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 1943 - The Supreme Court upheld the Jehovah's Witnesses right to refrain from saluting the American flag based on their right to _____________.






2. 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






3. A strand of American foreign policy that was visible by the end of the 19th century; it included 'gunboat diplomacy' and other forms of military involvement by the United States in various parts of the world.






4. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is an example of an






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






6. An interest group organization that represents a specific group of people (Ex. NAACP - AARP)






7. Private groups that attempt to influence the government to respond to the shared attitudes of their members.






8. Powerful standing committee that puts bills on the legislative calendar and establishes the processes by which the bill will be discussed on the floor.






9. The oldest House committee still in existence.






10. This author was highly influential on Thomas Jefferson - rejecting divine right - proposing that government is a social contract requiring the consent of the govern and establishing the concept of self-evident rights of life - liberty - and property.






11. 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.






12. _______________ indicates a citizens' faith and trust in government and their own belief that they can understand and influence political affairs






13. A small group of voters chosen by a political campaign for their demographic similarities who are brought together to gauge how the group they represent feels about the candidate.






14. The binding decisions that the government makes whether in the form of laws -regulations - or judicial decisions






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






16. Formerly known as the Anti-Federalist - this party lead by Thomas Jefferson advocated states rights pressing the causes of the common people and agrarian interest. Dominated the political arena until the Civil War.






17. Court cases that involve relations between individuals and organizations - such as a divorce action - or a suit for damages arising from an automobile accident or for violation of a business contract.






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






19. Agencies that were at one time semi-autonomous but that through legislation have been placed under presidential control since 1945.






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






21. This author of Leviathon posited that government is necessary because people are generally in a state of conflict.






22. The most important committees - always assembled and delegated with the responsibility of handling all bills under their concern. Includes the Ways and Means - Appropriations - Budget - Rules and Agriculture Committees.






23. According to V. O. Key - Jr. - the Populist Party of the 1890s is an example of a ____________________.






24. Clause of the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 10) intended to prohibit state governments from modifying contracts made between individuals; interpreted as prohibiting state governments from taking actions that adversely affect property rights.






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






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






27. Cabinet department responsible for managing school lunch programs and food safety. Established in 1862.






28. In charge of state's legal business. provide advice to other state official and represents the state in court if the state is involved in a lawsuit






29. Method by which federal court judges may lose their position.






30. This 1689 English Document made the monarch






31. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over the creation and elimination of agencies as well as its control over budget appropriations.






32. The House appropriations committee has ___ subcommittees.






33. Government agencies that exercise quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative powers and are administratively independent of both the president and Congress (although politically independent of neither).






34. The house armed services and foreign affairs committees each have ___ subcommittees.






35. Th joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the twelfth amendment






36. Considered the most sacred right in American history. Colonists felt oppressed by the tyranny of the crown but were unable to speak up about it for fear of repercussion.






37. The number of ______________ a state receives is based on the number Representatives and Senators that the state has in Congress






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






39. Unwritten law based on custom and tradition.






40. 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






41. 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.






42. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






43. First African American appointed to the Supreme Court






44. Approximately 33% of American voters identify themselves as _______________ party.






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






46. Wisconsin Republican who exploited public concern for political gain during the 1950's through freewheeling investigations of alleged Communists.






47. Independent agencies governed by an appointed and confirmed commission. Examples include the Food and Drug Administration - Environmental Protection Agency - and the Securities and Exchange Commission.






48. The federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy)






49. The only amendments to be ratified through the process of 'ratifying conventions -' not a vote in the state legislatures






50. A group of high-level administrators and managers at the top of the government bureaucracy. SES members have less job tenure but are eligible for substantial cash bonuses for merit.