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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. According to V. O. Key - Jr. - the Populist Party of the 1890s is an example of a ____________________.






2. In presidential campaigns - federal matching funds are provided to candidates who ______________.






3. In Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969) - the Supreme Court established precedents for ___________________ in schools and government institutions.






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






5. Powers of government exercised independently by both the federal and state governments - such as the power to tax.






6. Since 1960 - there has been a general trend of ______________ participation in elections.






7. The only amendments to be ratified through the process of 'ratifying conventions -' not a vote in the state legislatures






8. Federal aid that states and localities may use mostly as they wish.






9. A close contest; by extension - any contest in which the focus is on who is ahead and how much rather than on substantive differences between the candidates.






10. A form of city government under which power is divided between a mayor and an elected city council.






11. The primary purpose of _______________consolidate the nation's disability laws and provide for strong federal enforcement of a strengthened disability rights mandate






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






13. This was amended in 1985 to prohibit vote dilution without requiring the proof of discriminatory purpose demanded by the original Act.






14. In 2002 - a federal appeals court struck down the Pledge of Allegiance on the grounds that it violated ________________.






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






16. The 1803 case in which the Supreme Court - by declaring a portion of an act of Congress unconstitutional - first firmly set forth and established the power of judicial review.






17. This amendment includes the due process clause - the equal protection clause - and gave rights to former slaves.






18. Urban or rural areas in which businesses are encouraged to locate because of tax breaks and other incentives.






19. A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.






20. Form of government in which the people are sovereign but their power is exercised by their elected representatives.






21. A method of polling - considered less reliable than a random sample - in which interviewers are instructed to question members of a particular group in proportion to their percentage in the population as a whole.






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






23. _______________ indicates a citizens' faith and trust in government and their own belief that they can understand and influence political affairs






24. A jury of 6 to 12 persons who determine guilt or innocence in a civil or criminal action






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






26. Political party lead by Andrew Jackson from 1828 to 1856. Campaigned against strong central government and fought to end elitism.






27. The 1776 pamphlet by Thomas Paine that prompted King George III's Prohibitory Act and the sending of mercenaries to the colonies.






28. The Immigration Act of 1965 abolished the practice of _______________ allowing more diversity among immigrants.






29. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is an example of an






30. 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






31. The introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution - setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words - 'We the people of the United States - in order to form a more perfect union. ...'






32. Type of interest group represented in Washington by another individual or organization. (Ex. Ford Motor Company pays a lobbyist in Washington to represent them.)






33. When the President's own party gains power and influence - it more puts pressure on the President to conform to the will of the party - leading to________________ between the President and the party to define their public identities






34. The 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act banned contributions of soft money to______________.






35. A federal program established in 1965 to provide hospital and medical services to older people through the Social Security system.






36. A broadly based coalition that attempts to gain control of the government by winning elections in order to exercise power and reward its members.






37. Colonies controlled by the British king through governors appointed by him and through the king's veto power over colonial laws.






38. The term most political scientists prefer to describe the bureaucratic process






39. The right to renounce one's citizenship.






40. The power of some municipalities to modify their charters and run their affairs without approval by the state legislature.






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






42. Law intended to promote free competition in the market place by outlawing monopolies






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






45. Senators have a __________ rate of re-election than Representatives primarily because of their larger constituency and lack of direct involvement with them.






46. Article II of the Constitution establishes the ______________ branch.






47. This clause of the 1st amendment establishes a 'wall of separation' between church and state.






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






49. 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.






50. Theory of democracy in which competition among common interest groups promote ideas to influence politics







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