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 tendency of presidents to lose support over time.






2. Cabinet positions must be ____________ by the Senate






3. The 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act banned contributions of soft money to______________.






4. An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted






5. A registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his own party affiliation. When voters do not register with a party before the primary - it is called a pick-a-party primary because the voter can select which party's primary he or she w






6. A close contest; by extension - any contest in which the focus is on who is ahead and how much rather than on substantive differences between the candidates.






7. Constitutional protection of the accused to not be tried for the same crime twice.






8. The concept that all people are of equal worth - even if not of equal ability.






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






10. A tax on voting abolished by the Twenty-fourth Amendment in 1964 - long used by southern states to keep blacks (and - in some cases - poor whites) from participating in elections.






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






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






13. Committees appointed for investigative or crisis situations.






14. The appropriation of government spending for projects that are intended primarily to benefit particular constituents - such as those in marginal seats or campaign contributors.






15. Most modern political scientists believe there is ________________ between politics and government.






16. Legislative opinions on a matter that do not require Presidential signature.






17. An issue on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party or candidate with conditions - goals - or symbols the electorate universally approves or disapproves of. Examples of such issues are economic prosperi






18. The separation of people by race.






19. Laws that were designed to segregate black and white Americans and give legal recognition to discrimination.






20. ________________ of the Constitution governs the relationships of the states.






21. This 1957 judgement prohibited pornography material as utterly without redeeming social significance - later reversed in Miller v. California






22. In Reynolds v. US (1879) - the Supreme Court denied this right to Reynolds because his religion's practice of polygamy violated federal law.






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






24. A broadly based coalition that attempts to gain control of the government by winning elections in order to exercise power and reward its members.






25. An economic system in which the factors of production are owned by the publicand operate for the welfare of all.






26. Although camera are allowed in most trial courts - they are banned from ______________.






27. A system in which the national government sets requirements that are then implemented by state and local governments.






28. 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






29. A provision of the Federal Communications Act that requires broadcasters to provide the same amount of exposure to all legally qualified political candidates.






30. The FCC's equal time policy applies to _____________.






31. These candidates win re-election to the House 80-90% of the time.






32. Urban or rural areas in which businesses are encouraged to locate because of tax breaks and other incentives.






33. The executive office established in response to intelligence lapses during WWI. Oversees American foreign policy and includes the President - Vice President - Secretary of State - Secretary of Defense and is lead by the National Security Advisor.






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






35. 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.






36. The fundamental flaw in plural theory contends that pluralism weakens the backbone of democracy with too many common interest groups attempt to wield power - often leading to standstill because of unwillingness to compromise.






37. A legal principle of fair dealing - which may provide preventive measures and legal remedies that are unavailable under existing common law and statutory law.






38. The possible tendency of some voters or convention delegates to support the candidate who is leading in the polls and seems likely to win.






39. Year of the 2nd Continental Congress.






40. Puerto Rico has ____________ status.






41. Department established in 1988 by President G.H. Bush.

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42. This amendment includes the due process clause - the equal protection clause - and gave rights to former slaves.






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






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






45. Programs of government - universities - and businesses designed to favor minorities and remedy past discrimination.






46. Agenda that includes issues that affect the daily lives of the people.






47. The introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution - setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words - 'We the people of the United States - in order to form a more perfect union. ...'






48. First African American appointed to the Supreme Court






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






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