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. The process through which an individual acquires a set of political attitudes and forms opinions about political and social issues.






2. This was amended in 1985 to prohibit vote dilution without requiring the proof of discriminatory purpose demanded by the original Act.






3. A course of action chosen by government officials






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






5. The expression of attitudes about government and politics.






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






7. International agreements between the president and foreign heads of state that - unlike treaties - do not require Senate approval.






8. In Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972) - the Supreme Court extended the right to counsel to those accused of misdemeanors if the defendant is _____________.






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






10. 14th Amendment is often used to support the right to ____________.






11. The 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act - the 1965 Highway Beautification Act and the 1964 Civil Rights Act are all examples of ____________________.






12. Since 1960 - there has been a general trend of ______________ participation in elections.






13. The view advocated by Supreme Court Justices Hugo Black and William O. Douglas that there are provisions of the Bill of Rights that cannot be diluted by judicial decisions.






14. Senators are re-elected every ___ years with 1/3 of the Senate being up for election every 2 years.






15. 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.






16. Legislative house whose members were intended to represent the people.






17. Powers of government that are specifically granted to the three branches of the federal government under the Constitution.






18. According to the Constitution - the electors in the Electoral College shall be appointed in a manner to be determined by the






19. Article I of the Constitution establishes the ___________________ branch.






20. Which historical figure described democracy as 'the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time?'






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






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






23. In Sweatt v. Painter (1950) - The Supreme Court upheld that ___________________ was inherently not the case as is applied to the University of Texas Law School.






24. David R. Mayhew has suggested that this influences congressional behavior. The ________________ is the relationship between members of Congress and their constituents.






25. Plan that proposed bicameral legislature where states were to have representation based on size in both houses.






26. Laws - rules - and government programs designed to protect individual rights and specific groups - as well as to benefit society as a whole in such areas as health - worker safety - consumer protection - and the environment.






27. First African American appointed to the Supreme Court






28. Programs of government - universities - and businesses designed to favor minorities and remedy past discrimination.






29. Organizations or groups - such as labor unions or fraternal - professional - or religious groups - that may influence an individual's opinion.






30. 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'






31. 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






32. Minor criminal offenses - such as speeding.






33. The 24th amendment banned _____________ - making it harder for states to discriminate against poor and minority voters.






34. Head of the Supreme Court.






35. This type of government suits a large country with a diverse population






36. These party members take active non-leadership roles such as working polls or contributing money to campaigns. Tend to compromise on important issues and are mostly concerned about winning elections.






37. This article of the Constitution establishes the Executive Branch.






38. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






39. _____________ was the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in controlling New York City politics and helping immigrants (most notably the Irish) rise up in American politics from the 1790s to the 1960s.






40. Powers of government that the national government may exercise simply because it exists as a government - such as the right to conduct foreign relations.






41. The strongest factor contributing to an individual's political socialization tends to be






42. Act of exchanging favors for mutual gain






43. 1798 Act that criminalized speech that was derisive to the government. Later ruled unconstitutional - Andrew Jackson issued blanket pardon in 1801






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






45. A group of people - chosen by poll-takers - that is representative of the universe that is being polled.






46. Protects against unreasonable search and seizure.






47. The way things should be by law






48. A provision of law in which Congress asserts the power to nullify actions of the executive branch. In 1983 the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional - but Congress continued to pass laws containing such provisions.






49. 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.






50. Number of Electoral College votes required to win the Presidency.