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






2. A law passed in 1966 that requires federal executive branch and regulatory agencies to make information available to journalists - scholars - and the public unless it falls into one of several confidential categories.






3. Until the law was changed in 2002 - the term described unregulated campaign funds not subject to the limits of federal law because they went to party committees and not directly to candidates. The 2002 law banned contributions of soft money to nation






4. A form of city government under which a board of city commissioners is popularly elected (often on a nonpartisan ballot). The commissioners make policy as a city council - but they also run city departments as administrators.






5. 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






6. Concept of the British statesman Edmund Burke that legislators should act according to their own consciences.






7. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the concept of privacy included the right to a legal abortion?






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






9. The state officer typically responsible for overseeing federal elections at the state level is the






10. The relationship between the total cost of foreign goods imported to this country and sales of U.S. products overseas.






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






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






13. Article VI - Paragraph 2 - of the Constitution - which declares that the Constitution - and the laws and treaties of the United States made under it - are 'the supreme Law of the Land' and prevail over any conflicting state constitutions or laws.






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






15. International agreements between the president and foreign heads of state that - unlike treaties - do not require Senate approval.






16. Legislative branch incorporating two houses.






17. Corporations formed by the government to act as a business to produce a product or service. Often monopolies with varying degrees of independence.






18. Organizations or groups - such as labor unions or fraternal - professional - or religious groups - that may influence an individual's opinion.






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






20. Appointed by Eisenhower - this Supreme court justice who played an important role in the court's stance on the advancement of civil rights.






21. 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.






22. The vagueness of this phrase has allowed juries to exclude specific genders or races in order to affect the outcome of the verdict.






23. The gap between the government's income and outlays.






24. The coming to power of a new coalition - replacing an old dominant coalition of the other party






25. The chair and the heads of the three armed services - and - when Marine Corps matters are under consideration - the commandant of the marines. By law - they advise the president and the secretary of defense and are the chiefs of their respective mili






26. Programs mandated by law and not subject to annual review by Congress or the president.






27. Age Requirement for the Senate






28. Cabinet positions must be ____________ by the Senate






29. The belief that all people possess certain basic rights that may not be abridged by government.






30. Established in 1947 as a combined Department of War and Navy.






31. The federal fiscal year begins ___________.






32. 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.






33. This body of government has final authority on the meaning of the Constitution.






34. Court cases that concern crimes committed against the public order.






35. 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.






36. A world economy characterized by the free movement of goods - capital - labor - and information across national borders.






37. 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.






38. The Immigration Act of 1965 abolished the practice of _______________ allowing more diversity among immigrants.






39. Assigns bills to the appropriate House committee.






40. The claim by presidents of an inherent right to withhold information from Congress and the judiciary.






41. 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.






42. 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






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






44. The overall public has a ___________ view of PACS in terms of bought votes and adding to the cost of running for office






45. The Supremacy Clause appears in ________________ of the Constitution.






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






47. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and cooperate.






48. 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.






49. To an extent - the press and the government have a relationship that is _______________ and mutually dependent.






50. Plan that proposed unicameral legislature with each state having one vote.