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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. Government agencies that exercise quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative powers and are administratively independent of both the president and Congress (although politically independent of neither).






2. 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.






3. Infamous 1735 English case established the precedent for Freedom of the Press in the US.






4. In some cases where blicity too much publicity surrounds a trial - courts have granted _______________ to help ensure a fair trial. One example is the trial of Timothy McVeigh for the Oklahoma City Bombing.






5. Inherent powers of state governments to pass laws to protect health - safety - and welfare; the national government has no directly granted police powers but accomplishes the same goals through other delegated powers.






6. PACs may donate a ______________ amount of indirect or in-kind donations to a campaign. (Ex. placing ads to support their candidate)






7. The individuals - institutions - and processes that make the rules for society and possess the power to enforce them.






8. This 1964 case established strict standards for proving slander and libel - court must prove intent of malice on the part of the publisher.






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






10. The separation of people by race.






11. 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.






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






13. Act of exchanging favors for mutual gain






14. Guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial.






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






16. 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 ______________)






17. A public assistance program established in 1965 to help pay hospital - doctor - and medical bills for people with low incomes.






18. A relaxation of international tensions.






19. Things government decides to do - example: taxation - crime control - national defense - education - etc.






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






21. In order to win support for ratification of the Constitution - the Federalists had to promise that the first order of business under a new government would be to _______________.






22. A test established by Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes - Jr. - in 1919 to define the point at which speech loses the protection of the First Amendment.






23. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.






24. Committees that pull members from both the house and the senate who meet to discuss major policy issues such as economy and taxation.






25. By far - the largest amount of federal aid to state and local governments comes in the form of:






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






27. A close contest; by extension - any contest in which the focus is on who is ahead and how much rather than on substantive differences between the candidates.






28. Laws on Schools - Marriage - and owning property;Licensee Lawyers - Doctors - and Teachers.






29. Concurrent resolution - adopted by both Houses of Congress - that sets forth a Congressional budget plan for the budget year and at least four out-years.






30. Signed the executive order banning segregation in the armed forces.






31. Term limit for House of Representatives.






32. Organization of individuals with similar policy goals who enter the political process to influence legislation that affects the organizations interests






33. 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.






34. In the year 2000 - the Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America had a constitutional right to ban _____________ members.






35. Number of justices of the Supreme Court.






36. Executive check on Legislative Branch.






37. The fundamental flaw in plural theory contends that pluralism weakens the backbone of democracy with too many common interest groups attempt to wield power - often leading to standstill because of unwillingness to compromise.






38. 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






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






40. An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted






41. The absent colony at the 2nd Continental Congress.






42. Formed as a third party on the issue of slavery by many former Whigs in the 1850's. Anti-slavery platform. Supported by farmers - laborers - and newly-freed blacks.






43. Clause in the 14th Amendment that forbids any state to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. The 5th Amendment also imposes this limitation on the national government.






44. The process by which individuals screen out messages that do not conform to their own biases






45. Federal laws limit the amount of ___________ that can be donated directly to campaign coffers.






46. Laws must be reasonable. The Supreme Court has abandoned this concept in regards to business matters citing that it is the responsibility of Congress to regulate economic matters. The court has continued to apply this to matters of civil liberties an






47. This article of the Constitution establishes the Executive Branch.






48. Age Requirement for the Senate






49. Freedoms that protect the individual from the government.






50. Colonies in which freely elected legislatures chose the governor and the king could not veto laws.







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