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. Proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 as an attempt to form a union of the colonies. Later used to help form the Articles of Confederation.






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






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






4. 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






5. Members of this party typically include women who support liberal policies on abortion and equal pay - Jews - Catholics - Blacks and other minorities - Blue-collar working class - urban - labor unions - and intelligensia






6. This 1957 judgement prohibited pornography material as utterly without redeeming social significance - later reversed in Miller v. California






7. Ruling by the Supreme Court in 1954 that racial segregation in public schools violates the Fourteenth Amendment's requirement of equal protection of the laws for all persons.






8. Legislative house whose membership was intended to represent the state.






9. Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.






10. Voters tendency to identify with a party that shares their views on important issues ignoring the party's stance on issues they deem less important. to be life-long unless there is a major change in the party's platform. 2. Influenced by ra






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






12. 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






13. Compromise between the large states and small states that established the bicameral Legislature consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives. Also included 3/5 compromise on the status of slaves in representation.






14. The Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 restructured the number of ______________ in both the House and Senate.






15. Washington v. Chrisman (1982) established the _________________ - allowing police officers to seize evidence without a warrant if the evidence is in obvious sight.






16. Serious crimes - such as murder - arson - or rape.






17. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.






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






19. The state officer typically responsible for overseeing federal elections at the state level is the






20. 1966 Act allowing citizens to inspect all government records with the exception of classified military or intelligence documents - trade secrets or private personnel files.






21. In a political campaign - the surest way of reaching the largest number of voters is usually _____________.






22. Money spent by individuals or gorups not asociated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office






23. Constitutional Article that establishes the Judicial Branch.






24. The spread of nuclear weapons to new nations






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






26. 1925 Supreme Court case overturned Baron v. Baltimore and applied the Bill of Rights to states.






27. Freedoms that protect the individual from the government.






28. The provisions of the Constitution that divide power among three constitutionally equal and independent branches of government






29. 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.






30. In the Federalist Papers - James Madison proposed that the states under the new Constitution would retain ____________ sovereignty.






31. These party members take active non-leadership roles such as working polls or contributing money to campaigns. Tend to compromise on important issues and are mostly concerned about winning elections.






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






33. A provision of the Federal Communications Act that requires broadcasters to provide the same amount of exposure to all legally qualified political candidates.






34. A writ designed to protect against illegal imprisonment by requiring that a person who is detained be brought before a judge for investigation.






35. Courts of original jurisdiction in federal crimes - civil suits under federal law - civil suits between citizens of different states where the amount in question exceeds $50 -000 - bankruptcy proceedings - cases involving some federal administrative






36. Legislature bills that affect all citizens.






37. A group of high-level administrators and managers at the top of the government bureaucracy. SES members have less job tenure but are eligible for substantial cash bonuses for merit.






38. 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.






39. An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted






40. The permanent committees of a legislature that consider bills and conduct hearings and investigations.






41. Most Americans support ______________ primarily as part of their criticism of PACs






42. The 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act - the 1965 Highway Beautification Act and the 1964 Civil Rights Act are all examples of ____________________.






43. The class of independent voters who do not vote according to party affiliation - but who typically have a broader range of concerns than single-issue voters - are known colloquially as






44. Congress defined the steps for the creation and admission of new states. It forbade slavery while the region remained a territory although citizens could legalize it. First congress would appoint a territorial governor and judges. Second as soon as 5






45. The Equal Rights Amendment was defeated in 1982 because ____________________________.






46. A legislator who automatically mirrors the will of the majority of his or her constituents.






47. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






48. This amendment includes the due process clause - the equal protection clause - and gave rights to former slaves.






49. 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.






50. A legal principle of fair dealing - which may provide preventive measures and legal remedies that are unavailable under existing common law and statutory law.