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 spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






2. A form of city government under which power is divided between a mayor and an elected city council.






3. The kinds of cases that a court has the authority to decide.






4. Which powers of the national government flow from its enumerated powers and from the 'elastic clause' of the Constitution?






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






6. Theory of democracy in which competition among common interest groups promote ideas to influence politics






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






8. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the 1964 Civil Rights Act does not prohibit private affirmative action programs?






9. 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.






10. Federal categorical grants in which the granting agency has less discretion over how the recipient spends the money.






11. In 2002 - a federal appeals court struck down the Pledge of Allegiance on the grounds that it violated ________________.






12. Senators are re-elected every ___ years with 1/3 of the Senate being up for election every 2 years.






13. Law enacted in 1939 to prohibit civil servants from taking activists roles in partisan campaigns .This act prohibited federal employees from making political contributions - working for a particualr party -or campaining for a particualr canidate






14. 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 _______________.






15. First civil rights organization to use non-violent tactics to promote racial equality and desegregation






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






17. Legislative branch incorporating two houses.






18. Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.






19. Guaranteed women the right to vote.






20. The median income of women is ___________ percent of men.






21. A White House council created under the National Security Act of 1947 to advise the president and help coordinate American military and foreign policy.






22. _____________ was the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in controlling New York City politics and helping immigrants (most notably the Irish) rise up in American politics from the 1790s to the 1960s.






23. The Supreme Court's broad interpretation of this clause has denied direct aid from the government for religious groups - but does allow religious groups to make use of government services such as police and fire.






24. 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






25. Proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 as an attempt to form a union of the colonies. Later used to help form the Articles of Confederation.






26. 'lame duck' amendment






27. The class of independent voters who do not vote according to party affiliation - but who typically have a broader range of concerns than single-issue voters - are known colloquially as






28. Since 1960 - there has been a general trend of ______________ participation in elections.






29. Presides over any impeachment trial.






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






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






32. A 1972 treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union limiting the number of defensive missiles each country could build. In 2001 President George W. Bush withdrew the United States from the treaty.






33. Literally meaning 'right of soil' - confers citizenship by place of birth.






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






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






36. The main mechanism used by modern political parties to nominate their candidate for President.






37. This controversial clause of the 9th Amendment has allowed government to expand rights to suit its needs.






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






39. The action - or actions - taken by government to carry out a policy.






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






41. In charge of all state funds. Supervises the collection of taxes and payment of state's bill






42. A joint committee of Congress established to help negotiate discrepancies and gain consensus between legislation passed in each house before sending the bill to the President.






43. The 15th Amendment - also know as _________________ - was intended to help recently freed blacks from unconstitutional state laws designed to circumvent federal laws.






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






45. Which form of registration prevails in all but a few states?






46. First governing document of the Plymouth Colony establishing freedom of religion.






47. Because there is no Senate Rules Committee - Senators can debate a bill for an _________________ time.






48. A public policy that takes something away from one person or group and gives it to another person or group.






49. 1917 Reincarnation of the Sedition Act during WWI






50. The reason that electors are chosen in each state by popular vote is ____________.