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. Most house committees are limited to _____ subcommittees.






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






3. By far - the largest amount of federal aid to state and local governments comes in the form of:






4. A world economy characterized by the free movement of goods - capital - labor - and information across national borders.






5. Germany - Switzerland - and India are examples of countries with a _______________ system of government.






6. The introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution - setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words - 'We the people of the United States - in order to form a more perfect union. ...'






7. First governing document of the Plymouth Colony establishing freedom of religion.






8. A device that allows the House of Representatives to conduct its business with fewer restrictions on debate and a quorum of only 100 members.






9. A controversial law overwhelmingly passed by Congress in October 2001 - after the terrorist attacks of September 11 on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It greatly expanded the power of federal law enforcement authorities to move against suspe






10. It the job of _________ committees of a political party to hold voter registration drives - recruit new party members and final candidates for city and county positions.






11. Requires the Electoral College to vote for President and Vice President separately.






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






13. Overall spending targets set by the Congress.






14. Eisenhower's philosophy of being liberal in all things human and being conservative with all things fiscal. Appealed to both Republicans and Democrats.






15. Committees that pull members from both the house and the senate who meet to discuss major policy issues such as economy and taxation.






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






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






18. The Democrats control over politics during the 20th century ended with this President's unpopular handling of the Vietnam War.






19. The kinds of cases that a court has the authority to decide.






20. Leader of the House of Representatives - elected by the majority party. 2nd in line of succession for the Presidency.






21. The 5th amendment protect against _____________.






22. 19th century case establishing that the Bill of Rights applied only to the federal government - upheld until the 20th century. Ruling allowed stated to engage in activities such as establishing state churches and denying public office to people of ce






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






24. Theory of democracy in which competition among common interest groups promote ideas to influence politics






25. This 1st amendment clause prohibits the government from making any law prohibiting the exercise of any religion






26. The provisions of the Constitution that divide power among three constitutionally equal and independent branches of government






27. Court cases that concern crimes committed against the public order.






28. An economy in which most economic decisions result from the interaction of buyers and sellers in markets - but in which the government plays a significant role in the allocation of resources.






29. The body composed of electors from the 50 states who formally have the power to elect the president and vice president of the United States. Each state has a number of electors and electoral votes equal to its number of senators and representatives i






30. Political theorist proposed the separation of church and state.






31. The individuals - institutions - and processes that make the rules for society and possess the power to enforce them.






32. The spread of nuclear weapons to new nations






33. Provisions tacked on to a piece of legislation that are not relevant to the bill.






34. In the 1964 case of ____________ - the Supreme Court: established 'one person - one vote' -






35. Number of Senators elected at large per state -






36. 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.






37. Political strategists believe that presidential elections will normally be won or lost in _______________states.






38. A technique polling organizations use in which several people from the same neighborhood are interviewed.






39. The way things should be by law






40. (1781-1789) The written framework for the government of the original 13 states before the Constitution was adopted. Under this - the national government was weak and dominated by the states. There was a unicameral legislature - but no national execut






41. These party members tend to be ideologues who put issues ahead of winning elections and withhold support from candidates who do not share their stance on issues. Very active in special interest groups and caucuses within the party. Willing to break a






42. Legislature bills that affect only a small group of citizens.






43. Several Presidents have been elected without winning the popular vote. As a result - In 1970 and 1979 - Amendments were proposed to disband the ______________ - neither passed.






44. An act of legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them without benefit of a trial. Constitutionally prohibited.






45. The name commonly given to a private group - regardless of size - organized to elect political candidates. An organization becomes one by receiving contributions or making expenditures in excess of $1 -000 for the purpose of influencing a federal ele






46. Concurrent resolution - adopted by both Houses of Congress - that sets forth a Congressional budget plan for the budget year and at least four out-years.






47. Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people






48. ____________ often influence political appointments in an effort to influence bureaucracy.






49. The Immigration Act of 1965 abolished the practice of _______________ allowing more diversity among immigrants.






50. A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.