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. 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.






2. 3 person executive panel responsible for helping the President develop an economic plan for the nation.






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






4. Baby boomers - women - and voters with higher levels of education tend to have a ____________ voter turnout.






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






6. Minor criminal offenses - such as speeding.






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






8. The House appropriations committee has ___ subcommittees.






9. Laws passed by state legislatures that are designed to protect reporters from being forced to reveal their news sources.






10. Government regulation of the economy through its control over taxes and government spending. Controlled by the Department of Treasury.






11. This category of interest groups has been the strongest and most effective in lobbying Washington






12. 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.






13. A term often used to describe the economic and political ties between the military establishment and the defense-aerospace industry.






14. Established by President Hoover - It is the _______________ job to keep the press informed and orchestrate press conferences






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






16. 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.






17. Loose - competitive relationships among policy experts - interest groups - congressional committees - and federal agencies. Many observers argue that these have replaced iron triangles.






18. The yearly value of goods and services produced within a country.






19. The power to tax is an example of _______________ powers.






20. An extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion






21. A federal program established in 1965 to provide hospital and medical services to older people through the Social Security system.






22. The kinds of cases that a court has the authority to decide.






23. The term most political scientists prefer to describe the bureaucratic process






24. Colonies in which the proprietors (who had obtained their patents from the king) named the governors - subject to the king's approval.






25. Contacts - coalitions - and interactions across national boundaries






26. This 1932 case established that a case can be too speedy and under-counseled - providing defendants in a capital case the right to a reasonable amount of time to establish a defense.






27. The vote cast by a person who does not like either candidate and so votes for the less objectionable of the two - putting a clothespin over his nose to keep out the unpleasant stench






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






29. Washington v. Chrisman (1982) established the _________________ - allowing police officers to seize evidence without a warrant if the evidence is in obvious sight.






30. If 10 days remain in session and the president does not sign an act of Congress - the law is ___________.






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






32. David R. Mayhew has suggested that this influences congressional behavior. The ________________ is the relationship between members of Congress and their constituents.






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






34. PACs may donate a ______________ amount of indirect or in-kind donations to a campaign. (Ex. placing ads to support their candidate)






35. James Madison proposed to deal with the threat of political factions by ______________________.






36. Agencies that were at one time semi-autonomous but that through legislation have been placed under presidential control since 1945.






37. Term limit for House of Representatives.






38. Bills passed by Congress to pay for the spending it has authorized.






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






40. 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.






41. 14th Amendment is often used to support the right to ____________.






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






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






44. Legislative house whose members were intended to represent the people.






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






46. The expression of attitudes about government and politics.






47. Government regulation of the economy through its control over the supply of money and the cost and availability of credit. Controlled by the Federal Reserve Board.






48. Formal approval or consent given to a constitution - constitutional amendment - or treaty before it goes into effect.






49. The President's role in the armed forces which during the 20th century has allowed Presidents to circumvent Congress' refusal to declare war.






50. 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.