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 1st Amendment states that government cannot issue ______________ - censoring publications before they are published.






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






3. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






4. Laws on Schools - Marriage - and owning property;Licensee Lawyers - Doctors - and Teachers.






5. 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






6. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the concept of privacy included the right to a legal abortion?






7. First step in the Policy Making Cycle.






8. Freedoms that protect the individual from the government.






9. Information sent out in order to observe the reaction of an audience. Used by politicians who deliberately leak information on a policy change under consideration.






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






11. The oldest House committee still in existence.






12. Elections that may lead to a basic shift in the party identification of the electorate.






13. This type of government suits a large country with a diverse population






14. This amendment includes the due process clause - the equal protection clause - and gave rights to former slaves.






15. Proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 as an attempt to form a union of the colonies. Later used to help form the Articles of Confederation.






16. Federal grants in which the recipient has a lot of discretion over how the money is spent. These grants are issued in support of general government functions such as education and law enforcement.






17. In some cases where blicity too much publicity surrounds a trial - courts have granted _______________ to help ensure a fair trial. One example is the trial of Timothy McVeigh for the Oklahoma City Bombing.






18. An ideology that advocates limits on government power to address economic and social problems - relying instead on economic markets and individual initiative to address problems like health care and education - while promoting government involvement






19. Requires the Electoral College to vote for President and Vice President separately.






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






21. The 23rd Amendment guaranteed voting rights to whom?






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






23. According to this nineteenth-century British peer and historian - 'power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'






24. Colonies in which the proprietors (who had obtained their patents from the king) named the governors - subject to the king's approval.






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 term popularized by sociologist Floyd Hunter to describe the community leaders who he said determined policy in Atlanta - Georgia. More broadly - the term is used to describe 'power elites' generally.






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

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28. Groups named for the section of the Internal Revenue Service code under which they must report their expenditures. The tax-exempt groups were created to exploit a loophole in the law regulating campaign finance.






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






30. Belief in the value of strong government to provide economic secruity and protection for civil rights - combined with a belief in personal freedom from government intervention in social conduct






31. Under this governing document - national government lacked authority to set up tariffs - regulate commerce - levy taxes - control international relations - establish common currency






32. This author was highly influential on Thomas Jefferson - rejecting divine right - proposing that government is a social contract requiring the consent of the govern and establishing the concept of self-evident rights of life - liberty - and property.






33. The way things should be by law






34. The absent colony at the 2nd Continental Congress.






35. Population migration patterns since the second World War have increased the power of _____________.






36. In a political campaign - the surest way of reaching the largest number of voters is usually _____________.






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. Act of exchanging favors for mutual gain






39. The appropriation of government spending for projects that are intended primarily to benefit particular constituents - such as those in marginal seats or campaign contributors.






40. The total group from which poll-takers may select a random sample in order to measure public opinion.






41. The philosophy that government should intervene as little as possible in economic affairs.






42. 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.






43. The process by which individuals screen out messages that do not conform to their own biases






44. This called for three-fifths of all slaves in a state were counted for purposes of apportioning representation in the House of Representatives.






45. A coherent set of beliefs about politics - public policy - and public purpose. It helps give meaning to political event - personalities - and policies.






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






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






48. When neither political party is dominant.






49. Th joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the twelfth amendment






50. Legislature bills that affect only a small group of citizens.