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. 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'






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






3. Guarantees that any rights not explicitly outlined heretofore are reserved for the states.






4. Requires the Electoral College to vote for President and Vice President separately.






5. First Roman Catholic elected President.






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






7. Senators are re-elected every ___ years with 1/3 of the Senate being up for election every 2 years.






8. Powerful standing committee that puts bills on the legislative calendar and establishes the processes by which the bill will be discussed on the floor.






9. According to this nineteenth-century British peer and historian - 'power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'






10. The practice under which victorious politicians reward their followers with jobs.






11. A government that undertakes responsibility for the welfare of its citizens through programs in public health and public housing and pensions and unemployment compensation etc.






12. The tendency of presidents to lose support over time.






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






14. Smith v. Allwight (1994) was the first vase in which the Supreme Court upheld the voting rights of _____________ in state primary elections.






15. An act of legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them without benefit of a trial. Constitutionally prohibited.






16. When the President's own party gains power and influence - it more puts pressure on the President to conform to the will of the party - leading to________________ between the President and the party to define their public identities






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






18. The principle that the government - as provided in the Fifth Amendment - can take property for 'public use' with 'just compensation' to the owners.






19. This 1967 Supreme Court case prohibited illegal eavesdropping and extending the zone of privacy to include the home - office - person - and immediate public arena.






20. The 1896 case of Plessy v. Fergusan established the racial segregation policy of __________________.






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






22. Judicial Check on Legislative Branch. Not specifically outlined in the Constitution - but established in the case of Marbury v. Madison through the application of the Supremacy Clause in Article VI.






23. Charge of misconduct brought against a government official.






24. First civil rights organization to use non-violent tactics to promote racial equality and desegregation






25. Age Requirement for House of Representatives.






26. Courts of original jurisdiction in federal crimes - civil suits under federal law - civil suits between citizens of different states where the amount in question exceeds $50 -000 - bankruptcy proceedings - cases involving some federal administrative






27. Defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing - pictures






28. What principle - contained in the Fourth Amendment - protects a citizen from unwarranted search and seizure?






29. 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.






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






31. Presidential management model in which corporate CEO tactics are used employing committees - task forces - and special advisors. Successfully utilized by Clinton and G W Bush.






32. Members of this party typically include Conservative Christian groups - higher socio-economic classes - middle-class white collar - and suburban voters.






33. President Hoover's laissez-faire approach to the economy during the Great Depression left many poor voters disenfranchised by the Republican Party. They left to join the _______________ Party.






34. President requires their approval to appoint judges - ambassadors and other high officials.






35. Agencies that were at one time semi-autonomous but that through legislation have been placed under presidential control since 1945.






36. To negotiate a complex and politically sensitive trade treaty - a President will often






37. Which of the following factors is likely to be the weakest indicator of an individual's political beliefs and opinions? Age - Race - Intelligence - or Religion






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






39. 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






40. 1963 ruling prohibiting prayer in public schools.






41. Responsibilities include: Coordinating the nation's intelligence activities and Evaluating and disseminating intelligence that affects national security






42. Committees of Congress composed of both representatives and senators.






43. 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






44. First African American appointed to the Supreme Court






45. A federal law passed by Congress in 1939 to restrict political activities by federal workers. The law prevents federal employees while on duty from taking an active part in party politics or campaigns and also bars federal employees from running for






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






47. Its the responsibility of ___________ committees of a political party to solidify the party within each state and organize primary elections






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






49. Eisenhower's philosophy of being liberal in all things human and being conservative with all things fiscal. Appealed to both Republicans and Democrats.






50. Washington v. Chrisman (1982) established the _________________ - allowing police officers to seize evidence without a warrant if the evidence is in obvious sight.