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






2. A powerful alliance of mutual benefit among an agency or unit of the government - an interest group - and a committee or subcommittee of Congress. Also called a triangle or a subgovernment.






3. A centralized system of government - such as that of France - where most of the important policy decisions are made by a central government.






4. The sum of the goals - decisions - and actions that govern a nation's relations with the rest of the world.






5. An offical who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator






6. Formed as a third party on the issue of slavery by many former Whigs in the 1850's. Anti-slavery platform. Supported by farmers - laborers - and newly-freed blacks.






7. Form of obstruction in the Senate where an attempt is made to infinitely extend debate upon a proposal in order to delay the progress or completely prevent a vote on the proposal taking place.






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






9. 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






10. Legislative branch incorporating two houses.






11. The 19th Century __________ party platform was opposed to the spread of slavery - promoted preservation of the union - supported the abolition of slavery - and promoted post civil was reconstruction.






12. A ruling by the Supreme Court in 1857






13. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






14. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over budget and appointments of leadership.






15. 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.






16. _____________ is responsible for monetary policy.






17. Important during the Revolution - these bodies organized by the local governments of the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolution for the purposes of coordinating written communication outside of the colony.






18. Total number of Representatives apportioned to the states based on population and reapportioned with the census every 10 years






19. Tests of a voter's ability to read and write - which were often used to keep recent immigrants and blacks from voting.






20. German sociologist theorized that the engine of government needs bureaucracies to provide expertise in a way that short-term elected or appointed official cannot.






21. 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






22. 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.






23. An opinion of one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion of the court which gives rise to its judgment.






24. Term limit for House of Representatives.






25. 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.






26. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






27. The principle - established by Chief Justice John Marshall in 1819 in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland - that the Constitution must be interpreted flexibly to meet changing conditions.






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






29. In the 1990 case OR State Employment Division v. Smith 1990 - the Supreme court allowed the state to fire employees who use peyote during native American religious ceremonies because it is in violation of drug laws. In this case - which clause of the






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






31. A group of independent states or nations that come together for a common purpose and whose central authority is usually limited to defense and foreign relations.






32. A method of amending state constitutions under which proposed constitutional amendments can be placed on the ballot if enough signatures are obtained on a petition. Almost half the states also employ the initiative on the ballot to allow voters to en






33. Philosopher John Locke - in his 1690 work Civil Government (second treatise) - advised separation of government power between






34. Because there is no Senate Rules Committee - Senators can debate a bill for an _________________ time.






35. Included are Ways and Means - Veteran's Affairs - Transportation and Infrastructure - Standards of Official Conduct - Small Business - Science - Judiciary - Rules - Resources - Oversight of Government Reform - House Administration - Homeland Security






36. 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.






37. This called for three-fifths of all slaves in a state were counted for purposes of apportioning representation in the House of Representatives.






38. Organization of individuals with similar policy goals who enter the political process to influence legislation that affects the organizations interests






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






40. A test established by Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes - Jr. - in 1919 to define the point at which speech loses the protection of the First Amendment.






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






42. First Executive Branch






43. 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.






44. Repealed by the 21st Amendment - this Amendment prohibited alcohol.






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






46. A plan to provide billions of dollars of American aid to Western Europe to speed its economic and social recovery after the Second World War.






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






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






49. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) - founded in 1932 by President Herbert Hoover to help combat the Great Depression - was the predecessor of which federal agencies?






50. Elects the President if no candidate receives 270 Electoral College votes.






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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