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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. Prohibits citizens of one state or foreign country from suing another state.






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






3. The principle that the government - as provided in the Fifth Amendment - can take property for 'public use' with 'just compensation' to the owners.






4. 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.






5. An immigrant who wished to become a citizen may be naturalized after living in the US for ___ years.






6. 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






7. In Woodson v. North Carolina - the Supreme Court struck down mandatory sentencing of capital punishment as ______________________ because it does not allow for any discretion.






8. The principle - established by Chief Justice John Marshall in 1819 in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland - that the Constitution must be interpreted flexibly to meet changing conditions.






9. First Roman Catholic elected President.






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






11. Which committee assignments would confer the most power and influence on members of the Senate?






12. The Equal Rights Amendment was defeated in 1982 because ____________________________.






13. During the 1800's and early 1900's - some state and local party committees became ________________ dominating party activities. Committee members would promise new recruits money - jobs - and other benefits for joining and voting the straight party t






14. Signed the executive order banning segregation in the armed forces.






15. Define US Citizenship as any person born or naturalized in the United States.






16. A legal principle of fair dealing - which may provide preventive measures and legal remedies that are unavailable under existing common law and statutory law.






17. A term often used to describe the economic and political ties between the military establishment and the defense-aerospace industry.






18. Repealed by the 21st Amendment - this Amendment prohibited alcohol.






19. This article of the Constitution establishes the Executive Branch.






20. In some cases where blicity too much publicity surrounds a trial - courts have granted _______________ to help ensure a fair trial. One example is the trial of Timothy McVeigh for the Oklahoma City Bombing.






21. A world economy characterized by the free movement of goods - capital - labor - and information across national borders.






22. 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.






23. 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






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






25. Government regulation of the economy through its control over taxes and government spending. Controlled by the Department of Treasury.






26. Programs of government - universities - and businesses designed to favor minorities and remedy past discrimination.






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






28. A jury of 6 to 12 persons who determine guilt or innocence in a civil or criminal action






29. In this 1972 case - the Supreme Court established four guidelines for determining if a trial was appropriately speedy and fair: cause of delay - length of delay - affect on the outcome - and the defendant's claim to a speedy trial.






30. The Supreme Court holds _____________ jurisdiction in cases against the US - ambassadors - public ministers - and consuls.






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






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






33. Representing - characterized by - or including members from two parties or factions






34. The philosophy that government should intervene as little as possible in economic affairs.






35. 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.






36. In Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972) - the Supreme Court extended the right to counsel to those accused of misdemeanors if the defendant is _____________.






37. The introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution - setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words - 'We the people of the United States - in order to form a more perfect union. ...'






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






39. A controversial law overwhelmingly passed by Congress in October 2001 - after the terrorist attacks of September 11 on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It greatly expanded the power of federal law enforcement authorities to move against suspe






40. The policy established after the Second World War that America must take an active leadership role in world affairs






41. These parties often emerge as off-shoots of major parties or as single-issue parties. They typically act as critic/innovator bringing attention to issues and influencing the platforms of the major parties.






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






43. Year of the 2nd Continental Congress.






44. In addition to overseeing the activities of one or more federal agencies - a ___________________may also serve as the authorizing committee for federal agencies' programs and operations.






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






46. Polls taken as people leave voting places. In the past - television networks sometimes used these polls to predict election outcomes before the polls close. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to project the winner in a state until the major






47. Approximately 33% of American voters identify themselves as _______________ party.






48. A term popularized by sociologist Floyd Hunter to describe the community leaders who he said determined policy in Atlanta - Georgia. More broadly - the term is used to describe 'power elites' generally.






49. A group of writers - journalists - and critics who exposed corporate malfeasance and political corruption in the first decade of the 20th century.






50. A form of city government under which a council - usually elected on a nonpartisan ticket - hires a professional city manager - who runs the city government and has power to hire and fire officials.







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