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. 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.






2. Political strategists believe that presidential elections will normally be won or lost in _______________states.






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






4. The reason that electors are chosen in each state by popular vote is ____________.






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






6. 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. ...'






7. A plan to provide billions of dollars of American aid to Western Europe to speed its economic and social recovery after the Second World War.






8. The vagueness of this phrase has allowed juries to exclude specific genders or races in order to affect the outcome of the verdict.






9. Designed to protect the individual against the arbitrary power of the state.






10. The Democrats control over politics during the 20th century ended with this President's unpopular handling of the Vietnam War.






11. The name commonly given to a private group - regardless of size - organized to elect political candidates. An organization becomes one by receiving contributions or making expenditures in excess of $1 -000 for the purpose of influencing a federal ele






12. This term refers to the gain in the polls that a candidate often enjoys after a national convention






13. Th joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the twelfth amendment






14. Government regulation of the economy through its control over the supply of money and the cost and availability of credit. Controlled by the Federal Reserve Board.






15. 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






16. The expansion of cable and satellite tv has _________________ the president's power to influence public opinion.






17. The 24th amendment banned _____________ - making it harder for states to discriminate against poor and minority voters.






18. The 5th amendment protect against _____________.






19. Year of the 2nd Continental Congress.






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






21. The Articles of Confederation established a ________________ legislature.






22. Age Requirement for the Senate






23. Form of obstruction in the Senate where an attempt is made to infinitely extend debate upon a proposal in order to delay the progress or completely prevent a vote on the proposal taking place.






24. Executive office responsible for negotiating trade with foreign powers.






25. A coherent set of beliefs about politics - public policy - and public purpose. It helps give meaning to political event - personalities - and policies.






26. 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






27. 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






28. 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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29. The right to privacy is ___________ in the Constitution.






30. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendment to bills or provides that only memebers of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments






31. Important during the Revolution - these bodies organized by the local governments of the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolution for the purposes of coordinating written communication outside of the colony.






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






33. Something given in exchange for something else; swap






34. 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 ______________)






35. By far - the largest amount of federal aid to state and local governments comes in the form of:






36. Committees appointed for investigative or crisis situations.






37. Included are Ways and Means - Veteran's Affairs - Transportation and Infrastructure - Standards of Official Conduct - Small Business - Science - Judiciary - Rules - Resources - Oversight of Government Reform - House Administration - Homeland Security






38. Most house committees are limited to _____ subcommittees.






39. Judges in Legislative Courts serve _______ terms and do not require impeachment.






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






41. The European political philosophers whose writings influenced the concepts of liberty and government contained in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution belonged to the intellectual and cultural movement known as






42. Funds spent for or against a candidate by committees not formally connected to the candidate's campaign and without coordination with the campaign.






43. Unwritten law based on custom and tradition.






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






45. If 10 days do not remain in session and the president does not sign an act of Congress - the bill __________.






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






47. The period of time after the election of FDR until the Vietnam War was dominated by the Democratic Party and know as the __________________ Era.






48. The only amendments to be ratified through the process of 'ratifying conventions -' not a vote in the state legislatures






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






50. In 1872 - Susan B Anthony was arrested in Rochester - New York for