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






2. Assigns bills to the appropriate House committee.






3. A place of work in which only union members may be hired.






4. 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 ______________)






5. An opinion of one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion of the court which gives rise to its judgment.






6. Grants that an accused may not be held in custody without charge - literally 'You shall have the body'.






7. A federal law passed by Congress in 1939 to restrict political activities by federal workers. The law prevents federal employees while on duty from taking an active part in party politics or campaigns and also bars federal employees from running for






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






9. Elections in which the majority party (according to party identification) is defeated in a temporary reversal.






10. Lead by Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. Dedicated to defending federal authority and high tariffs. Gained supports of merchants - bankers - industrialists and planters.






11. The relationship between the total cost of foreign goods imported to this country and sales of U.S. products overseas.






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






13. Presidential management model in which corporate CEO tactics are used employing committees - task forces - and special advisors. Successfully utilized by Clinton and G W Bush.






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






15. A term coined by President Lyndon B. Johnson to describe his own view of the relationship between Washington and the states.






16. A philosophy that the Supreme Court should avoid constitutional questions when possible and uphold acts of Congress unless they clearly violate a specific section of the Constitution.






17. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






18. Political leaders typically try to both lead and follow ____________.






19. PACs may donate a ______________ amount of indirect or in-kind donations to a campaign. (Ex. placing ads to support their candidate)






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






21. A term popularized by sociologist Floyd Hunter to describe the community leaders who he said determined policy in Atlanta - Georgia. More broadly - the term is used to describe 'power elites' generally.






22. Prohibits citizens of one state or foreign country from suing another state.






23. The possible tendency of some voters or convention delegates to support the candidate who is leading in the polls and seems likely to win.






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






25. Finding that enough evidence exists to warrant a criminal trial.






26. First step in the Policy Making Cycle.






27. In the 1964 case of ____________ - the Supreme Court: established 'one person - one vote' -






28. The state officer typically responsible for overseeing federal elections at the state level is the






29. Type of interest group represented in Washington by another individual or organization. (Ex. Ford Motor Company pays a lobbyist in Washington to represent them.)






30. Presidential management model requiring the President to have strong leadership skills and a keen eye for detail. FDR and JFK were well known for this style of leadership.






31. 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.






32. 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.






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






34. ____________ often influence political appointments in an effort to influence bureaucracy.






35. This was amended in 1985 to prohibit vote dilution without requiring the proof of discriminatory purpose demanded by the original Act.






36. Prompted by FDR's 4th election to the Presidency - the 22nd Amendment limited the number of Presidential terms to _____ terms.






37. 1925 Supreme Court case overturned Baron v. Baltimore and applied the Bill of Rights to states.






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






39. States that arrestees must be informed of their right to remain silent - that anything they say can be held against them in a court - that they have a right to an attorney and that an attorney will be appointed to them if they cannot afford one.






40. 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






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






42. Presidential management model in which the Chief of Staff plays a prominent role as the head of a military style chain of command. Used successfully by Reagan and Eisenhower.






43. Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people






44. Most modern political scientists believe there is ________________ between politics and government.






45. Representatives serve ____ year terms






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






47. _____________ are expected to specialize in a few policy areas rather than claim expertise in the whole range of legislative concerns






48. Year of the 2nd Continental Congress.






49. While the verbiage of the 4th Amendment is vague as to what constitutes 'reasonable'. Police departments must rely on _____________; they cannot act on unfounded suspicion.






50. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.