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. President requires their approval to appoint judges - ambassadors and other high officials.






2. The Supreme Court has ruled that Congress_________________ take away a person's citizenship unless it is freely renounced.






3. 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.






4. 1963 ruling prohibiting prayer in public schools.






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






6. The President's role in the armed forces which during the 20th century has allowed Presidents to circumvent Congress' refusal to declare war.






7. The right to renounce one's citizenship.






8. 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.






9. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the concept of privacy included the right to a legal abortion?






10. The power to tax is an example of _______________ powers.






11. The claim by presidents of an inherent right to withhold information from Congress and the judiciary.






12. _____ out of 9 justices must agree to hear an appellate case brought to them from a lower court.






13. Members of this party typically include women who support liberal policies on abortion and equal pay - Jews - Catholics - Blacks and other minorities - Blue-collar working class - urban - labor unions - and intelligensia






14. An offical who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator






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






16. Court cases that involve relations between individuals and organizations - such as a divorce action - or a suit for damages arising from an automobile accident or for violation of a business contract.






17. Petition that - if signed by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives - will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration






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






19. An interest group organization that represents a specific group of people (Ex. NAACP - AARP)






20. When neither political party is dominant.






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 Repealed by the 21st Amendment - this Amendment prohibited alcohol.






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






23. In the 1990 case OR State Employment Division v. Smith 1990 - the Supreme court allowed the state to fire employees who use peyote during native American religious ceremonies because it is in violation of drug laws. In this case - which clause of the






24. A nation's set of fundamental beliefs about how government and politics should be conducted.






25. The practice under which victorious politicians reward their followers with jobs.






26. 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.






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






28. Legislative house responsible for impeachment trials.






29. 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.






30. Popular until the early 20th century when they lost favor to primaries due to corruption - now used in only 12 states.






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






32. 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.






33. 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.






34. Lead by Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. Dedicated to defending federal authority and high tariffs. Gained supports of merchants - bankers - industrialists and planters.






35. What occurs when government adopts a public policy that provides - or distributes - benefits to people or groups.






36. A term popularized by sociologist Floyd Hunter to describe the community leaders who he said determined policy in Atlanta - Georgia. More broadly - the term is used to describe 'power elites' generally.






37. Legislature bills that affect only a small group of citizens.






38. While the voting rights act of 1965 did direct the Attorney General to investigate the constitutionality of poll taxes and prohibit literacy tests - it did not expressly prohibit _____________.






39. If 10 days remain in session and the president does not sign an act of Congress - the law is ___________.






40. A course of action chosen by government officials






41. Senators have a __________ rate of re-election than Representatives primarily because of their larger constituency and lack of direct involvement with them.






42. Bills passed by Congress to pay for the spending it has authorized.






43. A group of people - chosen by poll-takers - that is representative of the universe that is being polled.






44. 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.






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






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






47. Committees appointed for investigative or crisis situations.






48. This 1972 Supreme Court case struck down all state laws allowing the death penalty stating that they allowed for too much discretion on the part of the judge and jury resulting in lack of consistent administration of the penalty.






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






50. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.