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 right to privacy is ___________ in the Constitution.






2. A plan to provide billions of dollars of American aid to Western Europe to speed its economic and social recovery after the Second World War.






3. A public assistance program established in 1965 to help pay hospital - doctor - and medical bills for people with low incomes.






4. Most states have ___________ legislatures.






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






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






7. A registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his own party affiliation. When voters do not register with a party before the primary - it is called a pick-a-party primary because the voter can select which party's primary he or she w






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






9. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to release these until a majority of polling places had closed in each state






10. These party members take active non-leadership roles such as working polls or contributing money to campaigns. Tend to compromise on important issues and are mostly concerned about winning elections.






11. 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.






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






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






14. Communication with legislators or other government officials to try to influence their decisions.






15. The 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act - the 1965 Highway Beautification Act and the 1964 Civil Rights Act are all examples of ____________________.






16. A group of people who try to influence policy agendas and whose ultimate goal is to run the government by getting their favorite candidates elected.






17. Germany - Switzerland - and India are examples of countries with a _______________ system of government.






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






19. Units of government under the president - within the executive branch - that are not part of a cabinet department.






20. A compulsory national insurance program - financed by taxes on employers and employees. The insurance falls into four categories: old-age and survivors insurance - disability insurance - Medicare - and unemployment insurance.






21. While the voting rights act of 1965 did direct the Attorney General to investigate the constitutionality of poll taxes and prohibit literacy tests - it did not expressly prohibit _____________.






22. Constitutionally empowered to appoint judges - ambassadors - and other high officials - Constitutionally empowered to make treaties with foreign countries.






23. It the job of _________ committees of a political party to hold voter registration drives - recruit new party members and final candidates for city and county positions.






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






25. An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted






26. Representatives serve ____ year terms






27. Repealed by the 21st Amendment - this Amendment prohibited alcohol.






28. The introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution - setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words - 'We the people of the United States - in order to form a more perfect union. ...'






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






30. 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.






31. Constitutional Article that establishes the Judicial Branch.






32. Prompted by the ____________________ - the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.






33. The foreign policy of the United States during the period after the Second World War - designed to contain the expansion of Soviet power.






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






35. The rules and regulations made and applied by federal regulatory agencies and commissions.






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






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






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






39. The 19th Century __________ party platform was opposed to the spread of slavery - promoted preservation of the union - supported the abolition of slavery - and promoted post civil was reconstruction.






40. 1940 Act Prohibiting any person from advocating overthrowing the government through violence or force.






41. In 1978 - the Supreme Court - in the 'seven dirty words' case - ruled that the government has the right to prohibit the broadcasting of _______________.






42. Infamous 1735 English case established the precedent for Freedom of the Press in the US.






43. Designed to protect the individual against the arbitrary power of the state.






44. The executive office established in response to intelligence lapses during WWI. Oversees American foreign policy and includes the President - Vice President - Secretary of State - Secretary of Defense and is lead by the National Security Advisor.






45. Article I of the Constitution establishes the ___________________ branch.






46. Form of government in which the people are sovereign but their power is exercised by their elected representatives.






47. _____________ is responsible for monetary policy.






48. Tips the balance between two leading candidates by attracting a minority of voters who otherwise might have voted for one of the leading candidates.






49. Concurrent resolution - adopted by both Houses of Congress - that sets forth a Congressional budget plan for the budget year and at least four out-years.






50. 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