Test your basic knowledge |

CLEP American Government

Subjects : clep, civics
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. Responsible for further investigation - hearings - and amendment to a bill






2. In charge of state's legal business. provide advice to other state official and represents the state in court if the state is involved in a lawsuit






3. While both Asian and Hispanic immigrants experience various types of discrimination - Hispanic immigrants are more likely to experience economic discrimination. This explains why most Hispanics identify with the ____________ party - while Asians do n






4. High School Dropouts - Blacks - Hispanics - Recent immigrants - and People under 25 or over 75 tend to have a _________ voter turnout.






5. Committees appointed for investigative or crisis situations.






6. In his classic study of community power in New Haven - Connecticut - political scientist Robert A. Dahl concluded that the city was a __________ system dominated by many different sets of leaders






7. The practice under which victorious politicians reward their followers with jobs.






8. This influential English document refuted divine right of monarchy and made monarchs subject to laws and responsible for crimes






9. There are 11 circuit ____________________ who have no original jurisdiction.






10. Groups whose views serve as guidelines to an individual's opinion. See also primary groups and secondary groups.






11. The spread of nuclear weapons to new nations






12. The 1803 case in which the Supreme Court - by declaring a portion of an act of Congress unconstitutional - first firmly set forth and established the power of judicial review.






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






14. Cabinet department that includes the Coast Guard - Border Patrol - FEMA - Transportation Security Administration - INS and the Secret Service. Established in 2001 in response to 9/11.






15. Voters in a political district - or supporters of an elected official; or interest groups or client groups that are either directly regulated by the bureaucracy or vitally affected by its decisions.






16. The constitutional requirement (in article II - sec 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed - even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws






17. Cabinet department oversees nuclear reactors.Established in 1973 in response to the Energy Crisis.






18. Presidential management model in which corporate CEO tactics are used employing committees - task forces - and special advisors. Successfully utilized by Clinton and G W Bush.






19. The tendency of presidents to lose support over time.






20. The concept that political power rests with the people who can create - alter - and abolish government. People express themselves through voting and free participation in government






21. Cabinet department responsible for the management of public lands - wildlife - natural resources - and Native American affairs. Established in 1849






22. Article I of the Constitution establishes the ___________________ branch.






23. The Supreme Court has ruled that Congress_________________ take away a person's citizenship unless it is freely renounced.






24. A method of amending state constitutions under which proposed constitutional amendments can be placed on the ballot if enough signatures are obtained on a petition. Almost half the states also employ the initiative on the ballot to allow voters to en






25. Th joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the twelfth amendment






26. Legislative house responsible for impeachment trials.






27. These voters are registered as a party member but only participate by voting in primary and general elections. Tend to vote straight-party ticket and follow the leads of local party officials.






28. Executive office responsible for negotiating trade with foreign powers.






29. Most Americans support ______________ primarily as part of their criticism of PACs






30. 1946 Act requiring bureaucratic agencies to appeal to the affected parties before adopting new policies. Legislative check on Bureaucracy.






31. A compulsory national insurance program - financed by taxes on employers and employees. The insurance falls into four categories: old-age and survivors insurance - disability insurance - Medicare - and unemployment insurance.






32. Proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 as an attempt to form a union of the colonies. Later used to help form the Articles of Confederation.






33. A system of voter registration in which voters must register every year or at other stated intervals.






34. 14th Amendment is often used to support the right to ____________.






35. Petition that - if signed by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives - will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration






36. Bills that benefit legislators' home districts - or powerful corporate contributors - with sometimes wasteful or unnecessary public works or other projects.






37. According to this nineteenth-century British peer and historian - 'power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'






38. A philosophy that the Supreme Court should avoid constitutional questions when possible and uphold acts of Congress unless they clearly violate a specific section of the Constitution.






39. Powers of government that are specifically granted to the three branches of the federal government under the Constitution.






40. The issue of slavery split the Democratic Party into what two factions?






41. During the period from 1976 to 1824 - This party was lead by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. They wanted a stronger national government that would rectify the pitfalls of the Articles of Confederation. Their supporters held a stronghold in New






42. Between 1909 and 2002 - the number of daily newspapers in the United States______________.






43. Unwritten law based on custom and tradition.






44. A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.






45. Includes expressive conduct/assembly/actions and symbolic behavior (ex. Picketing or burning the flag) Based on our country history of symbolic acts such as the Boston Tea Party - courts almost always uphold symbolic acts of speech unless they are cr






46. Guarantees that an accused in innocent until proven guilty.






47. Guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial.






48. A centralized system of government - such as that of France - where most of the important policy decisions are made by a central government.






49. Form of obstruction in the Senate where an attempt is made to infinitely extend debate upon a proposal in order to delay the progress or completely prevent a vote on the proposal taking place.






50. First African American appointed to the Supreme Court