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 act prohibited Discrimination because of race - color - sex - religion - or national origin by employers or labor unions; The adoption by voting registrars of different standards for black and white applicants; and Racial or religious discrimina






2. Raise Public Awareness - Create Policy Agenda - Prioritize Agenda - Enact Policy - Public Evaluation






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






4. 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.






5. Most modern political scientists believe there is ________________ between politics and government.






6. Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Congress authorized and appropriated.






7. A broad concept that may be defined in many ways - but the term is generally used to refer to the basic protection and defense of the nation.






8. 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






9. A coherent set of beliefs about politics - public policy - and public purpose. It helps give meaning to political event - personalities - and policies.






10. Constitutionally required address by the President typically given in a joint session of Congress.






11. The way things actually are.






12. 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.






13. Tax legislation must originate in this house.






14. Tips the balance between two leading candidates by attracting a minority of voters who otherwise might have voted for one of the leading candidates.






15. Which powers of the national government flow from its enumerated powers and from the 'elastic clause' of the Constitution?






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






17. Number of justices of the Supreme Court.






18. What occurs when government adopts a public policy that provides - or distributes - benefits to people or groups.






19. These voters are registered as a party member but only participate by voting in primary and general elections. Tend to vote straight-party ticket and follow the leads of local party officials.






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






21. A writ designed to protect against illegal imprisonment by requiring that a person who is detained be brought before a judge for investigation.






22. Established national income tax.






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






24. The only instance in which the government can prohibit religious activities






25. Requires that a suspect in a federal case be arraigned without unnecessary delay.






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






27. Cabinet department responsible for insuring mortgages and providing housing subsidies. Established in 1965






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






29. ________________ of the Constitution governs the relationships of the states.






30. Executive Check on the Legislative Branch.






31. First African American appointed to the Supreme Court






32. 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.






33. A legislator who automatically mirrors the will of the majority of his or her constituents.






34. The principle that the government - as provided in the Fifth Amendment - can take property for 'public use' with 'just compensation' to the owners.






35. Charge of misconduct brought against a government official.






36. 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.






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






38. 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.






39. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and cooperate.






40. California measure designed to deny welfare and other benefits to illegal aliens. Overwhelmingly passed the popular vote - but overturned in federal court because it extending beyond the bounds of state rights to attempt to control immigration.






41. Washington v. Chrisman (1982) established the _________________ - allowing police officers to seize evidence without a warrant if the evidence is in obvious sight.






42. Today the Senate operates with ____ standing and select committees. These select committees - however - are permanent in nature and are treated as standing committees under Senate rules.






43. The gap between the government's income and outlays.






44. Lead by Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. Dedicated to defending federal authority and high tariffs. Gained supports of merchants - bankers - industrialists and planters.






45. A provision in a deed to real property prohibiting its sale to a person of a particular race or religion. Judicial enforcement is unconstitutional.






46. 1940 Act Prohibiting any person from advocating overthrowing the government through violence or force.






47. 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.






48. This influential English document signed by King John in 1215 limited the absolute power of the monarchy - established due process - and limited arbitrary seizure of property.






49. Inherent powers of state governments to pass laws to protect health - safety - and welfare; the national government has no directly granted police powers but accomplishes the same goals through other delegated powers.






50. The ___________ aspects of Federalism include: diversity/diffusion of power - more access points for political participation - fostering of experimentation and innovation - and allowing local governments to manage local problems effectively