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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. 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






2. Assigns bills to the appropriate House committee.






3. When the population's overall feeling of political efficacy is low - voter turnout is _______.






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






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






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






7. The issue of slavery split the Democratic Party into what two factions?






8. An ideology that advocates limits on government power to address economic and social problems - relying instead on economic markets and individual initiative to address problems like health care and education - while promoting government involvement






9. Baby boomers - women - and voters with higher levels of education tend to have a ____________ voter turnout.






10. Loose - competitive relationships among policy experts - interest groups - congressional committees - and federal agencies. Many observers argue that these have replaced iron triangles.






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






12. Grants that an accused may not be held in custody without charge - literally 'You shall have the body'.






13. The fundamental flaw in plural theory contends that pluralism weakens the backbone of democracy with too many common interest groups attempt to wield power - often leading to standstill because of unwillingness to compromise.






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






15. After a bill is assigned to a committee - the next step is typically a ______________.






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






17. The response of the rest of society to actions by the authorities.






18. Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.






19. A word that comes from two Greek roots - demos - 'the populace -' and kratia - 'rule'






20. Court cases that concern crimes committed against the public order.






21. Includes the 13th - 14th - and 15th Amendments. Abolished slavery and guaranteed due process and equal protection to all citizens.






22. Capital punishment is also known as the _________________.






23. These voters tend to have a high voter turnout because of their strong since of civic duty due to growing up during an era of political and civil unrest.






24. The philosophy that government should intervene as little as possible in economic affairs.






25. ______________ refers to the differences in political attitudes and voting behavior between men and women






26. (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






27. Committees of Congress composed of both representatives and senators.






28. Federal categorical grants in which the granting agency has much discretion over how the recipient spends the money.






29. This influential English document refuted divine right of monarchy and made monarchs subject to laws and responsible for crimes






30. The tendency of presidents to lose support over time.






31. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






32. A compulsory national insurance program - financed by taxes on employers and employees. The insurance falls into four categories: old-age and survivors insurance - disability insurance - Medicare - and unemployment insurance.






33. 1963 ruling prohibiting prayer in public schools.






34. In _______________ cases such as Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978) - the Supreme Court has upheld that while Affirmative action policies are legal - race and gender cannot be the only determining factors.






35. Guarantees that citizens cannot be compelled by the government to act in a way that is contrary to their religious beliefs. (ex. Conscientious objection to military service required by the draft is the execution of ______________)






36. A 1972 treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union limiting the number of defensive missiles each country could build. In 2001 President George W. Bush withdrew the United States from the treaty.






37. A small group of voters chosen by a political campaign for their demographic similarities who are brought together to gauge how the group they represent feels about the candidate.






38. While the verbiage of the 4th Amendment is vague as to what constitutes 'reasonable'. Police departments must rely on _____________; they cannot act on unfounded suspicion.






39. President requires their approval to appoint judges - ambassadors and other high officials.






40. Cabinet department responsible for managing school lunch programs and food safety. Established in 1862.






41. This Supreme Court case infamously decided that a slave was not a citizen but property to be 'used in subservience to the interests - the convenience - or the will of his owner'






42. The practice of victorious politicians to reward their followers with jobs. Also known as the spoils system.






43. States that arrestees must be informed of their right to remain silent - that anything they say can be held against them in a court - that they have a right to an attorney and that an attorney will be appointed to them if they cannot afford one.






44. Tips the balance between two leading candidates by attracting a minority of voters who otherwise might have voted for one of the leading candidates.






45. An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted






46. Its the responsibility of ___________ committees of a political party to solidify the party within each state and organize primary elections






47. A government that undertakes responsibility for the welfare of its citizens through programs in public health and public housing and pensions and unemployment compensation etc.






48. In the mid-term elections following a President's inauguration - his party tends to ___________ seats in Congress.






49. Between 1909 and 2002 - the number of daily newspapers in the United States______________.






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

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