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 pluralist theory by C. Wright Mills where a small number of wealthy elite wield most of the power. Fundamental to all governments around the world - the elite rule while they make the lower classes feel like they are involved in democracy. The elit






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






3. Overall spending targets set by the Congress.






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






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






6. 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






7. The right of the Supreme Court - under the Constitution - to hear certain kinds of cases directly - such as cases involving foreign diplomats - or cases in which one of the 50 states is a party.






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






9. A system in which the national government provides grants-in-aid to states using conditions to elicit control.






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






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






12. 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.






13. David R. Mayhew has suggested that this influences congressional behavior. The ________________ is the relationship between members of Congress and their constituents.






14. Control of a market by a single company.






15. 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.






16. 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.






17. A term coined by President Lyndon B. Johnson to describe his own view of the relationship between Washington and the states.






18. Redefined Presidential succession and disability.






19. 6 In the view of Robert L. Lineberry - policy analysts focus on the _______________.






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






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






22. Age Requirement for House of Representatives.






23. 1974 Act mandating that all government files about private citizens be kept confidential.






24. Federal grants in which the recipient has little discretion over how the money is spent. The national government sets narrowly defined rules for use of funds and often requires the states or local governments to provide matching funds. These grants a






25. Number of years a Senator must reside in the US prior to taking office






26. First proposed in 1789 - this amendment passed in 1992 prohibits Congress from raising their own pay. Pay raises may not take affect until the beginning of the next term.






27. Between 1909 and 2002 - the number of daily newspapers in the United States______________.






28. 1917 Reincarnation of the Sedition Act during WWI






29. The structure and set of regulations in place to control activity - usually in large organizations and government. it is represented by standardized procedure (rule-following) that dictates the execution of most or all processes within the body - for






30. These party members are highly involved in the electoral process. Donate funds to party and candidates - demand a voice in state party agendas and tend to have a strong belief in their party's ideology.






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






32. The total group from which poll-takers may select a random sample in order to measure public opinion.






33. 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






34. Cabinet department responsible for insuring mortgages and providing housing subsidies. Established in 1965






35. 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






36. The philosophy that government should intervene as little as possible in economic affairs.






37. The Articles of Confederation established a ________________ legislature.






38. 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.






39. Law enacted by Congress - or by state legislatures or local legislative bodies.






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






41. 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.






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






43. (1781-1789) The written framework for the government of the original 13 states before the Constitution was adopted. Under this - the national government was weak and dominated by the states. There was a unicameral legislature - but no national execut






44. A system in which the power to govern is shared between national and state governments






45. The party-column ballot - or Indiana ballot - encourages _______________.






46. Committees of Congress composed of both representatives and senators.






47. When the President's own party gains power and influence - it more puts pressure on the President to conform to the will of the party - leading to________________ between the President and the party to define their public identities






48. Which committee assignments would confer the most power and influence on members of the Senate?






49. Legislature bills that affect all citizens.






50. Cabinet department responsible for regulating and promoting trade and maintaining the census Established in 1913..