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. When neither political party is dominant.






2. 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.






3. The yearly value of goods and services produced within a country.






4. Spending by the national committees of the political parties to support the election of congressional candidates is known as






5. In a 1943 case - the Supreme Court upheld the right to refuse to salute the American flag on the basis of the constitutional guarantee of _________________.






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






7. In Reynolds v. US (1879) - the Supreme Court denied this right to Reynolds because his religion's practice of polygamy violated federal law.






8. Committees appointed for investigative or crisis situations.






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






10. A written opinion by some of the judges of a court which agrees with the majority of the court but might arrive there in a different manner.






11. Economists generally agree that the major responsibility for promoting prosperity and full employment falls on ________________.






12. Most Americans support ______________ primarily as part of their criticism of PACs






13. Includes expressive conduct/assembly/actions and symbolic behavior (ex. Picketing or burning the flag) Based on our country history of symbolic acts such as the Boston Tea Party - courts almost always uphold symbolic acts of speech unless they are cr






14. This may be done by a national constitutional convention called by Congress on the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures OR By the passage of a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress






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. Laws passed by state legislatures that are designed to protect reporters from being forced to reveal their news sources.






17. In addition to the doctrine of implied powers - Chief Justice Marshall - in his decision in the Supreme Court case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - established the key concept of:






18. These candidates win re-election to the House 80-90% of the time.






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






20. In lieu of an indictment - the state prosecutor may file a _______________ charging the person with a crime.






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






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






23. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendment to bills or provides that only memebers of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments






24. Disapproval of a bill by a chief executive - such as the president or a governor.






25. Also known as the Massachusetts ballot - groups candidates according to the office for which they are running






26. Also known as the Indiana ballot - lists the candidates of each party in a row or column - beside or under the party emblem. In most cases - the voter can make one mark at the top of the column - or pull one lever - and thus vote for all the party's






27. Southern whites prevented blacks from ____________ through use of poll taxes - literacy tests and intimidation tactics after the Civil War.






28. 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.






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






30. Legislative opinions on a matter that do not require Presidential signature.






31. 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.






32. The Supreme Court's broad interpretation of this clause has denied direct aid from the government for religious groups - but does allow religious groups to make use of government services such as police and fire.






33. Special courts assigned to deal with specific legislative issues such as taxes - military appeals - and international trade.






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






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






36. An issue on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party or candidate with conditions - goals - or symbols the electorate universally approves or disapproves of. Examples of such issues are economic prosperi






37. The 1896 case of Plessy v. Fergusan established the racial segregation policy of __________________.






38. Established national income tax.






39. Redefined Presidential succession and disability.






40. In a political campaign - the surest way of reaching the largest number of voters is usually _____________.






41. First civil rights organization to use non-violent tactics to promote racial equality and desegregation






42. A power of the president to kill a bill by taking no action (if Congress adjourns during the 10-day period after the president receives the bill). Some court rulings have suggested that a president may exercise a pocket veto only when Congress adjour






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






44. Term limit for House of Representatives.






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






46. 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.






47. In some cases where blicity too much publicity surrounds a trial - courts have granted _______________ to help ensure a fair trial. One example is the trial of Timothy McVeigh for the Oklahoma City Bombing.






48. Its the responsibility of ___________ committees of a political party to solidify the party within each state and organize primary elections






49. In an election with more than 2 options - the number of votes for the candidate or party receiving the greatest number - but less that half of the votes.






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