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. Legislative house whose members were intended to represent the people.






2. Permitted court authorized wire-tapping and bugging by federal - state - and local authorities and use of such evidence in trial. Later reversed by the Supreme Court based on 4th Amendment rights.






3. A system - until modified and reformed in the 1970s - that automatically resulted in the selection as committee chair of those members of the majority party in Congress who had the longest continuous service on a committee.






4. This controversial clause of the 9th Amendment has allowed government to expand rights to suit its needs.






5. 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.






6. Number of original cabinet positions under George Washington.






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






8. 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.






9. The practice of victorious politicians to reward their followers with jobs. Also known as the spoils system.






10. After a bill is assigned to a committee - the next step is typically a ______________.






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






12. If 10 days remain in session and the president does not sign an act of Congress - the law is ___________.






13. Cabinet department responsible for insuring mortgages and providing housing subsidies. Established in 1965






14. Which historical figure described democracy as 'the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time?'






15. A provision of the Federal Communications Act that requires broadcasters to provide the same amount of exposure to all legally qualified political candidates.






16. An economic system in which the factors of production are owned by the publicand operate for the welfare of all.






17. Most modern political scientists believe there is ________________ between politics and government.






18. Minor criminal offenses - such as speeding.






19. 6 In the view of Robert L. Lineberry - policy analysts focus on the _______________.






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






21. A registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his own party affiliation. When voters do not register with a party before the primary - it is called a pick-a-party primary because the voter can select which party's primary he or she w






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






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






24. Unwritten law based on custom and tradition.






25. State legislation designed to outlaw the union shop - passed by 21 states acting under Section 14B of the federal Taft-Hartley Act.






26. Law intended to promote free competition in the market place by outlawing monopolies






27. Polls taken as people leave voting places. In the past - television networks sometimes used these polls to predict election outcomes before the polls close. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to project the winner in a state until the major






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






29. Things government decides to do - example: taxation - crime control - national defense - education - etc.






30. A decision of the Supreme Court cannot be ___________.






31. The gap between the government's income and outlays.






32. Elects the President if no candidate receives 270 Electoral College votes.






33. In the last 30 years - voter turnout among American 18- to 24-year-olds has been






34. 19th century case establishing that the Bill of Rights applied only to the federal government - upheld until the 20th century. Ruling allowed stated to engage in activities such as establishing state churches and denying public office to people of ce






35. These courts only hear appeals on cases from lower courts.






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






37. The 1892 platform of the Populist party repudiating laissez-faire and demanding economic and political reform






38. 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






39. Number of Senators elected at large per state -






40. Each Senate committee may have ________ subcommittees.






41. The philosophy that government should intervene as little as possible in economic affairs.






42. The way things actually are.






43. These party members tend to be ideologues who put issues ahead of winning elections and withhold support from candidates who do not share their stance on issues. Very active in special interest groups and caucuses within the party. Willing to break a






44. A course of action chosen by government officials






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






46. In addition to the doctrine of implied powers - Chief Justice Marshall - in his decision in the Supreme Court case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - established the key concept of:






47. Puerto Rico has ____________ status.






48. Presides over any impeachment trial.






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






50. 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.