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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. In the last 30 years - voter turnout among American 18- to 24-year-olds has been






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






3. The separation of people by race.






4. Age requirement for President






5. The claim by presidents of an inherent right to withhold information from Congress and the judiciary.






6. This author was highly influential on Thomas Jefferson - rejecting divine right - proposing that government is a social contract requiring the consent of the govern and establishing the concept of self-evident rights of life - liberty - and property.






7. 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






8. The Equal Rights Amendment was defeated in 1982 because ____________________________.






9. Judicial Check on Legislative Branch. Not specifically outlined in the Constitution - but established in the case of Marbury v. Madison through the application of the Supremacy Clause in Article VI.






10. The concept that political power rests with the people who can create - alter - and abolish government. People express themselves through voting and free participation in government






11. A procedure that in certain circumstances permits voters to remove elected state or local officials from office before their terms have expired.






12. A registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his own party affiliation. When voters do not register with a party before the primary - it is called a pick-a-party primary because the voter can select which party's primary he or she w






13. Powers specifically outlined in the Constitution as assigned to one branch of government.






14. The power of some municipalities to modify their charters and run their affairs without approval by the state legislature.






15. After analyzing 1 -795 platform pledges over a 10-year period - Gerald M. Pomper concluded that almost ____________ of these promises were fulfilled






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






17. According to one survey - what percentage of Americans belongs to groups that sometimes take a stand on public issues






18. Serious crimes - such as murder - arson - or rape.






19. Designed to protect the individual against the arbitrary power of the state.






20. Lobbyists for special interest groups have found ____________________ to be the most direct and effective method to secure their objectives in Congress.






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






22. This contraversial 2001 law allows anti-terrorism authorities to monitor e-mail and Internet traffic in order to prevent terrorist attacks. The government argues that cyberspace is public domain and that no warrants should be needed to access informa






23. Government agencies that exercise quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative powers and are administratively independent of both the president and Congress (although politically independent of neither).






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






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






26. Presidential management model requiring the President to have strong leadership skills and a keen eye for detail. FDR and JFK were well known for this style of leadership.






27. A legislature with only one house.






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






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






30. 1966 Act allowing citizens to inspect all government records with the exception of classified military or intelligence documents - trade secrets or private personnel files.






31. A system of voter registration in which voters must register only once in their district.






32. Age Requirement for the Senate






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






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






35. 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.






36. A political group organized under section 527 of the IRS code that may accept and spend unlimited amounts of money on election activities so long as they are not spent on broadcast ads run in the last 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a gene






37. Bills that benefit legislators' home districts - or powerful corporate contributors - with sometimes wasteful or unnecessary public works or other projects.






38. To negotiate a complex and politically sensitive trade treaty - a President will often






39. Powers of the national government that flow from its enumerated powers and the 'elastic clause' of the Constitution.






40. Urban or rural areas in which businesses are encouraged to locate because of tax breaks and other incentives.






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






42. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






43. After the bill reaches the house floor - if opponents have many changes - they may vote to ______________________.






44. A philosophy that Supreme Court justices and other judges should boldly apply the Constitution to social and political questions.






45. Dissenting Democrats focused on foreign affairs. Aligned with the US Communist Party.

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46. Which branch has the power to stop an executive order?






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






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






49. A course of action chosen by government officials






50. The structure and set of regulations in place to control activity - usually in large organizations and government. it is represented by standardized procedure (rule-following) that dictates the execution of most or all processes within the body - for