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






2. Legislature bills that affect only a small group of citizens.






3. Congress defined the steps for the creation and admission of new states. It forbade slavery while the region remained a territory although citizens could legalize it. First congress would appoint a territorial governor and judges. Second as soon as 5






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






5. The way things actually are.






6. Government regulation of the economy through its control over the supply of money and the cost and availability of credit. Controlled by the Federal Reserve Board.






7. Agencies that were at one time semi-autonomous but that through legislation have been placed under presidential control since 1945.






8. Voters tendency to identify with a party that shares their views on important issues ignoring the party's stance on issues they deem less important. to be life-long unless there is a major change in the party's platform. 2. Influenced by ra






9. After analyzing 1 -795 platform pledges over a 10-year period - Gerald M. Pomper concluded that almost ____________ of these promises were fulfilled






10. Guarantees that citizens cannot be compelled by the government to act in a way that is contrary to their religious beliefs. (ex. Conscientious objection to military service required by the draft is the execution of ______________)






11. These parties often emerge as off-shoots of major parties or as single-issue parties. They typically act as critic/innovator bringing attention to issues and influencing the platforms of the major parties.






12. In Woodson v. North Carolina - the Supreme Court struck down mandatory sentencing of capital punishment as ______________________ because it does not allow for any discretion.






13. Members of this party typically include women who support liberal policies on abortion and equal pay - Jews - Catholics - Blacks and other minorities - Blue-collar working class - urban - labor unions - and intelligensia






14. 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.






15. Libel - obscenity - fighting words - and commercial speech - which are not entitled to constitutional protection in all circumstances.






16. Authority based on an individual's outstanding traits - which attract followers






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






18. Established by President Hoover - It is the _______________ job to keep the press informed and orchestrate press conferences






19. Legislative branch incorporating two houses.






20. Multi-interest and often multinational corporations that - under one corporate roof - may manufacture a wide variety of products.






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






22. This 1932 case established that a case can be too speedy and under-counseled - providing defendants in a capital case the right to a reasonable amount of time to establish a defense.






23. 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.






24. _____________ was the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in controlling New York City politics and helping immigrants (most notably the Irish) rise up in American politics from the 1790s to the 1960s.






25. The single biggest item in campaign spending at the presidential level is ___________________.






26. This contraversial legal technicality intended to protect civil liberties has allowed criminals to remain free when the courts refuse to admit evidence that may have been obtained illegally.






27. Private groups that attempt to influence the government to respond to the shared attitudes of their members.






28. An interest group organization that represents a specific group of people (Ex. NAACP - AARP)






29. A pluralist theory by C. Wright Mills where a small number of wealthy elite wield most of the power. Fundamental to all governments around the world - the elite rule while they make the lower classes feel like they are involved in democracy. The elit






30. This clause of the 1st amendment establishes a 'wall of separation' between church and state.






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






32. A powerful alliance of mutual benefit among an agency or unit of the government - an interest group - and a committee or subcommittee of Congress. Also called a triangle or a subgovernment.






33. 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.






34. This 1967 Supreme Court case prohibited illegal eavesdropping and extending the zone of privacy to include the home - office - person - and immediate public arena.






35. A method of polling - considered less reliable than a random sample - in which interviewers are instructed to question members of a particular group in proportion to their percentage in the population as a whole.






36. In charge of all state funds. Supervises the collection of taxes and payment of state's bill






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






38. Most Americans support ______________ primarily as part of their criticism of PACs






39. These party members are highly involved in the electoral process. Donate funds to party and candidates - demand a voice in state party agendas and tend to have a strong belief in their party's ideology.






40. A system of _______________ - as in Italy - encourages the existence of many parties by allotting seats to competing candidates according to the percentage of votes they win.






41. The total amount of money that the United States owes to its creditors.






42. During Presidential election years or when the nation is divided on policy agenda - particularly regarding salient issues - voter turnout is _____________






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






44. The ___________ aspects of Federalism include: diversity/diffusion of power - more access points for political participation - fostering of experimentation and innovation - and allowing local governments to manage local problems effectively






45. 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.






46. Defamation by written or printed words - pictures - or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures.






47. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the concept of privacy included the right to a legal abortion?






48. Permitted court authorized wire-tapping and bugging by federal - state - and local authorities and use of such evidence in trial. Later reversed by the Supreme Court based on 4th Amendment rights.






49. Powers of government exercised independently by both the federal and state governments - such as the power to tax.






50. A declaration by the President in 1823 that warned European powers to keep out of the Western Hemisphere and pledged that the United States would not intervene in the internal affairs of Europe.