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






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






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






4. The 1st Amendment states that government cannot issue ______________ - censoring publications before they are published.






5. A writ designed to protect against illegal imprisonment by requiring that a person who is detained be brought before a judge for investigation.






6. A primary in which any registered voter is able to vote for candidates from more than one party. A voter - for example - may vote for a Democrat for U.S. senator and for a Republican for governor. In 2000 - the Supreme Court struck down the blanket p






7. In Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969) - the Supreme Court established precedents for ___________________ in schools and government institutions.






8. The demands of and supports for a political system






9. These candidates win re-election to the House 80-90% of the time.






10. Act of exchanging favors for mutual gain






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






12. Bills that benefit legislators' home districts - or powerful corporate contributors - with sometimes wasteful or unnecessary public works or other projects.






13. When the population's overall feeling of political efficacy is low - voter turnout is _______.






14. A course of action decided upon by a government






15. The spread of nuclear weapons to new nations






16. In some cases where blicity too much publicity surrounds a trial - courts have granted _______________ to help ensure a fair trial. One example is the trial of Timothy McVeigh for the Oklahoma City Bombing.






17. Political strategists believe that presidential elections will normally be won or lost in _______________states.






18. The Supreme Court is the only judicial body that may hear disputes between _________________.






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






20. The oldest House committee still in existence.






21. Form of obstruction in the Senate where an attempt is made to infinitely extend debate upon a proposal in order to delay the progress or completely prevent a vote on the proposal taking place.






22. Powers of government exercised independently by both the federal and state governments - such as the power to tax.






23. Legislative house responsible for impeachment trials.






24. After a bill has passed both the House and Senate - it goes to _________________ where any differences between the house bill and the senate bill are resolved before sending to the President for signature






25. This amendment applied the Bill of Rights to states.






26. Which branch has the power to stop an executive order?






27. Today the South is is a two-party battleground - in which the ______________ often have the upper hand






28. Clause in the 14th Amendment that forbids any state to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. The 5th Amendment also imposes this limitation on the national government.






29. A place of work in which only union members may be hired.






30. Until the law was changed in 2002 - the term described unregulated campaign funds not subject to the limits of federal law because they went to party committees and not directly to candidates. The 2002 law banned contributions of soft money to nation






31. The elected position of President pro tempore of the Senate is almost always held by






32. The head of a national political party






33. Beginning with the election of Abraham Lincoln - the period between 1860 and the Great Depression was dominated by this political party.






34. 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






35. Passed in 1883 - it created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.






36. Laws that were designed to segregate black and white Americans and give legal recognition to discrimination.






37. Executive Check on the Legislative Branch.






38. Members of the ______________ committee of a political party work to maintain influence during non election years through congressional campaign committees.






39. Guarantees that citizens cannot be compelled by the government to act in a way that is contrary to their religious beliefs. (ex. Conscientious objection to military service required by the draft is the execution of ______________)






40. Cabinet department responsible for regulating and promoting trade and maintaining the census Established in 1913..






41. The 15th Amendment - also know as _________________ - was intended to help recently freed blacks from unconstitutional state laws designed to circumvent federal laws.






42. 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.






43. This called for three-fifths of all slaves in a state were counted for purposes of apportioning representation in the House of Representatives.






44. Cabinet department responsible for managing school lunch programs and food safety. Established in 1862.






45. Organizations or groups - such as labor unions or fraternal - professional - or religious groups - that may influence an individual's opinion.






46. 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






47. The total amount of money that the United States owes to its creditors.






48. Political commercials that strongly attack a rival candidate.






49. People may vote in a party's primary only if they are registered members of that party. Independents cannot participate. Note that because some political parties name themselves independent - the term 'non-partisan' often replaces 'independent' when






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