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. As part of the negotiations concerning the Constitution - the South fought for and won an agreement forbidding the imposition of _______________.






2. The structure and set of regulations in place to control activity - usually in large organizations and government. it is represented by standardized procedure (rule-following) that dictates the execution of most or all processes within the body - for






3. A group of high-level administrators and managers at the top of the government bureaucracy. SES members have less job tenure but are eligible for substantial cash bonuses for merit.






4. California measure designed to deny welfare and other benefits to illegal aliens. Overwhelmingly passed the popular vote - but overturned in federal court because it extending beyond the bounds of state rights to attempt to control immigration.






5. After analyzing 1 -795 platform pledges over a 10-year period - Gerald M. Pomper concluded that almost ____________ of these promises were fulfilled






6. David R. Mayhew has suggested that this influences congressional behavior. The ________________ is the relationship between members of Congress and their constituents.






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






8. Laws passed by state legislatures that are designed to protect reporters from being forced to reveal their news sources.






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






10. The separation of people by race.






11. This influential English document refuted divine right of monarchy and made monarchs subject to laws and responsible for crimes






12. In Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969) - the Supreme Court established precedents for ___________________ in schools and government institutions.






13. A powerful alliance of mutual benefit among an agency or unit of the government - an interest group - and a committee or subcommittee of Congress. Also called a triangle or a subgovernment.






14. Powers of government that are specifically granted to the three branches of the federal government under the Constitution.






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






16. The principle - established by Chief Justice John Marshall in 1819 in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland - that the Constitution must be interpreted flexibly to meet changing conditions.






17. A group of independent states or nations that come together for a common purpose and whose central authority is usually limited to defense and foreign relations.






18. A joint committee of Congress established to help negotiate discrepancies and gain consensus between legislation passed in each house before sending the bill to the President.






19. 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.






20. This house committee is responsible for Supervising the authority of the federal government to borrow money - Raising the revenue required to finance the federal government by levying taxes - Overseeing Social Security and other social insurance prog






21. The 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act - the 1965 Highway Beautification Act and the 1964 Civil Rights Act are all examples of ____________________.






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






23. In 1978 - the Supreme Court - in the 'seven dirty words' case - ruled that the government has the right to prohibit the broadcasting of _______________.






24. In Reynolds v. US (1879) - the Supreme Court denied this right to Reynolds because his religion's practice of polygamy violated federal law.






25. 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






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






27. 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.






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






29. _____________ is responsible for monetary policy.






30. Protects against unreasonable search and seizure.






31. Broadly worded warrants used by British soldiers during colonial America to search for contraband and prevent smuggling.






32. This was amended in 1985 to prohibit vote dilution without requiring the proof of discriminatory purpose demanded by the original Act.






33. Assistants to the Majority and Minority Leaders of both the House and Senate.






34. A writ designed to protect against illegal imprisonment by requiring that a person who is detained be brought before a judge for investigation.






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






36. A system in which the national government provides grants-in-aid to states using conditions to elicit control.






37. Requires that a suspect in a federal case be arraigned without unnecessary delay.






38. 1963 ruling prohibiting prayer in public schools.






39. Number of original cabinet positions under George Washington.






40. This customary power allows the President to grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses.






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






42. This act prohibited Discrimination because of race - color - sex - religion - or national origin by employers or labor unions; The adoption by voting registrars of different standards for black and white applicants; and Racial or religious discrimina






43. A form of city government under which power is divided between a mayor and an elected city council.






44. Legislative opinions on a matter that do not require Presidential signature.






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






46. In Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972) - the Supreme Court extended the right to counsel to those accused of misdemeanors if the defendant is _____________.






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






48. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






49. This called for three-fifths of all slaves in a state were counted for purposes of apportioning representation in the House of Representatives.






50. Guaranteed women the right to vote.