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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. The Articles of Confederation established a ________________ legislature.






2. Legislative house responsible for impeachment trials.






3. Formerly known as the Anti-Federalist - this party lead by Thomas Jefferson advocated states rights pressing the causes of the common people and agrarian interest. Dominated the political arena until the Civil War.






4. This category of interest groups has been the strongest and most effective in lobbying Washington






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






6. Cabinet department that includes the Coast Guard - Border Patrol - FEMA - Transportation Security Administration - INS and the Secret Service. Established in 2001 in response to 9/11.






7. The attitudes and actions of people that sustain and buttress the political system at all levels and allows the political system to continue to work.






8. _____________ are expected to specialize in a few policy areas rather than claim expertise in the whole range of legislative concerns






9. Government regulation of the economy through its control over taxes and government spending. Controlled by the Department of Treasury.






10. Contacts - coalitions - and interactions across national boundaries






11. Legislative branch incorporating two houses.






12. The view advocated by Supreme Court Justices Hugo Black and William O. Douglas that there are provisions of the Bill of Rights that cannot be diluted by judicial decisions.






13. The 1803 case in which the Supreme Court - by declaring a portion of an act of Congress unconstitutional - first firmly set forth and established the power of judicial review.






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






15. Voter turnout is usually ____________ when there is a binding referendum on the ballot.






16. Groups whose views serve as guidelines to an individual's opinion. See also primary groups and secondary groups.






17. 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






18. When neither political party is dominant.






19. A judicial opinion agreed to by a majority of the members of a court. A majority opinion sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision.






20. What principle - contained in the Fourth Amendment - protects a citizen from unwarranted search and seizure?






21. Federal grants in which the recipient has little discretion over how the money is spent. The national government sets narrowly defined rules for use of funds and often requires the states or local governments to provide matching funds. These grants a






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






23. Laws that were designed to segregate black and white Americans and give legal recognition to discrimination.






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






25. Article I of the Constitution establishes the ___________________ branch.






26. When the population's overall feeling of political efficacy is low - voter turnout is _______.






27. Libel - obscenity - fighting words - and commercial speech - which are not entitled to constitutional protection in all circumstances.






28. Smith v. Allwight (1994) was the first vase in which the Supreme Court upheld the voting rights of _____________ in state primary elections.






29. 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.






30. Limitations on this freedom including prohibition of defamation and obscenity - limitation on commercial speech - and restriction of inciting words that may cause immediate danger.






31. A provision of law in which Congress asserts the power to nullify actions of the executive branch. In 1983 the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional - but Congress continued to pass laws containing such provisions.






32. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






33. The overall public has a ___________ view of PACS in terms of bought votes and adding to the cost of running for office






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






35. Bills that benefit legislators' home districts - or powerful corporate contributors - with sometimes wasteful or unnecessary public works or other projects.






36. The provisions of the Constitution that divide power among three constitutionally equal and independent branches of government






37. (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






38. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over budget and appointments of leadership.






39. Age requirement for President






40. Cabinet department responsible for managing school lunch programs and food safety. Established in 1862.






41. The class of independent voters who do not vote according to party affiliation - but who typically have a broader range of concerns than single-issue voters - are known colloquially as






42. A centralized system of government - such as that of France - where most of the important policy decisions are made by a central government.






43. Guarantees the right to bare arms.






44. A decision of the Supreme Court cannot be ___________.






45. Executive office responsible for helping the President write the federal budget and monitoring federal spending.






46. In addition to a quick and speedy trial - the 6th Amendment also guarantees ________________.






47. 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.






48. Laws must be reasonable. The Supreme Court has abandoned this concept in regards to business matters citing that it is the responsibility of Congress to regulate economic matters. The court has continued to apply this to matters of civil liberties an






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






50. Law enacted by Congress - or by state legislatures or local legislative bodies.







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