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. These parties often emerge as off-shoots of major parties or as single-issue parties. They typically act as critic/innovator bringing attention to issues and influencing the platforms of the major parties.






2. The practice that allows senators to delay or even kill floor action on legislation - a nomination - or other matters by asking their party leaders not to schedule them.






3. A centralized system of government - such as that of France - where most of the important policy decisions are made by a central government.






4. In the mid-term elections following a President's inauguration - his party tends to ___________ seats in Congress.






5. Lawsuit brought by an individual or group of people on behalf of all those similarly situated






6. During the period from 1976 to 1824 - This party was lead by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. They wanted a stronger national government that would rectify the pitfalls of the Articles of Confederation. Their supporters held a stronghold in New






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






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






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






10. Compromise between the large states and small states that established the bicameral Legislature consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives. Also included 3/5 compromise on the status of slaves in representation.






11. Makes sure that funds are used safely and wisely. They oversee the state's financial records






12. This contraversial legal technicality intended to protect civil liberties has allowed criminals to remain free when the courts refuse to admit evidence that may have been obtained illegally.






13. A legislative leader of each party who is responsible for rounding up party members for important votes.






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






15. 1925 Supreme Court case overturned Baron v. Baltimore and applied the Bill of Rights to states.






16. Early civil rights leader established the Niagara Movement and helped to establish the NAACP.






17. Several Presidents have been elected without winning the popular vote. As a result - In 1970 and 1979 - Amendments were proposed to disband the ______________ - neither passed.






18. Number of justices of the Supreme Court.






19. A system in which the power to govern is shared between national and state governments






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






21. A public assistance program established in 1965 to help pay hospital - doctor - and medical bills for people with low incomes.






22. Decides which bills will be considered.






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






24. Senators have a __________ rate of re-election than Representatives primarily because of their larger constituency and lack of direct involvement with them.






25. The framers of the Constitution created the Senate to function as a check on the ________________.






26. The Supremacy Clause appears in ________________ of the Constitution.






27. (1945-1991) The period after the Second World War marked by rivalry and tension between the two nuclear superpowers - the United States and the communist government of the Soviet Union. The Cold War ended when the Soviet government collapsed in 1991.






28. This Supreme Court case infamously decided that a slave was not a citizen but property to be 'used in subservience to the interests - the convenience - or the will of his owner'






29. The Immigration Act of 1965 abolished the practice of _______________ allowing more diversity among immigrants.






30. The oldest House committee still in existence.






31. Federal grants in which the recipient has a lot of discretion over how the money is spent. These grants are issued in support of general government functions such as education and law enforcement.






32. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was somewhat undermined by racist practices in the real estate market such as _____________ and ______________ - which continued illegally in many areas following passage of the Act.






33. Included are Ways and Means - Veteran's Affairs - Transportation and Infrastructure - Standards of Official Conduct - Small Business - Science - Judiciary - Rules - Resources - Oversight of Government Reform - House Administration - Homeland Security






34. Held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.






35. Contacts - coalitions - and interactions across national boundaries






36. Congress' first step towards allocating funds






37. The ___________ aspects of Federalism include: conflicts between state and national government - economic and racial discrimination - uneven enforcement of law - and dominance of local governments by special interest groups






38. Protects against unreasonable search and seizure.






39. Passed in 1883 - it created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.






40. 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.






41. When the minority party becomes stronger than the majority party - usually the result of winning a critical election.






42. Constitutional protection of the accused to not be tried for the same crime twice.






43. A form of city government under which a council - usually elected on a nonpartisan ticket - hires a professional city manager - who runs the city government and has power to hire and fire officials.






44. A method of polling - considered less reliable than a random sample - in which interviewers are instructed to question members of a particular group in proportion to their percentage in the population as a whole.






45. An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted






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






47. Laws must be reasonable. The Supreme Court has abandoned this concept in regards to business matters citing that it is the responsibility of Congress to regulate economic matters. The court has continued to apply this to matters of civil liberties an






48. Formal approval or consent given to a constitution - constitutional amendment - or treaty before it goes into effect.






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. The policy established after the Second World War that America must take an active leadership role in world affairs