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. Legislature bills that affect all citizens.






2. An economic system of free enterprise with private ownership of the means of production.






3. First Executive Branch






4. In the 1925 Gitlow case - the Supreme Court began a process of ______________ of the Bill of Rights to the states.






5. 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.






6. The Medicaid and Food Stamp programs are examples of two very large






7. A policy adopted by the United States after the Second World War that assumed that if enough nuclear weapons were deployed by the United States - an enemy would not attack for fear of being destroyed in retaliation.






8. Government employees who publicly expose evidence of official waste or corruption that they have learned about in the course of their duties.






9. This clause of the 1st amendment establishes a 'wall of separation' between church and state.






10. 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






11. If 10 days do not remain in session and the president does not sign an act of Congress - the bill __________.






12. 6 In the view of Robert L. Lineberry - policy analysts focus on the _______________.






13. The demands of and supports for a political system






14. In this case - a gay man from Georgia charged with committing sodomy in his own home with a consenting adult. The court ruled that the Constitution does not explicitly grant the right for homosexuals to practice their lifestyle and that laws against






15. The concept that political power rests with the people who can create - alter - and abolish government. People express themselves through voting and free participation in government






16. Spending by the national committees of the political parties to support the election of congressional candidates is known as






17. The elected position of President pro tempore of the Senate is almost always held by






18. Requests from people or groups for health care for the aged - loans for college students - equal opportunity for minorities - and higher subsidies for farmers are examples of:






19. The view of the majority of the Supreme Court that First Amendment rights must be weighed against the competing needs of the community to preserve order.






20. According to the Constitution - the electors in the Electoral College shall be appointed in a manner to be determined by the






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






22. Because there is no Senate Rules Committee - Senators can debate a bill for an _________________ time.






23. Guarantees that any rights not explicitly outlined heretofore are reserved for the states.






24. This 1967 Supreme Court case prohibited illegal eavesdropping and extending the zone of privacy to include the home - office - person - and immediate public arena.






25. 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.






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






27. ________________ of the Constitution dictates how the Constitution shall be amended.






28. Number of Senators elected at large per state -






29. Its the responsibility of ___________ committees of a political party to solidify the party within each state and organize primary elections






30. Electoral college system and other campaign practices make it exceedingly difficult for even popular ______________ candidates to successfully run for the presidency.






31. After analyzing 1 -795 platform pledges over a 10-year period - Gerald M. Pomper concluded that almost ____________ of these promises were fulfilled






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. Procedure typically requiring 3/5 vote of the entire Senate to end a filibuster.






34. In WV State BOE v Barnette (1943) - the Supreme Court ruled that compelling citizens to salute the flag violates the principles of a free society - upholding which 1st Amendment rights?






35. Organizations or groups - such as labor unions or fraternal - professional - or religious groups - that may influence an individual's opinion.






36. 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.






37. In the 1990 case OR State Employment Division v. Smith 1990 - the Supreme court allowed the state to fire employees who use peyote during native American religious ceremonies because it is in violation of drug laws. In this case - which clause of the






38. The way things actually are.






39. Established by President Hoover - It is the _______________ job to keep the press informed and orchestrate press conferences






40. The Articles of Confederation established a ________________ legislature.






41. Voting based on looking back and making judgments about the way things have gone and the kind of government experienced during a political leader's time in office.






42. A broadly based coalition that attempts to gain control of the government by winning elections in order to exercise power and reward its members.






43. 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.






44. Proponents of limited government - unregulated free markets - national self-reliance - and conventional social values are best describes as






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






46. The single biggest item in campaign spending at the presidential level is ___________________.






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






48. Cabinet department that includes the FAA and the National Hwy Traffic Safety Administration. Established in 1966.






49. These courts only hear appeals on cases from lower courts.






50. The way things should be by law