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. A legislator who automatically mirrors the will of the majority of his or her constituents.






2. An act of legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them without benefit of a trial. Constitutionally prohibited.






3. 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.






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






5. Several Presidents have been elected without winning the popular vote. As a result - In 1970 and 1979 - Amendments were proposed to disband the ______________ - neither passed.






6. The 5th amendment protect against _____________.






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






8. A relaxation of international tensions.






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






10. These two Senate standing committees have existed - largely unchanged - since 1816.






11. 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






12. Signed the executive order banning segregation in the armed forces.






13. 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.






14. 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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15. Colonies controlled by the British king through governors appointed by him and through the king's veto power over colonial laws.






16. Court cases that concern crimes committed against the public order.






17. Amendment that delegated the election of Senators to popular vote.






18. The demands of and supports for a political system






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






20. Concept of the British statesman Edmund Burke that legislators should act according to their own consciences.






21. In 1872 - Susan B Anthony was arrested in Rochester - New York for






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






23. A 1972 treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union limiting the number of defensive missiles each country could build. In 2001 President George W. Bush withdrew the United States from the treaty.






24. He United States Constitution was opposed by which group?






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






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






27. To negotiate a complex and politically sensitive trade treaty - a President will often






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






29. According to the Constitution - the electors in the Electoral College shall be appointed in a manner to be determined by the






30. Executive Check on the Legislative Branch.






31. A series of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton - John Jay - and James Madison under the pseudonym Publius advocating the ratification of the United States Constitution.






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






33. A political group organized under section 527 of the IRS code that may accept and spend unlimited amounts of money on election activities so long as they are not spent on broadcast ads run in the last 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a gene






34. David R. Mayhew has suggested that this influences congressional behavior. The ________________ is the relationship between members of Congress and their constituents.






35. 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






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. Responsible for further investigation - hearings - and amendment to a bill






38. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






39. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments provide for _____________.






40. This controversial clause of the 9th Amendment has allowed government to expand rights to suit its needs.






41. States that states may draw reasonable distinctions between the rights of residents and non-residents (ex. In state and out of state tuition)






42. Powers of government that the national government may exercise simply because it exists as a government - such as the right to conduct foreign relations.






43. (1945-1991) The period after the Second World War marked by rivalry and tension between the two nuclear superpowers - the United States and the communist government of the Soviet Union. The Cold War ended when the Soviet government collapsed in 1991.






44. Something given in exchange for something else; swap






45. Polls taken as people leave voting places. In the past - television networks sometimes used these polls to predict election outcomes before the polls close. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to project the winner in a state until the major






46. Form of obstruction in the Senate where an attempt is made to infinitely extend debate upon a proposal in order to delay the progress or completely prevent a vote on the proposal taking place.






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






48. 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






49. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over the creation and elimination of agencies as well as its control over budget appropriations.






50. The power of the president - struck down by the Supreme Court in 1998 - to veto parts of appropriations bills. Most state governors have this power.