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. A system - until modified and reformed in the 1970s - that automatically resulted in the selection as committee chair of those members of the majority party in Congress who had the longest continuous service on a committee.






2. The introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution - setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words - 'We the people of the United States - in order to form a more perfect union. ...'






3. 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.






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






5. Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Congress authorized and appropriated.






6. A procedure that in certain circumstances permits voters to remove elected state or local officials from office before their terms have expired.






7. If 10 days remain in session and the president does not sign an act of Congress - the law is ___________.






8. Requires reporting of financial information by companies with publicly traded securities






9. First Roman Catholic elected President.






10. A system in which national and state governments are competitors with distinct powers. This system was prominent in the US from the during the 19th century until 1937.






11. Approximately 33% of American voters identify themselves as _______________ party.






12. 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.






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






14. Presides over the Senate without voting privileges except in the case of a tie.






15. Economists generally agree that the major responsibility for promoting prosperity and full employment falls on ________________.






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






17. In the view of W. Lance Bennett - the people who hold and express opinions are constantly changing - as are the issues and conditions to which the public responds. As a result - Bennett suggests that public opinion is______________.






18. _____ out of 9 justices must agree to hear an appellate case brought to them from a lower court.






19. 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.






20. In Schenck v. US (1919) - The Supreme Court ruled that government may prohibit speech that creates an immediate threat of criminal action. Essentially established different standards for speech during wartime than in peacetime. Thus - establishing th






21. Held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.






22. 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 ______________)






23. According to the Speedy Trial Act of 1974 - federal trials must commence within _______ days of arrest with the exception of delay for mental health testing of the defendant and illness of the defendant or key witness.






24. Department established in 1988 by President G.H. Bush.

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25. Something given in exchange for something else; swap






26. This powerful House committee is in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor.






27. Legislature bills that affect only a small group of citizens.






28. The Articles of Confederation established a ________________ legislature.






29. The drawing of the lines of congressional districts - or of any other political district - in order to favor one political party or group over another.






30. The only instance in which the government can prohibit religious activities






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






32. In _______________ cases such as Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978) - the Supreme Court has upheld that while Affirmative action policies are legal - race and gender cannot be the only determining factors.






33. Legislative opinions on a matter that do not require Presidential signature.






34. Its the responsibility of ___________ committees of a political party to solidify the party within each state and organize primary elections






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. 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






37. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments provide for _____________.






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






39. A system of _______________ - as in Italy - encourages the existence of many parties by allotting seats to competing candidates according to the percentage of votes they win.






40. 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






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






42. The only amendments to be ratified through the process of 'ratifying conventions -' not a vote in the state legislatures






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






44. The fundamental rights of a free society that are protected by the Bill of Rights against the power of the government - such as freedom of speech - religion - press - and assembly.






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






46. Washington v. Chrisman (1982) established the _________________ - allowing police officers to seize evidence without a warrant if the evidence is in obvious sight.






47. There is an _____________ relationship between Presidential approval ratings and unemployment.






48. Amendment that delegated the election of Senators to popular vote.






49. This influential English document signed by King John in 1215 limited the absolute power of the monarchy - established due process - and limited arbitrary seizure of property.






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