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. These dissenting Republicans won 17% of the popular vote in 1924 on a platform for public control of national resources and railways - tax reductions - and changes to the staff of the executive department

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2. Today the Senate operates with ____ standing and select committees. These select committees - however - are permanent in nature and are treated as standing committees under Senate rules.






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






4. 1974 Act mandating that all government files about private citizens be kept confidential.






5. A study of Bennington College students in the 1930s illustrated that the influence of the family on political attitudes tends to ______________ as they grow older and come into contact with other groups.






6. During Presidential election years or when the nation is divided on policy agenda - particularly regarding salient issues - voter turnout is _____________






7. Belief in the value of strong government to provide economic secruity and protection for civil rights - combined with a belief in personal freedom from government intervention in social conduct






8. 'lame duck' amendment






9. Today the South is is a two-party battleground - in which the ______________ often have the upper hand






10. Head of the Supreme Court.






11. This controversial clause of the 9th Amendment has allowed government to expand rights to suit its needs.






12. The policy established after the Second World War that America must take an active leadership role in world affairs






13. The right of the Supreme Court - under the Constitution - to hear certain kinds of cases directly - such as cases involving foreign diplomats - or cases in which one of the 50 states is a party.






14. Money spent by individuals or gorups not asociated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office






15. 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.






16. A law passed by Congress in 1973 in an effort to set a time limit on the use of combat forces abroad by a president.






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






18. 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






19. Elections that reflect the basic party identification of the voters.






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






21. Executive office responsible for negotiating trade with foreign powers.






22. The proceeding before a judge in which the formal charges of an indictment or information are read to an accused person - who may plead guilty or not guilty.






23. This act prohibited Discrimination because of race - color - sex - religion - or national origin by employers or labor unions; The adoption by voting registrars of different standards for black and white applicants; and Racial or religious discrimina






24. Legislative house whose members were intended to represent the people.






25. A ruling by the Supreme Court in 1857






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






27. Number of justices of the Supreme Court.






28. Units of government under the president - within the executive branch - that are not part of a cabinet department.






29. The ruling in this case provided that the government must prove a threat to national security in order to impose prior restraint.






30. Responsibilities include: Coordinating the nation's intelligence activities and Evaluating and disseminating intelligence that affects national security






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. In his historic decision in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - Chief Justice Marshall established the principle of _____________.






33. A system in which the national government provides grants-in-aid to states using conditions to elicit control.






34. Minimum number of voters per state in the Electoral College.






35. Corporations formed by the government to act as a business to produce a product or service. Often monopolies with varying degrees of independence.






36. (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






37. 1798 Act that criminalized speech that was derisive to the government. Later ruled unconstitutional - Andrew Jackson issued blanket pardon in 1801






38. New Jersey v. TLO (1985) established that school authorities may search students without _____________ as long as they are reasonable.






39. The main mechanism used by modern political parties to nominate their candidate for President.






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






41. ______________________is responsible for the management of the federal debt and the printing of currency. It is the major fiscal policy agency.






42. In 1998 - the Supreme Court struck down the________________ law - declaring it unconstitutional - because Congress did not have the constitutional authority to hand that power to the President.






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






44. A group of people who try to influence policy agendas and whose ultimate goal is to run the government by getting their favorite candidates elected.






45. An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on a sharply limited government - promoting a free market economy - a non-interventionist foreign policy - and an absence of regulation in the moral and social spheres.






46. The average voter turnout between 1960 and 2004 was __________ percent






47. 1917 Reincarnation of the Sedition Act during WWI






48. Constitutional Article that establishes the Judicial Branch.






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






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