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. Article VII of the Constitution outlines the process of ____________________.






2. Minor criminal offenses - such as speeding.






3. Concept of government by the people in which everyone is free to vote - but normally whoever gets the most votes wins the election and represents all the people - including those who voted for the losing candidate.






4. The President's role in the armed forces which during the 20th century has allowed Presidents to circumvent Congress' refusal to declare war.






5. Formed as a third party on the issue of slavery by many former Whigs in the 1850's. Anti-slavery platform. Supported by farmers - laborers - and newly-freed blacks.






6. The spread of nuclear weapons to new nations






7. 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.






8. Cabinet department responsible for insuring mortgages and providing housing subsidies. Established in 1965






9. Responsibilities include: Coordinating the nation's intelligence activities and Evaluating and disseminating intelligence that affects national security






10. A jury of 6 to 12 persons who determine guilt or innocence in a civil or criminal action






11. Included are Agriculture - Nutrition - and Forestry; Appropriations; Armed Services; Banking - Housing and Urban Affairs; Commerce - Science and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Public Works; Finance; Health - Education -






12. Judges in Legislative Courts serve _______ terms and do not require impeachment.






13. James Madison proposed to deal with the threat of political factions by ______________________.






14. The 1896 case of Plessy v. Fergusan established the racial segregation policy of __________________.






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






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






17. An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on a sharply limited government - promoting a free market economy - a non-interventionist foreign policy - and an absence of regulation in the moral and social spheres.






18. The concentration of economic power in the hands of a relatively few large companies.






19. The belief that all people possess certain basic rights that may not be abridged by government.






20. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) - founded in 1932 by President Herbert Hoover to help combat the Great Depression - was the predecessor of which federal agencies?






21. Bills that benefit legislators' home districts - or powerful corporate contributors - with sometimes wasteful or unnecessary public works or other projects.






22. A tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals and present them to a candidate or political party as a 'bundle -' thus increasing the PAC's influence.






23. 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






24. German sociologist theorized that the engine of government needs bureaucracies to provide expertise in a way that short-term elected or appointed official cannot.






25. A form of city government under which a board of city commissioners is popularly elected (often on a nonpartisan ballot). The commissioners make policy as a city council - but they also run city departments as administrators.






26. A provision in a deed to real property prohibiting its sale to a person of a particular race or religion. Judicial enforcement is unconstitutional.






27. This event was an important factor in creating the climate for a new Constitution.

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






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






30. Plan that proposed bicameral legislature where states were to have representation based on size in both houses.






31. Voting based on looking back and making judgments about the way things have gone and the kind of government experienced during a political leader's time in office.






32. The belief that one is effective when participating in politics - for example that the government will respond to one's demands






33. The name commonly given to a private group - regardless of size - organized to elect political candidates. An organization becomes one by receiving contributions or making expenditures in excess of $1 -000 for the purpose of influencing a federal ele






34. Individual contributions to PACs are limited to ______________ dollars per candidate per election with primaries - general and special elections counting separately.






35. This powerful House committee is in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor.






36. Baby boomers - women - and voters with higher levels of education tend to have a ____________ voter turnout.






37. Political theorist proposed the separation of church and state.






38. Prohibits citizens of one state or foreign country from suing another state.






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






40. This 1967 Supreme Court case prohibited illegal eavesdropping and extending the zone of privacy to include the home - office - person - and immediate public arena.






41. 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






42. These two Senate standing committees have existed - largely unchanged - since 1816.






43. In the mid-term elections following a President's inauguration - his party tends to ___________ seats in Congress.






44. A relaxation of international tensions.






45. Guarantees that any rights not explicitly outlined heretofore are reserved for the states.






46. The process by which individuals screen out messages that do not conform to their own biases






47. 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.






48. _____________ are expected to specialize in a few policy areas rather than claim expertise in the whole range of legislative concerns






49. According to the Speedy Trial Act of 1974 - federal trials must commence within _______ days of arrest with the exception of delay for mental health testing of the defendant and illness of the defendant or key witness.






50. Executive check on Legislative Branch.