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. In Congress - _____________ are informal organizations of individual congressional representatives with like interests or constituencies. Members work together to promote the interests of the groups they represent through legislation - policy - and p






2. A broad concept that may be defined in many ways - but the term is generally used to refer to the basic protection and defense of the nation.






3. The party-column ballot - or Indiana ballot - encourages _______________.






4. Procedure typically requiring 3/5 vote of the entire Senate to end a filibuster.






5. A group of writers - journalists - and critics who exposed corporate malfeasance and political corruption in the first decade of the 20th century.






6. Most Americans support ______________ primarily as part of their criticism of PACs






7. Today the Senate operates with ____ standing and select committees. These select committees - however - are permanent in nature and are treated as standing committees under Senate rules.






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






9. Laws - rules - and government programs designed to protect individual rights and specific groups - as well as to benefit society as a whole in such areas as health - worker safety - consumer protection - and the environment.






10. In his historic decision in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - Chief Justice Marshall established the principle of _____________.






11. Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Congress authorized and appropriated.






12. This House committee is responsible for all taxes - tariffs - and other revenue raising measures in addition to social security - child support - Medicare - foster care - and unemployment.






13. A term coined by President Lyndon B. Johnson to describe his own view of the relationship between Washington and the states.






14. These party members are highly involved in the electoral process. Donate funds to party and candidates - demand a voice in state party agendas and tend to have a strong belief in their party's ideology.






15. A writ designed to protect against illegal imprisonment by requiring that a person who is detained be brought before a judge for investigation.






16. (1945-1991) The period after the Second World War marked by rivalry and tension between the two nuclear superpowers - the United States and the communist government of the Soviet Union. The Cold War ended when the Soviet government collapsed in 1991.






17. 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






18. In 1987 - the FCC abandoned the fairness doctrine on the grounds that it unconstitutionally restricted the ______________ rights of broadcasters.






19. This 1964 case established strict standards for proving slander and libel - court must prove intent of malice on the part of the publisher.






20. In the 1962 case of Robinson v. California - the Supreme Court ruled that incarcerating a drug addict is ______________________ because drug addiction is an illness.






21. After hearings are complete - a congressional subcommittee will usually determine a bill's future in final deliberations known as






22. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was somewhat undermined by racist practices in the real estate market such as _____________ and ______________ - which continued illegally in many areas following passage of the Act.






23. A ruling by the Supreme Court in 1857






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






25. The House appropriations committee has ___ subcommittees.






26. Established the Federal Reserve Bank - responsible for conducting the nation's monetary policy - maintaining the stability of the financial system - supervising and regulating banking institutions - and protecting the credit rights of consumers - and






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






28. Disapproval of a bill by a chief executive - such as the president or a governor.






29. Included are Ways and Means - Veteran's Affairs - Transportation and Infrastructure - Standards of Official Conduct - Small Business - Science - Judiciary - Rules - Resources - Oversight of Government Reform - House Administration - Homeland Security






30. Programs of government - universities - and businesses designed to favor minorities and remedy past discrimination.






31. Responsible for determining which bills will be considered on the House floor - and when they will be considered.






32. 1976 Law requiring all governmental agency meetings to be open to the public unless classified information will be discussed.






33. Committees created by Congress to conduct special investigations. Although normally temporary - some become - in effect - permanent.






34. 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






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






36. In Johnson v. Texas (1989) - the Supreme Court ruled that burning the flag in a manner that does not pose a threat to people or property is allowed as this type of freedom of speech.






37. _____ out of 9 justices must agree to hear an appellate case brought to them from a lower court.






38. Process by which citizens propose an amendment by petition.






39. Number of current cabinet positions under GW Bush.






40. If significant amendments are made to a bill during committee - the bill is sometimes given a new number as a _______________.






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






42. While both Asian and Hispanic immigrants experience various types of discrimination - Hispanic immigrants are more likely to experience economic discrimination. This explains why most Hispanics identify with the ____________ party - while Asians do n






43. In states using primaries - the most common form of primary election is the ___________ primary.






44. Corporations formed by the government to act as a business to produce a product or service. Often monopolies with varying degrees of independence.






45. There are 11 circuit ____________________ who have no original jurisdiction.






46. 1925 Supreme Court case overturned Baron v. Baltimore and applied the Bill of Rights to states.






47. A philosophy that the Supreme Court should avoid constitutional questions when possible and uphold acts of Congress unless they clearly violate a specific section of the Constitution.






48. Information sent out in order to observe the reaction of an audience. Used by politicians who deliberately leak information on a policy change under consideration.






49. The executive office established in response to intelligence lapses during WWI. Oversees American foreign policy and includes the President - Vice President - Secretary of State - Secretary of Defense and is lead by the National Security Advisor.






50. Spending by the national committees of the political parties to support the election of congressional candidates is known as