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 5th amendment protect against _____________.






2. Independent agencies governed by an appointed and confirmed commission. Examples include the Food and Drug Administration - Environmental Protection Agency - and the Securities and Exchange Commission.






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






4. Beginning with the election of Abraham Lincoln - the period between 1860 and the Great Depression was dominated by this political party.






5. After analyzing 1 -795 platform pledges over a 10-year period - Gerald M. Pomper concluded that almost ____________ of these promises were fulfilled






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






7. A device that allows the House of Representatives to conduct its business with fewer restrictions on debate and a quorum of only 100 members.






8. If 10 days do not remain in session and the president does not sign an act of Congress - the bill __________.






9. Most house committees are limited to _____ subcommittees.






10. 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.






11. 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.






12. This Supreme Court case infamously decided that a slave was not a citizen but property to be 'used in subservience to the interests - the convenience - or the will of his owner'






13. The President's role in the armed forces which during the 20th century has allowed Presidents to circumvent Congress' refusal to declare war.






14. First Executive Branch






15. This 1964 case established strict standards for proving slander and libel - court must prove intent of malice on the part of the publisher.






16. Clause in the 14th Amendment that forbids any state to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. The 5th Amendment also imposes this limitation on the national government.






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






18. Broadly worded warrants used by British soldiers during colonial America to search for contraband and prevent smuggling.






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






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






21. 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

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22. Laws must be reasonable. The Supreme Court has abandoned this concept in regards to business matters citing that it is the responsibility of Congress to regulate economic matters. The court has continued to apply this to matters of civil liberties an






23. In Schenck v. US (1919) - The Supreme Court ruled that government may prohibit speech that creates an immediate threat of criminal action. Essentially established different standards for speech during wartime than in peacetime. Thus - establishing th






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






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






26. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments provide for _____________.






27. Term limit for House of Representatives.






28. 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






29. In Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969) - the Supreme Court established precedents for ___________________ in schools and government institutions.






30. Decides which bills will be considered.






31. Federal categorical grants in which the granting agency has less discretion over how the recipient spends the money.






32. Loose - competitive relationships among policy experts - interest groups - congressional committees - and federal agencies. Many observers argue that these have replaced iron triangles.






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






34. Laws passed by state legislatures that are designed to protect reporters from being forced to reveal their news sources.






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






36. A method available in most states that allows voters - in effect - to 'veto' a bill passed by the legislature or to accept or reject a proposal - such as a bond issue - made by a government agency.






37. Powers of the national government that flow from its enumerated powers and the 'elastic clause' of the Constitution.






38. The concentration of economic power in the hands of a relatively few large companies.






39. If significant amendments are made to a bill during committee - the bill is sometimes given a new number as a _______________.






40. After the Vietnam war - American politics entered an era of __________________ during which neither party maintained control over the government.






41. Economists generally agree that the major responsibility for promoting prosperity and full employment falls on ________________.






42. The European political philosophers whose writings influenced the concepts of liberty and government contained in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution belonged to the intellectual and cultural movement known as






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






44. Laws - rules - and government programs designed to protect individual rights and specific groups - as well as to benefit society as a whole in such areas as health - worker safety - consumer protection - and the environment.






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






46. Considered the most sacred right in American history. Colonists felt oppressed by the tyranny of the crown but were unable to speak up about it for fear of repercussion.






47. Test whereby the Supreme Court established criteria by which state may provide aid to religious groups.






48. Minimum number of voters per state in the Electoral College.






49. The 23rd Amendment guaranteed voting rights to whom?






50. Prohibits conviction of a crime that occurred before the act became illegal