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. Smith v. Allwight (1994) was the first vase in which the Supreme Court upheld the voting rights of _____________ in state primary elections.






2. In presidential campaigns - federal matching funds are provided to candidates who ______________.






3. A method of polling - considered less reliable than a random sample - in which interviewers are instructed to question members of a particular group in proportion to their percentage in the population as a whole.






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






5. The amount of money available when the government's income is greater than what it spends in a fiscal year.






6. The philosophy that government should intervene as little as possible in economic affairs.






7. 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.






8. Which form of registration prevails in all but a few states?






9. Presidential management model in which corporate CEO tactics are used employing committees - task forces - and special advisors. Successfully utilized by Clinton and G W Bush.






10. A series of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton - John Jay - and James Madison under the pseudonym Publius advocating the ratification of the United States Constitution.






11. The tendency of presidents to lose support over time.






12. The Supreme Court practice of applying most of the provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states under the 14th Amendment.






13. Clause in the 14th Amendment that forbids any state to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. The 5th Amendment also imposes this limitation on the national government.






14. 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






15. Concurrent resolution - adopted by both Houses of Congress - that sets forth a Congressional budget plan for the budget year and at least four out-years.






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






17. According to one survey - what percentage of Americans belongs to groups that sometimes take a stand on public issues






18. 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






19. Units of government under the president - within the executive branch - that are not part of a cabinet department.






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






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






22. Tests of a voter's ability to read and write - which were often used to keep recent immigrants and blacks from voting.






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






24. Also known as the Massachusetts ballot - groups candidates according to the office for which they are running






25. Most modern political scientists believe there is ________________ between politics and government.






26. Committees appointed for investigative or crisis situations.






27. The House appropriations committee has ___ subcommittees.






28. Independent organizations - but more often the political arms of corporations - labor unions - or interest groups - established to contribute to candidates or to work for general political goals.






29. During the period from 1976 to 1824 - This party was lead by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. They wanted a stronger national government that would rectify the pitfalls of the Articles of Confederation. Their supporters held a stronghold in New






30. In Congress - _____________ are informal organizations of individual congressional representatives with like interests or constituencies. Members work together to promote the interests of the groups they represent through legislation - policy - and p






31. The right to renounce one's citizenship.






32. The foreign policy of the United States during the period after the Second World War - designed to contain the expansion of Soviet power.






33. Most states have ___________ legislatures.






34. Number of Senators elected at large per state -






35. Constitutional Article that establishes the Judicial Branch.






36. In his historic decision in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - Chief Justice Marshall established the principle of _____________.






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






38. A term coined by President Lyndon B. Johnson to describe his own view of the relationship between Washington and the states.






39. An economic system of free enterprise with private ownership of the means of production.






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






41. Presidential management model requiring the President to have strong leadership skills and a keen eye for detail. FDR and JFK were well known for this style of leadership.






42. Programs mandated by law and not subject to annual review by Congress or the president.






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






44. Members of the ______________ committee of a political party work to maintain influence during non election years through congressional campaign committees.






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






46. In 1943 - The Supreme Court upheld the Jehovah's Witnesses right to refrain from saluting the American flag based on their right to _____________.






47. The party-column ballot - or Indiana ballot - encourages _______________.






48. This group of voters historically supported Republicans - a party founded on an anti-slavery platform. During the 1930's they began supporting the New Deal policies of the Democratic party.






49. 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 -






50. This controversial clause of the 9th Amendment has allowed government to expand rights to suit its needs.