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






2. 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.






3. Presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President. Position awarded to the longest serving Senator from the majority party. 3rd in line of succession for the Presidency.






4. 1946 Act requiring bureaucratic agencies to appeal to the affected parties before adopting new policies. Legislative check on Bureaucracy.






5. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






6. In this case - a gay man from Georgia charged with committing sodomy in his own home with a consenting adult. The court ruled that the Constitution does not explicitly grant the right for homosexuals to practice their lifestyle and that laws against






7. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and cooperate.






8. 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






9. 1966 Act allowing citizens to inspect all government records with the exception of classified military or intelligence documents - trade secrets or private personnel files.






10. Overturning unjust laws is the responsibility of _________________.






11. Love of country and a desire for independence; it can also mean an excessive form of patriotism exploited by political leaders.






12. Guarantees the right to bare arms.






13. Puerto Rico has ____________ status.






14. Requires reporting of financial information by companies with publicly traded securities






15. Proponents of limited government - unregulated free markets - national self-reliance - and conventional social values are best describes as






16. Bills passed by Congress to pay for the spending it has authorized.






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






18. Communication with legislators or other government officials to try to influence their decisions.






19. Lead by Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. Dedicated to defending federal authority and high tariffs. Gained supports of merchants - bankers - industrialists and planters.






20. In the year 2000 - the Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America had a constitutional right to ban _____________ members.






21. A technique polling organizations use in which several people from the same neighborhood are interviewed.






22. 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.






23. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the concept of privacy included the right to a legal abortion?






24. 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






25. An annual meeting held in the spring in many New England towns - at which the townspeople come together to elect a board of selectmen and to discuss local policy questions. It has become a symbol of participatory democracy.






26. A course of action decided upon by a government






27. A system in which national and state government have shared or overlapping powers. FDR's New Deal legislation established this system in the US.






28. The pursuit and exercise of power






29. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendment to bills or provides that only memebers of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments






30. The House appropriations committee has ___ subcommittees.






31. The yearly value of goods and services produced within a country.






32. 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






33. A powerful alliance of mutual benefit among an agency or unit of the government - an interest group - and a committee or subcommittee of Congress. Also called a triangle or a subgovernment.






34. 1798 Act that criminalized speech that was derisive to the government. Later ruled unconstitutional - Andrew Jackson issued blanket pardon in 1801






35. A group of people who try to influence policy agendas and whose ultimate goal is to run the government by getting their favorite candidates elected.






36. The FCC's equal time policy applies to _____________.






37. This may be done by a national constitutional convention called by Congress on the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures OR By the passage of a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress






38. This category of interest groups has been the strongest and most effective in lobbying Washington






39. Cabinet department responsible for managing school lunch programs and food safety. Established in 1862.






40. 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






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






42. 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.






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






44. The body composed of electors from the 50 states who formally have the power to elect the president and vice president of the United States. Each state has a number of electors and electoral votes equal to its number of senators and representatives i






45. The tendency of presidents to lose support over time.






46. Eisenhower's philosophy of being liberal in all things human and being conservative with all things fiscal. Appealed to both Republicans and Democrats.






47. Direct oral or written speech directed at a specific individual or group






48. A course of action chosen by government officials






49. Assistants to the Majority and Minority Leaders of both the House and Senate.






50. Number of justices of the Supreme Court.