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. A law passed by Congress in 1973 in an effort to set a time limit on the use of combat forces abroad by a president.






2. Political commercials that strongly attack a rival candidate.






3. It is possible either to describe people - government - politics - and power as isolated - static elements - or to look at them as interacting elements in a_______________.






4. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the concept of privacy included the right to a legal abortion?






5. Year of the 2nd Continental Congress.






6. 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.






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






8. A system of _______________ - as in Italy - encourages the existence of many parties by allotting seats to competing candidates according to the percentage of votes they win.






9. Which form of registration prevails in all but a few states?






10. 1917 Reincarnation of the Sedition Act during WWI






11. Committees that pull members from both the house and the senate who meet to discuss major policy issues such as economy and taxation.






12. Act of exchanging favors for mutual gain






13. The philosophy that government should intervene as little as possible in economic affairs.






14. 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.






15. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to release these until a majority of polling places had closed in each state






16. A system in which the power to govern is shared between national and state governments






17. A procedure that in certain circumstances permits voters to remove elected state or local officials from office before their terms have expired.






18. Decides which bills will be considered.






19. The Jacksonian Era marked an important change in the process used to nominate Presidential candidates with the emergence of party _________________ - eliminating caucuses.






20. 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

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


21. A legal principle of fair dealing - which may provide preventive measures and legal remedies that are unavailable under existing common law and statutory law.






22. While these voters have traditionally supported the Democrats - some have begun to support Republicans in light of the Democrats liberal policies on abortion.






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






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






25. The fundamental flaw in plural theory contends that pluralism weakens the backbone of democracy with too many common interest groups attempt to wield power - often leading to standstill because of unwillingness to compromise.






26. A meeting of party leaders to select candidates - elect convention delegates - etc






27. Included are Agriculture - Nutrition - and Forestry; Appropriations; Armed Services; Banking - Housing and Urban Affairs; Commerce - Science and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Public Works; Finance; Health - Education -






28. The structure and set of regulations in place to control activity - usually in large organizations and government. it is represented by standardized procedure (rule-following) that dictates the execution of most or all processes within the body - for






29. The Supreme Court has sometimes used a narrow interpretation of the Establishment Clause allowing the government to provide aid to religious groups as long as it remains ______________ and does not promote one religion at the expense of another. This






30. The strongest factor contributing to an individual's political socialization tends to be






31. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.






32. A tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals and present them to a candidate or political party as a 'bundle -' thus increasing the PAC's influence.






33. The issuance of this document by a judge requires probably cause and must be worded so as to allow for the search and seizure of specific evidence.






34. Legislative house responsible for impeachment trials.






35. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






36. 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.






37. Lead by Theodore Roosevelt - this party platform focused on women's suffrage - social reform - fair business practices - and direct election of senators. The won 25% of the popular vote in 1911 - splitting the Republican vote and allowing Democrat Wo






38. The ___________ aspects of Federalism include: diversity/diffusion of power - more access points for political participation - fostering of experimentation and innovation - and allowing local governments to manage local problems effectively






39. Laws on Schools - Marriage - and owning property;Licensee Lawyers - Doctors - and Teachers.






40. The 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act - the 1965 Highway Beautification Act and the 1964 Civil Rights Act are all examples of ____________________.






41. 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






42. 6 In the view of Robert L. Lineberry - policy analysts focus on the _______________.






43. Money spent by individuals or gorups not asociated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office






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






45. A philosophy that the Supreme Court should avoid constitutional questions when possible and uphold acts of Congress unless they clearly violate a specific section of the Constitution.






46. The expansion of cable and satellite tv has _________________ the president's power to influence public opinion.






47. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 required states in the covered jurisdiction to attain _________________ from the Attorney General before making changes to voting standards - practice - or procedure






48. This powerful House committee is in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor.






49. The process by which individuals screen out messages that do not conform to their own biases






50. In addition to overseeing the activities of one or more federal agencies - a ___________________may also serve as the authorizing committee for federal agencies' programs and operations.