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. Federal categorical grants in which the granting agency has much discretion over how the recipient spends the money.






2. By far - the largest amount of federal aid to state and local governments comes in the form of:






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






4. David R. Mayhew has suggested that this influences congressional behavior. The ________________ is the relationship between members of Congress and their constituents.






5. The 15th Amendment - also know as _________________ - was intended to help recently freed blacks from unconstitutional state laws designed to circumvent federal laws.






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






7. The 24th amendment banned _____________ - making it harder for states to discriminate against poor and minority voters.






8. The power of the president - struck down by the Supreme Court in 1998 - to veto parts of appropriations bills. Most state governors have this power.






9. An individual who does not join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.






10. Electoral college system and other campaign practices make it exceedingly difficult for even popular ______________ candidates to successfully run for the presidency.






11. 'lame duck' amendment






12. The formal source of all authority in each major political party. It nominates the party candidates for president and vice president - writes a platform - settles disputes - writes rules - and elects the members of the national committee.






13. A world economy characterized by the free movement of goods - capital - labor - and information across national borders.






14. A judicial opinion agreed to by a majority of the members of a court. A majority opinion sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision.






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






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






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






18. A 1972 treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union limiting the number of defensive missiles each country could build. In 2001 President George W. Bush withdrew the United States from the treaty.






19. A provision of law in which Congress asserts the power to nullify actions of the executive branch. In 1983 the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional - but Congress continued to pass laws containing such provisions.






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






21. Representing - characterized by - or including members from two parties or factions






22. 1925 Supreme Court case overturned Baron v. Baltimore and applied the Bill of Rights to states.






23. An act of legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them without benefit of a trial. Constitutionally prohibited.






24. A vote in the House of Representatives in which the position of each member is noted and published in the Congressional Record.






25. Established national income tax.






26. Federal laws limit the amount of ___________ that can be donated directly to campaign coffers.






27. The belief that all people possess certain basic rights that may not be abridged by government.






28. A court decision in an earlier case with facts and legal issues similar to a dispute currently before a court.






29. _____________ is responsible for monetary policy.






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






31. Love of country and a desire for independence; it can also mean an excessive form of patriotism exploited by political leaders.






32. An opinion of one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion of the court which gives rise to its judgment.






33. A form of city government under which power is divided between a mayor and an elected city council.






34. The individuals - institutions - and processes that make the rules for society and possess the power to enforce them.






35. The Supremacy Clause appears in ________________ of the Constitution.






36. A law passed in 1966 that requires federal executive branch and regulatory agencies to make information available to journalists - scholars - and the public unless it falls into one of several confidential categories.






37. A device that allows the House of Representatives to conduct its business with fewer restrictions on debate and a quorum of only 100 members.






38. The 1776 pamphlet by Thomas Paine that prompted King George III's Prohibitory Act and the sending of mercenaries to the colonies.






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






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






41. New Jersey v. TLO (1985) established that school authorities may search students without _____________ as long as they are reasonable.






42. Powerful standing committee that puts bills on the legislative calendar and establishes the processes by which the bill will be discussed on the floor.






43. 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






44. Form of government in which the people are sovereign but their power is exercised by their elected representatives.






45. An immigrant who wished to become a citizen may be naturalized after living in the US for ___ years.






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






47. The median income of women is ___________ percent of men.






48. Concurrent resolution - adopted by both Houses of Congress - that sets forth a Congressional budget plan for the budget year and at least four out-years.






49. Individual contributions to PACs are limited to ______________ dollars per candidate per election with primaries - general and special elections counting separately.






50. The right to privacy is ___________ in the Constitution.