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. Representing - characterized by - or including members from two parties or factions






2. First proposed in 1789 - this amendment passed in 1992 prohibits Congress from raising their own pay. Pay raises may not take affect until the beginning of the next term.






3. Number of justices of the Supreme Court.






4. Presides over the Senate without voting privileges except in the case of a tie.






5. An economy in which most economic decisions result from the interaction of buyers and sellers in markets - but in which the government plays a significant role in the allocation of resources.






6. Government employees who publicly expose evidence of official waste or corruption that they have learned about in the course of their duties.






7. Unwritten law based on custom and tradition.






8. Contacts - coalitions - and interactions across national boundaries






9. Elections in which the majority party (according to party identification) is defeated in a temporary reversal.






10. A system in which the power to govern is shared between national and state governments






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






12. The pursuit and exercise of power






13. The power of the president - struck down by the Supreme Court in 1998 - to veto parts of appropriations bills. Most state governors have this power.






14. 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.






15. An election in which voters in a jurisdiction select candidates for a subsequent election. In other words - one means by which a political party nominate candidates for the following general election.s






16. Leader of the House of Representatives - elected by the majority party. 2nd in line of succession for the Presidency.






17. This contraversial legal technicality intended to protect civil liberties has allowed criminals to remain free when the courts refuse to admit evidence that may have been obtained illegally.






18. A course of action chosen by government officials






19. 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.






20. When the minority party becomes stronger than the majority party - usually the result of winning a critical election.






21. People may vote in a party's primary only if they are registered members of that party. Independents cannot participate. Note that because some political parties name themselves independent - the term 'non-partisan' often replaces 'independent' when






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






23. Ruling by the Supreme Court in 1954 that racial segregation in public schools violates the Fourteenth Amendment's requirement of equal protection of the laws for all persons.






24. 1798 Act that criminalized speech that was derisive to the government. Later ruled unconstitutional - Andrew Jackson issued blanket pardon in 1801






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






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






27. According to the Constitution - the electors in the Electoral College shall be appointed in a manner to be determined by the






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






29. These courts only hear appeals on cases from lower courts.






30. The gap between the government's income and outlays.






31. The 19th Century __________ party platform was opposed to the spread of slavery - promoted preservation of the union - supported the abolition of slavery - and promoted post civil was reconstruction.






32. 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.






33. 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






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






35. The pursuit and exercise of power.






36. An economic philosophy that advocates both tax and budget cuts to increase incentives to produce in order to expand the total supply of the nation's goods and services.






37. 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.






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






39. Which branch has the power to stop an executive order?






40. In WV State BOE v Barnette (1943) - the Supreme Court ruled that compelling citizens to salute the flag violates the principles of a free society - upholding which 1st Amendment rights?






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






42. A relaxation of international tensions.






43. 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.






44. A public policy that takes something away from one person or group and gives it to another person or group.






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






46. A term often used to describe the economic and political ties between the military establishment and the defense-aerospace industry.






47. Act of exchanging favors for mutual gain






48. Formerly known as the Anti-Federalist - this party lead by Thomas Jefferson advocated states rights pressing the causes of the common people and agrarian interest. Dominated the political arena until the Civil War.






49. 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.






50. An interest group organization that represents a specific group of people (Ex. NAACP - AARP)