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. Programs mandated by law and not subject to annual review by Congress or the president.






2. The median income of women is ___________ percent of men.






3. The Democrats control over politics during the 20th century ended with this President's unpopular handling of the Vietnam War.






4. Guarantees that an accused in innocent until proven guilty.






5. 1798 Act that criminalized speech that was derisive to the government. Later ruled unconstitutional - Andrew Jackson issued blanket pardon in 1801






6. The period of time after the election of FDR until the Vietnam War was dominated by the Democratic Party and know as the __________________ Era.






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






8. The concentration of economic power in the hands of a relatively few large companies.






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






10. In WV State BOE v Barnette (1943) - the Supreme Court ruled that compelling citizens to salute the flag violates the principles of a free society - upholding which 1st Amendment rights?






11. An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted






12. Tax legislation must originate in this house.






13. In charge of all state funds. Supervises the collection of taxes and payment of state's bill






14. 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






15. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






16. Which branch has the power to stop an executive order?






17. Because there is no Senate Rules Committee - Senators can debate a bill for an _________________ time.






18. The single biggest item in campaign spending at the presidential level is ___________________.






19. Legislative house responsible for impeachment trials.






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






21. Freedoms that protect the individual from the government.






22. While the voting rights act of 1965 did direct the Attorney General to investigate the constitutionality of poll taxes and prohibit literacy tests - it did not expressly prohibit _____________.






23. 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.






24. 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.






25. Constitutional Article that establishes the Judicial Branch.






26. A broadly based coalition that attempts to gain control of the government by winning elections in order to exercise power and reward its members.






27. This 1967 Supreme Court case prohibited illegal eavesdropping and extending the zone of privacy to include the home - office - person - and immediate public arena.






28. The agency that provides Congress with evaluations of public policies is the






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






30. Largest interest group in the US.






31. The claim by presidents of an inherent right to withhold information from Congress and the judiciary.






32. First proposed in 1789 - this amendment passed in 1992 prohibits Congress from raising their own pay. Pay raises may not take affect until the beginning of the next term.






33. The framers of the Constitution created the Senate to function as a check on the ________________.






34. Form of obstruction in the Senate where an attempt is made to infinitely extend debate upon a proposal in order to delay the progress or completely prevent a vote on the proposal taking place.






35. An issue on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party or candidate with conditions - goals - or symbols the electorate universally approves or disapproves of. Examples of such issues are economic prosperi






36. The foreign policy of the United States during the period after the Second World War - designed to contain the expansion of Soviet power.






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






38. Presidential management model in which the Chief of Staff plays a prominent role as the head of a military style chain of command. Used successfully by Reagan and Eisenhower.






39. In the 1990 case OR State Employment Division v. Smith 1990 - the Supreme court allowed the state to fire employees who use peyote during native American religious ceremonies because it is in violation of drug laws. In this case - which clause of the






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






41. Gave authority over atomic energy from military to civilians.






42. Federal grants in which the recipient has little discretion over how the money is spent. The national government sets narrowly defined rules for use of funds and often requires the states or local governments to provide matching funds. These grants a






43. The body composed of electors from the 50 states who formally have the power to elect the president and vice president of the United States. Each state has a number of electors and electoral votes equal to its number of senators and representatives i






44. 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.






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






46. Something given in exchange for something else; swap






47. A primary in which any registered voter is able to vote for candidates from more than one party. A voter - for example - may vote for a Democrat for U.S. senator and for a Republican for governor. In 2000 - the Supreme Court struck down the blanket p






48. A vote in the House of Representatives in which the position of each member is noted and published in the Congressional Record.






49. A group of people who try to influence policy agendas and whose ultimate goal is to run the government by getting their favorite candidates elected.






50. The only amendments to be ratified through the process of 'ratifying conventions -' not a vote in the state legislatures