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. Number of Senators elected at large per state -






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






3. 1946 Act requiring bureaucratic agencies to appeal to the affected parties before adopting new policies. Legislative check on Bureaucracy.






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






5. A philosophy that the Supreme Court should avoid constitutional questions when possible and uphold acts of Congress unless they clearly violate a specific section of the Constitution.






6. Government employees who publicly expose evidence of official waste or corruption that they have learned about in the course of their duties.






7. The response of the rest of society to actions by the authorities.






8. This 1957 judgement prohibited pornography material as utterly without redeeming social significance - later reversed in Miller v. California






9. Makes sure that funds are used safely and wisely. They oversee the state's financial records






10. When neither political party is dominant.






11. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to release these until a majority of polling places had closed in each state






12. Decides which bills will be considered.






13. Cabinet department that includes the FAA and the National Hwy Traffic Safety Administration. Established in 1966.






14. In presidential campaigns - federal matching funds are provided to candidates who ______________.






15. A method available in most states that allows voters - in effect - to 'veto' a bill passed by the legislature or to accept or reject a proposal - such as a bond issue - made by a government agency.






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






17. Devolutionary system in which the national government returns tax dollars to the state and local governments primarily in the form of block grants.






18. The net balance or relationship between total income and total expenditures by the nation in its dealings with the rest of the world - including trade - loans - and investments.






19. Prompted by FDR's 4th election to the Presidency - the 22nd Amendment limited the number of Presidential terms to _____ terms.






20. An opinion of one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion of the court which gives rise to its judgment.






21. Designed to protect the individual against the arbitrary power of the state.






22. Number of Federal District courts across 50 states - DC and Puerto Rico.






23. A White House council created under the National Security Act of 1947 to advise the president and help coordinate American military and foreign policy.






24. Define US Citizenship as any person born or naturalized in the United States.






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






26. Contacts - coalitions - and interactions across national boundaries






27. Article II of the Constitution establishes the ______________ branch.






28. Cabinet positions must be ____________ by the Senate






29. Baby boomers - women - and voters with higher levels of education tend to have a ____________ voter turnout.






30. Libel - obscenity - fighting words - and commercial speech - which are not entitled to constitutional protection in all circumstances.






31. Most likely to board a foreign ship suspected of drug trafficking at a U.S. port






32. A political candidate who is thought to have only an outside chance of gaining the nomination.






33. A method of amending state constitutions under which proposed constitutional amendments can be placed on the ballot if enough signatures are obtained on a petition. Almost half the states also employ the initiative on the ballot to allow voters to en






34. This event was an important factor in creating the climate for a new Constitution.

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35. The strongest factor contributing to an individual's political socialization tends to be






36. Most Americans support ______________ primarily as part of their criticism of PACs






37. _______________ indicates a citizens' faith and trust in government and their own belief that they can understand and influence political affairs






38. This article of the Constitution establishes the Executive Branch.






39. Presides over any impeachment trial.






40. While the verbiage of the 4th Amendment is vague as to what constitutes 'reasonable'. Police departments must rely on _____________; they cannot act on unfounded suspicion.






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






42. An offical who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator






43. In a 1943 case - the Supreme Court upheld the right to refuse to salute the American flag on the basis of the constitutional guarantee of _________________.






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






45. The policy established after the Second World War that America must take an active leadership role in world affairs






46. ________________ of the Constitution dictates how the Constitution shall be amended.






47. Gave authority over atomic energy from military to civilians.






48. Impact elections by siphoning off votes from major parties spoiling a party's chance in a close race.






49. Powers of the national government that flow from its enumerated powers and the 'elastic clause' of the Constitution.






50. 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.