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. Assistants to the Majority and Minority Leaders of both the House and Senate.






2. Requests from people or groups for health care for the aged - loans for college students - equal opportunity for minorities - and higher subsidies for farmers are examples of:






3. A philosophy that Supreme Court justices and other judges should boldly apply the Constitution to social and political questions.






4. In addition to overseeing the activities of one or more federal agencies - a ___________________may also serve as the authorizing committee for federal agencies' programs and operations.






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






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






7. Article I - Section 8 - of the Constitution - which allows Congress to make all laws that are 'necessary and proper' to carry out the powers of the Constitution.






8. Department established in 1988 by President G.H. Bush.

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9. 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






10. In California v. Avecedo (1991) - The Supreme Court established that authorities may search ____________________ without a warrant providing reasonable suspicion.






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






12. 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.






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






14. Process by which citizens propose an amendment by petition.






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






16. 1917 Reincarnation of the Sedition Act during WWI






17. The executive office established in response to intelligence lapses during WWI. Oversees American foreign policy and includes the President - Vice President - Secretary of State - Secretary of Defense and is lead by the National Security Advisor.






18. 'lame duck' amendment






19. Largest interest group in the US.






20. A registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his own party affiliation. When voters do not register with a party before the primary - it is called a pick-a-party primary because the voter can select which party's primary he or she w






21. Elections in which the majority party (according to party identification) is defeated in a temporary reversal.






22. The party-column ballot - or Indiana ballot - encourages _______________.






23. In 1872 - Susan B Anthony was arrested in Rochester - New York for






24. 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.






25. This category of interest groups has been the strongest and most effective in lobbying Washington






26. An interest group organization that represents a specific group of people (Ex. NAACP - AARP)






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






28. Overall spending targets set by the Congress.






29. A system - until modified and reformed in the 1970s - that automatically resulted in the selection as committee chair of those members of the majority party in Congress who had the longest continuous service on a committee.






30. In Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972) - the Supreme Court extended the right to counsel to those accused of misdemeanors if the defendant is _____________.






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






32. High School Dropouts - Blacks - Hispanics - Recent immigrants - and People under 25 or over 75 tend to have a _________ voter turnout.






33. 3 person executive panel responsible for helping the President develop an economic plan for the nation.






34. When the minority party becomes stronger than the majority party - usually the result of winning a critical election.






35. 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.






36. Each Senate committee may have ________ subcommittees.






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






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






39. A legislative leader of each party who is responsible for rounding up party members for important votes.






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






41. A group of writers - journalists - and critics who exposed corporate malfeasance and political corruption in the first decade of the 20th century.






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






43. These parties often emerge as off-shoots of major parties or as single-issue parties. They typically act as critic/innovator bringing attention to issues and influencing the platforms of the major parties.






44. The way things should be by law






45. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is an example of an






46. Most modern political scientists believe there is ________________ between politics and government.






47. Inherent powers of state governments to pass laws to protect health - safety - and welfare; the national government has no directly granted police powers but accomplishes the same goals through other delegated powers.






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






49. These courts only hear appeals on cases from lower courts.






50. Although camera are allowed in most trial courts - they are banned from ______________.