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. These dissenting Republicans won 17% of the popular vote in 1924 on a platform for public control of national resources and railways - tax reductions - and changes to the staff of the executive department

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2. The rules and regulations made and applied by federal regulatory agencies and commissions.






3. The separation of people by race.






4. Elections that reflect the basic party identification of the voters.






5. The pursuit and exercise of power.






6. States that states may draw reasonable distinctions between the rights of residents and non-residents (ex. In state and out of state tuition)






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






8. Committees that pull members from both the house and the senate who meet to discuss major policy issues such as economy and taxation.






9. A tax on voting abolished by the Twenty-fourth Amendment in 1964 - long used by southern states to keep blacks (and - in some cases - poor whites) from participating in elections.






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






11. 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.






12. Charge of misconduct brought against a government official.






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






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






15. Executive Check on the Legislative Branch.






16. Guarantees that citizens cannot be compelled by the government to act in a way that is contrary to their religious beliefs. (ex. Conscientious objection to military service required by the draft is the execution of ______________)






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






18. The introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution - setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words - 'We the people of the United States - in order to form a more perfect union. ...'






19. Under this governing document - national government lacked authority to set up tariffs - regulate commerce - levy taxes - control international relations - establish common currency






20. In _______________ cases such as Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978) - the Supreme Court has upheld that while Affirmative action policies are legal - race and gender cannot be the only determining factors.






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






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






23. A system - until modified and reformed in the 1970s - that automatically resulted in the selection as committee chair of those members of the majority party in Congress who had the longest continuous service on a committee.






24. During the 1800's and early 1900's - some state and local party committees became ________________ dominating party activities. Committee members would promise new recruits money - jobs - and other benefits for joining and voting the straight party t






25. Colonies controlled by the British king through governors appointed by him and through the king's veto power over colonial laws.






26. A White House council created under the National Security Act of 1947 to advise the president and help coordinate American military and foreign policy.






27. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is an example of an






28. James Madison proposed to deal with the threat of political factions by ______________________.






29. The net balance or relationship between total income and total expenditures by the nation in its dealings with the rest of the world - including trade - loans - and investments.






30. A place of work in which any person may be hired provided that he or she joins the union within a specified time.






31. He United States Constitution was opposed by which group?






32. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 required states in the covered jurisdiction to attain _________________ from the Attorney General before making changes to voting standards - practice - or procedure






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






34. When the President's own party gains power and influence - it more puts pressure on the President to conform to the will of the party - leading to________________ between the President and the party to define their public identities






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






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






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






38. 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






39. The single biggest item in campaign spending at the presidential level is ___________________.






40. The Medicaid and Food Stamp programs are examples of two very large






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






42. A philosophy that Supreme Court justices and other judges should boldly apply the Constitution to social and political questions.






43. Repealed by the 21st Amendment - this Amendment prohibited alcohol.






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






45. Established by President Hoover - It is the _______________ job to keep the press informed and orchestrate press conferences






46. 1974 Act mandating that all government files about private citizens be kept confidential.






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






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






49. A registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his own party affiliation. When voters do not register with a party before the primary - it is called a pick-a-party primary because the voter can select which party's primary he or she w






50. 1940 Act Prohibiting any person from advocating overthrowing the government through violence or force.