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. Powers specifically outlined in the Constitution as assigned to one branch of government.






2. Political commercials that strongly attack a rival candidate.






3. Control of a market by a single company.






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






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






6. While these voters have traditionally supported the Democrats - some have begun to support Republicans in light of the Democrats liberal policies on abortion.






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






8. The Supreme Court holds _____________ jurisdiction in cases against the US - ambassadors - public ministers - and consuls.






9. Colonies controlled by the British king through governors appointed by him and through the king's veto power over colonial laws.






10. Under this governing document - national government lacked authority to set up tariffs - regulate commerce - levy taxes - control international relations - establish common currency






11. Legislature bills that affect only a small group of citizens.






12. These voters tend to have a high voter turnout because of their strong since of civic duty due to growing up during an era of political and civil unrest.






13. Several Presidents have been elected without winning the popular vote. As a result - In 1970 and 1979 - Amendments were proposed to disband the ______________ - neither passed.






14. International agreements between the president and foreign heads of state that - unlike treaties - do not require Senate approval.






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






16. A federal law passed by Congress in 1939 to restrict political activities by federal workers. The law prevents federal employees while on duty from taking an active part in party politics or campaigns and also bars federal employees from running for






17. The European political philosophers whose writings influenced the concepts of liberty and government contained in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution belonged to the intellectual and cultural movement known as






18. 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.






19. According to V. O. Key - Jr. - the Populist Party of the 1890s is an example of a ____________________.






20. This was amended in 1985 to prohibit vote dilution without requiring the proof of discriminatory purpose demanded by the original Act.






21. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






22. These courts only hear appeals on cases from lower courts.






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






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






25. Belief in the value of strong government to provide economic secruity and protection for civil rights - combined with a belief in personal freedom from government intervention in social conduct






26. The expansion of cable and satellite tv has _________________ the president's power to influence public opinion.






27. A tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals and present them to a candidate or political party as a 'bundle -' thus increasing the PAC's influence.






28. The overall public has a ___________ view of PACS in terms of bought votes and adding to the cost of running for office






29. The drawing of the lines of congressional districts - or of any other political district - in order to favor one political party or group over another.






30. A group of high-level administrators and managers at the top of the government bureaucracy. SES members have less job tenure but are eligible for substantial cash bonuses for merit.






31. An offical who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator






32. The philosophy that government should intervene as little as possible in economic affairs.






33. Individual contributions to PACs are limited to ______________ dollars per candidate per election with primaries - general and special elections counting separately.






34. 3 person executive panel responsible for helping the President develop an economic plan for the nation.






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






36. The net balance or relationship between total income and total expenditures by the nation in its dealings with the rest of the world - including trade - loans - and investments.






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






38. Tips the balance between two leading candidates by attracting a minority of voters who otherwise might have voted for one of the leading candidates.






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






40. A public policy that takes something away from one person or group and gives it to another person or group.






41. Formerly known as the Anti-Federalist - this party lead by Thomas Jefferson advocated states rights pressing the causes of the common people and agrarian interest. Dominated the political arena until the Civil War.






42. Spending by the national committees of the political parties to support the election of congressional candidates is known as






43. The power of the president - struck down by the Supreme Court in 1998 - to veto parts of appropriations bills. Most state governors have this power.






44. In 1943 - The Supreme Court upheld the Jehovah's Witnesses right to refrain from saluting the American flag based on their right to _____________.






45. During the period from 1976 to 1824 - This party was lead by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. They wanted a stronger national government that would rectify the pitfalls of the Articles of Confederation. Their supporters held a stronghold in New






46. In Congress - _____________ are informal organizations of individual congressional representatives with like interests or constituencies. Members work together to promote the interests of the groups they represent through legislation - policy - and p






47. Laws must be administered in a fair manner.






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






49. Plan that proposed bicameral legislature where states were to have representation based on size in both houses.






50. 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.