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Test your basic knowledge |
CLEP American Government
Start Test
Study First
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. Cabinet department responsible for the management of public lands - wildlife - natural resources - and Native American affairs. Established in 1849
Interior
Fast Track Authority
Budget Resolution
Reserved Powers
2. A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.
Fast Track Authority
Issue Networks
Lemon Test
527 Organizations
3. In Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972) - the Supreme Court extended the right to counsel to those accused of misdemeanors if the defendant is _____________.
imprisoned
14th Amendment
Vietnam War
Separate but Equal
4. The process through which an individual acquires a set of political attitudes and forms opinions about political and social issues.
Political Socialization
Due Process of Law
Press Secretary
Gerrymandering
5. The 1892 platform of the Populist party repudiating laissez-faire and demanding economic and political reform
Recommit the Bill to Committee
Soft Money
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Omaha platform
6. 1798 Act that criminalized speech that was derisive to the government. Later ruled unconstitutional - Andrew Jackson issued blanket pardon in 1801
Impoundment
Alien and Sedition Acts
Separate but Equal
Oligopoly
7. An economic system in which the factors of production are owned by the publicand operate for the welfare of all.
Socialism
Enact a Bill of Rights
Ad Hoc Structure
New Jersey Plan
8. A tax on voting abolished by the Twenty-fourth Amendment in 1964 - long used by southern states to keep blacks (and - in some cases - poor whites) from participating in elections.
War Powers Resolution
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
US v. Ballard
Poll Tax
9. The Jacksonian Era marked an important change in the process used to nominate Presidential candidates with the emergence of party _________________ - eliminating caucuses.
Senate
527 Organization
Fixed
Conventions
10. A course of action decided upon by a government
Policy
Committees
30
Joseph McCarthy
11. Executive office responsible for helping the President write the federal budget and monitoring federal spending.
State
Committee of the Whole
Office of Management and Budget
Thomas Hobbes
12. The President's role in the armed forces which during the 20th century has allowed Presidents to circumvent Congress' refusal to declare war.
unlimited
Commander in Chief
77
Great Compromise
13. 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.
Federal
Impartial
Plurality
Committees
14. Also known as the Massachusetts ballot - groups candidates according to the office for which they are running
Mugwumps
77
Office Column Ballot
Patriot Act
15. Redefined Presidential succession and disability.
Commander in Chief
25th Amendment
Jim Crow Laws
Impeachment
16. The Democrats control over politics during the 20th century ended with this President's unpopular handling of the Vietnam War.
Lyndon B. Johnson
Statutory Law
Unicameral
Local
17. A court decision in an earlier case with facts and legal issues similar to a dispute currently before a court.
Precedent
Senate
General Accounting
Budget Surplus
18. The appropriation of government spending for projects that are intended primarily to benefit particular constituents - such as those in marginal seats or campaign contributors.
Securities and Exchange Commission or Securities Act of 1933
Pork Barrel Spending
Nuclear Proliferation
14th Amendment
19. First African American appointed to the Supreme Court
Veto
Fixed
Thurgood Marshall
Party Dealignment
20. A public assistance program established in 1965 to help pay hospital - doctor - and medical bills for people with low incomes.
Recorded Vote
Demands
Medicaid
Commander in Chief
21. The issuance of this document by a judge requires probably cause and must be worded so as to allow for the search and seizure of specific evidence.
Supreme Court
unlimited
Republic
Warrant
22. Formerly known as the Anti-Federalist - this party lead by Thomas Jefferson advocated states rights pressing the causes of the common people and agrarian interest. Dominated the political arena until the Civil War.
Democratic-Republicans
Jus Sanguinis
35
Fast Track Authority
23. The proceeding before a judge in which the formal charges of an indictment or information are read to an accused person - who may plead guilty or not guilty.
Arraignment
Pork Barrel Spending
Judicial Review
Whip
24. This was amended in 1985 to prohibit vote dilution without requiring the proof of discriminatory purpose demanded by the original Act.
Agriculture
Voting Rights Act of 1965
2
Federal Courts
25. 1946 Act requiring bureaucratic agencies to appeal to the affected parties before adopting new policies. Legislative check on Bureaucracy.
Conglomerates
Populous
Administrative Procedure Act
Negative
26. Signed the executive order banning segregation in the armed forces.
Liberalism
Nationalism
2/3
Truman
27. The elected position of President pro tempore of the Senate is almost always held by
Amicus Curiae Brief
Death penalty
a senior senator of the majority party
Republicans
28. Literally meaning 'right of soil' - confers citizenship by place of birth.
Fast Track Authority
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Jus Soli
Veto
29. A legislature with only one house.
The Federal Reserve Board
Unicameral
Freedom of Religion
Murray v. Curlett
30. ____________________ define Congressional voting districts acting within constraints set down by Congress and the Supreme Court.
Catholics
5
Ticket Splitters
State Legislatures
31. In 1978 - the Supreme Court - in the 'seven dirty words' case - ruled that the government has the right to prohibit the broadcasting of _______________.
Parallel
Closed
Selective Incorporation
Offensive Language
32. Legislature bills that affect all citizens.
Low
Public Bills
Judicial Restraint
Shield Laws
33. A system in which the national government sets requirements that are then implemented by state and local governments.
Regulatory Federalism
Unlimited
Unicameral
Nationalism
34. 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.
Government Corporations
de jure
Closed
Regulatory Agencies
35. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is an example of an
Interstate Compact
NY Times v. Sullivan
Reynolds v. Sims
Pass the fundraising threshold
36. The primary purpose of _______________consolidate the nation's disability laws and provide for strong federal enforcement of a strengthened disability rights mandate
Unlimited
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Independent expenditures
Political Patronage
37. By far - the largest amount of federal aid to state and local governments comes in the form of:
Safe seat
Virginia Plan
Categorical Grants
Offensive Language
38. A decision of the Supreme Court cannot be ___________.
Implied Powers
Appealed
Closed Shop
Welfare State
39. Author of The Spirit of the Laws advocating balance of power in politics with liberty is dependant upon a separation of the judicial - legislative - and executive branches of government.
Supreme Court
Katz. v US
Segregation
Baron de Montesquieu
40. In the year 2000 - the Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America had a constitutional right to ban _____________ members.
Arraignment
Isolationism
Gay
Baron v. Baltimore
41. ________________ of the Constitution dictates how the Constitution shall be amended.
Caucuses
Due Process of Law
Free Exercise Clause
Article V
42. After the bill reaches the house floor - if opponents have many changes - they may vote to ______________________.
14th Amendment
Gross Domestic Product
Judicial
Recommit the Bill to Committee
43. Committees created by Congress to conduct special investigations. Although normally temporary - some become - in effect - permanent.
Magna Carta
Select Committee
Monopoly
Elastic Clause
44. In a 1943 case - the Supreme Court upheld the right to refuse to salute the American flag on the basis of the constitutional guarantee of _________________.
Baron de Montesquieu
State Auditor
Free Speech
Outputs
45. What occurs when government adopts a public policy that provides - or distributes - benefits to people or groups.
State Government
Truman
Distribution
Charismatic authority
46. In California v. Avecedo (1991) - The Supreme Court established that authorities may search ____________________ without a warrant providing reasonable suspicion.
It Failed to be Ratified
Automobiles
Socialism
Wallace's Progressives
47. Senators are re-elected every ___ years with 1/3 of the Senate being up for election every 2 years.
Secretary of State
6
Interest groups
Realigning Elections
48. A plan to provide billions of dollars of American aid to Western Europe to speed its economic and social recovery after the Second World War.
Marshall Plan
Lafolette's Progressive s
Dynamic Conservatism
Slander
49. Wisconsin Republican who exploited public concern for political gain during the 1950's through freewheeling investigations of alleged Communists.
Separate but Equal
Establishment Clause
Permanent Registration
Joseph McCarthy
50. Political strategists believe that presidential elections will normally be won or lost in _______________states.
Supreme Court
Local
Populous
Free Exercise of Religion