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. By far - the largest amount of federal aid to state and local governments comes in the form of:






2. The expression of attitudes about government and politics.






3. Philosopher John Locke - in his 1690 work Civil Government (second treatise) - advised separation of government power between






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






5. The Jacksonian Era marked an important change in the process used to nominate Presidential candidates with the emergence of party _________________ - eliminating caucuses.






6. There is an _____________ relationship between Presidential approval ratings and unemployment.






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






8. The president - the vice president - the heads of the major executive departments of the government - and certain other senior officials who may hold 'cabinet rank.'






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






10. Executive office responsible for negotiating trade with foreign powers.






11. Cabinet department oversees nuclear reactors.Established in 1973 in response to the Energy Crisis.






12. This customary power allows the President to grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses.






13. Court cases that involve relations between individuals and organizations - such as a divorce action - or a suit for damages arising from an automobile accident or for violation of a business contract.






14. A coherent set of beliefs about politics - public policy - and public purpose. It helps give meaning to political event - personalities - and policies.






15. State legislation designed to outlaw the union shop - passed by 21 states acting under Section 14B of the federal Taft-Hartley Act.






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






17. Constitutionally empowered to appoint judges - ambassadors - and other high officials - Constitutionally empowered to make treaties with foreign countries.






18. A relaxation of international tensions.






19. There are 11 circuit ____________________ who have no original jurisdiction.






20. The term 'Reagan Democrats' has become a generic term for






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






22. Contacts - coalitions - and interactions across national boundaries






23. 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.






24. Its the responsibility of ___________ committees of a political party to solidify the party within each state and organize primary elections






25. A federal tax on imports.






26. A system of _______________ - as in Italy - encourages the existence of many parties by allotting seats to competing candidates according to the percentage of votes they win.






27. Finding that enough evidence exists to warrant a criminal trial.






28. Infamous 1735 English case established the precedent for Freedom of the Press in the US.






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






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






31. _____ out of 9 justices must agree to hear an appellate case brought to them from a lower court.






32. The binding decisions that the government makes whether in the form of laws -regulations - or judicial decisions






33. Polls taken as people leave voting places. In the past - television networks sometimes used these polls to predict election outcomes before the polls close. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to project the winner in a state until the major






34. Presides over any impeachment trial.






35. Lawsuit brought by an individual or group of people on behalf of all those similarly situated






36. Disapproval of a bill by a chief executive - such as the president or a governor.






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






38. Between conventions - the governing body of a major political party. Members of this group are chosen in the states and formally elected by the party






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






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






41. Cabinet department responsible for regulating and promoting trade and maintaining the census Established in 1913..






42. Representing - characterized by - or including members from two parties or factions






43. The rules and regulations made and applied by federal regulatory agencies and commissions.






44. The strongest factor contributing to an individual's political socialization tends to be






45. 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






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






47. Article VI - Paragraph 2 - of the Constitution - which declares that the Constitution - and the laws and treaties of the United States made under it - are 'the supreme Law of the Land' and prevail over any conflicting state constitutions or laws.






48. Number of years a President must reside in the US prior to taking office






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






50. An interest group organization that represents a specific group of people (Ex. NAACP - AARP)