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. Wisconsin Republican who exploited public concern for political gain during the 1950's through freewheeling investigations of alleged Communists.






2. Senators are re-elected every ___ years with 1/3 of the Senate being up for election every 2 years.






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






4. 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.






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






6. Colonies in which the proprietors (who had obtained their patents from the king) named the governors - subject to the king's approval.






7. Limitations on this freedom including prohibition of defamation and obscenity - limitation on commercial speech - and restriction of inciting words that may cause immediate danger.






8. In the 1925 Gitlow case - the Supreme Court began a process of ______________ of the Bill of Rights to the states.






9. A policy of avoiding foreign involvement.






10. Charge of misconduct brought against a government official.






11. Disapproval of a bill by a chief executive - such as the president or a governor.






12. Federal laws limit the amount of ___________ that can be donated directly to campaign coffers.






13. A course of action decided upon by a government






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






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






16. 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.






17. The total group from which poll-takers may select a random sample in order to measure public opinion.






18. Most likely to board a foreign ship suspected of drug trafficking at a U.S. port






19. Broadly worded warrants used by British soldiers during colonial America to search for contraband and prevent smuggling.






20. Devolutionary system in which the national government returns tax dollars to the state and local governments primarily in the form of block grants.






21. The expansion of cable and satellite tv has _________________ the president's power to influence public opinion.






22. The yearly value of goods and services produced within a country.






23. Article VII of the Constitution outlines the process of ____________________.






24. Department established in 1988 by President G.H. Bush.

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25. 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.






26. Passed in 1883 - it created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.






27. 1925 Supreme Court case overturned Baron v. Baltimore and applied the Bill of Rights to states.






28. Article I - Section 8 - of the Constitution - which allows Congress to make all laws that are 'necessary and proper' to carry out the powers of the Constitution.






29. ___________ vote in both the House and Senate may override a Presidential veto of legislation.






30. Programs are designed to give preferential access to education - employment - health care - or social welfare to groups of people - especially minorities and women - who have historically been discriminated against.






31. This 1964 case established strict standards for proving slander and libel - court must prove intent of malice on the part of the publisher.






32. A policy adopted by the United States after the Second World War that assumed that if enough nuclear weapons were deployed by the United States - an enemy would not attack for fear of being destroyed in retaliation.






33. In the view of W. Lance Bennett - the people who hold and express opinions are constantly changing - as are the issues and conditions to which the public responds. As a result - Bennett suggests that public opinion is______________.






34. If 10 days remain in session and the president does not sign an act of Congress - the law is ___________.






35. In Woodson v. North Carolina - the Supreme Court struck down mandatory sentencing of capital punishment as ______________________ because it does not allow for any discretion.






36. Plan that proposed unicameral legislature with each state having one vote.






37. This customary power allows the President to grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses.






38. A group of high-level administrators and managers at the top of the government bureaucracy. SES members have less job tenure but are eligible for substantial cash bonuses for merit.






39. 'lame duck' amendment






40. Minor criminal offenses - such as speeding.






41. 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.






42. A place of work in which only union members may be hired.






43. This amendment applied the Bill of Rights to states.






44. The relationship between the total cost of foreign goods imported to this country and sales of U.S. products overseas.






45. What occurs when government adopts a public policy that provides - or distributes - benefits to people or groups.






46. Includes expressive conduct/assembly/actions and symbolic behavior (ex. Picketing or burning the flag) Based on our country history of symbolic acts such as the Boston Tea Party - courts almost always uphold symbolic acts of speech unless they are cr






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






48. The Supreme Court has ruled that Congress_________________ take away a person's citizenship unless it is freely renounced.






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






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