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






2. Gave authority over atomic energy from military to civilians.






3. Th joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the twelfth amendment






4. The concept that all people are of equal worth - even if not of equal ability.






5. Programs of government - universities - and businesses designed to favor minorities and remedy past discrimination.






6. Concept of the British statesman Edmund Burke that legislators should act according to their own consciences.






7. _____ out of 9 justices must agree to hear an appellate case brought to them from a lower court.






8. Control of a market by a single company.






9. A nation's set of fundamental beliefs about how government and politics should be conducted.






10. Prohibits citizens of one state or foreign country from suing another state.






11. Congress' first step towards allocating funds






12. Things government decides to do - example: taxation - crime control - national defense - education - etc.






13. The federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy)






14. 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.






15. Legislative house whose membership was intended to represent the state.






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






17. Constitutionally empowered to appoint judges - ambassadors - and other high officials - Constitutionally empowered to make treaties with foreign countries.






18. 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.






19. Largest interest group in the US.






20. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.






21. A federal tax on imports.






22. The pursuit and exercise of power.






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






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






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






26. A provision of the Federal Communications Act that requires broadcasters to provide the same amount of exposure to all legally qualified political candidates.






27. This category of interest groups has been the strongest and most effective in lobbying Washington






28. Government employees who publicly expose evidence of official waste or corruption that they have learned about in the course of their duties.






29. 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.






30. Number of current cabinet positions under GW Bush.






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






32. 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.






33. The state officer typically responsible for overseeing federal elections at the state level is the






34. Define US Citizenship as any person born or naturalized in the United States.






35. Ruling by the Supreme Court in 1954 that racial segregation in public schools violates the Fourteenth Amendment's requirement of equal protection of the laws for all persons.






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






37. Which office serves as a watchdog into waste or fraud in the bureaucracy and conducts investigations at the request of congressional committees






38. Courts of original jurisdiction in federal crimes - civil suits under federal law - civil suits between citizens of different states where the amount in question exceeds $50 -000 - bankruptcy proceedings - cases involving some federal administrative






39. A relaxation of international tensions.






40. Constitutional protection of the accused to not be tried for the same crime twice.






41. Love of country and a desire for independence; it can also mean an excessive form of patriotism exploited by political leaders.






42. Formal approval or consent given to a constitution - constitutional amendment - or treaty before it goes into effect.






43. The Supreme Court has sometimes used a narrow interpretation of the Establishment Clause allowing the government to provide aid to religious groups as long as it remains ______________ and does not promote one religion at the expense of another. This






44. Polls taken as people leave voting places. In the past - television networks sometimes used these polls to predict election outcomes before the polls close. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to project the winner in a state until the major






45. The Supreme Court holds _____________ jurisdiction in cases against the US - ambassadors - public ministers - and consuls.






46. 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.






47. Population migration patterns since the second World War have increased the power of _____________.






48. 1925 Supreme Court case overturned Baron v. Baltimore and applied the Bill of Rights to states.






49. Number of years a Senator must reside in the US prior to taking office






50. 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.