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. 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






2. ____________ often influence political appointments in an effort to influence bureaucracy.






3. The 1896 case of Plessy v. Fergusan established the racial segregation policy of __________________.






4. Guarantees that an accused in innocent until proven guilty.






5. Which committee assignments would confer the most power and influence on members of the Senate?






6. A method of amending state constitutions under which proposed constitutional amendments can be placed on the ballot if enough signatures are obtained on a petition. Almost half the states also employ the initiative on the ballot to allow voters to en






7. A group of high-level administrators and managers at the top of the government bureaucracy. SES members have less job tenure but are eligible for substantial cash bonuses for merit.






8. The sum of the goals - decisions - and actions that govern a nation's relations with the rest of the world.






9. Plan that proposed unicameral legislature with each state having one vote.






10. The state officer typically responsible for overseeing federal elections at the state level is the






11. An economic philosophy that advocates both tax and budget cuts to increase incentives to produce in order to expand the total supply of the nation's goods and services.






12. The relationship between the total cost of foreign goods imported to this country and sales of U.S. products overseas.






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






14. Form of government in which the people are sovereign but their power is exercised by their elected representatives.






15. Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people






16. This called for three-fifths of all slaves in a state were counted for purposes of apportioning representation in the House of Representatives.






17. Formed as a third party on the issue of slavery by many former Whigs in the 1850's. Anti-slavery platform. Supported by farmers - laborers - and newly-freed blacks.






18. In presidential campaigns - federal matching funds are provided to candidates who ______________.






19. Powers of government exercised independently by both the federal and state governments - such as the power to tax.






20. Compromise between the large states and small states that established the bicameral Legislature consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives. Also included 3/5 compromise on the status of slaves in representation.






21. Presidential management model requiring the President to have strong leadership skills and a keen eye for detail. FDR and JFK were well known for this style of leadership.






22. 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






23. Petition that - if signed by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives - will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration






24. An economic system of free enterprise with private ownership of the means of production.






25. The 19th Century __________ party platform was opposed to the spread of slavery - promoted preservation of the union - supported the abolition of slavery - and promoted post civil was reconstruction.






26. This term refers to the gain in the polls that a candidate often enjoys after a national convention






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






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






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






30. This influential English document signed by King John in 1215 limited the absolute power of the monarchy - established due process - and limited arbitrary seizure of property.






31. A judicial opinion agreed to by a majority of the members of a court. A majority opinion sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision.






32. Voters in a political district - or supporters of an elected official; or interest groups or client groups that are either directly regulated by the bureaucracy or vitally affected by its decisions.






33. 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.






34. Political theorist proposed the separation of church and state.






35. A group of writers - journalists - and critics who exposed corporate malfeasance and political corruption in the first decade of the 20th century.






36. Prompted by the ____________________ - the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.






37. 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.






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






39. Legislature bills that affect all citizens.






40. Define US Citizenship as any person born or naturalized in the United States.






41. 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






42. Federal and State Courts function in a _____________manner so that federal courts may receive appeals from state courts.






43. Cabinet department responsible for collective bargaining and union activity. Established in 1913






44. Law enacted in 1939 to prohibit civil servants from taking activists roles in partisan campaigns .This act prohibited federal employees from making political contributions - working for a particualr party -or campaining for a particualr canidate






45. 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.






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






47. Senators are re-elected every ___ years with 1/3 of the Senate being up for election every 2 years.






48. Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.






49. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments provide for _____________.






50. In the Federalist Papers - James Madison proposed that the states under the new Constitution would retain ____________ sovereignty.