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. _____________ are expected to specialize in a few policy areas rather than claim expertise in the whole range of legislative concerns






2. Form of government in which the people are sovereign but their power is exercised by their elected representatives.






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






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






5. The foreign policy of the United States during the period after the Second World War - designed to contain the expansion of Soviet power.






6. Requests from people or groups for health care for the aged - loans for college students - equal opportunity for minorities - and higher subsidies for farmers are examples of:






7. This group of voters historically supported Republicans - a party founded on an anti-slavery platform. During the 1930's they began supporting the New Deal policies of the Democratic party.






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






9. The claim by presidents of an inherent right to withhold information from Congress and the judiciary.






10. Overturning unjust laws is the responsibility of _________________.






11. 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.






12. The fundamental rights of a free society that are protected by the Bill of Rights against the power of the government - such as freedom of speech - religion - press - and assembly.






13. This influential English document refuted divine right of monarchy and made monarchs subject to laws and responsible for crimes






14. The principle of civilian control of the military - based on the clear constitutional power of the president as supreme commander of the armed forces.






15. The principle that the government - as provided in the Fifth Amendment - can take property for 'public use' with 'just compensation' to the owners.






16. At one time - the press generally refrained from publishing personal information that would be damaging. FDR - Eisenhower - and JFK all benefited from this reluctance to engage in _____________________. However - the American publics appetite for sen






17. Capital punishment is also known as the _________________.






18. Guarantees the right to a civil trial by jury.






19. Charge of misconduct brought against a government official.






20. Guarantees that any rights not explicitly outlined heretofore are reserved for the states.






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






22. Which committee assignments would confer the most power and influence on members of the Senate?






23. The Supremacy Clause appears in ________________ of the Constitution.






24. A federal tax on imports.






25. The response of the rest of society to actions by the authorities.






26. Senators have a __________ rate of re-election than Representatives primarily because of their larger constituency and lack of direct involvement with them.






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






28. International agreements between the president and foreign heads of state that - unlike treaties - do not require Senate approval.






29. 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.






30. Members of the ______________ committee of a political party work to maintain influence during non election years through congressional campaign committees.






31. In the 1964 case of ____________ - the Supreme Court: established 'one person - one vote' -






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






33. 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.






34. Gave authority over atomic energy from military to civilians.






35. An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted






36. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is an example of an






37. The pursuit and exercise of power.






38. Formed as a third party on the issue of slavery by many former Whigs in the 1850's. Anti-slavery platform. Supported by farmers - laborers - and newly-freed blacks.






39. The spread of nuclear weapons to new nations






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






41. This body of government has final authority on the meaning of the Constitution.






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






43. Information sent out in order to observe the reaction of an audience. Used by politicians who deliberately leak information on a policy change under consideration.






44. A nation's set of fundamental beliefs about how government and politics should be conducted.






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






46. Number of justices of the Supreme Court.






47. This house committee is responsible for Supervising the authority of the federal government to borrow money - Raising the revenue required to finance the federal government by levying taxes - Overseeing Social Security and other social insurance prog






48. Decides which bills will be considered.






49. Things government decides to do - example: taxation - crime control - national defense - education - etc.






50. Federal grants in which the recipient has a lot of discretion over how the money is spent. These grants are issued in support of general government functions such as education and law enforcement.