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CLEP Political Science Us

Subjects : clep, political-science
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. de jure - 'by law'. Legally enforced practices - such as school segregation in the South before the 1960s. De facto - 'by fact'. Practices that occur even when there is no legal enforcement - such as school segregation in much of the US today.






2. Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return.






3. Interstate Commerce Commission 1887. Created over railroad problems.






4. Law should not punish speech unless there was a clear and present danger of producing harmful actions






5. An effort by a gov't agency to block the publication of material it deems libelous or harmful in some other way; censorship.






6. Courts usurp authority and make law rather than interpret constitution (otherwise known as judicial activism).






7. A legal rule stating who is authorized to start a lawsuit.






8. Delegate - member of Congress acts on the express preference of his constituents. Trustee - member is more loosely tied to constituents and makes the decisions she thinks best.






9. President is obligated to make recommendations for Congress's consideration.






10. Laws enacted by southern states following Reconstruction that discriminated against African American.






11. A series of meetings to reform the Articles of Confederation convened in Philadelphia in 1787 in response to the economic and social disorder and the dangers of foreign intervention. The result was an entirely new plan of government - the Constitutio






12. Temp. committees whose members are appointed by SotH and officer of the Senate. They are charged with reaching compromise on legislation once it has been passed by the House. Determine what laws are passed.






13. In 1920 the 19th was ratified to give women the right to vote.






14. A government agency that operates like a business corporation - created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program.






15. A slave that didn't have due process rights in a free state. 1857.






16. The delegation of authority (especially from a central to a regional government).






17. Congress because they're tied to the people.

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18. Legal requirement that the state must respect all of the legal rights that are owed to a person.






19. What document was heavily influenced by Locke's philosophies?






20. Ability of courts to exclude evidence obtained in violation of the 4th amendment.






21. President of the body at the Constitutional Convention.






22. Address banking problems and Americas Central Bank.






23. The 1780s in the United States - maked by internal conflict. The economy deteriorated as individual states printed their own currencies - taxed the products of their neighbors - and ignored foreign trade agreements. Inflation soared - small farmers l






24. Term of Senate/House






25. Federal employees are elected/hired based on merit.






26. # of Cases the Supreme Court receives and hears






27. 13th - abolished slavery. 14th - guaranteed equal protection and due process. 15th - guarenteed voting rights for African American men.






28. A case brought by someone to help him or her and all others who are similarly situated.






29. Not allowed.






30. 30 minutes.






31. The effort to oversee or to supervise how the executive branch carries out legislation.






32. A collection of essays expressing the political philosophy of the Founders and that were instrumental in bringing about the ratification of the Constitution.






33. An agreement - between president and other country that is like treaty but doesn't require Congress agreement.






34. A system in which the president submits the name of a candidate for judicial appointment to the senators from the candidate's state before formally submitting it for full senate approval.






35. A rule that gov't action toward religion is permissible if it is secular in purpose. Separation of law and religion.

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36. Let the decision stand; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases.






37. The chief presiding officer of the HoR. The speaker is the most important party and House leader - can influence lefislative agenda - fate of individual pieces of legislation - and members positions with the House.






38. Powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution - but are inferred from it.

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39. One of the authors of the Federalist papers.






40. The continuous holding of the floor by a party to prevent action. Needs 3/5 to end.






41. A Revolutionary War veteran who led a rebellion of farmers against tax collectors and the banks that were siezing their property.






42. First ten amendments to the US Constitution - ratified in 1971; ensure the rights and liberties to the people.






43. Save Our State - 1994 - Prohibit illegal aliens from using health care - public education - and other social services in the U.S. State of California.






44. Attended the Constitutional Convention and recorded the debate proceedings. Also contributed to the Federalist Papers.






45. Civil liberties are rights that individuals have against government. Among our civil liberties are the right to free expression - the right to worship (or not) as we choose - and the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. Only the






46. 1965 - state forbid the use of contraceptive between married couples. Supreme court overturned the decision.






47. Court found detainess held both at US and Guantanamo bay had the right to challenge their detention before a judge or other neutral decision maker.






48. The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress






49. Gave an expansion of free speech. Money for candidates is a form of free speech by 1st amendment. Early 1970s.






50. (law) The right and power to interpret and apply the law.