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. It the job of _________ committees of a political party to hold voter registration drives - recruit new party members and final candidates for city and county positions.






2. In this 1972 case - the Supreme Court established four guidelines for determining if a trial was appropriately speedy and fair: cause of delay - length of delay - affect on the outcome - and the defendant's claim to a speedy trial.






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






4. 14th Amendment is often used to support the right to ____________.






5. Form of government in which the people are sovereign but their power is exercised by their elected representatives.






6. The practice of victorious politicians to reward their followers with jobs. Also known as the spoils system.






7. 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






8. Today the Senate operates with ____ standing and select committees. These select committees - however - are permanent in nature and are treated as standing committees under Senate rules.






9. These parties often emerge as off-shoots of major parties or as single-issue parties. They typically act as critic/innovator bringing attention to issues and influencing the platforms of the major parties.






10. A written opinion by some of the judges of a court which agrees with the majority of the court but might arrive there in a different manner.






11. Presides over the Senate without voting privileges except in the case of a tie.






12. Special courts assigned to deal with specific legislative issues such as taxes - military appeals - and international trade.






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






14. Which committee assignments would confer the most power and influence on members of the Senate?






15. The constitutional requirement (in article II - sec 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed - even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws






16. A system in which the power to govern is shared between national and state governments






17. Literally meaning 'right of blood' - confers citizenship to a child from the parents.






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






19. Responsibilities include: Coordinating the nation's intelligence activities and Evaluating and disseminating intelligence that affects national security






20. Groups named for the section of the Internal Revenue Service code under which they must report their expenditures. The tax-exempt groups were created to exploit a loophole in the law regulating campaign finance.






21. Legislature bills that affect all citizens.






22. In some cases where blicity too much publicity surrounds a trial - courts have granted _______________ to help ensure a fair trial. One example is the trial of Timothy McVeigh for the Oklahoma City Bombing.






23. Number of original cabinet positions under George Washington.






24. Number of years a Senator must reside in the US prior to taking office






25. Between conventions - the governing body of a major political party. Members of this group are chosen in the states and formally elected by the party






26. Requires the Electoral College to vote for President and Vice President separately.






27. Constitutionally empowered to appoint judges - ambassadors - and other high officials - Constitutionally empowered to make treaties with foreign countries.






28. The principle of civilian control of the military - based on the clear constitutional power of the president as supreme commander of the armed forces.






29. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






30. First governing document of the Plymouth Colony establishing freedom of religion.






31. Age Requirement for House of Representatives.






32. Dayton Board of Education v. Brinkman (1979) upheld that bussing programs were an acceptable way to enforce ______________________.






33. Committees appointed for investigative or crisis situations.






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






35. Congress' first step towards allocating funds






36. The fundamental rights of a free society that are protected by the Bill of Rights against the power of the government - such as freedom of speech - religion - press - and assembly.






37. Guarantees the right to bare arms.






38. The action - or actions - taken by government to carry out a policy.






39. This 1967 Supreme Court case prohibited illegal eavesdropping and extending the zone of privacy to include the home - office - person - and immediate public arena.






40. The practice that allows senators to delay or even kill floor action on legislation - a nomination - or other matters by asking their party leaders not to schedule them.






41. This contraversial legal technicality intended to protect civil liberties has allowed criminals to remain free when the courts refuse to admit evidence that may have been obtained illegally.






42. A system of voter registration in which voters must register only once in their district.






43. Executive check on Legislative Branch.






44. Passed in 1883 - it created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.






45. The body composed of electors from the 50 states who formally have the power to elect the president and vice president of the United States. Each state has a number of electors and electoral votes equal to its number of senators and representatives i






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 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






48. Age requirement for President






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






50. A provision of the Federal Communications Act that requires broadcasters to provide the same amount of exposure to all legally qualified political candidates.