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. 19th century case establishing that the Bill of Rights applied only to the federal government - upheld until the 20th century. Ruling allowed stated to engage in activities such as establishing state churches and denying public office to people of ce






2. Total number of Representatives apportioned to the states based on population and reapportioned with the census every 10 years






3. 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






4. The Supreme Court holds _____________ jurisdiction in cases against the US - ambassadors - public ministers - and consuls.






5. Puerto Rico has ____________ status.






6. The kinds of cases that a court has the authority to decide.






7. This may be done by a national constitutional convention called by Congress on the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures OR By the passage of a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress






8. Spending by the national committees of the political parties to support the election of congressional candidates is known as






9. A form of city government under which a council - usually elected on a nonpartisan ticket - hires a professional city manager - who runs the city government and has power to hire and fire officials.






10. Guarantees that citizens cannot be compelled by the government to act in a way that is contrary to their religious beliefs. (ex. Conscientious objection to military service required by the draft is the execution of ______________)






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






12. A group of independent states or nations that come together for a common purpose and whose central authority is usually limited to defense and foreign relations.






13. Age requirement for President






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






15. The body composed of electors from the 50 states who formally have the power to elect the president and vice president of the United States. Each state has a number of electors and electoral votes equal to its number of senators and representatives i






16. 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.






17. An interest group organization that represents a specific group of people (Ex. NAACP - AARP)






18. The 15th Amendment - also know as _________________ - was intended to help recently freed blacks from unconstitutional state laws designed to circumvent federal laws.






19. Popular until the early 20th century when they lost favor to primaries due to corruption - now used in only 12 states.






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






21. Unwritten law based on custom and tradition.






22. The most important committees - always assembled and delegated with the responsibility of handling all bills under their concern. Includes the Ways and Means - Appropriations - Budget - Rules and Agriculture Committees.






23. Control of a market by a single company.






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






25. Number of years a President must reside in the US prior to taking office






26. 1925 Supreme Court case overturned Baron v. Baltimore and applied the Bill of Rights to states.






27. An unwritten custom by which individual senators who belong to the same political party as the president exercise an informal veto power over presidential appointments in their states.






28. After a bill is assigned to a committee - the next step is typically a ______________.






29. The 1st Amendment states that government cannot issue ______________ - censoring publications before they are published.






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






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






32. Judicial Check on Legislative Branch. Not specifically outlined in the Constitution - but established in the case of Marbury v. Madison through the application of the Supremacy Clause in Article VI.






33. The reason that electors are chosen in each state by popular vote is ____________.






34. A policy that takes something away from one person and gives it to someone else -






35. Elections in which the majority party (according to party identification) is defeated in a temporary reversal.






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






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






38. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the 1964 Civil Rights Act does not prohibit private affirmative action programs?






39. The case of Gregg v. Georgia set the precedent for a ________________ system in which guilt and sentencing and tried separately.






40. In a 1943 case - the Supreme Court upheld the right to refuse to salute the American flag on the basis of the constitutional guarantee of _________________.






41. 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






42. The total group from which poll-takers may select a random sample in order to measure public opinion.






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






44. A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.






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






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






47. Which two British Acts - passed in 1764 - caused American colonists for the first time to organize protests against the injustices of British rule - and sparked the rallying cry 'no taxation without representation'?






48. Inherent powers of state governments to pass laws to protect health - safety - and welfare; the national government has no directly granted police powers but accomplishes the same goals through other delegated powers.






49. Each Senate committee may have ________ subcommittees.






50. ____________ often influence political appointments in an effort to influence bureaucracy.