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. This 1973 ruling gave local communities the authority to determine obscenity - established three part test for obscene material. To qualify as obscene - speech must be considered obscene by the 'average' person - depict or describe material that is a






2. Laws on Schools - Marriage - and owning property;Licensee Lawyers - Doctors - and Teachers.






3. After hearings are complete - a congressional subcommittee will usually determine a bill's future in final deliberations known as






4. The ______________________ were formed to unite the colonists against Britain.






5. The 19th Century __________ party platform was opposed to the spread of slavery - promoted preservation of the union - supported the abolition of slavery - and promoted post civil was reconstruction.






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






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






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






9. Executive office responsible for helping the President write the federal budget and monitoring federal spending.






10. Established the Federal Reserve Bank - responsible for conducting the nation's monetary policy - maintaining the stability of the financial system - supervising and regulating banking institutions - and protecting the credit rights of consumers - and






11. Which office serves as a watchdog into waste or fraud in the bureaucracy and conducts investigations at the request of congressional committees






12. Procedure typically requiring 3/5 vote of the entire Senate to end a filibuster.






13. The tendency of presidents to lose support over time.






14. According to the Speedy Trial Act of 1974 - federal trials must commence within _______ days of arrest with the exception of delay for mental health testing of the defendant and illness of the defendant or key witness.






15. Term limit for House of Representatives.






16. A series of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton - John Jay - and James Madison under the pseudonym Publius advocating the ratification of the United States Constitution.






17. Amendment that delegated the election of Senators to popular vote.






18. These dissenting Republicans won 17% of the popular vote in 1924 on a platform for public control of national resources and railways - tax reductions - and changes to the staff of the executive department


19. In his classic study of community power in New Haven - Connecticut - political scientist Robert A. Dahl concluded that the city was a __________ system dominated by many different sets of leaders






20. The doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group






21. While both Asian and Hispanic immigrants experience various types of discrimination - Hispanic immigrants are more likely to experience economic discrimination. This explains why most Hispanics identify with the ____________ party - while Asians do n






22. A system - until modified and reformed in the 1970s - that automatically resulted in the selection as committee chair of those members of the majority party in Congress who had the longest continuous service on a committee.






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






24. 1940 Act Prohibiting any person from advocating overthrowing the government through violence or force.






25. 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.






26. In the 1990 case OR State Employment Division v. Smith 1990 - the Supreme court allowed the state to fire employees who use peyote during native American religious ceremonies because it is in violation of drug laws. In this case - which clause of the






27. Infamous 1735 English case established the precedent for Freedom of the Press in the US.






28. 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.






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






30. The action - or actions - taken by government to carry out a policy.






31. ____________________ define Congressional voting districts acting within constraints set down by Congress and the Supreme Court.






32. Loose - competitive relationships among policy experts - interest groups - congressional committees - and federal agencies. Many observers argue that these have replaced iron triangles.






33. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.






34. The formal source of all authority in each major political party. It nominates the party candidates for president and vice president - writes a platform - settles disputes - writes rules - and elects the members of the national committee.






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






36. The issuance of this document by a judge requires probably cause and must be worded so as to allow for the search and seizure of specific evidence.






37. President requires their approval to appoint judges - ambassadors and other high officials.






38. Formed as a third party on the issue of slavery by many former Whigs in the 1850's. Anti-slavery platform. Supported by farmers - laborers - and newly-freed blacks.






39. Number of years a President must reside in the US prior to taking office






40. Direct oral or written speech directed at a specific individual or group






41. In the 1962 case of Robinson v. California - the Supreme Court ruled that incarcerating a drug addict is ______________________ because drug addiction is an illness.






42. Cabinet department that includes the FAA and the National Hwy Traffic Safety Administration. Established in 1966.






43. Guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial.






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






45. Representing - characterized by - or including members from two parties or factions






46. 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.






47. A form of city government under which a board of city commissioners is popularly elected (often on a nonpartisan ballot). The commissioners make policy as a city council - but they also run city departments as administrators.






48. Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.






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






50. In 1978 - the Supreme Court - in the 'seven dirty words' case - ruled that the government has the right to prohibit the broadcasting of _______________.