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. The right of the Supreme Court - under the Constitution - to hear certain kinds of cases directly - such as cases involving foreign diplomats - or cases in which one of the 50 states is a party.






2. This powerful House committee is in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor.






3. The Supreme Court's broad interpretation of this clause has denied direct aid from the government for religious groups - but does allow religious groups to make use of government services such as police and fire.






4. Article II of the Constitution establishes the ______________ branch.






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






6. 19th century case establishing that the Bill of Rights applied only to the federal government - upheld until the 20th century. Ruling allowed stated to engage in activities such as establishing state churches and denying public office to people of ce






7. Total number of Representatives apportioned to the states based on population and reapportioned with the census every 10 years






8. The absent colony at the 2nd Continental Congress.






9. Devolutionary system in which the national government returns tax dollars to the state and local governments primarily in the form of block grants.






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






11. The issue of slavery split the Democratic Party into what two factions?






12. Germany - Switzerland - and India are examples of countries with a _______________ system of government.






13. Authority based on an individual's outstanding traits - which attract followers






14. First Roman Catholic elected President.






15. The term most political scientists prefer to describe the bureaucratic process






16. Committees appointed for investigative or crisis situations.






17. Elections in which the majority party (according to party identification) is defeated in a temporary reversal.






18. A close contest; by extension - any contest in which the focus is on who is ahead and how much rather than on substantive differences between the candidates.






19. Federal grants in which the recipient has a lot of discretion over how the money is spent. These grants are issued in support of general government functions such as education and law enforcement.






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






21. The proceeding before a judge in which the formal charges of an indictment or information are read to an accused person - who may plead guilty or not guilty.






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






23. 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.






24. A vote in the House of Representatives in which the position of each member is noted and published in the Congressional Record.






25. Political leaders typically try to both lead and follow ____________.






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






27. According to one survey - what percentage of Americans belongs to groups that sometimes take a stand on public issues






28. Impact elections by siphoning off votes from major parties spoiling a party's chance in a close race.






29. Dissenting Democrats focused on foreign affairs. Aligned with the US Communist Party.


30. 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.






31. Powerful standing committee that puts bills on the legislative calendar and establishes the processes by which the bill will be discussed on the floor.






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






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






34. The relationship between the total cost of foreign goods imported to this country and sales of U.S. products overseas.






35. A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.






36. ________________ of the Constitution governs the relationships of the states.






37. Powers of government that the national government may exercise simply because it exists as a government - such as the right to conduct foreign relations.






38. A course of action decided upon by a government






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






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






41. 1976 Law requiring all governmental agency meetings to be open to the public unless classified information will be discussed.






42. Article I - Section 8 - of the Constitution - which allows Congress to make all laws that are 'necessary and proper' to carry out the powers of the Constitution.






43. Libel - obscenity - fighting words - and commercial speech - which are not entitled to constitutional protection in all circumstances.






44. According to the Speedy Trial Act of 1974 - federal trials must commence within _______ days of arrest with the exception of delay for mental health testing of the defendant and illness of the defendant or key witness.






45. Number of original cabinet positions under George Washington.






46. 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






47. An official document - published every weekday - which lists the new and proposed regulations of executive departments and regulatory agencies.






48. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






49. 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:






50. An economic philosophy that advocates both tax and budget cuts to increase incentives to produce in order to expand the total supply of the nation's goods and services.