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






2. 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






3. If 10 days do not remain in session and the president does not sign an act of Congress - the bill __________.






4. After the Vietnam war - American politics entered an era of __________________ during which neither party maintained control over the government.






5. Established national income tax.






6. An extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion






7. 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.






8. An individual who does not join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.






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






10. Authority based on an individual's outstanding traits - which attract followers






11. In Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969) - the Supreme Court established precedents for ___________________ in schools and government institutions.






12. Appointed by Eisenhower - this Supreme court justice who played an important role in the court's stance on the advancement of civil rights.






13. A Latin phrase meaning 'stand by past decisions -' a principle that judges often use in deciding cases. Ruling based on precedents.






14. A legislative leader of each party who is responsible for rounding up party members for important votes.






15. The ______________________ were formed to unite the colonists against Britain.






16. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over budget and appointments of leadership.






17. 1944 case established that as as long as a person accepted their beliefs in good faith that it is not the government's authority to determine whether those beliefs are valid.






18. ______________________is responsible for the management of the federal debt and the printing of currency. It is the major fiscal policy agency.






19. Spending by the national committees of the political parties to support the election of congressional candidates is known as






20. Included are Agriculture - Nutrition - and Forestry; Appropriations; Armed Services; Banking - Housing and Urban Affairs; Commerce - Science and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Public Works; Finance; Health - Education -






21. In the 1925 Gitlow case - the Supreme Court began a process of ______________ of the Bill of Rights to the states.






22. A system in which national and state government have shared or overlapping powers. FDR's New Deal legislation established this system in the US.






23. The yearly value of goods and services produced within a country.






24. What occurs when government adopts a public policy that provides - or distributes - benefits to people or groups.






25. German sociologist theorized that the engine of government needs bureaucracies to provide expertise in a way that short-term elected or appointed official cannot.






26. In 1978 - the Supreme Court - in the 'seven dirty words' case - ruled that the government has the right to prohibit the broadcasting of _______________.






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






28. A federal tax on imports.






29. 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.






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






31. Devolutionary system in which the national government returns tax dollars to the state and local governments primarily in the form of block grants.






32. Voters tendency to identify with a party that shares their views on important issues ignoring the party's stance on issues they deem less important. to be life-long unless there is a major change in the party's platform. 2. Influenced by ra






33. Number of justices of the Supreme Court.






34. 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






35. Assistants to the Majority and Minority Leaders of both the House and Senate.






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






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






38. Redefined Presidential succession and disability.






39. 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






40. Powers of the national government that flow from its enumerated powers and the 'elastic clause' of the Constitution.






41. The 1803 case in which the Supreme Court - by declaring a portion of an act of Congress unconstitutional - first firmly set forth and established the power of judicial review.






42. The coming to power of a new coalition - replacing an old dominant coalition of the other party






43. The issue of slavery split the Democratic Party into what two factions?






44. A legislature with only one house.






45. Funds spent for or against a candidate by committees not formally connected to the candidate's campaign and without coordination with the campaign.






46. A government that undertakes responsibility for the welfare of its citizens through programs in public health and public housing and pensions and unemployment compensation etc.






47. Corporations formed by the government to act as a business to produce a product or service. Often monopolies with varying degrees of independence.






48. A law passed in 1966 that requires federal executive branch and regulatory agencies to make information available to journalists - scholars - and the public unless it falls into one of several confidential categories.






49. Members of the ______________ committee of a political party work to maintain influence during non election years through congressional campaign committees.






50. Includes expressive conduct/assembly/actions and symbolic behavior (ex. Picketing or burning the flag) Based on our country history of symbolic acts such as the Boston Tea Party - courts almost always uphold symbolic acts of speech unless they are cr






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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