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 the 1925 Gitlow case - the Supreme Court began a process of ______________ of the Bill of Rights to the states.






2. 1963 ruling prohibiting prayer in public schools.






3. A system in which the national government provides grants-in-aid to states using conditions to elicit control.






4. 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.






5. Number of years a President must reside in the US prior to taking office






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






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






8. (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.






9. The permanent committees of a legislature that consider bills and conduct hearings and investigations.






10. In addition to the doctrine of implied powers - Chief Justice Marshall - in his decision in the Supreme Court case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - established the key concept of:






11. Literally meaning 'right of soil' - confers citizenship by place of birth.






12. The Jacksonian Era marked an important change in the process used to nominate Presidential candidates with the emergence of party _________________ - eliminating caucuses.






13. Guarantees the right to a civil trial by jury.






14. 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.






15. Concept of the British statesman Edmund Burke that legislators should act according to their own consciences.






16. 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






17. An offical who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator






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






19. Established national income tax.






20. The action - or actions - taken by government to carry out a policy.






21. Number of Electoral College votes required to win the Presidency.






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






23. A procedure that in certain circumstances permits voters to remove elected state or local officials from office before their terms have expired.






24. Federal aid that states and localities may use mostly as they wish.






25. The claim by presidents of an inherent right to withhold information from Congress and the judiciary.






26. Makes sure that funds are used safely and wisely. They oversee the state's financial records






27. The term 'Reagan Democrats' has become a generic term for






28. The estimated number of illegal aliens living in the US.






29. A vote in the House of Representatives in which the position of each member is noted and published in the Congressional Record.






30. The 15th Amendment - also know as _________________ - was intended to help recently freed blacks from unconstitutional state laws designed to circumvent federal laws.






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






32. 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.






33. 1946 Act requiring bureaucratic agencies to appeal to the affected parties before adopting new policies. Legislative check on Bureaucracy.






34. The expansion of cable and satellite tv has _________________ the president's power to influence public opinion.






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






36. 6 In the view of Robert L. Lineberry - policy analysts focus on the _______________.






37. Considered the most sacred right in American history. Colonists felt oppressed by the tyranny of the crown but were unable to speak up about it for fear of repercussion.






38. In charge of state's legal business. provide advice to other state official and represents the state in court if the state is involved in a lawsuit






39. These dissenting Republicans won 17% of the popular vote in 1924 on a platform for public control of national resources and railways - tax reductions - and changes to the staff of the executive department

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40. 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






41. These courts only hear appeals on cases from lower courts.






42. An official document - published every weekday - which lists the new and proposed regulations of executive departments and regulatory agencies.






43. A legislative leader of each party who is responsible for rounding up party members for important votes.






44. The net balance or relationship between total income and total expenditures by the nation in its dealings with the rest of the world - including trade - loans - and investments.






45. Important during the Revolution - these bodies organized by the local governments of the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolution for the purposes of coordinating written communication outside of the colony.






46. Southern whites prevented blacks from ____________ through use of poll taxes - literacy tests and intimidation tactics after the Civil War.






47. In an election with more than 2 options - the number of votes for the candidate or party receiving the greatest number - but less that half of the votes.






48. A system of voter registration in which voters must register every year or at other stated intervals.






49. 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






50. During Presidential election years or when the nation is divided on policy agenda - particularly regarding salient issues - voter turnout is _____________