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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 fundamental rights of a free society that are protected by the Bill of Rights against the power of the government - such as freedom of speech - religion - press - and assembly.






2. The principle of civilian control of the military - based on the clear constitutional power of the president as supreme commander of the armed forces.






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






4. The total amount of money that the United States owes to its creditors.






5. A method available in most states that allows voters - in effect - to 'veto' a bill passed by the legislature or to accept or reject a proposal - such as a bond issue - made by a government agency.






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






7. The spread of nuclear weapons to new nations






8. The attitudes and actions of people that sustain and buttress the political system at all levels and allows the political system to continue to work.






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






10. Guarantees that any rights not explicitly outlined heretofore are reserved for the states.






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






12. This body of government has final authority on the meaning of the Constitution.






13. Responsible for determining which bills will be considered on the House floor - and when they will be considered.






14. Executive Check on the Legislative Branch.






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






16. This rule established by US v. Leon (1984) angered civil liberties groups by allowing exception to the Exclusionary Rule in instances where probably cause may not fully exist.






17. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to release these until a majority of polling places had closed in each state






18. The responsibility of the President to appoint federal judges when vacancies occur on the bench is referred to as






19. 14th Amendment is often used to support the right to ____________.






20. 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






21. A technique polling organizations use in which several people from the same neighborhood are interviewed.






22. Tests of a voter's ability to read and write - which were often used to keep recent immigrants and blacks from voting.






23. Capital punishment is also known as the _________________.






24. Senators have a __________ rate of re-election than Representatives primarily because of their larger constituency and lack of direct involvement with them.






25. Laws on Schools - Marriage - and owning property;Licensee Lawyers - Doctors - and Teachers.






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






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






28. The most important committees - always assembled and delegated with the responsibility of handling all bills under their concern. Includes the Ways and Means - Appropriations - Budget - Rules and Agriculture Committees.






29. According to one survey - what percentage of Americans belongs to groups that sometimes take a stand on public issues






30. In 2002 - a federal appeals court struck down the Pledge of Allegiance on the grounds that it violated ________________.






31. 'lame duck' amendment






32. In a political campaign - the surest way of reaching the largest number of voters is usually _____________.






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






34. A form of city government under which a board of city commissioners is popularly elected (often on a nonpartisan ballot). The commissioners make policy as a city council - but they also run city departments as administrators.






35. Things government decides to do - example: taxation - crime control - national defense - education - etc.






36. Spending determined by the number of qualified recipients and their legally determined need is called






37. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






38. _____________ is responsible for monetary policy.






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






40. 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.






41. Congress' first step towards allocating funds






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






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






44. 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






45. This clause of the 1st amendment establishes a 'wall of separation' between church and state.






46. _____________ was the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in controlling New York City politics and helping immigrants (most notably the Irish) rise up in American politics from the 1790s to the 1960s.






47. 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.






48. To negotiate a complex and politically sensitive trade treaty - a President will often






49. 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.






50. The right to renounce one's citizenship.






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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