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. Which of the following factors is likely to be the weakest indicator of an individual's political beliefs and opinions? Age - Race - Intelligence - or Religion






2. Redefined Presidential succession and disability.






3. (1945-1991) The period after the Second World War marked by rivalry and tension between the two nuclear superpowers - the United States and the communist government of the Soviet Union. The Cold War ended when the Soviet government collapsed in 1991.






4. A group of people who try to influence policy agendas and whose ultimate goal is to run the government by getting their favorite candidates elected.






5. The concentration of economic power in the hands of a relatively few large companies.






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






7. 3 person executive panel responsible for helping the President develop an economic plan for the nation.






8. Executive Check on the Legislative Branch.






9. Designed to protect the individual against the arbitrary power of the state.






10. The 1892 platform of the Populist party repudiating laissez-faire and demanding economic and political reform






11. Number of original cabinet positions under George Washington.






12. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the concept of privacy included the right to a legal abortion?






13. Literally - a 'friend of the court' brief - filed by an individual or organization to present arguements in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case






14. 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






15. A course of action decided upon by a government






16. As part of the negotiations concerning the Constitution - the South fought for and won an agreement forbidding the imposition of _______________.






17. 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.






18. The Supremacy Clause appears in ________________ of the Constitution.






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






20. A ruling by the Supreme Court in 1857






21. _____________ 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.






22. 'lame duck' amendment






23. A term coined by President Lyndon B. Johnson to describe his own view of the relationship between Washington and the states.






24. Guarantees that citizens cannot be compelled by the government to act in a way that is contrary to their religious beliefs. (ex. Conscientious objection to military service required by the draft is the execution of ______________)






25. 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:






26. In 1987 - the FCC abandoned the fairness doctrine on the grounds that it unconstitutionally restricted the ______________ rights of broadcasters.






27. Responsible for determining which bills will be considered on the House floor - and when they will be considered.






28. Laws - rules - and government programs designed to protect individual rights and specific groups - as well as to benefit society as a whole in such areas as health - worker safety - consumer protection - and the environment.






29. This contraversial 2001 law allows anti-terrorism authorities to monitor e-mail and Internet traffic in order to prevent terrorist attacks. The government argues that cyberspace is public domain and that no warrants should be needed to access informa






30. The foreign policy of the United States during the period after the Second World War - designed to contain the expansion of Soviet power.






31. The doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group






32. Also known as the Massachusetts ballot - groups candidates according to the office for which they are running






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






34. An opinion of one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion of the court which gives rise to its judgment.






35. 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.






36. An issue on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party or candidate with conditions - goals - or symbols the electorate universally approves or disapproves of. Examples of such issues are economic prosperi






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






38. Early civil rights leader established the Niagara Movement and helped to establish the NAACP.






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






40. The period of time after the election of FDR until the Vietnam War was dominated by the Democratic Party and know as the __________________ Era.






41. Most likely to board a foreign ship suspected of drug trafficking at a U.S. port






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






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






44. Congress defined the steps for the creation and admission of new states. It forbade slavery while the region remained a territory although citizens could legalize it. First congress would appoint a territorial governor and judges. Second as soon as 5






45. Senators have a __________ rate of re-election than Representatives primarily because of their larger constituency and lack of direct involvement with them.






46. Inherent powers of state governments to pass laws to protect health - safety - and welfare; the national government has no directly granted police powers but accomplishes the same goals through other delegated powers.






47. The concept that all people are of equal worth - even if not of equal ability.






48. Act of exchanging favors for mutual gain






49. Law intended to promote free competition in the market place by outlawing monopolies






50. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) - founded in 1932 by President Herbert Hoover to help combat the Great Depression - was the predecessor of which federal agencies?