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. Individual contributions to PACs are limited to ______________ dollars per candidate per election with primaries - general and special elections counting separately.






2. The FCC's equal time policy applies to _____________.






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






4. PACs may donate a ______________ amount of indirect or in-kind donations to a campaign. (Ex. placing ads to support their candidate)






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






6. Amendment that delegated the election of Senators to popular vote.






7. 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.






8. Number of original cabinet positions under George Washington.






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






10. 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.






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






12. While the voting rights act of 1965 did direct the Attorney General to investigate the constitutionality of poll taxes and prohibit literacy tests - it did not expressly prohibit _____________.






13. The Articles of Confederation established a ________________ legislature.






14. After hearings are complete - a congressional subcommittee will usually determine a bill's future in final deliberations known as






15. A group of people - chosen by poll-takers - that is representative of the universe that is being polled.






16. The belief that all people possess certain basic rights that may not be abridged by government.






17. 6 In the view of Robert L. Lineberry - policy analysts focus on the _______________.






18. _____________ is responsible for monetary policy.






19. First Executive Branch






20. A federal program established in 1965 to provide hospital and medical services to older people through the Social Security system.






21. Germany - Switzerland - and India are examples of countries with a _______________ system of government.






22. This house committee is responsible for Supervising the authority of the federal government to borrow money - Raising the revenue required to finance the federal government by levying taxes - Overseeing Social Security and other social insurance prog






23. First governing document of the Plymouth Colony establishing freedom of religion.






24. A legislator who automatically mirrors the will of the majority of his or her constituents.






25. A policy of avoiding foreign involvement.






26. The average voter turnout between 1960 and 2004 was __________ percent






27. A judicial opinion agreed to by a majority of the members of a court. A majority opinion sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision.






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






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






30. ______________________is responsible for the management of the federal debt and the printing of currency. It is the major fiscal policy agency.






31. The Jacksonian Era marked an important change in the process used to nominate Presidential candidates with the emergence of party _________________ - eliminating caucuses.






32. This controversial clause of the 9th Amendment has allowed government to expand rights to suit its needs.






33. Law intended to promote free competition in the market place by outlawing monopolies






34. This may be done by a national constitutional convention called by Congress on the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures OR By the passage of a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress






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






36. This powerful House committee is in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor.






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






38. New Jersey v. TLO (1985) established that school authorities may search students without _____________ as long as they are reasonable.






39. James Madison proposed to deal with the threat of political factions by ______________________.






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






41. Age Requirement for the Senate






42. Voting based on looking back and making judgments about the way things have gone and the kind of government experienced during a political leader's time in office.






43. Procedure typically requiring 3/5 vote of the entire Senate to end a filibuster.






44. This body of government has final authority on the meaning of the Constitution.






45. In Schenck v. US (1919) - The Supreme Court ruled that government may prohibit speech that creates an immediate threat of criminal action. Essentially established different standards for speech during wartime than in peacetime. Thus - establishing th






46. The concept that all people are of equal worth - even if not of equal ability.






47. The way things should be by law






48. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






49. Compromise between the large states and small states that established the bicameral Legislature consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives. Also included 3/5 compromise on the status of slaves in representation.






50. In 1978 - the Supreme Court - in the 'seven dirty words' case - ruled that the government has the right to prohibit the broadcasting of _______________.