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. Which powers of the national government flow from its enumerated powers and from the 'elastic clause' of the Constitution?






2. German sociologist theorized that the engine of government needs bureaucracies to provide expertise in a way that short-term elected or appointed official cannot.






3. Cabinet department responsible for collective bargaining and union activity. Established in 1913






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






5. The tendency of presidents to lose support over time.






6. Impact elections by siphoning off votes from major parties spoiling a party's chance in a close race.






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






8. 1946 Act requiring bureaucratic agencies to appeal to the affected parties before adopting new policies. Legislative check on Bureaucracy.






9. Important during the Revolution - these bodies organized by the local governments of the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolution for the purposes of coordinating written communication outside of the colony.






10. Federal categorical grants in which the granting agency has much discretion over how the recipient spends the money.






11. Independent organizations - but more often the political arms of corporations - labor unions - or interest groups - established to contribute to candidates or to work for general political goals.






12. 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






13. Concept of government by the people in which everyone is free to vote - but normally whoever gets the most votes wins the election and represents all the people - including those who voted for the losing candidate.






14. Decides which bills will be considered.






15. 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.






16. A device that allows the House of Representatives to conduct its business with fewer restrictions on debate and a quorum of only 100 members.






17. Guarantees the right to bare arms.






18. Which committee assignments would confer the most power and influence on members of the Senate?






19. California measure designed to deny welfare and other benefits to illegal aliens. Overwhelmingly passed the popular vote - but overturned in federal court because it extending beyond the bounds of state rights to attempt to control immigration.






20. The action - or actions - taken by government to carry out a policy.






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






22. A power of the president to kill a bill by taking no action (if Congress adjourns during the 10-day period after the president receives the bill). Some court rulings have suggested that a president may exercise a pocket veto only when Congress adjour






23. 3 person executive panel responsible for helping the President develop an economic plan for the nation.






24. Until the law was changed in 2002 - the term described unregulated campaign funds not subject to the limits of federal law because they went to party committees and not directly to candidates. The 2002 law banned contributions of soft money to nation






25. Presides over the Senate without voting privileges except in the case of a tie.






26. Limitations on this freedom including prohibition of defamation and obscenity - limitation on commercial speech - and restriction of inciting words that may cause immediate danger.






27. 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. ...'






28. _____________ is responsible for monetary policy.






29. Legislative house whose membership was intended to represent the state.






30. Laws on Schools - Marriage - and owning property;Licensee Lawyers - Doctors - and Teachers.






31. 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






32. The class of independent voters who do not vote according to party affiliation - but who typically have a broader range of concerns than single-issue voters - are known colloquially as






33. This 1964 case established strict standards for proving slander and libel - court must prove intent of malice on the part of the publisher.






34. The philosophy that government should intervene as little as possible in economic affairs.






35. 14th Amendment is often used to support the right to ____________.






36. This customary power allows the President to grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses.






37. This article of the Constitution establishes the Executive Branch.






38. Between conventions - the governing body of a major political party. Members of this group are chosen in the states and formally elected by the party






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






40. 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.






41. Responsible for assigning bills to committee in the Senate.






42. Capital punishment is also known as the _________________.






43. The head of a national political party






44. A series of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton - John Jay - and James Madison under the pseudonym Publius advocating the ratification of the United States Constitution.






45. An ideology that advocates limits on government power to address economic and social problems - relying instead on economic markets and individual initiative to address problems like health care and education - while promoting government involvement






46. 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 _____________.






47. A system of voter registration in which voters must register only once in their district.






48. Which two British Acts - passed in 1764 - caused American colonists for the first time to organize protests against the injustices of British rule - and sparked the rallying cry 'no taxation without representation'?






49. A policy adopted by the United States after the Second World War that assumed that if enough nuclear weapons were deployed by the United States - an enemy would not attack for fear of being destroyed in retaliation.






50. This 1957 judgement prohibited pornography material as utterly without redeeming social significance - later reversed in Miller v. California