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. In his historic decision in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - Chief Justice Marshall established the principle of _____________.






2. The median income of women is ___________ percent of men.






3. Voters tendency to identify with a party that shares their views on important issues ignoring the party's stance on issues they deem less important. to be life-long unless there is a major change in the party's platform. 2. Influenced by ra






4. Includes expressive conduct/assembly/actions and symbolic behavior (ex. Picketing or burning the flag) Based on our country history of symbolic acts such as the Boston Tea Party - courts almost always uphold symbolic acts of speech unless they are cr






5. David R. Mayhew has suggested that this influences congressional behavior. The ________________ is the relationship between members of Congress and their constituents.






6. First Roman Catholic elected President.






7. A policy that takes something away from one person and gives it to someone else -






8. The practice that allows senators to delay or even kill floor action on legislation - a nomination - or other matters by asking their party leaders not to schedule them.






9. The individuals - institutions - and processes that make the rules for society and possess the power to enforce them.






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






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






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






13. The term 'Reagan Democrats' has become a generic term for






14. The view advocated by Supreme Court Justices Hugo Black and William O. Douglas that there are provisions of the Bill of Rights that cannot be diluted by judicial decisions.






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






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






17. Presidential management model requiring the President to have strong leadership skills and a keen eye for detail. FDR and JFK were well known for this style of leadership.






18. 6 In the view of Robert L. Lineberry - policy analysts focus on the _______________.






19. Voters in a political district - or supporters of an elected official; or interest groups or client groups that are either directly regulated by the bureaucracy or vitally affected by its decisions.






20. Dayton Board of Education v. Brinkman (1979) upheld that bussing programs were an acceptable way to enforce ______________________.






21. Established the Federal Reserve Bank - responsible for conducting the nation's monetary policy - maintaining the stability of the financial system - supervising and regulating banking institutions - and protecting the credit rights of consumers - and






22. Funds spent for or against a candidate by committees not formally connected to the candidate's campaign and without coordination with the campaign.






23. Established in 1947 as a combined Department of War and Navy.






24. Groups whose views serve as guidelines to an individual's opinion. See also primary groups and secondary groups.






25. 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






26. Article VI - Paragraph 2 - of the Constitution - which declares that the Constitution - and the laws and treaties of the United States made under it - are 'the supreme Law of the Land' and prevail over any conflicting state constitutions or laws.






27. Cabinet department responsible for the management of public lands - wildlife - natural resources - and Native American affairs. Established in 1849






28. Federal and State Courts function in a _____________manner so that federal courts may receive appeals from state courts.






29. Court cases that concern crimes committed against the public order.






30. The issue of slavery split the Democratic Party into what two factions?






31. This was amended in 1985 to prohibit vote dilution without requiring the proof of discriminatory purpose demanded by the original Act.






32. Broadly worded warrants used by British soldiers during colonial America to search for contraband and prevent smuggling.






33. An issue on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party or candidate with conditions - goals - or symbols the electorate universally approves or disapproves of. Examples of such issues are economic prosperi






34. 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.






35. First African American appointed to the Supreme Court






36. Presidential management model in which the Chief of Staff plays a prominent role as the head of a military style chain of command. Used successfully by Reagan and Eisenhower.






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






38. The 1776 pamphlet by Thomas Paine that prompted King George III's Prohibitory Act and the sending of mercenaries to the colonies.






39. The 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act banned contributions of soft money to______________.






40. A legal principle of fair dealing - which may provide preventive measures and legal remedies that are unavailable under existing common law and statutory law.






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






42. In WV State BOE v Barnette (1943) - the Supreme Court ruled that compelling citizens to salute the flag violates the principles of a free society - upholding which 1st Amendment rights?






43. The President's role in the armed forces which during the 20th century has allowed Presidents to circumvent Congress' refusal to declare war.






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






45. A form of city government under which a council - usually elected on a nonpartisan ticket - hires a professional city manager - who runs the city government and has power to hire and fire officials.






46. The single biggest item in campaign spending at the presidential level is ___________________.






47. A system in which the national government provides grants-in-aid to states using conditions to elicit control.






48. A written opinion by some of the judges of a court which agrees with the majority of the court but might arrive there in a different manner.






49. 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






50. A powerful alliance of mutual benefit among an agency or unit of the government - an interest group - and a committee or subcommittee of Congress. Also called a triangle or iron triangle.