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. Multi-interest and often multinational corporations that - under one corporate roof - may manufacture a wide variety of products.






2. Practice by which voters of one party crossing over and voting in the primary of another party - effectively allowing a party to help choose its opposition's candidate.






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. Makes sure that funds are used safely and wisely. They oversee the state's financial records






5. The estimated number of illegal aliens living in the US.






6. When the President's own party gains power and influence - it more puts pressure on the President to conform to the will of the party - leading to________________ between the President and the party to define their public identities






7. 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.






8. Members of this party typically include Conservative Christian groups - higher socio-economic classes - middle-class white collar - and suburban voters.






9. Clause of the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 10) intended to prohibit state governments from modifying contracts made between individuals; interpreted as prohibiting state governments from taking actions that adversely affect property rights.






10. In a 1943 case - the Supreme Court upheld the right to refuse to salute the American flag on the basis of the constitutional guarantee of _________________.






11. Number of years a President must reside in the US prior to taking office






12. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and cooperate.






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






15. Independent agencies governed by an appointed and confirmed commission. Examples include the Food and Drug Administration - Environmental Protection Agency - and the Securities and Exchange Commission.






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






17. 3 person executive panel responsible for helping the President develop an economic plan for the nation.






18. During the 1800's and early 1900's - some state and local party committees became ________________ dominating party activities. Committee members would promise new recruits money - jobs - and other benefits for joining and voting the straight party t






19. PACs may donate a ______________ amount of indirect or in-kind donations to a campaign. (Ex. placing ads to support their candidate)






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






21. Provisions tacked on to a piece of legislation that are not relevant to the bill.






22. A tax on voting abolished by the Twenty-fourth Amendment in 1964 - long used by southern states to keep blacks (and - in some cases - poor whites) from participating in elections.






23. Federal and State Courts function in a _____________manner so that federal courts may receive appeals from state courts.






24. After the bill reaches the house floor - if opponents have many changes - they may vote to ______________________.






25. Congress' first step towards allocating funds






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






27. Which two British Acts - passed in 1764 - caused American colonists for the first time to organize protests against the injustices of British rule - and sparked the rallying cry 'no taxation without representation'?






28. The total amount of money that the United States owes to its creditors.






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






30. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) - founded in 1932 by President Herbert Hoover to help combat the Great Depression - was the predecessor of which federal agencies?






31. 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






32. The vote cast by a person who does not like either candidate and so votes for the less objectionable of the two - putting a clothespin over his nose to keep out the unpleasant stench






33. A Latin phrase meaning 'stand by past decisions -' a principle that judges often use in deciding cases. Ruling based on precedents.






34. The expression of attitudes about government and politics.






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






36. A system in which the national government sets requirements that are then implemented by state and local governments.






37. Representing - characterized by - or including members from two parties or factions






38. Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Congress authorized and appropriated.






39. In presidential campaigns - federal matching funds are provided to candidates who ______________.






40. In this essay - James Madison recognized that reconciling the competing interests of various groups was what legislation was all about






41. The number of ______________ a state receives is based on the number Representatives and Senators that the state has in Congress






42. A federal program established in 1965 to provide hospital and medical services to older people through the Social Security system.






43. Approximately 33% of American voters identify themselves as _______________ party.






44. 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.






45. The head of a national political party






46. The 23rd Amendment guaranteed voting rights to whom?






47. Established the Federal Reserve Bank - responsible for conducting the nation's monetary policy - maintaining the stability of the financial system - supervising and regulating banking institutions - and protecting the credit rights of consumers - and






48. ________________ of the Constitution dictates how the Constitution shall be amended.






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






50. 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