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. The agency that provides Congress with evaluations of public policies is the






2. Cabinet positions must be ____________ by the Senate






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






4. A power of the president to kill a bill by taking no action (if Congress adjourns during the 10-day period after the president receives the bill). Some court rulings have suggested that a president may exercise a pocket veto only when Congress adjour






5. 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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6. 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.






7. Minor criminal offenses - such as speeding.






8. 6 In the view of Robert L. Lineberry - policy analysts focus on the _______________.






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






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






11. In addition to overseeing the activities of one or more federal agencies - a ___________________may also serve as the authorizing committee for federal agencies' programs and operations.






12. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the 1964 Civil Rights Act does not prohibit private affirmative action programs?






13. A White House council created under the National Security Act of 1947 to advise the president and help coordinate American military and foreign policy.






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






15. Each Senate committee may have ________ subcommittees.






16. After the bill reaches the house floor - if opponents have many changes - they may vote to ______________________.






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






18. 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






19. 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.






20. He United States Constitution was opposed by which group?






21. The fundamental rights of a free society that are protected by the Bill of Rights against the power of the government - such as freedom of speech - religion - press - and assembly.






22. Number of Federal District courts across 50 states - DC and Puerto Rico.






23. 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






24. 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.






25. 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'






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






27. The formal source of all authority in each major political party. It nominates the party candidates for president and vice president - writes a platform - settles disputes - writes rules - and elects the members of the national committee.






28. Legislative opinions on a matter that do not require Presidential signature.






29. The Articles of Confederation established a ________________ legislature.






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






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






32. Powers of government that the national government may exercise simply because it exists as a government - such as the right to conduct foreign relations.






33. A judicial opinion agreed to by a majority of the members of a court. A majority opinion sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision.






34. A system - until modified and reformed in the 1970s - that automatically resulted in the selection as committee chair of those members of the majority party in Congress who had the longest continuous service on a committee.






35. An immigrant who wished to become a citizen may be naturalized after living in the US for ___ years.






36. There is an _____________ relationship between Presidential approval ratings and unemployment.






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






38. In California v. Avecedo (1991) - The Supreme Court established that authorities may search ____________________ without a warrant providing reasonable suspicion.






39. Prompted by FDR's 4th election to the Presidency - the 22nd Amendment limited the number of Presidential terms to _____ terms.






40. The expression of attitudes about government and politics.






41. 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






42. Spending determined by the number of qualified recipients and their legally determined need is called






43. Guarantees the right to bare arms.






44. Clause of the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 10) intended to prohibit state governments from modifying contracts made between individuals; interpreted as prohibiting state governments from taking actions that adversely affect property rights.






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






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






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






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






49. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






50. A controversial law overwhelmingly passed by Congress in October 2001 - after the terrorist attacks of September 11 on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It greatly expanded the power of federal law enforcement authorities to move against suspe