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. Compromise between the large states and small states that established the bicameral Legislature consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives. Also included 3/5 compromise on the status of slaves in representation.






2. In states using primaries - the most common form of primary election is the ___________ primary.






3. Belief in the value of strong government to provide economic secruity and protection for civil rights - combined with a belief in personal freedom from government intervention in social conduct






4. These two Senate standing committees have existed - largely unchanged - since 1816.






5. In Sweatt v. Painter (1950) - The Supreme Court upheld that ___________________ was inherently not the case as is applied to the University of Texas Law School.






6. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to release these until a majority of polling places had closed in each state






7. The way things actually are.






8. Year of the 2nd Continental Congress.






9. An unwritten custom by which individual senators who belong to the same political party as the president exercise an informal veto power over presidential appointments in their states.






10. Lead by Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. Dedicated to defending federal authority and high tariffs. Gained supports of merchants - bankers - industrialists and planters.






11. In Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972) - the Supreme Court extended the right to counsel to those accused of misdemeanors if the defendant is _____________.






12. A term coined by President Lyndon B. Johnson to describe his own view of the relationship between Washington and the states.






13. This category of interest groups has been the strongest and most effective in lobbying Washington






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






15. Agenda that includes issues that affect the daily lives of the people.






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






17. Most modern political scientists believe there is ________________ between politics and government.






18. 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.






19. ___________ vote in both the House and Senate may override a Presidential veto of legislation.






20. Federal categorical grants in which the granting agency has much discretion over how the recipient spends the money.






21. The expression of attitudes about government and politics.






22. These dissenting Republicans won 17% of the popular vote in 1924 on a platform for public control of national resources and railways - tax reductions - and changes to the staff of the executive department

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23. This 1973 ruling gave local communities the authority to determine obscenity - established three part test for obscene material. To qualify as obscene - speech must be considered obscene by the 'average' person - depict or describe material that is a






24. An economy in which most economic decisions result from the interaction of buyers and sellers in markets - but in which the government plays a significant role in the allocation of resources.






25. 1925 Supreme Court case overturned Baron v. Baltimore and applied the Bill of Rights to states.






26. In Woodson v. North Carolina - the Supreme Court struck down mandatory sentencing of capital punishment as ______________________ because it does not allow for any discretion.






27. 1976 Law requiring all governmental agency meetings to be open to the public unless classified information will be discussed.






28. This 1963 case extended the right to counsel to all felony cases.






29. Practice by which voters of one party crossing over and voting in the primary of another party - effectively allowing a party to help choose its opposition's candidate.






30. Method by which federal court judges may lose their position.






31. First step in the Policy Making Cycle.






32. In lieu of an indictment - the state prosecutor may file a _______________ charging the person with a crime.






33. The oldest House committee still in existence.






34. Concept of government by the people in which everyone is free to vote - but normally whoever gets the most votes wins the election and represents all the people - including those who voted for the losing candidate.






35. Independent agencies governed by an appointed and confirmed commission. Examples include the Food and Drug Administration - Environmental Protection Agency - and the Securities and Exchange Commission.






36. Committees created by Congress to conduct special investigations. Although normally temporary - some become - in effect - permanent.






37. Ruling by the Supreme Court in 1954 that racial segregation in public schools violates the Fourteenth Amendment's requirement of equal protection of the laws for all persons.






38. Makes sure that funds are used safely and wisely. They oversee the state's financial records






39. Freedoms that protect the individual from the government.






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






41. The policy established after the Second World War that America must take an active leadership role in world affairs






42. (1781-1789) The written framework for the government of the original 13 states before the Constitution was adopted. Under this - the national government was weak and dominated by the states. There was a unicameral legislature - but no national execut






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






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






45. This type of government suits a large country with a diverse population






46. In the 1925 Gitlow case - the Supreme Court began a process of ______________ of the Bill of Rights to the states.






47. Guarantees that citizens cannot be compelled by the government to act in a way that is contrary to their religious beliefs. (ex. Conscientious objection to military service required by the draft is the execution of ______________)






48. Includes the 13th - 14th - and 15th Amendments. Abolished slavery and guaranteed due process and equal protection to all citizens.






49. The 1896 case of Plessy v. Fergusan established the racial segregation policy of __________________.






50. Minimum number of voters per state in the Electoral College.