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






2. Finding that enough evidence exists to warrant a criminal trial.






3. In charge of all state funds. Supervises the collection of taxes and payment of state's bill






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






5. Literally meaning 'right of blood' - confers citizenship to a child from the parents.






6. 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.






7. Method by which federal court judges may lose their position.






8. 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






9. 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.






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






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






12. Defamation by written or printed words - pictures - or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures.






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






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






15. The principle of civilian control of the military - based on the clear constitutional power of the president as supreme commander of the armed forces.






16. In Woodson v. North Carolina - the Supreme Court struck down mandatory sentencing of capital punishment as ______________________ because it does not allow for any discretion.






17. In this 1972 case - the Supreme Court established four guidelines for determining if a trial was appropriately speedy and fair: cause of delay - length of delay - affect on the outcome - and the defendant's claim to a speedy trial.






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






19. 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






20. The pursuit and exercise of power.






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






22. Committees created by Congress to conduct special investigations. Although normally temporary - some become - in effect - permanent.






23. Formal approval or consent given to a constitution - constitutional amendment - or treaty before it goes into effect.






24. Guarantees that an accused in innocent until proven guilty.






25. Executive check on Legislative Branch.






26. 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.






27. Constitutional Article that establishes the Judicial Branch.






28. By far - the largest amount of federal aid to state and local governments comes in the form of:






29. An official document - published every weekday - which lists the new and proposed regulations of executive departments and regulatory agencies.






30. 1963 ruling prohibiting prayer in public schools.






31. This 1932 case established that a case can be too speedy and under-counseled - providing defendants in a capital case the right to a reasonable amount of time to establish a defense.






32. In 1987 - the FCC abandoned the fairness doctrine on the grounds that it unconstitutionally restricted the ______________ rights of broadcasters.






33. A broad concept that may be defined in many ways - but the term is generally used to refer to the basic protection and defense of the nation.






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






35. The term 'Reagan Democrats' has become a generic term for






36. In 1872 - Susan B Anthony was arrested in Rochester - New York for






37. In this essay - James Madison recognized that reconciling the competing interests of various groups was what legislation was all about






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






39. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 required states in the covered jurisdiction to attain _________________ from the Attorney General before making changes to voting standards - practice - or procedure






40. Department established in 1988 by President G.H. Bush.

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41. Includes the 13th - 14th - and 15th Amendments. Abolished slavery and guaranteed due process and equal protection to all citizens.






42. The 24th amendment banned _____________ - making it harder for states to discriminate against poor and minority voters.






43. Cabinet department responsible for collective bargaining and union activity. Established in 1913






44. Information sent out in order to observe the reaction of an audience. Used by politicians who deliberately leak information on a policy change under consideration.






45. The 23rd Amendment guaranteed voting rights to whom?






46. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






47. Representatives serve ____ year terms






48. First Roman Catholic elected President.






49. Political strategists believe that presidential elections will normally be won or lost in _______________states.






50. Literally - a 'friend of the court' brief - filed by an individual or organization to present arguements in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case