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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. Theory that a government requires the consent of the governed.






2. Age Requirement for House of Representatives.






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






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






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






6. The pursuit and exercise of power.






7. In Sweatt v. Painter (1950) - The Supreme Court upheld that ___________________ was inherently not the case as is applied to the University of Texas Law School.






8. The doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group






9. 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.






10. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over lawsuits filed against the agency.






11. Method by which federal court judges may lose their position.






12. A judicial opinion agreed to by a majority of the members of a court. A majority opinion sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision.






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






14. A form of city government under which a board of city commissioners is popularly elected (often on a nonpartisan ballot). The commissioners make policy as a city council - but they also run city departments as administrators.






15. Type of interest group represented in Washington by another individual or organization. (Ex. Ford Motor Company pays a lobbyist in Washington to represent them.)






16. A compulsory national insurance program - financed by taxes on employers and employees. The insurance falls into four categories: old-age and survivors insurance - disability insurance - Medicare - and unemployment insurance.






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






18. Redefined Presidential succession and disability.






19. A method of amending state constitutions under which proposed constitutional amendments can be placed on the ballot if enough signatures are obtained on a petition. Almost half the states also employ the initiative on the ballot to allow voters to en






20. This 1973 ruling gave local communities the authority to determine obscenity - established three part test for obscene material. To qualify as obscene - speech must be considered obscene by the 'average' person - depict or describe material that is a






21. The 15th Amendment - also know as _________________ - was intended to help recently freed blacks from unconstitutional state laws designed to circumvent federal laws.






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






23. Test whereby the Supreme Court established criteria by which state may provide aid to religious groups.






24. Legislative house whose membership was intended to represent the state.






25. In Schenck v. US (1919) - The Supreme Court ruled that government may prohibit speech that creates an immediate threat of criminal action. Essentially established different standards for speech during wartime than in peacetime. Thus - establishing th






26. The permanent committees of a legislature that consider bills and conduct hearings and investigations.






27. The only instance in which the government can prohibit religious activities






28. This Supreme Court case infamously decided that a slave was not a citizen but property to be 'used in subservience to the interests - the convenience - or the will of his owner'






29. The 5th amendment protect against _____________.






30. Guarantees that citizens cannot be compelled by the government to act in a way that is contrary to their religious beliefs. (ex. Conscientious objection to military service required by the draft is the execution of ______________)






31. The total group from which poll-takers may select a random sample in order to measure public opinion.






32. A law passed in 1966 that requires federal executive branch and regulatory agencies to make information available to journalists - scholars - and the public unless it falls into one of several confidential categories.






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






34. A court decision in an earlier case with facts and legal issues similar to a dispute currently before a court.






35. In the 1925 Gitlow case - the Supreme Court began a process of ______________ of the Bill of Rights to the states.






36. Head of the Supreme Court.






37. This influential English document refuted divine right of monarchy and made monarchs subject to laws and responsible for crimes






38. 1940 Act Prohibiting any person from advocating overthrowing the government through violence or force.






39. 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.






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






41. A relaxation of international tensions.






42. Love of country and a desire for independence; it can also mean an excessive form of patriotism exploited by political leaders.






43. _____________ was the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in controlling New York City politics and helping immigrants (most notably the Irish) rise up in American politics from the 1790s to the 1960s.






44. The average voter turnout between 1960 and 2004 was __________ percent






45. Corporations formed by the government to act as a business to produce a product or service. Often monopolies with varying degrees of independence.






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






47. Unwritten law based on custom and tradition.






48. 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.






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






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







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