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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. The yearly value of goods and services produced within a country.






2. Petition that - if signed by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives - will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration






3. 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






4. Provisions tacked on to a piece of legislation that are not relevant to the bill.






5. Defamation by written or printed words - pictures - or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures.






6. _____ out of 9 justices must agree to hear an appellate case brought to them from a lower court.






7. Elections that may lead to a basic shift in the party identification of the electorate.






8. The amount of money available when the government's income is greater than what it spends in a fiscal year.






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






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






11. 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.






12. Responsible for assigning bills to committee in the Senate.






13. In addition to the doctrine of implied powers - Chief Justice Marshall - in his decision in the Supreme Court case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - established the key concept of:






14. An economy in which most economic decisions result from the interaction of buyers and sellers in markets - but in which the government plays a significant role in the allocation of resources.






15. Act of exchanging favors for mutual gain






16. A method available in most states that allows voters - in effect - to 'veto' a bill passed by the legislature or to accept or reject a proposal - such as a bond issue - made by a government agency.






17. A meeting of party leaders to select candidates - elect convention delegates - etc






18. Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Congress authorized and appropriated.






19. A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.






20. In a political campaign - the surest way of reaching the largest number of voters is usually _____________.






21. An act of legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them without benefit of a trial. Constitutionally prohibited.






22. According to the Speedy Trial Act of 1974 - federal trials must commence within _______ days of arrest with the exception of delay for mental health testing of the defendant and illness of the defendant or key witness.






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






24. Considered the most sacred right in American history. Colonists felt oppressed by the tyranny of the crown but were unable to speak up about it for fear of repercussion.






25. A centralized system of government - such as that of France - where most of the important policy decisions are made by a central government.






26. Executive office responsible for helping the President write the federal budget and monitoring federal spending.






27. 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.






28. David R. Mayhew has suggested that this influences congressional behavior. The ________________ is the relationship between members of Congress and their constituents.






29. The head of a national political party






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






31. A system in which the national government sets requirements that are then implemented by state and local governments.






32. A provision of the Federal Communications Act that requires broadcasters to provide the same amount of exposure to all legally qualified political candidates.






33. A political candidate who is thought to have only an outside chance of gaining the nomination.






34. Included are Ways and Means - Veteran's Affairs - Transportation and Infrastructure - Standards of Official Conduct - Small Business - Science - Judiciary - Rules - Resources - Oversight of Government Reform - House Administration - Homeland Security






35. The practice under which victorious politicians reward their followers with jobs.






36. Requires reporting of financial information by companies with publicly traded securities






37. When the population's overall feeling of political efficacy is low - voter turnout is _______.






38. Urban or rural areas in which businesses are encouraged to locate because of tax breaks and other incentives.






39. 'lame duck' amendment






40. The gap between the government's income and outlays.






41. A legislature with only one house.






42. Lead by Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. Dedicated to defending federal authority and high tariffs. Gained supports of merchants - bankers - industrialists and planters.






43. Today the Senate operates with ____ standing and select committees. These select committees - however - are permanent in nature and are treated as standing committees under Senate rules.






44. Once the Supreme Court justices have agreed to hear an appeal - they issue a _________________.






45. Number of current cabinet positions under GW Bush.






46. Proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 as an attempt to form a union of the colonies. Later used to help form the Articles of Confederation.






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






48. Tests of a voter's ability to read and write - which were often used to keep recent immigrants and blacks from voting.






49. Bills passed by Congress to pay for the spending it has authorized.






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







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