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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. 'lame duck' amendment






2. Practice by which voters of one party crossing over and voting in the primary of another party - effectively allowing a party to help choose its opposition's candidate.






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






4. Philosopher John Locke - in his 1690 work Civil Government (second treatise) - advised separation of government power between






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






6. Contacts - coalitions - and interactions across national boundaries






7. The 1776 pamphlet by Thomas Paine that prompted King George III's Prohibitory Act and the sending of mercenaries to the colonies.






8. Charge of misconduct brought against a government official.






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






10. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






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






12. ___________ vote in both the House and Senate may override a Presidential veto of legislation.






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






14. This influential English document signed by King John in 1215 limited the absolute power of the monarchy - established due process - and limited arbitrary seizure of property.






15. First proposed in 1789 - this amendment passed in 1992 prohibits Congress from raising their own pay. Pay raises may not take affect until the beginning of the next term.






16. A federal tax on imports.






17. Proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 as an attempt to form a union of the colonies. Later used to help form the Articles of Confederation.






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






19. PACs may donate a ______________ amount of indirect or in-kind donations to a campaign. (Ex. placing ads to support their candidate)






20. Capital punishment is also known as the _________________.






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






22. A strand of American foreign policy that was visible by the end of the 19th century; it included 'gunboat diplomacy' and other forms of military involvement by the United States in various parts of the world.






23. 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.






24. The federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy)






25. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and cooperate.






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






27. Individual contributions to PACs are limited to ______________ dollars per candidate per election with primaries - general and special elections counting separately.






28. ______________ refers to the differences in political attitudes and voting behavior between men and women






29. 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






30. Includes the 13th - 14th - and 15th Amendments. Abolished slavery and guaranteed due process and equal protection to all citizens.






31. Formerly known as the Anti-Federalist - this party lead by Thomas Jefferson advocated states rights pressing the causes of the common people and agrarian interest. Dominated the political arena until the Civil War.






32. In Reynolds v. US (1879) - the Supreme Court denied this right to Reynolds because his religion's practice of polygamy violated federal law.






33. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments provide for _____________.






34. A primary in which any registered voter is able to vote for candidates from more than one party. A voter - for example - may vote for a Democrat for U.S. senator and for a Republican for governor. In 2000 - the Supreme Court struck down the blanket p






35. This amendment includes the due process clause - the equal protection clause - and gave rights to former slaves.






36. This powerful House committee is in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor.






37. A place of work in which any person may be hired provided that he or she joins the union within a specified time.






38. Requires that a suspect in a federal case be arraigned without unnecessary delay.






39. Tax legislation must originate in this house.






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






41. A tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals and present them to a candidate or political party as a 'bundle -' thus increasing the PAC's influence.






42. In addition to the doctrine of implied powers - Chief Justice Marshall - in his decision in the Supreme Court case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - established the key concept of:






43. Head of the Supreme Court.






44. There are 11 circuit ____________________ who have no original jurisdiction.






45. Appointed by Eisenhower - this Supreme court justice who played an important role in the court's stance on the advancement of civil rights.






46. This author of Leviathon posited that government is necessary because people are generally in a state of conflict.






47. Decides which bills will be considered.






48. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






49. When the population's overall feeling of political efficacy is low - voter turnout is _______.






50. Cabinet department responsible for the management of public lands - wildlife - natural resources - and Native American affairs. Established in 1849







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