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. (1945-1991) The period after the Second World War marked by rivalry and tension between the two nuclear superpowers - the United States and the communist government of the Soviet Union. The Cold War ended when the Soviet government collapsed in 1991.






2. The sum of the goals - decisions - and actions that govern a nation's relations with the rest of the world.






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






4. Eisenhower's philosophy of being liberal in all things human and being conservative with all things fiscal. Appealed to both Republicans and Democrats.






5. Disapproval of a bill by a chief executive - such as the president or a governor.






6. 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






7. 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.






8. The spread of nuclear weapons to new nations






9. The framers of the Constitution created the Senate to function as a check on the ________________.






10. Today the South is is a two-party battleground - in which the ______________ often have the upper hand






11. 14th Amendment is often used to support the right to ____________.






12. This author of Leviathon posited that government is necessary because people are generally in a state of conflict.






13. 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.






14. A system of voter registration in which voters must register every year or at other stated intervals.






15. ________ of voters identify with one political party in advance of the campaign.






16. In Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969) - the Supreme Court established precedents for ___________________ in schools and government institutions.






17. Proponents of limited government - unregulated free markets - national self-reliance - and conventional social values are best describes as






18. Compromise between the large states and small states that established the bicameral Legislature consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives. Also included 3/5 compromise on the status of slaves in representation.






19. Law enacted in 1939 to prohibit civil servants from taking activists roles in partisan campaigns .This act prohibited federal employees from making political contributions - working for a particualr party -or campaining for a particualr canidate






20. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendment to bills or provides that only memebers of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments






21. A strand of American foreign policy that was visible by the end of the 19th century; it included 'gunboat diplomacy' and other forms of military involvement by the United States in various parts of the world.






22. The Medicaid and Food Stamp programs are examples of two very large






23. This article of the Constitution establishes the Executive Branch.






24. Assistants to the Majority and Minority Leaders of both the House and Senate.






25. Senators are re-elected every ___ years with 1/3 of the Senate being up for election every 2 years.






26. Legislative branch incorporating two houses.






27. Committees created by Congress to conduct special investigations. Although normally temporary - some become - in effect - permanent.






28. Congress defined the steps for the creation and admission of new states. It forbade slavery while the region remained a territory although citizens could legalize it. First congress would appoint a territorial governor and judges. Second as soon as 5






29. Amendment that delegated the election of Senators to popular vote.






30. The principle that the government - as provided in the Fifth Amendment - can take property for 'public use' with 'just compensation' to the owners.






31. 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






32. High School Dropouts - Blacks - Hispanics - Recent immigrants - and People under 25 or over 75 tend to have a _________ voter turnout.






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






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






35. These dissenting Republicans won 17% of the popular vote in 1924 on a platform for public control of national resources and railways - tax reductions - and changes to the staff of the executive department

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36. This 1st amendment clause prohibits the government from making any law prohibiting the exercise of any religion






37. He United States Constitution was opposed by which group?






38. A written opinion by some of the judges of a court which agrees with the majority of the court but might arrive there in a different manner.






39. The federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy)






40. The issue of slavery split the Democratic Party into what two factions?






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






42. 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.






43. Term limit for House of Representatives.






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






45. 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.






46. Southern whites prevented blacks from ____________ through use of poll taxes - literacy tests and intimidation tactics after the Civil War.






47. Held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.






48. An economic system in which the factors of production are owned by the publicand operate for the welfare of all.






49. In the view of W. Lance Bennett - the people who hold and express opinions are constantly changing - as are the issues and conditions to which the public responds. As a result - Bennett suggests that public opinion is______________.






50. Presidential management model requiring the President to have strong leadership skills and a keen eye for detail. FDR and JFK were well known for this style of leadership.