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






2. In 2002 - a federal appeals court struck down the Pledge of Allegiance on the grounds that it violated ________________.






3. Guarantees that any rights not explicitly outlined heretofore are reserved for the states.






4. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.






5. The vagueness of this phrase has allowed juries to exclude specific genders or races in order to affect the outcome of the verdict.






6. In 1987 - the FCC abandoned the fairness doctrine on the grounds that it unconstitutionally restricted the ______________ rights of broadcasters.






7. Funds spent for or against a candidate by committees not formally connected to the candidate's campaign and without coordination with the campaign.






8. Term limit for House of Representatives.






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






10. In the last 30 years - voter turnout among American 18- to 24-year-olds has been






11. An official document - published every weekday - which lists the new and proposed regulations of executive departments and regulatory agencies.






12. Government regulation of the economy through its control over taxes and government spending. Controlled by the Department of Treasury.






13. A public policy that takes something away from one person or group and gives it to another person or group.






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






15. The appropriation of government spending for projects that are intended primarily to benefit particular constituents - such as those in marginal seats or campaign contributors.






16. Executive office responsible for negotiating trade with foreign powers.






17. A word that comes from two Greek roots - demos - 'the populace -' and kratia - 'rule'






18. 1976 Law requiring all governmental agency meetings to be open to the public unless classified information will be discussed.






19. Overall spending targets set by the Congress.






20. In 1943 - The Supreme Court upheld the Jehovah's Witnesses right to refrain from saluting the American flag based on their right to _____________.






21. This called for three-fifths of all slaves in a state were counted for purposes of apportioning representation in the House of Representatives.






22. ________________ of the Constitution governs the relationships of the states.






23. Presides over any impeachment trial.






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






25. 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






26. Number of years a President must reside in the US prior to taking office






27. A court decision in an earlier case with facts and legal issues similar to a dispute currently before a court.






28. 14th Amendment is often used to support the right to ____________.






29. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






30. In addition to the doctrine of implied powers - Chief Justice Marshall - in his decision in the Supreme Court case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - established the key concept of:






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






32. In addition to a quick and speedy trial - the 6th Amendment also guarantees ________________.






33. Responsibilities include: Coordinating the nation's intelligence activities and Evaluating and disseminating intelligence that affects national security






34. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the 1964 Civil Rights Act does not prohibit private affirmative action programs?






35. Colonies in which the proprietors (who had obtained their patents from the king) named the governors - subject to the king's approval.






36. Eisenhower's philosophy of being liberal in all things human and being conservative with all things fiscal. Appealed to both Republicans and Democrats.






37. The practice of victorious politicians to reward their followers with jobs. Also known as the spoils system.






38. The median income of women is ___________ percent of men.






39. The process by which individuals screen out messages that do not conform to their own biases






40. Programs mandated by law and not subject to annual review by Congress or the president.






41. 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






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






43. State legislation designed to outlaw the union shop - passed by 21 states acting under Section 14B of the federal Taft-Hartley Act.






44. The name commonly given to a private group - regardless of size - organized to elect political candidates. An organization becomes one by receiving contributions or making expenditures in excess of $1 -000 for the purpose of influencing a federal ele






45. A system in which the national government provides grants-in-aid to states using conditions to elicit control.






46. 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.






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






48. Plan that proposed bicameral legislature where states were to have representation based on size in both houses.






49. The FCC's equal time policy applies to _____________.






50. The issue of slavery split the Democratic Party into what two factions?