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Test your basic knowledge |
CLEP American Government
Start Test
Study First
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 group of independent states or nations that come together for a common purpose and whose central authority is usually limited to defense and foreign relations.
Confederation
Public Bills
Impoundment
Liberalism
2. A writ designed to protect against illegal imprisonment by requiring that a person who is detained be brought before a judge for investigation.
Writ of Certiorari
12
17th
imprisoned
3. In the area of foreign affairs - _______________ often have the advantage because
Republicans
Hold
Public hearing
Offensive Language
4. In order to win support for ratification of the Constitution - the Federalists had to promise that the first order of business under a new government would be to _______________.
States
Budget Surplus
Enact a Bill of Rights
Interior
5. During the period from 1976 to 1824 - This party was lead by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. They wanted a stronger national government that would rectify the pitfalls of the Articles of Confederation. Their supporters held a stronghold in New
Electoral College
Little Difference
Federalist
Open rule
6. Direct oral or written speech directed at a specific individual or group
Dynamic Conservatism
Open
Dred Scott Decision
Pure Speech
7. Legislative house whose members were intended to represent the people.
Interior
House of Representatives
de jure
Hyperpluralism
8. The federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy)
Agriculture
Politics
Virginia Plan
Criminal Cases
9. 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.
Reverse Discrimination
Social Regulation
Capitalism
Transportation
10. California measure designed to deny welfare and other benefits to illegal aliens. Overwhelmingly passed the popular vote - but overturned in federal court because it extending beyond the bounds of state rights to attempt to control immigration.
Intelligence
Absolute Position
Safe seat
Proposition 187
11. Under this governing document - national government lacked authority to set up tariffs - regulate commerce - levy taxes - control international relations - establish common currency
Articles of Confederation
Judicial Activism
Republicans
Weber
12. 1944 case established that as as long as a person accepted their beliefs in good faith that it is not the government's authority to determine whether those beliefs are valid.
US v. Ballard
Closed
Lobbying
Instructed Delegate
13. New Jersey v. TLO (1985) established that school authorities may search students without _____________ as long as they are reasonable.
Popular Sovereignty
Ways and Means Committee
Probable Cause
Majority Rule
14. Laws passed by state legislatures that are designed to protect reporters from being forced to reveal their news sources.
Precedent
NY Times v. Sullivan
Shield Laws
Rhode Island
15. Cabinet department oversees nuclear reactors.Established in 1973 in response to the Energy Crisis.
Lower
unlimited
Energy
Flexible Construction
16. Defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing - pictures
Judicial
Slander
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Dynamic Conservatism
17. According to one survey - what percentage of Americans belongs to groups that sometimes take a stand on public issues
Miranda Rights
House of Representatives
31
18th Amendment
18. Organization of individuals with similar policy goals who enter the political process to influence legislation that affects the organizations interests
Charismatic authority
Free Speech
Independent
Interest Groups
19. Independent agencies governed by an appointed and confirmed commission. Examples include the Food and Drug Administration - Environmental Protection Agency - and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Enumerated Powers
Inputs
Regulatory Agencies
Party Dealignment
20. The sum of the goals - decisions - and actions that govern a nation's relations with the rest of the world.
Conference Committee
Foreign Policy
Realigning Elections
Spoils System
21. Popular until the early 20th century when they lost favor to primaries due to corruption - now used in only 12 states.
Liberalism
Department of State
Offensive Language
Caucuses
22. Charge of misconduct brought against a government official.
Energy
19th Amendment
Impeachment
Freedom of Speech
23. This event was an important factor in creating the climate for a new Constitution.
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24. When the President's own party gains power and influence - it more puts pressure on the President to conform to the will of the party - leading to________________ between the President and the party to define their public identities
Increased competition
7
Oligopoly
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
25. A broadly based coalition that attempts to gain control of the government by winning elections in order to exercise power and reward its members.
Violation of Law
Political Socialization
Major Political Party
Conference Committee
26. Formerly known as the Anti-Federalist - this party lead by Thomas Jefferson advocated states rights pressing the causes of the common people and agrarian interest. Dominated the political arena until the Civil War.
Good Faith Exception
Democratic-Republicans
Baby Boomers
War Powers Resolution
27. While these voters have traditionally supported the Democrats - some have begun to support Republicans in light of the Democrats liberal policies on abortion.
Democrats
Catholics
Voting
Article II
28. 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.
Referendum
27th Amendment
John F. Kennedy
Safe seat
29. Authority based on an individual's outstanding traits - which attract followers
Dynamic Conservatism
Department of Treasury
Charismatic authority
Separation of Powers
30. The response of the rest of society to actions by the authorities.
Supreme Court
Enumerated Powers
Elite and Class Theory
Feedback
31. In Woodson v. North Carolina - the Supreme Court struck down mandatory sentencing of capital punishment as ______________________ because it does not allow for any discretion.
Article III
Cruel and Unusual
Family
Secretary of State
32. 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.
Interventionism
Quid Pro Quo
Mixed Economy
Joint Chiefs of Staff
33. Contacts - coalitions - and interactions across national boundaries
Transnational Relations
Nuclear Proliferation
Tariff
unlimited
34. The pursuit and exercise of power
General Purpose Grants
Politics
Freedom of Religion
Foreign Relations and the Judiciary Committees
35. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.
War Powers Resolution
Nuclear Proliferation
Whistle-blowers
Third Parties
36. This clause of the 1st amendment establishes a 'wall of separation' between church and state.
Constitutional Initiative
The Federal Reserve Board
Establishment Clause
Proprietary Colonies
37. The philosophy that government should intervene as little as possible in economic affairs.
CORE
3
Electoral College
Laissez-Faire
38. The Equal Rights Amendment was defeated in 1982 because ____________________________.
Elastic Clause
Exit Polls
It Failed to be Ratified
Affirmative Action
39. In Sweatt v. Painter (1950) - The Supreme Court upheld that ___________________ was inherently not the case as is applied to the University of Texas Law School.
Separate but Equal
Concurrent Powers
Export Taxes
Blanket Primary
40. This powerful House committee is in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor.
Petition of Right
Brown v. Board of Education Topeka - Kansas
Rules Committee
25th Amendment
41. Committees appointed for investigative or crisis situations.
Select Committee
Lemon Test
General Purpose Grants
Free Exercise Clause
42. A public policy that takes something away from one person or group and gives it to another person or group.
Redistributive Policy
Free Rider
Interior
Internationalism
43. The vote cast by a person who does not like either candidate and so votes for the less objectionable of the two - putting a clothespin over his nose to keep out the unpleasant stench
Slander
Misdemeanors
Clothespin vote
Outputs
44. Passed in 1883 - it created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.
Social Security
Electoral College
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Raiding
45. The expansion of cable and satellite tv has _________________ the president's power to influence public opinion.
Earmarks
Increased
Violation of Law
Establishment Clause
46. In a political campaign - the surest way of reaching the largest number of voters is usually _____________.
Gerrymandering
Television
14th Amendment
Establishment Clause
47. Included are Agriculture - Nutrition - and Forestry; Appropriations; Armed Services; Banking - Housing and Urban Affairs; Commerce - Science and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Public Works; Finance; Health - Education -
Senate Standing Committees
2/3
Bundling
Interior
48. According to the Constitution - the electors in the Electoral College shall be appointed in a manner to be determined by the
state legislatures
Balance of Trade
Third Parties
Blacks
49. Organizations or groups - such as labor unions or fraternal - professional - or religious groups - that may influence an individual's opinion.
Secondary Group
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Military-Industrial Complex
Third Parties
50. The Democrats control over politics during the 20th century ended with this President's unpopular handling of the Vietnam War.
Lyndon B. Johnson
Self-Incrimination
Jus Sanguinis
1st Amendment