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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. Smith v. Allwight (1994) was the first vase in which the Supreme Court upheld the voting rights of _____________ in state primary elections.






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






3. Wisconsin Republican who exploited public concern for political gain during the 1950's through freewheeling investigations of alleged Communists.






4. 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.






5. Between 1909 and 2002 - the number of daily newspapers in the United States______________.






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






7. Eisenhower's philosophy of being liberal in all things human and being conservative with all things fiscal. Appealed to both Republicans and Democrats.






8. While the verbiage of the 4th Amendment is vague as to what constitutes 'reasonable'. Police departments must rely on _____________; they cannot act on unfounded suspicion.






9. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments provide for _____________.






10. Number of Senators elected at large per state -






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






12. The right of the Supreme Court - under the Constitution - to hear certain kinds of cases directly - such as cases involving foreign diplomats - or cases in which one of the 50 states is a party.






13. Cabinet department responsible for insuring mortgages and providing housing subsidies. Established in 1965






14. Political party lead by Andrew Jackson from 1828 to 1856. Campaigned against strong central government and fought to end elitism.






15. Direct oral or written speech directed at a specific individual or group






16. Executive Check on the Legislative Branch.






17. A system in which national and state governments are competitors with distinct powers. This system was prominent in the US from the during the 19th century until 1937.






18. Federal grants in which the recipient has a lot of discretion over how the money is spent. These grants are issued in support of general government functions such as education and law enforcement.






19. 1798 Act that criminalized speech that was derisive to the government. Later ruled unconstitutional - Andrew Jackson issued blanket pardon in 1801






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






21. Cabinet department that includes the Coast Guard - Border Patrol - FEMA - Transportation Security Administration - INS and the Secret Service. Established in 2001 in response to 9/11.






22. 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






23. Elects the President if no candidate receives 270 Electoral College votes.






24. Serious crimes - such as murder - arson - or rape.






25. Unwritten law based on custom and tradition.






26. Also known as the Massachusetts ballot - groups candidates according to the office for which they are running






27. A policy of avoiding foreign involvement.






28. 1944 case established that as as long as a person accepted their beliefs in good faith that it is not the government's authority to determine whether those beliefs are valid.






29. The Medicaid and Food Stamp programs are examples of two very large






30. 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






31. 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.






32. Ruling by the Supreme Court in 1954 that racial segregation in public schools violates the Fourteenth Amendment's requirement of equal protection of the laws for all persons.






33. Federal categorical grants in which the granting agency has much discretion over how the recipient spends the money.






34. The ___________ aspects of Federalism include: diversity/diffusion of power - more access points for political participation - fostering of experimentation and innovation - and allowing local governments to manage local problems effectively






35. Number of justices of the Supreme Court.






36. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over the creation and elimination of agencies as well as its control over budget appropriations.






37. 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






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






39. ___________ vote in both the House and Senate may override a Presidential veto of legislation.






40. A jury of 6 to 12 persons who determine guilt or innocence in a civil or criminal action






41. Signed the executive order banning segregation in the armed forces.






42. Includes expressive conduct/assembly/actions and symbolic behavior (ex. Picketing or burning the flag) Based on our country history of symbolic acts such as the Boston Tea Party - courts almost always uphold symbolic acts of speech unless they are cr






43. States that states may draw reasonable distinctions between the rights of residents and non-residents (ex. In state and out of state tuition)






44. Presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President. Position awarded to the longest serving Senator from the majority party. 3rd in line of succession for the Presidency.






45. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was somewhat undermined by racist practices in the real estate market such as _____________ and ______________ - which continued illegally in many areas following passage of the Act.






46. Which form of registration prevails in all but a few states?






47. Authority based on an individual's outstanding traits - which attract followers






48. 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.






49. Constitutionally required address by the President typically given in a joint session of Congress.






50. Literally - a 'friend of the court' brief - filed by an individual or organization to present arguements in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case







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