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






2. Legislative house responsible for impeachment trials.






3. These party members are highly involved in the electoral process. Donate funds to party and candidates - demand a voice in state party agendas and tend to have a strong belief in their party's ideology.






4. Executive check on Legislative Branch.






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






6. This term refers to the gain in the polls that a candidate often enjoys after a national convention






7. Overturning unjust laws is the responsibility of _________________.






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






9. 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.






10. This clause of the 1st amendment establishes a 'wall of separation' between church and state.






11. The right of the Supreme Court - under the Constitution - to hear certain kinds of cases directly - such as cases involving foreign diplomats - or cases in which one of the 50 states is a party.






12. Defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing - pictures






13. A method of polling - considered less reliable than a random sample - in which interviewers are instructed to question members of a particular group in proportion to their percentage in the population as a whole.






14. In the last 30 years - voter turnout among American 18- to 24-year-olds has been






15. The drawing of the lines of congressional districts - or of any other political district - in order to favor one political party or group over another.






16. Programs are designed to give preferential access to education - employment - health care - or social welfare to groups of people - especially minorities and women - who have historically been discriminated against.






17. The separation of people by race.






18. First proposed in 1789 - this amendment passed in 1992 prohibits Congress from raising their own pay. Pay raises may not take affect until the beginning of the next term.






19. In lieu of an indictment - the state prosecutor may file a _______________ charging the person with a crime.






20. The amount of money available when the government's income is greater than what it spends in a fiscal year.






21. This contraversial legal technicality intended to protect civil liberties has allowed criminals to remain free when the courts refuse to admit evidence that may have been obtained illegally.






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






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






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






25. Judicial Check on Legislative Branch. Not specifically outlined in the Constitution - but established in the case of Marbury v. Madison through the application of the Supremacy Clause in Article VI.






26. A broadly based coalition that attempts to gain control of the government by winning elections in order to exercise power and reward its members.






27. Formerly known as the Anti-Federalist - this party lead by Thomas Jefferson advocated states rights pressing the causes of the common people and agrarian interest. Dominated the political arena until the Civil War.






28. The only instance in which the government can prohibit religious activities






29. _____________ was the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in controlling New York City politics and helping immigrants (most notably the Irish) rise up in American politics from the 1790s to the 1960s.






30. A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.






31. Puerto Rico has ____________ status.






32. The Immigration Act of 1965 abolished the practice of _______________ allowing more diversity among immigrants.






33. _____________ are expected to specialize in a few policy areas rather than claim expertise in the whole range of legislative concerns






34. 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.






35. The federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy)






36. A power of the president to kill a bill by taking no action (if Congress adjourns during the 10-day period after the president receives the bill). Some court rulings have suggested that a president may exercise a pocket veto only when Congress adjour






37. Loose - competitive relationships among policy experts - interest groups - congressional committees - and federal agencies. Many observers argue that these have replaced iron triangles.






38. Cabinet department responsible for managing school lunch programs and food safety. Established in 1862.






39. Laws must be administered in a fair manner.






40. As part of the negotiations concerning the Constitution - the South fought for and won an agreement forbidding the imposition of _______________.






41. A word that comes from two Greek roots - demos - 'the populace -' and kratia - 'rule'






42. Clause in the 14th Amendment that forbids any state to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. The 5th Amendment also imposes this limitation on the national government.






43. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and cooperate.






44. Term limit for House of Representatives.






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






46. The ___________ aspects of Federalism include: conflicts between state and national government - economic and racial discrimination - uneven enforcement of law - and dominance of local governments by special interest groups






47. Ruling by the Supreme Court in 1954 that racial segregation in public schools violates the Fourteenth Amendment's requirement of equal protection of the laws for all persons.






48. Federal grants in which the recipient has little discretion over how the money is spent. The national government sets narrowly defined rules for use of funds and often requires the states or local governments to provide matching funds. These grants a






49. The Supreme Court has sometimes used a narrow interpretation of the Establishment Clause allowing the government to provide aid to religious groups as long as it remains ______________ and does not promote one religion at the expense of another. This






50. Today the Senate operates with ____ standing and select committees. These select committees - however - are permanent in nature and are treated as standing committees under Senate rules.






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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