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






2. The Articles of Confederation established a ________________ legislature.






3. Baby boomers - women - and voters with higher levels of education tend to have a ____________ voter turnout.






4. 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.






5. Th joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the twelfth amendment






6. Established in 1947 as a combined Department of War and Navy.






7. 1798 Act that criminalized speech that was derisive to the government. Later ruled unconstitutional - Andrew Jackson issued blanket pardon in 1801






8. Guarantees that any rights not explicitly outlined heretofore are reserved for the states.






9. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) - founded in 1932 by President Herbert Hoover to help combat the Great Depression - was the predecessor of which federal agencies?






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






11. 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.






12. In addition to a quick and speedy trial - the 6th Amendment also guarantees ________________.






13. Members of this party typically include women who support liberal policies on abortion and equal pay - Jews - Catholics - Blacks and other minorities - Blue-collar working class - urban - labor unions - and intelligensia






14. In charge of state's legal business. provide advice to other state official and represents the state in court if the state is involved in a lawsuit






15. The Supreme Court has sometimes used a narrow interpretation of the Establishment Clause allowing the government to provide aid to religious groups as long as it remains ______________ and does not promote one religion at the expense of another. This






16. Federal and State Courts function in a _____________manner so that federal courts may receive appeals from state courts.






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






18. After the bill reaches the house floor - if opponents have many changes - they may vote to ______________________.






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






20. Passed in 1883 - it created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.






21. Established by President Hoover - It is the _______________ job to keep the press informed and orchestrate press conferences






22. Lead by Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. Dedicated to defending federal authority and high tariffs. Gained supports of merchants - bankers - industrialists and planters.






23. A system in which the national government sets requirements that are then implemented by state and local governments.






24. A policy that takes something away from one person and gives it to someone else -






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






26. Proponents of limited government - unregulated free markets - national self-reliance - and conventional social values are best describes as






27. Political theorist proposed the separation of church and state.






28. 1917 Reincarnation of the Sedition Act during WWI






29. This 1972 Supreme Court case struck down all state laws allowing the death penalty stating that they allowed for too much discretion on the part of the judge and jury resulting in lack of consistent administration of the penalty.






30. Considered the most sacred right in American history. Colonists felt oppressed by the tyranny of the crown but were unable to speak up about it for fear of repercussion.






31. Under this governing document - national government lacked authority to set up tariffs - regulate commerce - levy taxes - control international relations - establish common currency






32. Court cases that concern crimes committed against the public order.






33. A judicial opinion agreed to by a majority of the members of a court. A majority opinion sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision.






34. This contraversial 2001 law allows anti-terrorism authorities to monitor e-mail and Internet traffic in order to prevent terrorist attacks. The government argues that cyberspace is public domain and that no warrants should be needed to access informa






35. This house committee is responsible for Supervising the authority of the federal government to borrow money - Raising the revenue required to finance the federal government by levying taxes - Overseeing Social Security and other social insurance prog






36. An immigrant who wished to become a citizen may be naturalized after living in the US for ___ years.






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






38. 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.






39. A centralized system of government - such as that of France - where most of the important policy decisions are made by a central government.






40. The belief that all people possess certain basic rights that may not be abridged by government.






41. The 1st Amendment states that government cannot issue ______________ - censoring publications before they are published.






42. Wisconsin Republican who exploited public concern for political gain during the 1950's through freewheeling investigations of alleged Communists.






43. Minor criminal offenses - such as speeding.






44. Voter turnout is usually ____________ when there is a binding referendum on the ballot.






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






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






47. Presides over the Senate without voting privileges except in the case of a tie.






48. Political commercials that strongly attack a rival candidate.






49. Laws - rules - and government programs designed to protect individual rights and specific groups - as well as to benefit society as a whole in such areas as health - worker safety - consumer protection - and the environment.






50. 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.