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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. A legislator who automatically mirrors the will of the majority of his or her constituents.






2. Established national income tax.






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






4. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






5. A strand of American foreign policy that was visible by the end of the 19th century; it included 'gunboat diplomacy' and other forms of military involvement by the United States in various parts of the world.






6. During the period from 1976 to 1824 - This party was lead by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. They wanted a stronger national government that would rectify the pitfalls of the Articles of Confederation. Their supporters held a stronghold in New






7. Assigns bills to the appropriate House committee.






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






9. Established by President Hoover - It is the _______________ job to keep the press informed and orchestrate press conferences






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






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






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






13. Requests from people or groups for health care for the aged - loans for college students - equal opportunity for minorities - and higher subsidies for farmers are examples of:






14. 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






15. Head of the Supreme Court.






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






17. Beginning with the election of Abraham Lincoln - the period between 1860 and the Great Depression was dominated by this political party.






18. Voters in a political district - or supporters of an elected official; or interest groups or client groups that are either directly regulated by the bureaucracy or vitally affected by its decisions.






19. Cabinet department that includes the FAA and the National Hwy Traffic Safety Administration. Established in 1966.






20. Federal grants in which the recipient has little discretion over how the money is spent. The national government sets narrowly defined rules for use of funds and often requires the states or local governments to provide matching funds. These grants a






21. Elections that may lead to a basic shift in the party identification of the electorate.






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






23. The federal fiscal year begins ___________.






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






25. Responsible for assigning bills to committee in the Senate.






26. 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.






27. Multi-interest and often multinational corporations that - under one corporate roof - may manufacture a wide variety of products.






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






29. A declaration by the President in 1823 that warned European powers to keep out of the Western Hemisphere and pledged that the United States would not intervene in the internal affairs of Europe.






30. Dayton Board of Education v. Brinkman (1979) upheld that bussing programs were an acceptable way to enforce ______________________.






31. The case of Gregg v. Georgia set the precedent for a ________________ system in which guilt and sentencing and tried separately.






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






33. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over the creation and elimination of agencies as well as its control over budget appropriations.






34. During the 1800's and early 1900's - some state and local party committees became ________________ dominating party activities. Committee members would promise new recruits money - jobs - and other benefits for joining and voting the straight party t






35. PACs may donate a ______________ amount of indirect or in-kind donations to a campaign. (Ex. placing ads to support their candidate)






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






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






38. Although camera are allowed in most trial courts - they are banned from ______________.






39. Judicial Check on Legislative Branch. Not specifically outlined in the Constitution - but established in the case of Marbury v. Madison through the application of the Supremacy Clause in Article VI.






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






41. Unwritten law based on custom and tradition.






42. This contraversial 2001 law allows anti-terrorism authorities to monitor e-mail and Internet traffic in order to prevent terrorist attacks. The government argues that cyberspace is public domain and that no warrants should be needed to access informa






43. The principle of civilian control of the military - based on the clear constitutional power of the president as supreme commander of the armed forces.






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






45. The Supreme Court holds _____________ jurisdiction in cases against the US - ambassadors - public ministers - and consuls.






46. 14th Amendment is often used to support the right to ____________.






47. A primary in which any registered voter is able to vote for candidates from more than one party. A voter - for example - may vote for a Democrat for U.S. senator and for a Republican for governor. In 2000 - the Supreme Court struck down the blanket p






48. Constitutionally required address by the President typically given in a joint session of Congress.






49. 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.






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







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