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. A declaration by the President in 1823 that warned European powers to keep out of the Western Hemisphere and pledged that the United States would not intervene in the internal affairs of Europe.






2. Compromise between the large states and small states that established the bicameral Legislature consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives. Also included 3/5 compromise on the status of slaves in representation.






3. According to this nineteenth-century British peer and historian - 'power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'






4. Includes expressive conduct/assembly/actions and symbolic behavior (ex. Picketing or burning the flag) Based on our country history of symbolic acts such as the Boston Tea Party - courts almost always uphold symbolic acts of speech unless they are cr






5. The Democrats control over politics during the 20th century ended with this President's unpopular handling of the Vietnam War.






6. Constitutionally empowered to appoint judges - ambassadors - and other high officials - Constitutionally empowered to make treaties with foreign countries.






7. Most states have ___________ legislatures.






8. Private groups that attempt to influence the government to respond to the shared attitudes of their members.






9. After the bill reaches the house floor - if opponents have many changes - they may vote to ______________________.






10. The claim by presidents of an inherent right to withhold information from Congress and the judiciary.






11. 1966 Act allowing citizens to inspect all government records with the exception of classified military or intelligence documents - trade secrets or private personnel files.






12. 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 -






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






14. The fundamental flaw in plural theory contends that pluralism weakens the backbone of democracy with too many common interest groups attempt to wield power - often leading to standstill because of unwillingness to compromise.






15. 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






16. 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






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






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






19. The main mechanism used by modern political parties to nominate their candidate for President.






20. The reason that electors are chosen in each state by popular vote is ____________.






21. The right to privacy is ___________ in the Constitution.






22. Until the law was changed in 2002 - the term described unregulated campaign funds not subject to the limits of federal law because they went to party committees and not directly to candidates. The 2002 law banned contributions of soft money to nation






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






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






25. In 2002 - a federal appeals court struck down the Pledge of Allegiance on the grounds that it violated ________________.






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






27. Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.






28. Age Requirement for the Senate






29. This 1932 case established that a case can be too speedy and under-counseled - providing defendants in a capital case the right to a reasonable amount of time to establish a defense.






30. This was amended in 1985 to prohibit vote dilution without requiring the proof of discriminatory purpose demanded by the original Act.






31. In the 1964 case of ____________ - the Supreme Court: established 'one person - one vote' -






32. Programs are designed to give preferential access to education - employment - health care - or social welfare to groups of people - especially minorities and women - who have historically been discriminated against.






33. ____________ often influence political appointments in an effort to influence bureaucracy.






34. Responsibilities include: Coordinating the nation's intelligence activities and Evaluating and disseminating intelligence that affects national security






35. ______________________is responsible for the management of the federal debt and the printing of currency. It is the major fiscal policy agency.






36. The estimated number of illegal aliens living in the US.






37. Process by which citizens propose an amendment by petition.






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






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






40. The term 'Reagan Democrats' has become a generic term for






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






42. A form of city government under which power is divided between a mayor and an elected city council.






43. 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.






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






45. Permitted court authorized wire-tapping and bugging by federal - state - and local authorities and use of such evidence in trial. Later reversed by the Supreme Court based on 4th Amendment rights.






46. ________ of voters identify with one political party in advance of the campaign.






47. 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.'






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






49. The 1st Amendment states that government cannot issue ______________ - censoring publications before they are published.






50. A plan to provide billions of dollars of American aid to Western Europe to speed its economic and social recovery after the Second World War.