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. This 1973 ruling gave local communities the authority to determine obscenity - established three part test for obscene material. To qualify as obscene - speech must be considered obscene by the 'average' person - depict or describe material that is a






2. Permitted court authorized wire-tapping and bugging by federal - state - and local authorities and use of such evidence in trial. Later reversed by the Supreme Court based on 4th Amendment rights.






3. Plan that proposed unicameral legislature with each state having one vote.






4. International agreements between the president and foreign heads of state that - unlike treaties - do not require Senate approval.






5. First governing document of the Plymouth Colony establishing freedom of religion.






6. These voters are registered as a party member but only participate by voting in primary and general elections. Tend to vote straight-party ticket and follow the leads of local party officials.






7. Head of the Supreme Court.






8. Economists generally agree that the major responsibility for promoting prosperity and full employment falls on ________________.






9. 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






10. In 1987 - the FCC abandoned the fairness doctrine on the grounds that it unconstitutionally restricted the ______________ rights of broadcasters.






11. 'lame duck' amendment






12. Private groups that attempt to influence the government to respond to the shared attitudes of their members.






13. An annual meeting held in the spring in many New England towns - at which the townspeople come together to elect a board of selectmen and to discuss local policy questions. It has become a symbol of participatory democracy.






14. After a bill has passed both the House and Senate - it goes to _________________ where any differences between the house bill and the senate bill are resolved before sending to the President for signature






15. Department established in 1988 by President G.H. Bush.

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16. A broadly based coalition that attempts to gain control of the government by winning elections in order to exercise power and reward its members.






17. Process by which citizens propose an amendment by petition.






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






19. Formed as a third party on the issue of slavery by many former Whigs in the 1850's. Anti-slavery platform. Supported by farmers - laborers - and newly-freed blacks.






20. The 5th amendment protect against _____________.






21. In the 1964 case of ____________ - the Supreme Court: established 'one person - one vote' -






22. This contraversial legal technicality intended to protect civil liberties has allowed criminals to remain free when the courts refuse to admit evidence that may have been obtained illegally.






23. Established national income tax.






24. The elected position of President pro tempore of the Senate is almost always held by






25. Requires reporting of financial information by companies with publicly traded securities






26. This 1957 judgement prohibited pornography material as utterly without redeeming social significance - later reversed in Miller v. California






27. The Constitution requires that state governments - like the federal government - must be _____________ in form - with final authority resting with the people.






28. A system in which national and state government have shared or overlapping powers. FDR's New Deal legislation established this system in the US.






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






30. Cabinet positions must be ____________ by the Senate






31. Until the law was changed in 2002 - the term described unregulated campaign funds not subject to the limits of federal law because they went to party committees and not directly to candidates. The 2002 law banned contributions of soft money to nation






32. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over lawsuits filed against the agency.






33. Define US Citizenship as any person born or naturalized in the United States.






34. The Democrats control over politics during the 20th century ended with this President's unpopular handling of the Vietnam War.






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






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






37. Judges in Legislative Courts serve _______ terms and do not require impeachment.






38. Capital punishment is also known as the _________________.






39. This term refers to the gain in the polls that a candidate often enjoys after a national convention






40. A power of the president to kill a bill by taking no action (if Congress adjourns during the 10-day period after the president receives the bill). Some court rulings have suggested that a president may exercise a pocket veto only when Congress adjour






41. Test whereby the Supreme Court established criteria by which state may provide aid to religious groups.






42. A government that undertakes responsibility for the welfare of its citizens through programs in public health and public housing and pensions and unemployment compensation etc.






43. The practice that allows senators to delay or even kill floor action on legislation - a nomination - or other matters by asking their party leaders not to schedule them.






44. Cabinet department responsible for the management of public lands - wildlife - natural resources - and Native American affairs. Established in 1849






45. A provision of the Federal Communications Act that requires broadcasters to provide the same amount of exposure to all legally qualified political candidates.






46. Tax legislation must originate in this house.






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






48. 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.






49. Constitutionally required address by the President typically given in a joint session of Congress.






50. The term 'Reagan Democrats' has become a generic term for