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 1943 - The Supreme Court upheld the Jehovah's Witnesses right to refrain from saluting the American flag based on their right to _____________.






2. The coming to power of a new coalition - replacing an old dominant coalition of the other party






3. Also known as the Massachusetts ballot - groups candidates according to the office for which they are running






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






5. The Supremacy Clause appears in ________________ of the Constitution.






6. Judicial Check on Legislative Branch. Not specifically outlined in the Constitution - but established in the case of Marbury v. Madison through the application of the Supremacy Clause in Article VI.






7. A provision of law in which Congress asserts the power to nullify actions of the executive branch. In 1983 the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional - but Congress continued to pass laws containing such provisions.






8. Which two British Acts - passed in 1764 - caused American colonists for the first time to organize protests against the injustices of British rule - and sparked the rallying cry 'no taxation without representation'?






9. A system in which the power to govern is shared between national and state governments






10. A course of action decided upon by a government






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






12. 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.






13. Germany - Switzerland - and India are examples of countries with a _______________ system of government.






14. Powerful standing committee that puts bills on the legislative calendar and establishes the processes by which the bill will be discussed on the floor.






15. After analyzing 1 -795 platform pledges over a 10-year period - Gerald M. Pomper concluded that almost ____________ of these promises were fulfilled






16. Requests from people or groups for health care for the aged - loans for college students - equal opportunity for minorities - and higher subsidies for farmers are examples of:






17. A system in which national and state governments are competitors with distinct powers. This system was prominent in the US from the during the 19th century until 1937.






18. First Executive Branch






19. The Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 restructured the number of ______________ in both the House and Senate.






20. First proposed in 1789 - this amendment passed in 1992 prohibits Congress from raising their own pay. Pay raises may not take affect until the beginning of the next term.






21. The practice that allows senators to delay or even kill floor action on legislation - a nomination - or other matters by asking their party leaders not to schedule them.






22. 1798 Act that criminalized speech that was derisive to the government. Later ruled unconstitutional - Andrew Jackson issued blanket pardon in 1801






23. 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.






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






25. A word that comes from two Greek roots - demos - 'the populace -' and kratia - 'rule'






26. Responsible for further investigation - hearings - and amendment to a bill






27. According to the Constitution - the electors in the Electoral College shall be appointed in a manner to be determined by the






28. A test established by Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes - Jr. - in 1919 to define the point at which speech loses the protection of the First Amendment.






29. 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.






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






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






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






33. 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






34. Approximately 33% of American voters identify themselves as _______________ party.






35. ________ of voters identify with one political party in advance of the campaign.






36. Grants that an accused may not be held in custody without charge - literally 'You shall have the body'.






37. 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.






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






39. Included are Ways and Means - Veteran's Affairs - Transportation and Infrastructure - Standards of Official Conduct - Small Business - Science - Judiciary - Rules - Resources - Oversight of Government Reform - House Administration - Homeland Security






40. Guaranteed women the right to vote.






41. When the President's own party gains power and influence - it more puts pressure on the President to conform to the will of the party - leading to________________ between the President and the party to define their public identities






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






43. Love of country and a desire for independence; it can also mean an excessive form of patriotism exploited by political leaders.






44. Libel - obscenity - fighting words - and commercial speech - which are not entitled to constitutional protection in all circumstances.






45. Constitutional Article that establishes the Judicial Branch.






46. The pursuit and exercise of power.






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






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






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






50. In the last 30 years - voter turnout among American 18- to 24-year-olds has been