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 test established by Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes - Jr. - in 1919 to define the point at which speech loses the protection of the First Amendment.






2. The philosophy that government should intervene as little as possible in economic affairs.






3. Leader of the House of Representatives - elected by the majority party. 2nd in line of succession for the Presidency.






4. Elects the President if no candidate receives 270 Electoral College votes.






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






6. (1781-1789) The written framework for the government of the original 13 states before the Constitution was adopted. Under this - the national government was weak and dominated by the states. There was a unicameral legislature - but no national execut






7. Redefined Presidential succession and disability.






8. Belief in the value of strong government to provide economic secruity and protection for civil rights - combined with a belief in personal freedom from government intervention in social conduct






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






10. A provision in a deed to real property prohibiting its sale to a person of a particular race or religion. Judicial enforcement is unconstitutional.






11. The formal source of all authority in each major political party. It nominates the party candidates for president and vice president - writes a platform - settles disputes - writes rules - and elects the members of the national committee.






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






13. A method of amending state constitutions under which proposed constitutional amendments can be placed on the ballot if enough signatures are obtained on a petition. Almost half the states also employ the initiative on the ballot to allow voters to en






14. Includes expressive conduct/assembly/actions and symbolic behavior (ex. Picketing or burning the flag) Based on our country history of symbolic acts such as the Boston Tea Party - courts almost always uphold symbolic acts of speech unless they are cr






15. New Jersey v. TLO (1985) established that school authorities may search students without _____________ as long as they are reasonable.






16. A method available in most states that allows voters - in effect - to 'veto' a bill passed by the legislature or to accept or reject a proposal - such as a bond issue - made by a government agency.






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






18. Agenda that includes issues that affect the daily lives of the people.






19. The absent colony at the 2nd Continental Congress.






20. A policy adopted by the United States after the Second World War that assumed that if enough nuclear weapons were deployed by the United States - an enemy would not attack for fear of being destroyed in retaliation.






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






22. An economic philosophy that advocates both tax and budget cuts to increase incentives to produce in order to expand the total supply of the nation's goods and services.






23. An issue on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party or candidate with conditions - goals - or symbols the electorate universally approves or disapproves of. Examples of such issues are economic prosperi






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






25. According to this nineteenth-century British peer and historian - 'power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'






26. Procedure typically requiring 3/5 vote of the entire Senate to end a filibuster.






27. The process through which an individual acquires a set of political attitudes and forms opinions about political and social issues.






28. Organizations or groups - such as labor unions or fraternal - professional - or religious groups - that may influence an individual's opinion.






29. 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






30. Established national income tax.






31. This type of government suits a large country with a diverse population






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






33. In this case - a gay man from Georgia charged with committing sodomy in his own home with a consenting adult. The court ruled that the Constitution does not explicitly grant the right for homosexuals to practice their lifestyle and that laws against






34. 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






35. 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






36. States that arrestees must be informed of their right to remain silent - that anything they say can be held against them in a court - that they have a right to an attorney and that an attorney will be appointed to them if they cannot afford one.






37. Government employees who publicly expose evidence of official waste or corruption that they have learned about in the course of their duties.






38. A course of action chosen by government officials






39. Raise Public Awareness - Create Policy Agenda - Prioritize Agenda - Enact Policy - Public Evaluation






40. ________________ of the Constitution governs the relationships of the states.






41. The 1896 case of Plessy v. Fergusan established the racial segregation policy of __________________.






42. In lieu of an indictment - the state prosecutor may file a _______________ charging the person with a crime.






43. Puerto Rico has ____________ status.






44. The belief that one is effective when participating in politics - for example that the government will respond to one's demands






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






46. Most states have ___________ legislatures.






47. 1940 Act Prohibiting any person from advocating overthrowing the government through violence or force.






48. The executive office established in response to intelligence lapses during WWI. Oversees American foreign policy and includes the President - Vice President - Secretary of State - Secretary of Defense and is lead by the National Security Advisor.






49. A series of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton - John Jay - and James Madison under the pseudonym Publius advocating the ratification of the United States Constitution.






50. Decides which bills will be considered.