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 practice under which victorious politicians reward their followers with jobs.






2. Decides which bills will be considered.






3. Laws must be administered in a fair manner.






4. A system in which national and state government have shared or overlapping powers. FDR's New Deal legislation established this system in the US.






5. Polls taken as people leave voting places. In the past - television networks sometimes used these polls to predict election outcomes before the polls close. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to project the winner in a state until the major






6. The federal department that administers programs that provide services to farmers (including research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the farming economy)






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






8. 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:






9. Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people






10. Government regulation of the economy through its control over taxes and government spending. Controlled by the Department of Treasury.






11. The 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act - the 1965 Highway Beautification Act and the 1964 Civil Rights Act are all examples of ____________________.






12. Funds spent for or against a candidate by committees not formally connected to the candidate's campaign and without coordination with the campaign.






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






14. 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






15. These party members are highly involved in the electoral process. Donate funds to party and candidates - demand a voice in state party agendas and tend to have a strong belief in their party's ideology.






16. 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.






17. The right to renounce one's citizenship.






18. Colonies in which the proprietors (who had obtained their patents from the king) named the governors - subject to the king's approval.






19. Information sent out in order to observe the reaction of an audience. Used by politicians who deliberately leak information on a policy change under consideration.






20. Practice by which voters of one party crossing over and voting in the primary of another party - effectively allowing a party to help choose its opposition's candidate.






21. The possible tendency of some voters or convention delegates to support the candidate who is leading in the polls and seems likely to win.






22. The primary purpose of _______________consolidate the nation's disability laws and provide for strong federal enforcement of a strengthened disability rights mandate






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






24. This controversial clause of the 9th Amendment has allowed government to expand rights to suit its needs.






25. An act of legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them without benefit of a trial. Constitutionally prohibited.






26. A course of action chosen by government officials






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






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






29. Author of The Spirit of the Laws advocating balance of power in politics with liberty is dependant upon a separation of the judicial - legislative - and executive branches of government.






30. Which historical figure described democracy as 'the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time?'






31. In this essay - James Madison recognized that reconciling the competing interests of various groups was what legislation was all about






32. Representing - characterized by - or including members from two parties or factions






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






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






35. Number of years a Senator must reside in the US prior to taking office






36. A public policy that takes something away from one person or group and gives it to another person or group.






37. A federal program established in 1965 to provide hospital and medical services to older people through the Social Security system.






38. 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.






39. In 1978 - the Supreme Court - in the 'seven dirty words' case - ruled that the government has the right to prohibit the broadcasting of _______________.






40. Executive check on Legislative Branch.






41. Contacts - coalitions - and interactions across national boundaries






42. 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






43. In a 1943 case - the Supreme Court upheld the right to refuse to salute the American flag on the basis of the constitutional guarantee of _________________.






44. Assigns bills to the appropriate House committee.






45. Laws that were designed to segregate black and white Americans and give legal recognition to discrimination.






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






47. Senators are re-elected every ___ years with 1/3 of the Senate being up for election every 2 years.






48. Which two British Acts - passed in 1764 - caused American colonists for the first time to organize protests against the injustices of British rule - and sparked the rallying cry 'no taxation without representation'?






49. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and cooperate.






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