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. To negotiate a complex and politically sensitive trade treaty - a President will often






2. The view advocated by Supreme Court Justices Hugo Black and William O. Douglas that there are provisions of the Bill of Rights that cannot be diluted by judicial decisions.






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






4. Laws on Schools - Marriage - and owning property;Licensee Lawyers - Doctors - and Teachers.






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






6. Court cases that involve relations between individuals and organizations - such as a divorce action - or a suit for damages arising from an automobile accident or for violation of a business contract.






7. A procedure that in certain circumstances permits voters to remove elected state or local officials from office before their terms have expired.






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






9. Representatives serve ____ year terms






10. The main mechanism used by modern political parties to nominate their candidate for President.






11. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






12. 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






13. Federal grants in which the recipient has little discretion over how the money is spent. The national government sets narrowly defined rules for use of funds and often requires the states or local governments to provide matching funds. These grants a






14. Term limit for House of Representatives.






15. The Constitution requires that state governments - like the federal government - must be _____________ in form - with final authority resting with the people.






16. Senators are re-elected every ___ years with 1/3 of the Senate being up for election every 2 years.






17. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over budget and appointments of leadership.






18. Gave authority over atomic energy from military to civilians.






19. Members of this party typically include Conservative Christian groups - higher socio-economic classes - middle-class white collar - and suburban voters.






20. Federal aid that states and localities may use mostly as they wish.






21. The right of the Supreme Court - under the Constitution - to hear certain kinds of cases directly - such as cases involving foreign diplomats - or cases in which one of the 50 states is a party.






22. After the bill reaches the house floor - if opponents have many changes - they may vote to ______________________.






23. An election in which voters in a jurisdiction select candidates for a subsequent election. In other words - one means by which a political party nominate candidates for the following general election.s






24. 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






25. These voters tend to have a high voter turnout because of their strong since of civic duty due to growing up during an era of political and civil unrest.






26. A form of city government under which a council - usually elected on a nonpartisan ticket - hires a professional city manager - who runs the city government and has power to hire and fire officials.






27. In Reynolds v. US (1879) - the Supreme Court denied this right to Reynolds because his religion's practice of polygamy violated federal law.






28. These party members tend to be ideologues who put issues ahead of winning elections and withhold support from candidates who do not share their stance on issues. Very active in special interest groups and caucuses within the party. Willing to break a






29. In the view of W. Lance Bennett - the people who hold and express opinions are constantly changing - as are the issues and conditions to which the public responds. As a result - Bennett suggests that public opinion is______________.






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






31. Decides which bills will be considered.






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






33. Committees created by Congress to conduct special investigations. Although normally temporary - some become - in effect - permanent.






34. The Supreme Court is the only judicial body that may hear disputes between _________________.






35. 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.






36. Theory of democracy in which competition among common interest groups promote ideas to influence politics






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






38. The president - the vice president - the heads of the major executive departments of the government - and certain other senior officials who may hold 'cabinet rank.'






39. International agreements between the president and foreign heads of state that - unlike treaties - do not require Senate approval.






40. The Immigration Act of 1965 abolished the practice of _______________ allowing more diversity among immigrants.






41. Lawsuit brought by an individual or group of people on behalf of all those similarly situated






42. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments provide for _____________.






43. Corporations formed by the government to act as a business to produce a product or service. Often monopolies with varying degrees of independence.






44. Political leaders typically try to both lead and follow ____________.






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






46. Court cases that concern crimes committed against the public order.






47. President Hoover's laissez-faire approach to the economy during the Great Depression left many poor voters disenfranchised by the Republican Party. They left to join the _______________ Party.






48. Eisenhower's philosophy of being liberal in all things human and being conservative with all things fiscal. Appealed to both Republicans and Democrats.






49. Population migration patterns since the second World War have increased the power of _____________.






50. ____________________ define Congressional voting districts acting within constraints set down by Congress and the Supreme Court.