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 Sweatt v. Painter (1950) - The Supreme Court upheld that ___________________ was inherently not the case as is applied to the University of Texas Law School.






2. In the 1964 case of ____________ - the Supreme Court: established 'one person - one vote' -






3. (1781-1789) The written framework for the government of the original 13 states before the Constitution was adopted. Under this - the national government was weak and dominated by the states. There was a unicameral legislature - but no national execut






4. Impact elections by siphoning off votes from major parties spoiling a party's chance in a close race.






5. Because there is no Senate Rules Committee - Senators can debate a bill for an _________________ time.






6. Requires the Electoral College to vote for President and Vice President separately.






7. 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.






8. 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.






9. States that arrestees must be informed of their right to remain silent - that anything they say can be held against them in a court - that they have a right to an attorney and that an attorney will be appointed to them if they cannot afford one.






10. Popular until the early 20th century when they lost favor to primaries due to corruption - now used in only 12 states.






11. 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.






12. A group of independent states or nations that come together for a common purpose and whose central authority is usually limited to defense and foreign relations.






13. The median income of women is ___________ percent of men.






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






15. The issue of slavery split the Democratic Party into what two factions?






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






17. The separation of people by race.






18. Law intended to promote free competition in the market place by outlawing monopolies






19. This author was highly influential on Thomas Jefferson - rejecting divine right - proposing that government is a social contract requiring the consent of the govern and establishing the concept of self-evident rights of life - liberty - and property.






20. Finding that enough evidence exists to warrant a criminal trial.






21. Age Requirement for the Senate






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






23. These party members tend to be ideologues who put issues ahead of winning elections and withhold support from candidates who do not share their stance on issues. Very active in special interest groups and caucuses within the party. Willing to break a






24. The practice of victorious politicians to reward their followers with jobs. Also known as the spoils system.






25. After the Vietnam war - American politics entered an era of __________________ during which neither party maintained control over the government.






26. The constitutional requirement (in article II - sec 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed - even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws






27. 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.






28. A written opinion by some of the judges of a court which agrees with the majority of the court but might arrive there in a different manner.






29. Number of original cabinet positions under George Washington.






30. Early civil rights leader established the Niagara Movement and helped to establish the NAACP.






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






32. Beginning with the election of Abraham Lincoln - the period between 1860 and the Great Depression was dominated by this political party.






33. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 required states in the covered jurisdiction to attain _________________ from the Attorney General before making changes to voting standards - practice - or procedure






34. Constitutionally required address by the President typically given in a joint session of Congress.






35. Year of the 2nd Continental Congress.






36. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over budget and appointments of leadership.






37. If significant amendments are made to a bill during committee - the bill is sometimes given a new number as a _______________.






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






39. While the verbiage of the 4th Amendment is vague as to what constitutes 'reasonable'. Police departments must rely on _____________; they cannot act on unfounded suspicion.






40. This influential English document refuted divine right of monarchy and made monarchs subject to laws and responsible for crimes






41. In Schenck v. US (1919) - The Supreme Court ruled that government may prohibit speech that creates an immediate threat of criminal action. Essentially established different standards for speech during wartime than in peacetime. Thus - establishing th






42. A public policy that takes something away from one person or group and gives it to another person or group.






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






44. This contraversial 2001 law allows anti-terrorism authorities to monitor e-mail and Internet traffic in order to prevent terrorist attacks. The government argues that cyberspace is public domain and that no warrants should be needed to access informa






45. Defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing - pictures






46. Decides which bills will be considered.






47. Between conventions - the governing body of a major political party. Members of this group are chosen in the states and formally elected by the party






48. Act of exchanging favors for mutual gain






49. In this essay - James Madison recognized that reconciling the competing interests of various groups was what legislation was all about






50. Leader of the House of Representatives - elected by the majority party. 2nd in line of succession for the Presidency.