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. Spending determined by the number of qualified recipients and their legally determined need is called






2. The action - or actions - taken by government to carry out a policy.






3. Executive office responsible for negotiating trade with foreign powers.






4. _____________ was the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in controlling New York City politics and helping immigrants (most notably the Irish) rise up in American politics from the 1790s to the 1960s.






5. 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






6. The sum of the goals - decisions - and actions that govern a nation's relations with the rest of the world.






7. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






8. An extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion






9. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendment to bills or provides that only memebers of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments






10. Limitations on this freedom including prohibition of defamation and obscenity - limitation on commercial speech - and restriction of inciting words that may cause immediate danger.






11. In the 1925 Gitlow case - the Supreme Court began a process of ______________ of the Bill of Rights to the states.






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






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






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. States that states may draw reasonable distinctions between the rights of residents and non-residents (ex. In state and out of state tuition)






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






17. The ruling in this case provided that the government must prove a threat to national security in order to impose prior restraint.






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






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






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






21. Petition that - if signed by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives - will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration






22. Responsible for assigning bills to committee in the Senate.






23. Responsible for further investigation - hearings - and amendment to a bill






24. 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






25. Which powers of the national government flow from its enumerated powers and from the 'elastic clause' of the Constitution?






26. Clause of the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 10) intended to prohibit state governments from modifying contracts made between individuals; interpreted as prohibiting state governments from taking actions that adversely affect property rights.






27. 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






28. Programs mandated by law and not subject to annual review by Congress or the president.






29. The most important committees - always assembled and delegated with the responsibility of handling all bills under their concern. Includes the Ways and Means - Appropriations - Budget - Rules and Agriculture Committees.






30. In a political campaign - the surest way of reaching the largest number of voters is usually _____________.






31. Charge of misconduct brought against a government official.






32. The responsibility of the President to appoint federal judges when vacancies occur on the bench is referred to as






33. Minimum number of voters per state in the Electoral College.






34. An immigrant who wished to become a citizen may be naturalized after living in the US for ___ years.






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






36. Authority based on an individual's outstanding traits - which attract followers






37. _____________ are expected to specialize in a few policy areas rather than claim expertise in the whole range of legislative concerns






38. Constitutionally empowered to appoint judges - ambassadors - and other high officials - Constitutionally empowered to make treaties with foreign countries.






39. Powers specifically outlined in the Constitution as assigned to one branch of government.






40. Government regulation of the economy through its control over taxes and government spending. Controlled by the Department of Treasury.






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






42. 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






43. Legislature bills that affect only a small group of citizens.






44. A compulsory national insurance program - financed by taxes on employers and employees. The insurance falls into four categories: old-age and survivors insurance - disability insurance - Medicare - and unemployment insurance.






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






46. 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.






47. Federal grants in which the recipient has a lot of discretion over how the money is spent. These grants are issued in support of general government functions such as education and law enforcement.






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






49. Concept of government by the people in which everyone is free to vote - but normally whoever gets the most votes wins the election and represents all the people - including those who voted for the losing candidate.






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