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. Until the law was changed in 2002 - the term described unregulated campaign funds not subject to the limits of federal law because they went to party committees and not directly to candidates. The 2002 law banned contributions of soft money to nation






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






3. Wisconsin Republican who exploited public concern for political gain during the 1950's through freewheeling investigations of alleged Communists.






4. Organization of individuals with similar policy goals who enter the political process to influence legislation that affects the organizations interests






5. Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.






6. The Constitution requires that state governments - like the federal government - must be _____________ in form - with final authority resting with the people.






7. 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






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






9. Lobbyists for special interest groups have found ____________________ to be the most direct and effective method to secure their objectives in Congress.






10. First governing document of the Plymouth Colony establishing freedom of religion.






11. Act of exchanging favors for mutual gain






12. Age Requirement for House of Representatives.






13. Political party lead by Andrew Jackson from 1828 to 1856. Campaigned against strong central government and fought to end elitism.






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






15. Also known as the Indiana ballot - lists the candidates of each party in a row or column - beside or under the party emblem. In most cases - the voter can make one mark at the top of the column - or pull one lever - and thus vote for all the party's






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

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17. This group of voters historically supported Republicans - a party founded on an anti-slavery platform. During the 1930's they began supporting the New Deal policies of the Democratic party.






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






19. Federal and State Courts function in a _____________manner so that federal courts may receive appeals from state courts.






20. Smith v. Allwight (1994) was the first vase in which the Supreme Court upheld the voting rights of _____________ in state primary elections.






21. In the 1990 case OR State Employment Division v. Smith 1990 - the Supreme court allowed the state to fire employees who use peyote during native American religious ceremonies because it is in violation of drug laws. In this case - which clause of the






22. These two Senate standing committees have existed - largely unchanged - since 1816.






23. 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.






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






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






26. A joint committee of Congress established to help negotiate discrepancies and gain consensus between legislation passed in each house before sending the bill to the President.






27. The president - the vice president - the heads of the major executive departments of the government - and certain other senior officials who may hold 'cabinet rank.'






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






29. The vote cast by a person who does not like either candidate and so votes for the less objectionable of the two - putting a clothespin over his nose to keep out the unpleasant stench






30. 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.






31. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






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






33. Voters in a political district - or supporters of an elected official; or interest groups or client groups that are either directly regulated by the bureaucracy or vitally affected by its decisions.






34. A policy adopted by the United States after the Second World War that assumed that if enough nuclear weapons were deployed by the United States - an enemy would not attack for fear of being destroyed in retaliation.






35. California measure designed to deny welfare and other benefits to illegal aliens. Overwhelmingly passed the popular vote - but overturned in federal court because it extending beyond the bounds of state rights to attempt to control immigration.






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






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






38. The coming to power of a new coalition - replacing an old dominant coalition of the other party






39. This 1963 case extended the right to counsel to all felony cases.






40. Total number of Representatives apportioned to the states based on population and reapportioned with the census every 10 years






41. 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






42. Puerto Rico has ____________ status.






43. Most likely to board a foreign ship suspected of drug trafficking at a U.S. port






44. ________________ of the Constitution dictates how the Constitution shall be amended.






45. A philosophy that the Supreme Court should avoid constitutional questions when possible and uphold acts of Congress unless they clearly violate a specific section of the Constitution.






46. A controversial law overwhelmingly passed by Congress in October 2001 - after the terrorist attacks of September 11 on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It greatly expanded the power of federal law enforcement authorities to move against suspe






47. A relaxation of international tensions.






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






49. A policy of avoiding foreign involvement.






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