: A group of presidential advisers. Consists of 14 secretaries and the
attorney general.
capitalism Correct Answer: An economic system in which individuals and corporations, not the
government, own the principle means of production and seek profit.
casework Correct Answer: Pork barreling, basically. Activities of Congressmen that help
individual constituents.
categorical grants Correct Answer: Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes.
These grants have strings attached. (Compare to block grants)
congressional caucus Correct Answer: A group of Congressmen sharing an interest or
characteristic. (Not the party version)
state party caucus Correct Answer: A meeting of all state party leaders for selecting delegates to
the national party convention. Usuall organized as a pyramid (Not the congressional version)
census Correct Answer: Demographics report required by the Constitution to be redone every 10
years.
checks and balances Correct Answer: An important part of the Madisonian model designed to
limit government's power by requiring power to be balanced among different institutions that
check each other's activities.
civil law Correct Answer: Judicial law not involving criminal charges. Cases are between 2
parties and involve common law.
civil liberties Correct Answer: Legal constitutional protections against government. (compare to
civil rights)
civil rights Correct Answer: Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or
discriminatory treatment by government.(Compare to civil liberties)
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Correct Answer: Law that made racial discrimination in public places
illegal and forbade many forms of job discrimination. It created the EEOC to monitor itself,
provided for the withholding of federal grants to nonconformers, strengthened voting rights
legislation, and authorized lawsuits that advanced desegregation.
civil rights movement Correct Answer: movement in the United States beginning in the 1960s
and led primarily by Blacks in an effort to establish the civil rights of individual Black citizens
class action suits Correct Answer: Lawsuits permitting a small number of people to sue on
behalf of all others similarly situated.
closed primaries Correct Answer: Primaries in which only registered voters can participate.
, collective bargaining Correct Answer: Bargaining between representatives of labor unions and
management to determine acceptable working conditions.
committee chairs Correct Answer: The most important influencers of congressional agenda.
They play dominant rules in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees and
managing committee bills when they're in front of the full house.
congressional committees Correct Answer: Conference, joint, select and standing committees.
common law Correct Answer: The accumulation of past judicial decisions applied in civil law
disputes.
comparable worth Correct Answer: The issue raised when women are paid less than men for
working jobs that require comparable skill.
conference committees Correct Answer: Congressional committees directed to reconcile House
and Senate versions of a bill.
Congressional Budget Office Correct Answer: The budget office that advises Congress on the
consequences of budget decisions and forecasts revenues.
Connecticut Compromise Correct Answer: The compromise reached at the Constitutional
Convention that reconciled the Virginia and New Jersey Plans, creating our bicameral
legislature.
consent of the governed Correct Answer: the idea that government derives its authority by the
sanction of the people
conservatives Correct Answer: Those who advocate conservatism.
constitution Correct Answer: A nation's basic law.
consumer price index Correct Answer: The key measure of inflation.
continuing resolutions Correct Answer: When Congress cannot agree on an appropriation bill,
this resolution allows an agency to spend at the previous year's level.
Council of Economic Advisers Correct Answer: 3 appointees who advise the President on the
state of the economy and economic policy
courts of appeal Correct Answer: Apellate courts that can review all final decisions from district
courts.
criminal law Correct Answer: The body of law used when one is charged with a criminal action
that warrants punishment.
Affirmative Action Correct Answer: A policy designed to give special compensation to a
previously disadvantaged group.
amicus curiae briefs Correct Answer: Briefs submitted to the court by outside parties to
influence the decision.
Anti-Federalists Correct Answer: At the time of the Con, they argued that the Con was a class
based document, would erode fundamental liberties and weaken the states.
appropriations bill Correct Answer: Act of Cong that funds programs within authorized limits.
Usually these bills are annual.
Articles of Confederation Correct Answer: First Con, adopted in 1777, enacted in 1781. They
established a national legislature (Continental Congress), but left most authority with the states.
authorization bill Correct Answer: Act of Cong (type of bill) that makes or continues a
government or entitlement program, also defines budget limits for said program.
bicameral legislature Correct Answer: A legislature divided into 2 houses, such as the US
Congress and most state legislatures.
bill Correct Answer: A proposed law written in legal language. Only o member of Congress can
submit one, although anyone can write one.
Bill of Rights Correct Answer: First 10 Amendments written to satiate Anti-Federalists. They
define basic liberties and rights.
blanket primaries Correct Answer: Primaries in which voters can be from and vote for any party.
block grants Correct Answer: Federal grants automatically given to states to support broad
programs. (Compared to categorical grants)
Brown v. Board of Education Correct Answer: 1954 SuCo: School segregation is
unconstitutional because it violates the 14th Amendment guarantee of equal protection.
Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson.
budget Correct Answer: A policy document allocating taxes and expenditures,
budget resolution Correct Answer: The bottom line for all federal spending.
bureaucracy Correct Answer: A system of departments and agencies formed to carry out the
work of government.
,cabinet Correct Answer: A group of presidential advisers. Consists of 14 secretaries and the
attorney general.
capitalism Correct Answer: An economic system in which individuals and corporations, not the
government, own the principle means of production and seek profit.
casework Correct Answer: Pork barreling, basically. Activities of Congressmen that help
individual constituents.
categorical grants Correct Answer: Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes.
These grants have strings attached. (Compare to block grants)
congressional caucus Correct Answer: A group of Congressmen sharing an interest or
characteristic. (Not the party version)
state party caucus Correct Answer: A meeting of all state party leaders for selecting delegates to
the national party convention. Usuall organized as a pyramid (Not the congressional version)
census Correct Answer: Demographics report required by the Constitution to be redone every 10
years.
checks and balances Correct Answer: An important part of the Madisonian model designed to
limit government's power by requiring power to be balanced among different institutions that
check each other's activities.
civil law Correct Answer: Judicial law not involving criminal charges. Cases are between 2
parties and involve common law.
civil liberties Correct Answer: Legal constitutional protections against government. (compare to
civil rights)
civil rights Correct Answer: Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or
discriminatory treatment by government.(Compare to civil liberties)
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Correct Answer: Law that made racial discrimination in public places
illegal and forbade many forms of job discrimination. It created the EEOC to monitor itself,
provided for the withholding of federal grants to nonconformers, strengthened voting rights
legislation, and authorized lawsuits that advanced desegregation.
civil rights movement Correct Answer: movement in the United States beginning in the 1960s
and led primarily by Blacks in an effort to establish the civil rights of individual Black citizens
class action suits Correct Answer: Lawsuits permitting a small number of people to sue on
behalf of all others similarly situated.
closed primaries Correct Answer: Primaries in which only registered voters can participate.
, collective bargaining Correct Answer: Bargaining between representatives of labor unions and
management to determine acceptable working conditions.
committee chairs Correct Answer: The most important influencers of congressional agenda.
They play dominant rules in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees and
managing committee bills when they're in front of the full house.
congressional committees Correct Answer: Conference, joint, select and standing committees.
common law Correct Answer: The accumulation of past judicial decisions applied in civil law
disputes.
comparable worth Correct Answer: The issue raised when women are paid less than men for
working jobs that require comparable skill.
conference committees Correct Answer: Congressional committees directed to reconcile House
and Senate versions of a bill.
Congressional Budget Office Correct Answer: The budget office that advises Congress on the
consequences of budget decisions and forecasts revenues.
Connecticut Compromise Correct Answer: The compromise reached at the Constitutional
Convention that reconciled the Virginia and New Jersey Plans, creating our bicameral
legislature.
consent of the governed Correct Answer: the idea that government derives its authority by the
sanction of the people
conservatives Correct Answer: Those who advocate conservatism.
constitution Correct Answer: A nation's basic law.
consumer price index Correct Answer: The key measure of inflation.
continuing resolutions Correct Answer: When Congress cannot agree on an appropriation bill,
this resolution allows an agency to spend at the previous year's level.
Council of Economic Advisers Correct Answer: 3 appointees who advise the President on the
state of the economy and economic policy
courts of appeal Correct Answer: Apellate courts that can review all final decisions from district
courts.
criminal law Correct Answer: The body of law used when one is charged with a criminal action
that warrants punishment.
