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. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments provide for _____________.






2. Which of the following factors is likely to be the weakest indicator of an individual's political beliefs and opinions? Age - Race - Intelligence - or Religion






3. Loose - competitive relationships among policy experts - interest groups - congressional committees - and federal agencies. Many observers argue that these have replaced iron triangles.






4. Redefined Presidential succession and disability.






5. Beginning with the election of Abraham Lincoln - the period between 1860 and the Great Depression was dominated by this political party.






6. 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:






7. The federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy)






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






9. An interest group organization that represents a specific group of people (Ex. NAACP - AARP)






10. Cabinet department oversees nuclear reactors.Established in 1973 in response to the Energy Crisis.






11. Petition that - if signed by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives - will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration






12. A close contest; by extension - any contest in which the focus is on who is ahead and how much rather than on substantive differences between the candidates.






13. A federal law passed by Congress in 1939 to restrict political activities by federal workers. The law prevents federal employees while on duty from taking an active part in party politics or campaigns and also bars federal employees from running for






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






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






16. The Supreme Court's broad interpretation of this clause has denied direct aid from the government for religious groups - but does allow religious groups to make use of government services such as police and fire.






17. A meeting of party leaders to select candidates - elect convention delegates - etc






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






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






20. A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.






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






22. Guarantees the right to a civil trial by jury.






23. In WV State BOE v Barnette (1943) - the Supreme Court ruled that compelling citizens to salute the flag violates the principles of a free society - upholding which 1st Amendment rights?






24. Decides which bills will be considered.






25. Literally meaning 'right of soil' - confers citizenship by place of birth.






26. These voters are registered as a party member but only participate by voting in primary and general elections. Tend to vote straight-party ticket and follow the leads of local party officials.






27. The kinds of cases that a court has the authority to decide.






28. According to this nineteenth-century British peer and historian - 'power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'






29. Article VII of the Constitution outlines the process of ____________________.






30. 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.






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






32. Defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing - pictures






33. The pursuit and exercise of power.






34. Responsible for determining which bills will be considered on the House floor - and when they will be considered.






35. Prohibits citizens of one state or foreign country from suing another state.






36. This may be done by a national constitutional convention called by Congress on the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures OR By the passage of a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress






37. The fundamental flaw in plural theory contends that pluralism weakens the backbone of democracy with too many common interest groups attempt to wield power - often leading to standstill because of unwillingness to compromise.






38. Formal approval or consent given to a constitution - constitutional amendment - or treaty before it goes into effect.






39. The most important committees - always assembled and delegated with the responsibility of handling all bills under their concern. Includes the Ways and Means - Appropriations - Budget - Rules and Agriculture Committees.






40. In the year 2000 - the Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America had a constitutional right to ban _____________ members.






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






42. An annual meeting held in the spring in many New England towns - at which the townspeople come together to elect a board of selectmen and to discuss local policy questions. It has become a symbol of participatory democracy.






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






44. The House appropriations committee has ___ subcommittees.






45. A law passed by Congress in 1973 in an effort to set a time limit on the use of combat forces abroad by a president.






46. President requires their approval to appoint judges - ambassadors and other high officials.






47. Law intended to promote free competition in the market place by outlawing monopolies






48. Although camera are allowed in most trial courts - they are banned from ______________.






49. Political theorist proposed the separation of church and state.






50. Appointed by Eisenhower - this Supreme court justice who played an important role in the court's stance on the advancement of civil rights.