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. Ruling by the Supreme Court in 1954 that racial segregation in public schools violates the Fourteenth Amendment's requirement of equal protection of the laws for all persons.






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






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






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






5. 3 person executive panel responsible for helping the President develop an economic plan for the nation.






6. A jury of 6 to 12 persons who determine guilt or innocence in a civil or criminal action






7. The Jacksonian Era marked an important change in the process used to nominate Presidential candidates with the emergence of party _________________ - eliminating caucuses.






8. According to the Speedy Trial Act of 1974 - federal trials must commence within _______ days of arrest with the exception of delay for mental health testing of the defendant and illness of the defendant or key witness.






9. Presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President. Position awarded to the longest serving Senator from the majority party. 3rd in line of succession for the Presidency.






10. The 1803 case in which the Supreme Court - by declaring a portion of an act of Congress unconstitutional - first firmly set forth and established the power of judicial review.






11. Voters in a political district - or supporters of an elected official; or interest groups or client groups that are either directly regulated by the bureaucracy or vitally affected by its decisions.






12. The 1892 platform of the Populist party repudiating laissez-faire and demanding economic and political reform






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






14. Legislative opinions on a matter that do not require Presidential signature.






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






16. This was amended in 1985 to prohibit vote dilution without requiring the proof of discriminatory purpose demanded by the original Act.






17. To an extent - the press and the government have a relationship that is _______________ and mutually dependent.






18. _____________ is responsible for monetary policy.






19. The number of ______________ a state receives is based on the number Representatives and Senators that the state has in Congress






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






21. Included are Ways and Means - Veteran's Affairs - Transportation and Infrastructure - Standards of Official Conduct - Small Business - Science - Judiciary - Rules - Resources - Oversight of Government Reform - House Administration - Homeland Security






22. Plan that proposed unicameral legislature with each state having one vote.






23. Defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing - pictures






24. Requires reporting of financial information by companies with publicly traded securities






25. Cabinet department responsible for insuring mortgages and providing housing subsidies. Established in 1965






26. Age Requirement for the Senate






27. The term 'Reagan Democrats' has become a generic term for






28. 1925 Supreme Court case overturned Baron v. Baltimore and applied the Bill of Rights to states.






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






30. The Immigration Act of 1965 abolished the practice of _______________ allowing more diversity among immigrants.






31. The average voter turnout between 1960 and 2004 was __________ percent






32. Cabinet department that includes the FAA and the National Hwy Traffic Safety Administration. Established in 1966.






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






34. In his historic decision in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - Chief Justice Marshall established the principle of _____________.






35. The Democrats control over politics during the 20th century ended with this President's unpopular handling of the Vietnam War.






36. 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.






37. 1940 Act Prohibiting any person from advocating overthrowing the government through violence or force.






38. The practice under which victorious politicians reward their followers with jobs.






39. Assistants to the Majority and Minority Leaders of both the House and Senate.






40. Clause of the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 10) intended to prohibit state governments from modifying contracts made between individuals; interpreted as prohibiting state governments from taking actions that adversely affect property rights.






41. Guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial.






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






43. A close contest; by extension - any contest in which the focus is on who is ahead and how much rather than on substantive differences between the candidates.






44. 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.






45. Most modern political scientists believe there is ________________ between politics and government.






46. The vote cast by a person who does not like either candidate and so votes for the less objectionable of the two - putting a clothespin over his nose to keep out the unpleasant stench






47. In his classic study of community power in New Haven - Connecticut - political scientist Robert A. Dahl concluded that the city was a __________ system dominated by many different sets of leaders






48. A legislature with only one house.






49. Age requirement for President






50. _____ out of 9 justices must agree to hear an appellate case brought to them from a lower court.