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. Decides which bills will be considered.






2. Cabinet department responsible for managing school lunch programs and food safety. Established in 1862.






3. Money spent by individuals or gorups not asociated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office






4. During the period from 1976 to 1824 - This party was lead by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. They wanted a stronger national government that would rectify the pitfalls of the Articles of Confederation. Their supporters held a stronghold in New






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






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






7. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over lawsuits filed against the agency.






8. Method by which federal court judges may lose their position.






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






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






11. Minor criminal offenses - such as speeding.






12. 1974 Act mandating that all government files about private citizens be kept confidential.






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






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






15. An offical who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator






16. 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.






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






18. Political party lead by Andrew Jackson from 1828 to 1856. Campaigned against strong central government and fought to end elitism.






19. A meeting of party leaders to select candidates - elect convention delegates - etc






20. ____________________ define Congressional voting districts acting within constraints set down by Congress and the Supreme Court.






21. Walter DeVries and Lance Tarrance have concluded that in many elections the outcome is determined by ______________.






22. The Medicaid and Food Stamp programs are examples of two very large






23. Article VI - Paragraph 2 - of the Constitution - which declares that the Constitution - and the laws and treaties of the United States made under it - are 'the supreme Law of the Land' and prevail over any conflicting state constitutions or laws.






24. Laws on Schools - Marriage - and owning property;Licensee Lawyers - Doctors - and Teachers.






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






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






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






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






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






30. When the President's own party gains power and influence - it more puts pressure on the President to conform to the will of the party - leading to________________ between the President and the party to define their public identities






31. Committees of Congress composed of both representatives and senators.






32. Early civil rights leader established the Niagara Movement and helped to establish the NAACP.






33. 1946 Act requiring bureaucratic agencies to appeal to the affected parties before adopting new policies. Legislative check on Bureaucracy.






34. Process by which citizens propose an amendment by petition.






35. Political leaders typically try to both lead and follow ____________.






36. An individual who does not join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.






37. In an election with more than 2 options - the number of votes for the candidate or party receiving the greatest number - but less that half of the votes.






38. The separation of people by race.






39. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over budget and appointments of leadership.






40. German sociologist theorized that the engine of government needs bureaucracies to provide expertise in a way that short-term elected or appointed official cannot.






41. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






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






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






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






45. The practice that allows senators to delay or even kill floor action on legislation - a nomination - or other matters by asking their party leaders not to schedule them.






46. In this 1972 case - the Supreme Court established four guidelines for determining if a trial was appropriately speedy and fair: cause of delay - length of delay - affect on the outcome - and the defendant's claim to a speedy trial.






47. The structure and set of regulations in place to control activity - usually in large organizations and government. it is represented by standardized procedure (rule-following) that dictates the execution of most or all processes within the body - for






48. 14th Amendment is often used to support the right to ____________.






49. The constitutional requirement (in article II - sec 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed - even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws






50. 1963 ruling prohibiting prayer in public schools.