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 framers of the Constitution created the Senate to function as a check on the ________________.






2. A public policy that takes something away from one person or group and gives it to another person or group.






3. The Supreme Court practice of applying most of the provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states under the 14th Amendment.






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. In his classic study of community power in New Haven - Connecticut - political scientist Robert A. Dahl concluded that the city was a __________ system dominated by many different sets of leaders






6. A centralized system of government - such as that of France - where most of the important policy decisions are made by a central government.






7. 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






8. The executive office established in response to intelligence lapses during WWI. Oversees American foreign policy and includes the President - Vice President - Secretary of State - Secretary of Defense and is lead by the National Security Advisor.






9. Age requirement for President






10. Article I - Section 8 - of the Constitution - which allows Congress to make all laws that are 'necessary and proper' to carry out the powers of the Constitution.






11. During the 1800's and early 1900's - some state and local party committees became ________________ dominating party activities. Committee members would promise new recruits money - jobs - and other benefits for joining and voting the straight party t






12. Tax legislation must originate in this house.






13. Passed in 1883 - it created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.






14. After a bill is assigned to a committee - the next step is typically a ______________.






15. Important during the Revolution - these bodies organized by the local governments of the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolution for the purposes of coordinating written communication outside of the colony.






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






17. Plan that proposed unicameral legislature with each state having one vote.






18. A system of voter registration in which voters must register every year or at other stated intervals.






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






20. Things government decides to do - example: taxation - crime control - national defense - education - etc.






21. The power of some municipalities to modify their charters and run their affairs without approval by the state legislature.






22. The claim by presidents of an inherent right to withhold information from Congress and the judiciary.






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






24. Number of justices of the Supreme Court.






25. Constitutionally empowered to appoint judges - ambassadors - and other high officials - Constitutionally empowered to make treaties with foreign countries.






26. The single biggest item in campaign spending at the presidential level is ___________________.






27. The issue of slavery split the Democratic Party into what two factions?






28. The separation of people by race.






29. During Presidential election years or when the nation is divided on policy agenda - particularly regarding salient issues - voter turnout is _____________






30. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over the creation and elimination of agencies as well as its control over budget appropriations.






31. Signed the executive order banning segregation in the armed forces.






32. During the period from 1976 to 1824 - This party was lead by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. They wanted a stronger national government that would rectify the pitfalls of the Articles of Confederation. Their supporters held a stronghold in New






33. The way things actually are.






34. This powerful House committee is in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor.






35. Agencies that were at one time semi-autonomous but that through legislation have been placed under presidential control since 1945.






36. Includes expressive conduct/assembly/actions and symbolic behavior (ex. Picketing or burning the flag) Based on our country history of symbolic acts such as the Boston Tea Party - courts almost always uphold symbolic acts of speech unless they are cr






37. A system in which the national government provides grants-in-aid to states using conditions to elicit control.






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






39. The way things should be by law






40. Guaranteed women the right to vote.






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






42. This 1964 case established strict standards for proving slander and libel - court must prove intent of malice on the part of the publisher.






43. Powers of government that the national government may exercise simply because it exists as a government - such as the right to conduct foreign relations.






44. Clause of the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 10) intended to prohibit state governments from modifying contracts made between individuals; interpreted as prohibiting state governments from taking actions that adversely affect property rights.






45. In addition to overseeing the activities of one or more federal agencies - a ___________________may also serve as the authorizing committee for federal agencies' programs and operations.






46. There is an _____________ relationship between Presidential approval ratings and unemployment.






47. There are 11 circuit ____________________ who have no original jurisdiction.






48. This 1st amendment clause prohibits the government from making any law prohibiting the exercise of any religion






49. The belief that one is effective when participating in politics - for example that the government will respond to one's demands






50. This 1973 ruling gave local communities the authority to determine obscenity - established three part test for obscene material. To qualify as obscene - speech must be considered obscene by the 'average' person - depict or describe material that is a