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. In the 1964 case of ____________ - the Supreme Court: established 'one person - one vote' -






2. Term limit for House of Representatives.






3. This amendment applied the Bill of Rights to states.






4. This rule established by US v. Leon (1984) angered civil liberties groups by allowing exception to the Exclusionary Rule in instances where probably cause may not fully exist.






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






6. Units of government under the president - within the executive branch - that are not part of a cabinet department.






7. Congress' first step towards allocating funds






8. The belief that one can understand politics and therefore participate in politics






9. Raise Public Awareness - Create Policy Agenda - Prioritize Agenda - Enact Policy - Public Evaluation






10. Members of the ______________ committee of a political party work to maintain influence during non election years through congressional campaign committees.






11. Guarantees the right to a civil trial by jury.






12. Overall spending targets set by the Congress.






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






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






15. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) - founded in 1932 by President Herbert Hoover to help combat the Great Depression - was the predecessor of which federal agencies?






16. The term most political scientists prefer to describe the bureaucratic process






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






18. Senators have a __________ rate of re-election than Representatives primarily because of their larger constituency and lack of direct involvement with them.






19. A method of amending state constitutions under which proposed constitutional amendments can be placed on the ballot if enough signatures are obtained on a petition. Almost half the states also employ the initiative on the ballot to allow voters to en






20. An economic system in which the factors of production are owned by the publicand operate for the welfare of all.






21. Responsible for determining which bills will be considered on the House floor - and when they will be considered.






22. 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






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






24. The overall public has a ___________ view of PACS in terms of bought votes and adding to the cost of running for office






25. Constitutionally required address by the President typically given in a joint session of Congress.






26. Legislative house whose members were intended to represent the people.






27. 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






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






29. 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.






30. In Sweatt v. Painter (1950) - The Supreme Court upheld that ___________________ was inherently not the case as is applied to the University of Texas Law School.






31. 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.






32. Economists generally agree that the major responsibility for promoting prosperity and full employment falls on ________________.






33. Members of this party typically include women who support liberal policies on abortion and equal pay - Jews - Catholics - Blacks and other minorities - Blue-collar working class - urban - labor unions - and intelligensia






34. A written opinion by some of the judges of a court which agrees with the majority of the court but might arrive there in a different manner.






35. Bills passed by Congress to pay for the spending it has authorized.






36. Government regulation of the economy through its control over the supply of money and the cost and availability of credit. Controlled by the Federal Reserve Board.






37. This 1972 Supreme Court case struck down all state laws allowing the death penalty stating that they allowed for too much discretion on the part of the judge and jury resulting in lack of consistent administration of the penalty.






38. Cabinet department responsible for the management of public lands - wildlife - natural resources - and Native American affairs. Established in 1849






39. In his historic decision in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - Chief Justice Marshall established the principle of _____________.






40. The ruling in this case provided that the government must prove a threat to national security in order to impose prior restraint.






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






42. The structure and set of regulations in place to control activity - usually in large organizations and government. it is represented by standardized procedure (rule-following) that dictates the execution of most or all processes within the body - for






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






44. Court cases that involve relations between individuals and organizations - such as a divorce action - or a suit for damages arising from an automobile accident or for violation of a business contract.






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






46. Lead by Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. Dedicated to defending federal authority and high tariffs. Gained supports of merchants - bankers - industrialists and planters.






47. Elects the President if no candidate receives 270 Electoral College votes.






48. If significant amendments are made to a bill during committee - the bill is sometimes given a new number as a _______________.






49. Direct oral or written speech directed at a specific individual or group






50. The class of independent voters who do not vote according to party affiliation - but who typically have a broader range of concerns than single-issue voters - are known colloquially as