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 vote in the House of Representatives in which the position of each member is noted and published in the Congressional Record.






2. The fundamental rights of a free society that are protected by the Bill of Rights against the power of the government - such as freedom of speech - religion - press - and assembly.






3. Article I - Section 8 - of the Constitution - which allows Congress to make all laws that are 'necessary and proper' to carry out the powers of the Constitution.






4. A relaxation of international tensions.






5. Number of Electoral College votes required to win the Presidency.






6. The vote cast by a person who does not like either candidate and so votes for the less objectionable of the two - putting a clothespin over his nose to keep out the unpleasant stench






7. Congress' first step towards allocating funds






8. The Immigration Act of 1965 abolished the practice of _______________ allowing more diversity among immigrants.






9. Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.






10. Electoral college system and other campaign practices make it exceedingly difficult for even popular ______________ candidates to successfully run for the presidency.






11. 1946 Act requiring bureaucratic agencies to appeal to the affected parties before adopting new policies. Legislative check on Bureaucracy.






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






13. The Democrats control over politics during the 20th century ended with this President's unpopular handling of the Vietnam War.






14. Important during the Revolution - these bodies organized by the local governments of the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolution for the purposes of coordinating written communication outside of the colony.






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






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






17. Senators have a __________ rate of re-election than Representatives primarily because of their larger constituency and lack of direct involvement with them.






18. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments provide for _____________.






19. The Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 restructured the number of ______________ in both the House and Senate.






20. 1798 Act that criminalized speech that was derisive to the government. Later ruled unconstitutional - Andrew Jackson issued blanket pardon in 1801






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






22. Decides which bills will be considered.






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






24. 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:






25. 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






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






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






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






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






30. Executive office responsible for helping the President write the federal budget and monitoring federal spending.






31. 6 In the view of Robert L. Lineberry - policy analysts focus on the _______________.






32. A plan to provide billions of dollars of American aid to Western Europe to speed its economic and social recovery after the Second World War.






33. Act of exchanging favors for mutual gain






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






35. The amount of money available when the government's income is greater than what it spends in a fiscal year.






36. Literally meaning 'right of soil' - confers citizenship by place of birth.






37. Powers of government that the national government may exercise simply because it exists as a government - such as the right to conduct foreign relations.






38. 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






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






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






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






42. Also known as the Indiana ballot - lists the candidates of each party in a row or column - beside or under the party emblem. In most cases - the voter can make one mark at the top of the column - or pull one lever - and thus vote for all the party's






43. A 1972 treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union limiting the number of defensive missiles each country could build. In 2001 President George W. Bush withdrew the United States from the treaty.






44. An economy in which most economic decisions result from the interaction of buyers and sellers in markets - but in which the government plays a significant role in the allocation of resources.






45. The ___________ aspects of Federalism include: diversity/diffusion of power - more access points for political participation - fostering of experimentation and innovation - and allowing local governments to manage local problems effectively






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






47. Dissenting Democrats focused on foreign affairs. Aligned with the US Communist Party.

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48. Age Requirement for the Senate






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






50. These voters tend to have a high voter turnout because of their strong since of civic duty due to growing up during an era of political and civil unrest.