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. The separation of people by race.






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






3. ________________ of the Constitution governs the relationships of the states.






4. A pluralist theory by C. Wright Mills where a small number of wealthy elite wield most of the power. Fundamental to all governments around the world - the elite rule while they make the lower classes feel like they are involved in democracy. The elit






5. Article II of the Constitution establishes the ______________ branch.






6. 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.






7. Formerly known as the Anti-Federalist - this party lead by Thomas Jefferson advocated states rights pressing the causes of the common people and agrarian interest. Dominated the political arena until the Civil War.






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






9. The 5th amendment protect against _____________.






10. President requires their approval to appoint judges - ambassadors and other high officials.






11. A registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his own party affiliation. When voters do not register with a party before the primary - it is called a pick-a-party primary because the voter can select which party's primary he or she w






12. Proponents of limited government - unregulated free markets - national self-reliance - and conventional social values are best describes as






13. Leader of the House of Representatives - elected by the majority party. 2nd in line of succession for the Presidency.






14. 1966 Act allowing citizens to inspect all government records with the exception of classified military or intelligence documents - trade secrets or private personnel files.






15. Units of government under the president - within the executive branch - that are not part of a cabinet department.






16. Several Presidents have been elected without winning the popular vote. As a result - In 1970 and 1979 - Amendments were proposed to disband the ______________ - neither passed.






17. In 1978 - the Supreme Court - in the 'seven dirty words' case - ruled that the government has the right to prohibit the broadcasting of _______________.






18. Legislative house responsible for impeachment trials.






19. After a bill has passed both the House and Senate - it goes to _________________ where any differences between the house bill and the senate bill are resolved before sending to the President for signature






20. Number of current cabinet positions under GW Bush.






21. The 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act - the 1965 Highway Beautification Act and the 1964 Civil Rights Act are all examples of ____________________.






22. Raise Public Awareness - Create Policy Agenda - Prioritize Agenda - Enact Policy - Public Evaluation






23. Judges in Legislative Courts serve _______ terms and do not require impeachment.






24. A legislature with only one house.






25. States that states may draw reasonable distinctions between the rights of residents and non-residents (ex. In state and out of state tuition)






26. Members of the ______________ committee of a political party work to maintain influence during non election years through congressional campaign committees.






27. This 1932 case established that a case can be too speedy and under-counseled - providing defendants in a capital case the right to a reasonable amount of time to establish a defense.






28. Authority based on an individual's outstanding traits - which attract followers






29. 1917 Reincarnation of the Sedition Act during WWI






30. This act prohibited Discrimination because of race - color - sex - religion - or national origin by employers or labor unions; The adoption by voting registrars of different standards for black and white applicants; and Racial or religious discrimina






31. Wisconsin Republican who exploited public concern for political gain during the 1950's through freewheeling investigations of alleged Communists.






32. Powers of government that the national government may exercise simply because it exists as a government - such as the right to conduct foreign relations.






33. The Supreme Court has sometimes used a narrow interpretation of the Establishment Clause allowing the government to provide aid to religious groups as long as it remains ______________ and does not promote one religion at the expense of another. This






34. The formal source of all authority in each major political party. It nominates the party candidates for president and vice president - writes a platform - settles disputes - writes rules - and elects the members of the national committee.






35. ____________ often influence political appointments in an effort to influence bureaucracy.






36. This was amended in 1985 to prohibit vote dilution without requiring the proof of discriminatory purpose demanded by the original Act.






37. A legislator who automatically mirrors the will of the majority of his or her constituents.






38. Number of original cabinet positions under George Washington.






39. 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.






40. The possible tendency of some voters or convention delegates to support the candidate who is leading in the polls and seems likely to win.






41. This rule established by US v. Leon (1984) angered civil liberties groups by allowing exception to the Exclusionary Rule in instances where probably cause may not fully exist.






42. Presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President. Position awarded to the longest serving Senator from the majority party. 3rd in line of succession for the Presidency.






43. The right to privacy is ___________ in the Constitution.






44. In Reynolds v. US (1879) - the Supreme Court denied this right to Reynolds because his religion's practice of polygamy violated federal law.






45. Laws must be administered in a fair manner.






46. 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.






47. An immigrant who wished to become a citizen may be naturalized after living in the US for ___ years.






48. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






49. 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.






50. In 1943 - The Supreme Court upheld the Jehovah's Witnesses right to refrain from saluting the American flag based on their right to _____________.