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. Cabinet department that includes the Coast Guard - Border Patrol - FEMA - Transportation Security Administration - INS and the Secret Service. Established in 2001 in response to 9/11.






2. Law intended to promote free competition in the market place by outlawing monopolies






3. Limitations on this freedom including prohibition of defamation and obscenity - limitation on commercial speech - and restriction of inciting words that may cause immediate danger.






4. The expression of attitudes about government and politics.






5. The relationship between the total cost of foreign goods imported to this country and sales of U.S. products overseas.






6. Prompted by the ____________________ - the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.






7. The Supreme Court practice of applying most of the provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states under the 14th Amendment.






8. 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






9. A term often used to describe the economic and political ties between the military establishment and the defense-aerospace industry.






10. The case of Gregg v. Georgia set the precedent for a ________________ system in which guilt and sentencing and tried separately.






11. In Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972) - the Supreme Court extended the right to counsel to those accused of misdemeanors if the defendant is _____________.






12. During the 1800's and early 1900's - some state and local party committees became ________________ dominating party activities. Committee members would promise new recruits money - jobs - and other benefits for joining and voting the straight party t






13. Tests of a voter's ability to read and write - which were often used to keep recent immigrants and blacks from voting.






14. The sum of the goals - decisions - and actions that govern a nation's relations with the rest of the world.






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






16. The Supreme Court holds _____________ jurisdiction in cases against the US - ambassadors - public ministers - and consuls.






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






18. Requests from people or groups for health care for the aged - loans for college students - equal opportunity for minorities - and higher subsidies for farmers are examples of:






19. Washington v. Chrisman (1982) established the _________________ - allowing police officers to seize evidence without a warrant if the evidence is in obvious sight.






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






21. Age Requirement for House of Representatives.






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






23. Guaranteed women the right to vote.






24. The Articles of Confederation established a ________________ legislature.






25. In addition to the doctrine of implied powers - Chief Justice Marshall - in his decision in the Supreme Court case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - established the key concept of:






26. Number of years a Representative must reside in the US prior to taking office






27. The Jacksonian Era marked an important change in the process used to nominate Presidential candidates with the emergence of party _________________ - eliminating caucuses.






28. Until the law was changed in 2002 - the term described unregulated campaign funds not subject to the limits of federal law because they went to party committees and not directly to candidates. The 2002 law banned contributions of soft money to nation






29. This amendment includes the due process clause - the equal protection clause - and gave rights to former slaves.






30. Number of Senators elected at large per state -






31. A powerful alliance of mutual benefit among an agency or unit of the government - an interest group - and a committee or subcommittee of Congress. Also called a triangle or a subgovernment.






32. A primary in which any registered voter is able to vote for candidates from more than one party. A voter - for example - may vote for a Democrat for U.S. senator and for a Republican for governor. In 2000 - the Supreme Court struck down the blanket p






33. A broadly based coalition that attempts to gain control of the government by winning elections in order to exercise power and reward its members.






34. Programs mandated by law and not subject to annual review by Congress or the president.






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






36. Legislature bills that affect all citizens.






37. The single biggest item in campaign spending at the presidential level is ___________________.






38. Voting based on looking back and making judgments about the way things have gone and the kind of government experienced during a political leader's time in office.






39. Process by which citizens propose an amendment by petition.






40. Spending determined by the number of qualified recipients and their legally determined need is called






41. Communication with legislators or other government officials to try to influence their decisions.






42. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






43. In 1943 - The Supreme Court upheld the Jehovah's Witnesses right to refrain from saluting the American flag based on their right to _____________.






44. This called for three-fifths of all slaves in a state were counted for purposes of apportioning representation in the House of Representatives.






45. Germany - Switzerland - and India are examples of countries with a _______________ system of government.






46. A method available in most states that allows voters - in effect - to 'veto' a bill passed by the legislature or to accept or reject a proposal - such as a bond issue - made by a government agency.






47. The vagueness of this phrase has allowed juries to exclude specific genders or races in order to affect the outcome of the verdict.






48. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






49. The elected position of President pro tempore of the Senate is almost always held by






50. Representing - characterized by - or including members from two parties or factions