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. Legislative house responsible for impeachment trials.






2. First Executive Branch






3. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to release these until a majority of polling places had closed in each state






4. The proceeding before a judge in which the formal charges of an indictment or information are read to an accused person - who may plead guilty or not guilty.






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






6. Cabinet department that includes the FAA and the National Hwy Traffic Safety Administration. Established in 1966.






7. The view advocated by Supreme Court Justices Hugo Black and William O. Douglas that there are provisions of the Bill of Rights that cannot be diluted by judicial decisions.






8. Court cases that concern crimes committed against the public order.






9. 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.






10. Special courts assigned to deal with specific legislative issues such as taxes - military appeals - and international trade.






11. 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.






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






13. ____________________ define Congressional voting districts acting within constraints set down by Congress and the Supreme Court.






14. Literally meaning 'right of soil' - confers citizenship by place of birth.






15. The appropriation of government spending for projects that are intended primarily to benefit particular constituents - such as those in marginal seats or campaign contributors.






16. Colonies in which the proprietors (who had obtained their patents from the king) named the governors - subject to the king's approval.






17. The spread of nuclear weapons to new nations






18. Freedoms that protect the individual from the government.






19. Agencies that were at one time semi-autonomous but that through legislation have been placed under presidential control since 1945.






20. Organization of individuals with similar policy goals who enter the political process to influence legislation that affects the organizations interests






21. In the mid-term elections following a President's inauguration - his party tends to ___________ seats in Congress.






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






23. Judicial Check on Legislative Branch. Not specifically outlined in the Constitution - but established in the case of Marbury v. Madison through the application of the Supremacy Clause in Article VI.






24. An annual meeting held in the spring in many New England towns - at which the townspeople come together to elect a board of selectmen and to discuss local policy questions. It has become a symbol of participatory democracy.






25. A system - until modified and reformed in the 1970s - that automatically resulted in the selection as committee chair of those members of the majority party in Congress who had the longest continuous service on a committee.






26. Most Americans support ______________ primarily as part of their criticism of PACs






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






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






29. The 1892 platform of the Populist party repudiating laissez-faire and demanding economic and political reform






30. A group of people - chosen by poll-takers - that is representative of the universe that is being polled.






31. New Jersey v. TLO (1985) established that school authorities may search students without _____________ as long as they are reasonable.






32. Constitutional protection of the accused to not be tried for the same crime twice.






33. 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






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






35. Practice by which voters of one party crossing over and voting in the primary of another party - effectively allowing a party to help choose its opposition's candidate.






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






37. Walter DeVries and Lance Tarrance have concluded that in many elections the outcome is determined by ______________.






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






39. The response of the rest of society to actions by the authorities.






40. A course of action chosen by government officials






41. Government regulation of the economy through its control over the supply of money and the cost and availability of credit. Controlled by the Federal Reserve Board.






42. Loose - competitive relationships among policy experts - interest groups - congressional committees - and federal agencies. Many observers argue that these have replaced iron triangles.






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






44. These voters are registered as a party member but only participate by voting in primary and general elections. Tend to vote straight-party ticket and follow the leads of local party officials.






45. The way things should be by law






46. Term limit for House of Representatives.






47. A test established by Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes - Jr. - in 1919 to define the point at which speech loses the protection of the First Amendment.






48. Federal and State Courts function in a _____________manner so that federal courts may receive appeals from state courts.






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






50. These two Senate standing committees have existed - largely unchanged - since 1816.