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. A group of people - chosen by poll-takers - that is representative of the universe that is being polled.






2. The right of the Supreme Court - under the Constitution - to hear certain kinds of cases directly - such as cases involving foreign diplomats - or cases in which one of the 50 states is a party.






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






4. A technique polling organizations use in which several people from the same neighborhood are interviewed.






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






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






7. These party members are highly involved in the electoral process. Donate funds to party and candidates - demand a voice in state party agendas and tend to have a strong belief in their party's ideology.






8. 1946 Act requiring bureaucratic agencies to appeal to the affected parties before adopting new policies. Legislative check on Bureaucracy.






9. Elections that reflect the basic party identification of the voters.






10. Individual contributions to PACs are limited to ______________ dollars per candidate per election with primaries - general and special elections counting separately.






11. These party members take active non-leadership roles such as working polls or contributing money to campaigns. Tend to compromise on important issues and are mostly concerned about winning elections.






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






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






14. Federal categorical grants in which the granting agency has much discretion over how the recipient spends the money.






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






16. Constitutional protection of the accused to not be tried for the same crime twice.






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






18. Government branch established in Article I of the Constitution.






19. Presidential management model requiring the President to have strong leadership skills and a keen eye for detail. FDR and JFK were well known for this style of leadership.






20. A court decision in an earlier case with facts and legal issues similar to a dispute currently before a court.






21. Units of government under the president - within the executive branch - that are not part of a cabinet department.






22. 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 iron triangle.






23. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and cooperate.






24. The appropriation of government spending for projects that are intended primarily to benefit particular constituents - such as those in marginal seats or campaign contributors.






25. In addition to overseeing the activities of one or more federal agencies - a ___________________may also serve as the authorizing committee for federal agencies' programs and operations.






26. Congress' first step towards allocating funds






27. This may be done by a national constitutional convention called by Congress on the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures OR By the passage of a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress






28. The Medicaid and Food Stamp programs are examples of two very large






29. A system of voter registration in which voters must register every year or at other stated intervals.






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






31. 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.






32. Theory that a government requires the consent of the governed.






33. This 1973 ruling gave local communities the authority to determine obscenity - established three part test for obscene material. To qualify as obscene - speech must be considered obscene by the 'average' person - depict or describe material that is a






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






35. Walter DeVries and Lance Tarrance have concluded that in many elections the outcome is determined by ______________.






36. The President's role in the armed forces which during the 20th century has allowed Presidents to circumvent Congress' refusal to declare war.






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






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






39. 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.






40. A device that allows the House of Representatives to conduct its business with fewer restrictions on debate and a quorum of only 100 members.






41. In California v. Avecedo (1991) - The Supreme Court established that authorities may search ____________________ without a warrant providing reasonable suspicion.






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






43. According to the Constitution - the electors in the Electoral College shall be appointed in a manner to be determined by the






44. When the minority party becomes stronger than the majority party - usually the result of winning a critical election.






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






46. Infamous 1735 English case established the precedent for Freedom of the Press in the US.






47. 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.






48. Early civil rights leader established the Niagara Movement and helped to establish the NAACP.






49. Tips the balance between two leading candidates by attracting a minority of voters who otherwise might have voted for one of the leading candidates.






50. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is an example of an