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. Number of years a President must reside in the US prior to taking office






2. ______________ refers to the differences in political attitudes and voting behavior between men and women






3. Included are Agriculture - Nutrition - and Forestry; Appropriations; Armed Services; Banking - Housing and Urban Affairs; Commerce - Science and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Public Works; Finance; Health - Education -






4. The agency that provides Congress with evaluations of public policies is the






5. Disapproval of a bill by a chief executive - such as the president or a governor.






6. Devolutionary system in which the national government returns tax dollars to the state and local governments primarily in the form of block grants.






7. The response of the rest of society to actions by the authorities.






8. 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.






9. Inherent powers of state governments to pass laws to protect health - safety - and welfare; the national government has no directly granted police powers but accomplishes the same goals through other delegated powers.






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






11. Decides which bills will be considered.






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






13. Responsible for assigning bills to committee in the Senate.






14. Article I of the Constitution establishes the ___________________ branch.






15. A provision in a deed to real property prohibiting its sale to a person of a particular race or religion. Judicial enforcement is unconstitutional.






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






17. In 1872 - Susan B Anthony was arrested in Rochester - New York for






18. In this case - a gay man from Georgia charged with committing sodomy in his own home with a consenting adult. The court ruled that the Constitution does not explicitly grant the right for homosexuals to practice their lifestyle and that laws against






19. A group of people - chosen by poll-takers - that is representative of the universe that is being polled.






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






21. 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






22. Assistants to the Majority and Minority Leaders of both the House and Senate.






23. Established the Federal Reserve Bank - responsible for conducting the nation's monetary policy - maintaining the stability of the financial system - supervising and regulating banking institutions - and protecting the credit rights of consumers - and






24. Redefined Presidential succession and disability.






25. Representatives serve ____ year terms






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






27. Authority based on an individual's outstanding traits - which attract followers






28. People may vote in a party's primary only if they are registered members of that party. Independents cannot participate. Note that because some political parties name themselves independent - the term 'non-partisan' often replaces 'independent' when






29. Spending by the national committees of the political parties to support the election of congressional candidates is known as






30. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is an example of an






31. If 10 days do not remain in session and the president does not sign an act of Congress - the bill __________.






32. The 1st Amendment states that government cannot issue ______________ - censoring publications before they are published.






33. A powerful alliance of mutual benefit among an agency or unit of the government - an interest group - and a committee or subcommittee of Congress. Also called a triangle or a subgovernment.






34. Multi-interest and often multinational corporations that - under one corporate roof - may manufacture a wide variety of products.






35. First step in the Policy Making Cycle.






36. Infamous 1735 English case established the precedent for Freedom of the Press in the US.






37. Elections that reflect the basic party identification of the voters.






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






39. In California v. Avecedo (1991) - The Supreme Court established that authorities may search ____________________ without a warrant providing reasonable suspicion.






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






41. A public assistance program established in 1965 to help pay hospital - doctor - and medical bills for people with low incomes.






42. A word that comes from two Greek roots - demos - 'the populace -' and kratia - 'rule'






43. Requests from people or groups for health care for the aged - loans for college students - equal opportunity for minorities - and higher subsidies for farmers are examples of:






44. Federal grants in which the recipient has a lot of discretion over how the money is spent. These grants are issued in support of general government functions such as education and law enforcement.






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






46. The concept that all people are of equal worth - even if not of equal ability.






47. 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?






48. Cabinet department responsible for collective bargaining and union activity. Established in 1913






49. The name commonly given to a private group - regardless of size - organized to elect political candidates. An organization becomes one by receiving contributions or making expenditures in excess of $1 -000 for the purpose of influencing a federal ele






50. 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