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. This may be done by a national constitutional convention called by Congress on the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures OR By the passage of a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress






2. According to the Speedy Trial Act of 1974 - federal trials must commence within _______ days of arrest with the exception of delay for mental health testing of the defendant and illness of the defendant or key witness.






3. While these voters have traditionally supported the Democrats - some have begun to support Republicans in light of the Democrats liberal policies on abortion.






4. This House committee is responsible for all taxes - tariffs - and other revenue raising measures in addition to social security - child support - Medicare - foster care - and unemployment.






5. Plan that proposed bicameral legislature where states were to have representation based on size in both houses.






6. Concept of the British statesman Edmund Burke that legislators should act according to their own consciences.






7. Redefined Presidential succession and disability.






8. Money spent by individuals or gorups not asociated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office






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






10. 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.






11. Provisions tacked on to a piece of legislation that are not relevant to the bill.






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






13. ___________ vote in both the House and Senate may override a Presidential veto of legislation.






14. These voters tend to have a high voter turnout because of their strong since of civic duty due to growing up during an era of political and civil unrest.






15. The reason that electors are chosen in each state by popular vote is ____________.






16. The Equal Rights Amendment was defeated in 1982 because ____________________________.






17. 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.






18. 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.






19. Tax legislation must originate in this house.






20. In this 1972 case - the Supreme Court established four guidelines for determining if a trial was appropriately speedy and fair: cause of delay - length of delay - affect on the outcome - and the defendant's claim to a speedy trial.






21. The provisions of the Constitution that divide power among three constitutionally equal and independent branches of government






22. Defamation by written or printed words - pictures - or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures.






23. Established national income tax.






24. Walter DeVries and Lance Tarrance have concluded that in many elections the outcome is determined by ______________.






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






26. This controversial clause of the 9th Amendment has allowed government to expand rights to suit its needs.






27. Government regulation of the economy through its control over taxes and government spending. Controlled by the Department of Treasury.






28. 'lame duck' amendment






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






30. According to V. O. Key - Jr. - the Populist Party of the 1890s is an example of a ____________________.






31. Its the responsibility of ___________ committees of a political party to solidify the party within each state and organize primary elections






32. 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.






33. _____ out of 9 justices must agree to hear an appellate case brought to them from a lower court.






34. 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.






35. Presides over the Senate without voting privileges except in the case of a tie.






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






37. This article of the Constitution establishes the Executive Branch.






38. Baby boomers - women - and voters with higher levels of education tend to have a ____________ voter turnout.






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






40. Private groups that attempt to influence the government to respond to the shared attitudes of their members.






41. The pursuit and exercise of power.






42. Number of Electoral College votes required to win the Presidency.






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






44. A plan to provide billions of dollars of American aid to Western Europe to speed its economic and social recovery after the Second World War.






45. 19th century case establishing that the Bill of Rights applied only to the federal government - upheld until the 20th century. Ruling allowed stated to engage in activities such as establishing state churches and denying public office to people of ce






46. Age requirement for President






47. The 5th amendment protect against _____________.






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






49. Legislature bills that affect all citizens.






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