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






2. Grants that an accused may not be held in custody without charge - literally 'You shall have the body'.






3. The president - the vice president - the heads of the major executive departments of the government - and certain other senior officials who may hold 'cabinet rank.'






4. 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.






5. Concurrent resolution - adopted by both Houses of Congress - that sets forth a Congressional budget plan for the budget year and at least four out-years.






6. 1966 Act allowing citizens to inspect all government records with the exception of classified military or intelligence documents - trade secrets or private personnel files.






7. This event was an important factor in creating the climate for a new Constitution.

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8. Clause in the 14th Amendment that forbids any state to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. The 5th Amendment also imposes this limitation on the national government.






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






10. Special courts assigned to deal with specific legislative issues such as taxes - military appeals - and international trade.






11. Presides over the Senate without voting privileges except in the case of a tie.






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






13. The main mechanism used by modern political parties to nominate their candidate for President.






14. 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.






15. The action - or actions - taken by government to carry out a policy.






16. 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






17. Number of Federal District courts across 50 states - DC and Puerto Rico.






18. Federal aid that states and localities may use mostly as they wish.






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






20. A controversial law overwhelmingly passed by Congress in October 2001 - after the terrorist attacks of September 11 on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It greatly expanded the power of federal law enforcement authorities to move against suspe






21. 1944 case established that as as long as a person accepted their beliefs in good faith that it is not the government's authority to determine whether those beliefs are valid.






22. The permanent committees of a legislature that consider bills and conduct hearings and investigations.






23. Because there is no Senate Rules Committee - Senators can debate a bill for an _________________ time.






24. The oldest House committee still in existence.






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






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






27. There is an _____________ relationship between Presidential approval ratings and unemployment.






28. Important during the Revolution - these bodies organized by the local governments of the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolution for the purposes of coordinating written communication outside of the colony.






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






30. A place of work in which only union members may be hired.






31. A pluralist theory by C. Wright Mills where a small number of wealthy elite wield most of the power. Fundamental to all governments around the world - the elite rule while they make the lower classes feel like they are involved in democracy. The elit






32. An individual who does not join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.






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






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






35. Communication with legislators or other government officials to try to influence their decisions.






36. Cabinet department responsible for collective bargaining and union activity. Established in 1913






37. In addition to the doctrine of implied powers - Chief Justice Marshall - in his decision in the Supreme Court case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - established the key concept of:






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






39. According to V. O. Key - Jr. - the Populist Party of the 1890s is an example of a ____________________.






40. In order to win support for ratification of the Constitution - the Federalists had to promise that the first order of business under a new government would be to _______________.






41. Passed in 1883 - it created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.






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






43. Voting based on looking back and making judgments about the way things have gone and the kind of government experienced during a political leader's time in office.






44. Author of The Spirit of the Laws advocating balance of power in politics with liberty is dependant upon a separation of the judicial - legislative - and executive branches of government.






45. 1940 Act Prohibiting any person from advocating overthrowing the government through violence or force.






46. 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.






47. A powerful alliance of mutual benefit among an agency or unit of the government - an interest group - and a committee or subcommittee of Congress. Also called a triangle or iron triangle.






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






49. A form of city government under which a board of city commissioners is popularly elected (often on a nonpartisan ballot). The commissioners make policy as a city council - but they also run city departments as administrators.






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