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. In the 1925 Gitlow case - the Supreme Court began a process of ______________ of the Bill of Rights to the states.






2. A group of people who try to influence policy agendas and whose ultimate goal is to run the government by getting their favorite candidates elected.






3. Walter DeVries and Lance Tarrance have concluded that in many elections the outcome is determined by ______________.






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






5. While these voters have traditionally supported the Democrats - some have begun to support Republicans in light of the Democrats liberal policies on abortion.






6. 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.






7. The body composed of electors from the 50 states who formally have the power to elect the president and vice president of the United States. Each state has a number of electors and electoral votes equal to its number of senators and representatives i






8. Powers specifically outlined in the Constitution as assigned to one branch of government.






9. Voters in a political district - or supporters of an elected official; or interest groups or client groups that are either directly regulated by the bureaucracy or vitally affected by its decisions.






10. Laws must be administered in a fair manner.






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






12. Number of justices of the Supreme Court.






13. The permanent committees of a legislature that consider bills and conduct hearings and investigations.






14. A group of independent states or nations that come together for a common purpose and whose central authority is usually limited to defense and foreign relations.






15. Information sent out in order to observe the reaction of an audience. Used by politicians who deliberately leak information on a policy change under consideration.






16. The 1st Amendment states that government cannot issue ______________ - censoring publications before they are published.






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






18. This influential English document refuted divine right of monarchy and made monarchs subject to laws and responsible for crimes






19. Each Senate committee may have ________ subcommittees.






20. Constitutionally empowered to appoint judges - ambassadors - and other high officials - Constitutionally empowered to make treaties with foreign countries.






21. Germany - Switzerland - and India are examples of countries with a _______________ system of government.






22. An economic philosophy that advocates both tax and budget cuts to increase incentives to produce in order to expand the total supply of the nation's goods and services.






23. First proposed in 1789 - this amendment passed in 1992 prohibits Congress from raising their own pay. Pay raises may not take affect until the beginning of the next term.






24. Responsible for further investigation - hearings - and amendment to a bill






25. A ruling by the Supreme Court in 1857






26. Executive check on Legislative Branch.






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






28. This term refers to the gain in the polls that a candidate often enjoys after a national convention






29. The way things should be by law






30. 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.






31. The Supreme Court is the only judicial body that may hear disputes between _________________.






32. Committees appointed for investigative or crisis situations.






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






34. The pursuit and exercise of power






35. Law enacted by Congress - or by state legislatures or local legislative bodies.






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






37. The principle - established by Chief Justice John Marshall in 1819 in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland - that the Constitution must be interpreted flexibly to meet changing conditions.






38. An economic system in which the factors of production are owned by the publicand operate for the welfare of all.






39. 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.






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






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






42. According to one survey - what percentage of Americans belongs to groups that sometimes take a stand on public issues






43. In WV State BOE v Barnette (1943) - the Supreme Court ruled that compelling citizens to salute the flag violates the principles of a free society - upholding which 1st Amendment rights?






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






45. 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.






46. Legislative opinions on a matter that do not require Presidential signature.






47. Courts of original jurisdiction in federal crimes - civil suits under federal law - civil suits between citizens of different states where the amount in question exceeds $50 -000 - bankruptcy proceedings - cases involving some federal administrative






48. The expansion of cable and satellite tv has _________________ the president's power to influence public opinion.






49. First Roman Catholic elected President.






50. Cabinet department that includes the Coast Guard - Border Patrol - FEMA - Transportation Security Administration - INS and the Secret Service. Established in 2001 in response to 9/11.