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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. The ___________ aspects of Federalism include: conflicts between state and national government - economic and racial discrimination - uneven enforcement of law - and dominance of local governments by special interest groups






2. In addition to overseeing the activities of one or more federal agencies - a ___________________may also serve as the authorizing committee for federal agencies' programs and operations.






3. Polls taken as people leave voting places. In the past - television networks sometimes used these polls to predict election outcomes before the polls close. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to project the winner in a state until the major






4. The average voter turnout between 1960 and 2004 was __________ percent






5. While these voters have traditionally supported the Democrats - some have begun to support Republicans in light of the Democrats liberal policies on abortion.






6. An issue on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party or candidate with conditions - goals - or symbols the electorate universally approves or disapproves of. Examples of such issues are economic prosperi






7. In his historic decision in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - Chief Justice Marshall established the principle of _____________.






8. First civil rights organization to use non-violent tactics to promote racial equality and desegregation






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






10. In 1987 - the FCC abandoned the fairness doctrine on the grounds that it unconstitutionally restricted the ______________ rights of broadcasters.






11. What occurs when government adopts a public policy that provides - or distributes - benefits to people or groups.






12. A system in which the national government provides grants-in-aid to states using conditions to elicit control.






13. Since 1960 - there has been a general trend of ______________ participation in elections.






14. A philosophy that Supreme Court justices and other judges should boldly apply the Constitution to social and political questions.






15. A policy that takes something away from one person and gives it to someone else -






16. In the 1990 case OR State Employment Division v. Smith 1990 - the Supreme court allowed the state to fire employees who use peyote during native American religious ceremonies because it is in violation of drug laws. In this case - which clause of the






17. Dissenting Democrats focused on foreign affairs. Aligned with the US Communist Party.

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18. The responsibility of the President to appoint federal judges when vacancies occur on the bench is referred to as






19. ________ of voters identify with one political party in advance of the campaign.






20. Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution - for example - the authority to print money.






21. This House committee is responsible for all taxes - tariffs - and other revenue raising measures in addition to social security - child support - Medicare - foster care - and unemployment.






22. Clause of the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 10) intended to prohibit state governments from modifying contracts made between individuals; interpreted as prohibiting state governments from taking actions that adversely affect property rights.






23. The separation of people by race.






24. A form of city government under which a council - usually elected on a nonpartisan ticket - hires a professional city manager - who runs the city government and has power to hire and fire officials.






25. Executive check on Legislative Branch.






26. A legal principle of fair dealing - which may provide preventive measures and legal remedies that are unavailable under existing common law and statutory law.






27. Broadly worded warrants used by British soldiers during colonial America to search for contraband and prevent smuggling.






28. The term 'Reagan Democrats' has become a generic term for






29. States that arrestees must be informed of their right to remain silent - that anything they say can be held against them in a court - that they have a right to an attorney and that an attorney will be appointed to them if they cannot afford one.






30. The 19th Century __________ party platform was opposed to the spread of slavery - promoted preservation of the union - supported the abolition of slavery - and promoted post civil was reconstruction.






31. Communication with legislators or other government officials to try to influence their decisions.






32. Number of years a President must reside in the US prior to taking office






33. Baby boomers - women - and voters with higher levels of education tend to have a ____________ voter turnout.






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






35. In 1998 - the Supreme Court struck down the________________ law - declaring it unconstitutional - because Congress did not have the constitutional authority to hand that power to the President.






36. A federal program established in 1965 to provide hospital and medical services to older people through the Social Security system.






37. 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






38. Representatives serve ____ year terms






39. Literally meaning 'right of soil' - confers citizenship by place of birth.






40. Formed as a third party on the issue of slavery by many former Whigs in the 1850's. Anti-slavery platform. Supported by farmers - laborers - and newly-freed blacks.






41. This contraversial 2001 law allows anti-terrorism authorities to monitor e-mail and Internet traffic in order to prevent terrorist attacks. The government argues that cyberspace is public domain and that no warrants should be needed to access informa






42. Established national income tax.






43. A legislature with only one house.






44. Organization of individuals with similar policy goals who enter the political process to influence legislation that affects the organizations interests






45. Colonies controlled by the British king through governors appointed by him and through the king's veto power over colonial laws.






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






47. This 1967 Supreme Court case prohibited illegal eavesdropping and extending the zone of privacy to include the home - office - person - and immediate public arena.






48. An extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion






49. Each Senate committee may have ________ subcommittees.






50. In this essay - James Madison recognized that reconciling the competing interests of various groups was what legislation was all about