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. Government employees who publicly expose evidence of official waste or corruption that they have learned about in the course of their duties.






2. Most states have ___________ legislatures.






3. These courts only hear appeals on cases from lower courts.






4. Spending determined by the number of qualified recipients and their legally determined need is called






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






6. The name commonly given to a private group - regardless of size - organized to elect political candidates. An organization becomes one by receiving contributions or making expenditures in excess of $1 -000 for the purpose of influencing a federal ele






7. 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 a subgovernment.






8. The proceeding before a judge in which the formal charges of an indictment or information are read to an accused person - who may plead guilty or not guilty.






9. In 2002 - a federal appeals court struck down the Pledge of Allegiance on the grounds that it violated ________________.






10. In the year 2000 - the Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America had a constitutional right to ban _____________ members.






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






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






13. The formal source of all authority in each major political party. It nominates the party candidates for president and vice president - writes a platform - settles disputes - writes rules - and elects the members of the national committee.






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






15. Number of years a Representative must reside in the US prior to taking office






16. The relationship between the total cost of foreign goods imported to this country and sales of U.S. products overseas.






17. The vagueness of this phrase has allowed juries to exclude specific genders or races in order to affect the outcome of the verdict.






18. The possible tendency of some voters or convention delegates to support the candidate who is leading in the polls and seems likely to win.






19. The power of some municipalities to modify their charters and run their affairs without approval by the state legislature.






20. First governing document of the Plymouth Colony establishing freedom of religion.






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






22. 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






23. An immigrant who wished to become a citizen may be naturalized after living in the US for ___ years.






24. Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people






25. 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.






26. Which historical figure described democracy as 'the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time?'






27. Established the Federal Reserve Bank - responsible for conducting the nation's monetary policy - maintaining the stability of the financial system - supervising and regulating banking institutions - and protecting the credit rights of consumers - and






28. 1966 Act allowing citizens to inspect all government records with the exception of classified military or intelligence documents - trade secrets or private personnel files.






29. Legislative branch incorporating two houses.






30. A writ designed to protect against illegal imprisonment by requiring that a person who is detained be brought before a judge for investigation.






31. The Supreme Court practice of applying most of the provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states under the 14th Amendment.






32. A plan to provide billions of dollars of American aid to Western Europe to speed its economic and social recovery after the Second World War.






33. 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.






34. The 19th Century __________ party platform was opposed to the spread of slavery - promoted preservation of the union - supported the abolition of slavery - and promoted post civil was reconstruction.






35. Elects the President if no candidate receives 270 Electoral College votes.






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






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






38. An ideology that advocates limits on government power to address economic and social problems - relying instead on economic markets and individual initiative to address problems like health care and education - while promoting government involvement






39. Type of interest group represented in Washington by another individual or organization. (Ex. Ford Motor Company pays a lobbyist in Washington to represent them.)






40. Impact elections by siphoning off votes from major parties spoiling a party's chance in a close race.






41. A provision in a deed to real property prohibiting its sale to a person of a particular race or religion. Judicial enforcement is unconstitutional.






42. Constitutional protection of the accused to not be tried for the same crime twice.






43. Electoral college system and other campaign practices make it exceedingly difficult for even popular ______________ candidates to successfully run for the presidency.






44. Law intended to promote free competition in the market place by outlawing monopolies






45. This 1932 case established that a case can be too speedy and under-counseled - providing defendants in a capital case the right to a reasonable amount of time to establish a defense.






46. Literally - a 'friend of the court' brief - filed by an individual or organization to present arguements in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case






47. 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.






48. The absent colony at the 2nd Continental Congress.






49. Plan that proposed unicameral legislature with each state having one vote.






50. Concept of government by the people in which everyone is free to vote - but normally whoever gets the most votes wins the election and represents all the people - including those who voted for the losing candidate.