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. The principle - established by Chief Justice John Marshall in 1819 in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland - that the Constitution must be interpreted flexibly to meet changing conditions.






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






3. Federal grants in which the recipient has little discretion over how the money is spent. The national government sets narrowly defined rules for use of funds and often requires the states or local governments to provide matching funds. These grants a






4. Its the responsibility of ___________ committees of a political party to solidify the party within each state and organize primary elections






5. Freedoms that protect the individual from the government.






6. This 1967 Supreme Court case prohibited illegal eavesdropping and extending the zone of privacy to include the home - office - person - and immediate public arena.






7. In California v. Avecedo (1991) - The Supreme Court established that authorities may search ____________________ without a warrant providing reasonable suspicion.






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






9. 1940 Act Prohibiting any person from advocating overthrowing the government through violence or force.






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






11. In 1872 - Susan B Anthony was arrested in Rochester - New York for






12. Under this governing document - national government lacked authority to set up tariffs - regulate commerce - levy taxes - control international relations - establish common currency






13. A term popularized by sociologist Floyd Hunter to describe the community leaders who he said determined policy in Atlanta - Georgia. More broadly - the term is used to describe 'power elites' generally.






14. 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.






15. The period of time after the election of FDR until the Vietnam War was dominated by the Democratic Party and know as the __________________ Era.






16. An economic system of free enterprise with private ownership of the means of production.






17. This called for three-fifths of all slaves in a state were counted for purposes of apportioning representation in the House of Representatives.






18. Agencies that were at one time semi-autonomous but that through legislation have been placed under presidential control since 1945.






19. The net balance or relationship between total income and total expenditures by the nation in its dealings with the rest of the world - including trade - loans - and investments.






20. James Madison proposed to deal with the threat of political factions by ______________________.






21. An election in which voters in a jurisdiction select candidates for a subsequent election. In other words - one means by which a political party nominate candidates for the following general election.s






22. What occurs when government adopts a public policy that provides - or distributes - benefits to people or groups.






23. Most likely to board a foreign ship suspected of drug trafficking at a U.S. port






24. The practice under which victorious politicians reward their followers with jobs.






25. An issue on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party or candidate with conditions - goals - or symbols the electorate universally approves or disapproves of. Examples of such issues are economic prosperi






26. In charge of all state funds. Supervises the collection of taxes and payment of state's bill






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






28. Article I of the Constitution establishes the ___________________ branch.






29. Tests of a voter's ability to read and write - which were often used to keep recent immigrants and blacks from voting.






30. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments provide for _____________.






31. This amendment applied the Bill of Rights to states.






32. People may vote in a party's primary only if they are registered members of that party. Independents cannot participate. Note that because some political parties name themselves independent - the term 'non-partisan' often replaces 'independent' when






33. Programs mandated by law and not subject to annual review by Congress or the president.






34. In the 1962 case of Robinson v. California - the Supreme Court ruled that incarcerating a drug addict is ______________________ because drug addiction is an illness.






35. The 5th amendment protect against _____________.






36. Legislative house whose members were intended to represent the people.






37. Tips the balance between two leading candidates by attracting a minority of voters who otherwise might have voted for one of the leading candidates.






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






39. Organizations or groups - such as labor unions or fraternal - professional - or religious groups - that may influence an individual's opinion.






40. A test established by Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes - Jr. - in 1919 to define the point at which speech loses the protection of the First Amendment.






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






42. 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.






43. Groups whose views serve as guidelines to an individual's opinion. See also primary groups and secondary groups.






44. This clause of the 1st amendment establishes a 'wall of separation' between church and state.






45. Although camera are allowed in most trial courts - they are banned from ______________.






46. The gap between the government's income and outlays.






47. The separation of people by race.






48. Legislative house responsible for impeachment trials.






49. Members of this party typically include women who support liberal policies on abortion and equal pay - Jews - Catholics - Blacks and other minorities - Blue-collar working class - urban - labor unions - and intelligensia






50. During Presidential election years or when the nation is divided on policy agenda - particularly regarding salient issues - voter turnout is _____________