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 Supreme Court has ruled that Congress_________________ take away a person's citizenship unless it is freely renounced.






2. The uprising of farmers angered by crushing debt and taxes that revealed the failure of the Articles of Confederation.

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


3. Executive Check on the Legislative Branch.






4. Independent agencies governed by an appointed and confirmed commission. Examples include the Food and Drug Administration - Environmental Protection Agency - and the Securities and Exchange Commission.






5. Each Senate committee may have ________ subcommittees.






6. Representing - characterized by - or including members from two parties or factions






7. A policy adopted by the United States after the Second World War that assumed that if enough nuclear weapons were deployed by the United States - an enemy would not attack for fear of being destroyed in retaliation.






8. The Supreme Court has sometimes used a narrow interpretation of the Establishment Clause allowing the government to provide aid to religious groups as long as it remains ______________ and does not promote one religion at the expense of another. This






9. 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






10. 1798 Act that criminalized speech that was derisive to the government. Later ruled unconstitutional - Andrew Jackson issued blanket pardon in 1801






11. Proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 as an attempt to form a union of the colonies. Later used to help form the Articles of Confederation.






12. The 23rd Amendment guaranteed voting rights to whom?






13. This 1932 case established that a case can be too speedy and under-counseled - providing defendants in a capital case the right to a reasonable amount of time to establish a defense.






14. The president - the vice president - the heads of the major executive departments of the government - and certain other senior officials who may hold 'cabinet rank.'






15. The spread of nuclear weapons to new nations






16. After a bill is assigned to a committee - the next step is typically a ______________.






17. In the area of foreign affairs - _______________ often have the advantage because






18. Political party lead by Andrew Jackson from 1828 to 1856. Campaigned against strong central government and fought to end elitism.






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






20. The absent colony at the 2nd Continental Congress.






21. This controversial clause of the 9th Amendment has allowed government to expand rights to suit its needs.






22. Decides which bills will be considered.






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






24. A form of city government under which power is divided between a mayor and an elected city council.






25. The 1st Amendment states that government cannot issue ______________ - censoring publications before they are published.






26. The Supreme Court is the only judicial body that may hear disputes between _________________.






27. 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






28. As part of the negotiations concerning the Constitution - the South fought for and won an agreement forbidding the imposition of _______________.






29. Freedoms that protect the individual from the government.






30. Elects the President if no candidate receives 270 Electoral College votes.






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






32. Federal categorical grants in which the granting agency has less discretion over how the recipient spends the money.






33. Presides over the Senate without voting privileges except in the case of a tie.






34. Established national income tax.






35. 14th Amendment is often used to support the right to ____________.






36. States that states may draw reasonable distinctions between the rights of residents and non-residents (ex. In state and out of state tuition)






37. Which historical figure described democracy as 'the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time?'






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






39. These voters tend to have a high voter turnout because of their strong since of civic duty due to growing up during an era of political and civil unrest.






40. Protects against unreasonable search and seizure.






41. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






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






43. 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.






44. Federal laws limit the amount of ___________ that can be donated directly to campaign coffers.






45. A course of action decided upon by a government






46. Th joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the twelfth amendment






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






48. Legislative house responsible for impeachment trials.






49. A federal tax on imports.






50. In California v. Avecedo (1991) - The Supreme Court established that authorities may search ____________________ without a warrant providing reasonable suspicion.