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






2. What occurs when government adopts a public policy that provides - or distributes - benefits to people or groups.






3. The separation of people by race.






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






5. In Johnson v. Texas (1989) - the Supreme Court ruled that burning the flag in a manner that does not pose a threat to people or property is allowed as this type of freedom of speech.






6. The absent colony at the 2nd Continental Congress.






7. A public assistance program established in 1965 to help pay hospital - doctor - and medical bills for people with low incomes.






8. Voters in a political district - or supporters of an elected official; or interest groups or client groups that are either directly regulated by the bureaucracy or vitally affected by its decisions.






9. A written opinion by some of the judges of a court which agrees with the majority of the court but might arrive there in a different manner.






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






11. The Jacksonian Era marked an important change in the process used to nominate Presidential candidates with the emergence of party _________________ - eliminating caucuses.






12. The Supreme Court practice of applying most of the provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states under the 14th Amendment.






13. A political group organized under section 527 of the IRS code that may accept and spend unlimited amounts of money on election activities so long as they are not spent on broadcast ads run in the last 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a gene






14. The president - the vice president - the heads of the major executive departments of the government - and certain other senior officials who may hold 'cabinet rank.'






15. In _______________ cases such as Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978) - the Supreme Court has upheld that while Affirmative action policies are legal - race and gender cannot be the only determining factors.






16. Law enacted by Congress - or by state legislatures or local legislative bodies.






17. In the Federalist Papers - James Madison proposed that the states under the new Constitution would retain ____________ sovereignty.






18. Number of original cabinet positions under George Washington.






19. Members of this party typically include women who support liberal policies on abortion and equal pay - Jews - Catholics - Blacks and other minorities - Blue-collar working class - urban - labor unions - and intelligensia






20. President Hoover's laissez-faire approach to the economy during the Great Depression left many poor voters disenfranchised by the Republican Party. They left to join the _______________ Party.






21. 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 _____________.






22. Author of The Spirit of the Laws advocating balance of power in politics with liberty is dependant upon a separation of the judicial - legislative - and executive branches of government.






23. Political strategists believe that presidential elections will normally be won or lost in _______________states.






24. The binding decisions that the government makes whether in the form of laws -regulations - or judicial decisions






25. These candidates win re-election to the House 80-90% of the time.






26. _____________ 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.






27. Prohibits conviction of a crime that occurred before the act became illegal






28. Guarantees the right to bare arms.






29. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and cooperate.






30. The power of some municipalities to modify their charters and run their affairs without approval by the state legislature.






31. Age Requirement for the Senate






32. Lead by Theodore Roosevelt - this party platform focused on women's suffrage - social reform - fair business practices - and direct election of senators. The won 25% of the popular vote in 1911 - splitting the Republican vote and allowing Democrat Wo






33. First Roman Catholic elected President.






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






35. Legislative house responsible for impeachment trials.






36. Disapproval of a bill by a chief executive - such as the president or a governor.






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






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






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






40. To negotiate a complex and politically sensitive trade treaty - a President will often






41. 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.






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






43. Congress' first step towards allocating funds






44. Groups named for the section of the Internal Revenue Service code under which they must report their expenditures. The tax-exempt groups were created to exploit a loophole in the law regulating campaign finance.






45. Established the Federal Reserve Bank - responsible for conducting the nation's monetary policy - maintaining the stability of the financial system - supervising and regulating banking institutions - and protecting the credit rights of consumers - and






46. Article VI - Paragraph 2 - of the Constitution - which declares that the Constitution - and the laws and treaties of the United States made under it - are 'the supreme Law of the Land' and prevail over any conflicting state constitutions or laws.






47. The belief that all people possess certain basic rights that may not be abridged by government.






48. Largest interest group in the US.






49. _______________ indicates a citizens' faith and trust in government and their own belief that they can understand and influence political affairs






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







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