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Test your basic knowledge |
CLEP American Government
Start Test
Study First
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.
Concurrent
5
Salient Agenda
Monroe Doctrine
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.
Lower
Pass the fundraising threshold
Majority Rule
Great or Connecticut Compromise
3. According to this nineteenth-century British peer and historian - 'power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'
Implied
Lord Acton
Unlimited
Baby Boomers
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
Speech Plus
Soft money
Department of State
Whip
5. The Democrats control over politics during the 20th century ended with this President's unpopular handling of the Vietnam War.
de facto
Appealed
Amicus Curiae Brief
Lyndon B. Johnson
6. Constitutionally empowered to appoint judges - ambassadors - and other high officials - Constitutionally empowered to make treaties with foreign countries.
Safe seat
Defense
Electoral Votes
President
7. Most states have ___________ legislatures.
Bicameral
Implied Powers
Article II
Electoral College
8. Private groups that attempt to influence the government to respond to the shared attitudes of their members.
25
Interest Groups
Situational
Rousseau
9. After the bill reaches the house floor - if opponents have many changes - they may vote to ______________________.
Exit Polls
Recommit the Bill to Committee
Increased
Social Contract
10. The claim by presidents of an inherent right to withhold information from Congress and the judiciary.
Executive Privilege
Scandal Mongering
Cycle of Decreasing Influence
Unitary System
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.
Regulatory Agencies
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Information Act
Supply Side Economics
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 -
Omaha platform
5
Increased
Senate Standing Committees
13. Legislative house whose membership was intended to represent the state.
Senate
Probable Cause
Federal Register
25
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.
State of the Union
Equity
Hyperpluralism
Legislative Veto
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
Democrats
Lafolette's Progressive s
Little Difference
Federal
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
Committees
Pluralist Theory
New Jersey Plan
Patriot Act
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.
Supremacy Clause
Pork Barrel Spending
Interest Groups
Reference Group
18. The Supreme Court holds _____________ jurisdiction in cases against the US - ambassadors - public ministers - and consuls.
14th Amendment
Enterprise Zones
Original
89
19. The main mechanism used by modern political parties to nominate their candidate for President.
Dynamic Conservatism
Deficit
Caucus
Executive
20. The reason that electors are chosen in each state by popular vote is ____________.
Whigs
Custom
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Natural Rights
21. The right to privacy is ___________ in the Constitution.
Implied
Party Column Ballot
Incumbents
House of Representatives
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
Senate
Executive Agreements
Suburbia
Soft Money
23. An immigrant who wished to become a citizen may be naturalized after living in the US for ___ years.
5
Hold
Monetary Policy
Rhode Island
24. In the Federalist Papers - James Madison proposed that the states under the new Constitution would retain ____________ sovereignty.
Original
Republicans
Residual
Isolationism
25. In 2002 - a federal appeals court struck down the Pledge of Allegiance on the grounds that it violated ________________.
Implementation
Wallace's Progressives
Freedom of Religion
Republicans
26. A coherent set of beliefs about politics - public policy - and public purpose. It helps give meaning to political event - personalities - and policies.
Policy
Political ideology
Housing and Urban Development
Valence issue
27. Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.
Contract Clause
9
Federal District
Office of Management and Budget
28. Age Requirement for the Senate
Trial Balloon
30
Supply Side Economics
Bundling
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.
Eminent Domain
Civil Liberties
Seniority System
Scottsboro Boys Case
30. This was amended in 1985 to prohibit vote dilution without requiring the proof of discriminatory purpose demanded by the original Act.
Roth v. US
Political Advertising
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Exit Polls
31. In the 1964 case of ____________ - the Supreme Court: established 'one person - one vote' -
Civil War Amendments
National Chair
Reynolds v. Sims
Agriculture
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.
legislative and executive
Affirmative Action
War Powers Resolution
English Bill of Rights
33. ____________ often influence political appointments in an effort to influence bureaucracy.
Interest groups
14th
Populous
blockbusting and redlining
34. Responsibilities include: Coordinating the nation's intelligence activities and Evaluating and disseminating intelligence that affects national security
Legislative
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Patriot Act
Coast Guard
35. ______________________is responsible for the management of the federal debt and the printing of currency. It is the major fiscal policy agency.
Department of Treasury
Electoral Connection
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Speech Plus
36. The estimated number of illegal aliens living in the US.
Whistle-blowers
Open Meeting Law
Blanket Primary
8 Million
37. Process by which citizens propose an amendment by petition.
Fast Track Authority
Shay's Rebellion
Constitutional Initiative
Globalization
38. Most Americans support ______________ primarily as part of their criticism of PACs
Campaign Finance Reform
Iron Triangle
Secondary Group
Securities and Exchange Commission or Securities Act of 1933
39. Urban or rural areas in which businesses are encouraged to locate because of tax breaks and other incentives.
House Standing Committees
Union Shop
Enterprise Zones
Public Opinion
40. The term 'Reagan Democrats' has become a generic term for
National
Bowers v. Hardwick
Swing Voters in the Democratic Party
Capitalism
41. State legislation designed to outlaw the union shop - passed by 21 states acting under Section 14B of the federal Taft-Hartley Act.
Reverse Discrimination
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Speech
Right to Work Laws
42. A form of city government under which power is divided between a mayor and an elected city council.
Senate Standing Committees
Recorded Vote
Independent Expenditures
Mayor-Council Plan
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.
Flexible Construction
Electoral College
Executive
Dark Horse
44. _____ out of 9 justices must agree to hear an appellate case brought to them from a lower court.
4
Warrant
1st Amendment
Soft Money
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.
Take Care Clause
Shay's Rebellion
Demands
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act
46. ________ of voters identify with one political party in advance of the campaign.
High
2/3
Ex Post Facto
Equal Protection Clause
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.'
Pentagon Papers
President Pro Tempore
Free Exercise
Cabinet
48. Literally meaning 'right of soil' - confers citizenship by place of birth.
Private Bills
Jus Soli
Recall
Cruel and Unusual
49. The 1st Amendment states that government cannot issue ______________ - censoring publications before they are published.
Freedom of Speech
Prior Restraint
Voting
3
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.
Implied
Marshall Plan
Office Column Ballot
US Trade Representatives