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. The 23rd Amendment guaranteed voting rights to whom?






2. Considered the most sacred right in American history. Colonists felt oppressed by the tyranny of the crown but were unable to speak up about it for fear of repercussion.






3. President requires their approval to appoint judges - ambassadors and other high officials.






4. Guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial.






5. The right to privacy is ___________ in the Constitution.






6. Capital punishment is also known as the _________________.






7. In this essay - James Madison recognized that reconciling the competing interests of various groups was what legislation was all about






8. Federal laws limit the amount of ___________ that can be donated directly to campaign coffers.






9. This 1963 case extended the right to counsel to all felony cases.






10. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






11. Requires that a suspect in a federal case be arraigned without unnecessary delay.






12. Requires reporting of financial information by companies with publicly traded securities






13. A law passed by Congress in 1973 in an effort to set a time limit on the use of combat forces abroad by a president.






14. Which form of registration prevails in all but a few states?






15. The principle of civilian control of the military - based on the clear constitutional power of the president as supreme commander of the armed forces.






16. In Reynolds v. US (1879) - the Supreme Court denied this right to Reynolds because his religion's practice of polygamy violated federal law.






17. A legislature with only one house.






18. In _______________ cases such as Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978) - the Supreme Court has upheld that while Affirmative action policies are legal - race and gender cannot be the only determining factors.






19. Leader of the House of Representatives - elected by the majority party. 2nd in line of succession for the Presidency.






20. 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






21. The Supreme Court holds _____________ jurisdiction in cases against the US - ambassadors - public ministers - and consuls.






22. Lawsuit brought by an individual or group of people on behalf of all those similarly situated






23. In the year 2000 - the Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America had a constitutional right to ban _____________ members.






24. The doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group






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






26. In charge of all state funds. Supervises the collection of taxes and payment of state's bill






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






28. 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






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






30. An economic philosophy that advocates both tax and budget cuts to increase incentives to produce in order to expand the total supply of the nation's goods and services.






31. Special courts assigned to deal with specific legislative issues such as taxes - military appeals - and international trade.






32. Executive check on Legislative Branch.






33. According to the Constitution - the electors in the Electoral College shall be appointed in a manner to be determined by the






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






35. Tax legislation must originate in this house.






36. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






37. 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.






38. Agenda that includes issues that affect the daily lives of the people.






39. The primary purpose of _______________consolidate the nation's disability laws and provide for strong federal enforcement of a strengthened disability rights mandate






40. Things government decides to do - example: taxation - crime control - national defense - education - etc.






41. ____________________ define Congressional voting districts acting within constraints set down by Congress and the Supreme Court.






42. Approximately 33% of American voters identify themselves as _______________ party.






43. Legislature bills that affect all citizens.






44. A centralized system of government - such as that of France - where most of the important policy decisions are made by a central government.






45. The 1803 case in which the Supreme Court - by declaring a portion of an act of Congress unconstitutional - first firmly set forth and established the power of judicial review.






46. A policy of avoiding foreign involvement.






47. After analyzing 1 -795 platform pledges over a 10-year period - Gerald M. Pomper concluded that almost ____________ of these promises were fulfilled






48. Urban or rural areas in which businesses are encouraged to locate because of tax breaks and other incentives.






49. The fundamental rights of a free society that are protected by the Bill of Rights against the power of the government - such as freedom of speech - religion - press - and assembly.






50. 14th Amendment is often used to support the right to ____________.