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. In order to win support for ratification of the Constitution - the Federalists had to promise that the first order of business under a new government would be to _______________.






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






3. Government agencies that exercise quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative powers and are administratively independent of both the president and Congress (although politically independent of neither).






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






5. Approximately 33% of American voters identify themselves as _______________ party.






6. Funds spent for or against a candidate by committees not formally connected to the candidate's campaign and without coordination with the campaign.






7. The responsibility of the President to appoint federal judges when vacancies occur on the bench is referred to as






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






9. This influential English document refuted divine right of monarchy and made monarchs subject to laws and responsible for crimes






10. The Supreme Court has ruled that Congress_________________ take away a person's citizenship unless it is freely renounced.






11. Procedure typically requiring 3/5 vote of the entire Senate to end a filibuster.






12. This type of government suits a large country with a diverse population






13. The total group from which poll-takers may select a random sample in order to measure public opinion.






14. First proposed in 1789 - this amendment passed in 1992 prohibits Congress from raising their own pay. Pay raises may not take affect until the beginning of the next term.






15. The sum of the goals - decisions - and actions that govern a nation's relations with the rest of the world.






16. Laws that were designed to segregate black and white Americans and give legal recognition to discrimination.






17. The relationship between the total cost of foreign goods imported to this country and sales of U.S. products overseas.






18. While the verbiage of the 4th Amendment is vague as to what constitutes 'reasonable'. Police departments must rely on _____________; they cannot act on unfounded suspicion.






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






20. 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






21. Organizations or groups - such as labor unions or fraternal - professional - or religious groups - that may influence an individual's opinion.






22. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was somewhat undermined by racist practices in the real estate market such as _____________ and ______________ - which continued illegally in many areas following passage of the Act.






23. If 10 days remain in session and the president does not sign an act of Congress - the law is ___________.






24. The pursuit and exercise of power.






25. A system in which the national government sets requirements that are then implemented by state and local governments.






26. According to the Constitution - the electors in the Electoral College shall be appointed in a manner to be determined by the






27. Proponents of limited government - unregulated free markets - national self-reliance - and conventional social values are best describes as






28. Groups whose views serve as guidelines to an individual's opinion. See also primary groups and secondary groups.






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






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






31. 1946 Act requiring bureaucratic agencies to appeal to the affected parties before adopting new policies. Legislative check on Bureaucracy.






32. Guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial.






33. In Woodson v. North Carolina - the Supreme Court struck down mandatory sentencing of capital punishment as ______________________ because it does not allow for any discretion.






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






35. 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






36. If significant amendments are made to a bill during committee - the bill is sometimes given a new number as a _______________.






37. The Jacksonian Era marked an important change in the process used to nominate Presidential candidates with the emergence of party _________________ - eliminating caucuses.






38. 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






39. Laws passed by state legislatures that are designed to protect reporters from being forced to reveal their news sources.






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






41. In addition to the doctrine of implied powers - Chief Justice Marshall - in his decision in the Supreme Court case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - established the key concept of:






42. Number of current cabinet positions under GW Bush.






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






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






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






46. Prohibits conviction of a crime that occurred before the act became illegal






47. 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 -






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






49. An issue on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party or candidate with conditions - goals - or symbols the electorate universally approves or disapproves of. Examples of such issues are economic prosperi






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