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. If 10 days remain in session and the president does not sign an act of Congress - the law is ___________.






2. First Roman Catholic elected President.






3. These voters tend to have a high voter turnout because of their strong since of civic duty due to growing up during an era of political and civil unrest.






4. The agency that provides Congress with evaluations of public policies is the






5. Assistants to the Majority and Minority Leaders of both the House and Senate.






6. Provisions tacked on to a piece of legislation that are not relevant to the bill.






7. An extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion






8. Established in 1947 as a combined Department of War and Navy.






9. The primary purpose of _______________consolidate the nation's disability laws and provide for strong federal enforcement of a strengthened disability rights mandate






10. When the population's overall feeling of political efficacy is low - voter turnout is _______.






11. Literally meaning 'right of blood' - confers citizenship to a child from the parents.






12. Test whereby the Supreme Court established criteria by which state may provide aid to religious groups.






13. An offical who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator






14. Lead by Theodore Roosevelt - this party platform focused on women's suffrage - social reform - fair business practices - and direct election of senators. The won 25% of the popular vote in 1911 - splitting the Republican vote and allowing Democrat Wo






15. Puerto Rico has ____________ status.






16. The Equal Rights Amendment was defeated in 1982 because ____________________________.






17. First civil rights organization to use non-violent tactics to promote racial equality and desegregation






18. 1944 case established that as as long as a person accepted their beliefs in good faith that it is not the government's authority to determine whether those beliefs are valid.






19. A world economy characterized by the free movement of goods - capital - labor - and information across national borders.






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






21. Minimum number of voters per state in the Electoral College.






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






23. Once the Supreme Court justices have agreed to hear an appeal - they issue a _________________.






24. To negotiate a complex and politically sensitive trade treaty - a President will often






25. Includes the 13th - 14th - and 15th Amendments. Abolished slavery and guaranteed due process and equal protection to all citizens.






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






27. Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.






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






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






30. Judges in Legislative Courts serve _______ terms and do not require impeachment.






31. 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






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






33. Most house committees are limited to _____ subcommittees.






34. The estimated number of illegal aliens living in the US.






35. Appointed by Eisenhower - this Supreme court justice who played an important role in the court's stance on the advancement of civil rights.






36. The pursuit and exercise of power






37. The proceeding before a judge in which the formal charges of an indictment or information are read to an accused person - who may plead guilty or not guilty.






38. Things government decides to do - example: taxation - crime control - national defense - education - etc.






39. A group of writers - journalists - and critics who exposed corporate malfeasance and political corruption in the first decade of the 20th century.






40. Prohibits conviction of a crime that occurred before the act became illegal






41. ______________ refers to the differences in political attitudes and voting behavior between men and women






42. Legislative branch incorporating two houses.






43. The power to tax is an example of _______________ powers.






44. Individual contributions to PACs are limited to ______________ dollars per candidate per election with primaries - general and special elections counting separately.






45. The concept that all people are of equal worth - even if not of equal ability.






46. Number of years a Representative must reside in the US prior to taking office






47. Control of a market by a single company.






48. In Johnson v. Texas (1989) - the Supreme Court ruled that burning the flag in a manner that does not pose a threat to people or property is allowed as this type of freedom of speech.






49. 1940 Act Prohibiting any person from advocating overthrowing the government through violence or force.






50. In 1872 - Susan B Anthony was arrested in Rochester - New York for