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. An ideology that advocates limits on government power to address economic and social problems - relying instead on economic markets and individual initiative to address problems like health care and education - while promoting government involvement






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






3. A coherent set of beliefs about politics - public policy - and public purpose. It helps give meaning to political event - personalities - and policies.






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






5. Article VII of the Constitution outlines the process of ____________________.






6. The permanent committees of a legislature that consider bills and conduct hearings and investigations.






7. The concentration of economic power in the hands of a relatively few large companies.






8. Responsible for determining which bills will be considered on the House floor - and when they will be considered.






9. 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.






10. Presidential management model in which the Chief of Staff plays a prominent role as the head of a military style chain of command. Used successfully by Reagan and Eisenhower.






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






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






13. The executive office established in response to intelligence lapses during WWI. Oversees American foreign policy and includes the President - Vice President - Secretary of State - Secretary of Defense and is lead by the National Security Advisor.






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

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15. Constitutional protection of the accused to not be tried for the same crime twice.






16. After the bill reaches the house floor - if opponents have many changes - they may vote to ______________________.






17. A provision of the Federal Communications Act that requires broadcasters to provide the same amount of exposure to all legally qualified political candidates.






18. Year of the 2nd Continental Congress.






19. 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.






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






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






22. 'lame duck' amendment






23. In this 1972 case - the Supreme Court established four guidelines for determining if a trial was appropriately speedy and fair: cause of delay - length of delay - affect on the outcome - and the defendant's claim to a speedy trial.






24. Popular until the early 20th century when they lost favor to primaries due to corruption - now used in only 12 states.






25. Devolutionary system in which the national government returns tax dollars to the state and local governments primarily in the form of block grants.






26. An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on a sharply limited government - promoting a free market economy - a non-interventionist foreign policy - and an absence of regulation in the moral and social spheres.






27. 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






28. Electoral college system and other campaign practices make it exceedingly difficult for even popular ______________ candidates to successfully run for the presidency.






29. The response of the rest of society to actions by the authorities.






30. ________________ of the Constitution dictates how the Constitution shall be amended.






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






32. In an election with more than 2 options - the number of votes for the candidate or party receiving the greatest number - but less that half of the votes.






33. The 23rd Amendment guaranteed voting rights to whom?






34. Responsible for assigning bills to committee in the Senate.






35. A policy adopted by the United States after the Second World War that assumed that if enough nuclear weapons were deployed by the United States - an enemy would not attack for fear of being destroyed in retaliation.






36. This 1689 English Document made the monarch






37. Established the Federal Reserve Bank - responsible for conducting the nation's monetary policy - maintaining the stability of the financial system - supervising and regulating banking institutions - and protecting the credit rights of consumers - and






38. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






39. James Madison proposed to deal with the threat of political factions by ______________________.






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






41. This author of Leviathon posited that government is necessary because people are generally in a state of conflict.






42. Court cases that involve relations between individuals and organizations - such as a divorce action - or a suit for damages arising from an automobile accident or for violation of a business contract.






43. Colonies in which the proprietors (who had obtained their patents from the king) named the governors - subject to the king's approval.






44. 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.






45. In Johnson v. Texas (1989) - the Supreme Court ruled that burning the flag in a manner that does not pose a threat to people or property is allowed as this type of freedom of speech.






46. Government regulation of the economy through its control over taxes and government spending. Controlled by the Department of Treasury.






47. Guarantees the right to bare arms.






48. Number of Senators elected at large per state -






49. The framers of the Constitution created the Senate to function as a check on the ________________.






50. Overturning unjust laws is the responsibility of _________________.