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. The ruling in this case provided that the government must prove a threat to national security in order to impose prior restraint.






2. The principle - established by Chief Justice John Marshall in 1819 in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland - that the Constitution must be interpreted flexibly to meet changing conditions.






3. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






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






5. The belief that one can understand politics and therefore participate in politics






6. Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution - for example - the authority to print money.






7. Lobbyists for special interest groups have found ____________________ to be the most direct and effective method to secure their objectives in Congress.






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






9. Private groups that attempt to influence the government to respond to the shared attitudes of their members.






10. A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.






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






12. In this 1972 case - the Supreme Court established four guidelines for determining if a trial was appropriately speedy and fair: cause of delay - length of delay - affect on the outcome - and the defendant's claim to a speedy trial.






13. Most states have ___________ legislatures.






14. (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.






15. Prohibits conviction of a crime that occurred before the act became illegal






16. The agency that provides Congress with evaluations of public policies is the






17. Lead by Theodore Roosevelt - this party platform focused on women's suffrage - social reform - fair business practices - and direct election of senators. The won 25% of the popular vote in 1911 - splitting the Republican vote and allowing Democrat Wo






18. In his classic study of community power in New Haven - Connecticut - political scientist Robert A. Dahl concluded that the city was a __________ system dominated by many different sets of leaders






19. Broadly worded warrants used by British soldiers during colonial America to search for contraband and prevent smuggling.






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






21. The way things should be by law






22. Government regulation of the economy through its control over taxes and government spending. Controlled by the Department of Treasury.






23. The appropriation of government spending for projects that are intended primarily to benefit particular constituents - such as those in marginal seats or campaign contributors.






24. By far - the largest amount of federal aid to state and local governments comes in the form of:






25. Held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.






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






27. A broadly based coalition that attempts to gain control of the government by winning elections in order to exercise power and reward its members.






28. Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.






29. First Roman Catholic elected President.






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






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






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






33. 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.






34. A pluralist theory by C. Wright Mills where a small number of wealthy elite wield most of the power. Fundamental to all governments around the world - the elite rule while they make the lower classes feel like they are involved in democracy. The elit






35. 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.






36. The term most political scientists prefer to describe the bureaucratic process






37. Colonies in which freely elected legislatures chose the governor and the king could not veto laws.






38. Age Requirement for House of Representatives.






39. This article of the Constitution establishes the Executive Branch.






40. State legislation designed to outlaw the union shop - passed by 21 states acting under Section 14B of the federal Taft-Hartley Act.






41. This house committee is responsible for Supervising the authority of the federal government to borrow money - Raising the revenue required to finance the federal government by levying taxes - Overseeing Social Security and other social insurance prog






42. President Hoover's laissez-faire approach to the economy during the Great Depression left many poor voters disenfranchised by the Republican Party. They left to join the _______________ Party.






43. The framers of the Constitution created the Senate to function as a check on the ________________.






44. Control of a market by a single company.






45. 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






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






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






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






49. The federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy)






50. Department established in 1988 by President G.H. Bush.

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