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






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






3. ________ of voters identify with one political party in advance of the campaign.






4. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






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






6. Guarantees the right to a civil trial by jury.






7. Urban or rural areas in which businesses are encouraged to locate because of tax breaks and other incentives.






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






9. The body composed of electors from the 50 states who formally have the power to elect the president and vice president of the United States. Each state has a number of electors and electoral votes equal to its number of senators and representatives i






10. Libel - obscenity - fighting words - and commercial speech - which are not entitled to constitutional protection in all circumstances.






11. Voters in a political district - or supporters of an elected official; or interest groups or client groups that are either directly regulated by the bureaucracy or vitally affected by its decisions.






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






13. 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






14. The practice that allows senators to delay or even kill floor action on legislation - a nomination - or other matters by asking their party leaders not to schedule them.






15. In the year 2000 - the Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America had a constitutional right to ban _____________ members.






16. A pluralist theory by C. Wright Mills where a small number of wealthy elite wield most of the power. Fundamental to all governments around the world - the elite rule while they make the lower classes feel like they are involved in democracy. The elit






17. A federal program established in 1965 to provide hospital and medical services to older people through the Social Security system.






18. In lieu of an indictment - the state prosecutor may file a _______________ charging the person with a crime.






19. Cabinet positions must be ____________ by the Senate






20. Population migration patterns since the second World War have increased the power of _____________.






21. Economists generally agree that the major responsibility for promoting prosperity and full employment falls on ________________.






22. Impact elections by siphoning off votes from major parties spoiling a party's chance in a close race.






23. Presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President. Position awarded to the longest serving Senator from the majority party. 3rd in line of succession for the Presidency.






24. 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.






25. This powerful House committee is in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor.






26. 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.






27. Most Americans support ______________ primarily as part of their criticism of PACs






28. The House appropriations committee has ___ subcommittees.






29. The ___________ aspects of Federalism include: conflicts between state and national government - economic and racial discrimination - uneven enforcement of law - and dominance of local governments by special interest groups






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






31. 1798 Act that criminalized speech that was derisive to the government. Later ruled unconstitutional - Andrew Jackson issued blanket pardon in 1801






32. The claim by presidents of an inherent right to withhold information from Congress and the judiciary.






33. A controversial law overwhelmingly passed by Congress in October 2001 - after the terrorist attacks of September 11 on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It greatly expanded the power of federal law enforcement authorities to move against suspe






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






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






36. Elections in which the majority party (according to party identification) is defeated in a temporary reversal.






37. 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.






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. Total number of Representatives apportioned to the states based on population and reapportioned with the census every 10 years






40. A series of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton - John Jay - and James Madison under the pseudonym Publius advocating the ratification of the United States Constitution.






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






42. The Articles of Confederation established a ________________ legislature.






43. The introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution - setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words - 'We the people of the United States - in order to form a more perfect union. ...'






44. The right to privacy is ___________ in the Constitution.






45. Compromise between the large states and small states that established the bicameral Legislature consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives. Also included 3/5 compromise on the status of slaves in representation.






46. This Supreme Court case infamously decided that a slave was not a citizen but property to be 'used in subservience to the interests - the convenience - or the will of his owner'






47. Dayton Board of Education v. Brinkman (1979) upheld that bussing programs were an acceptable way to enforce ______________________.






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






49. A written opinion by some of the judges of a court which agrees with the majority of the court but might arrive there in a different manner.






50. The 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act banned contributions of soft money to______________.