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 sum of the goals - decisions - and actions that govern a nation's relations with the rest of the world.






2. Disapproval of a bill by a chief executive - such as the president or a governor.






3. 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?






4. In Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969) - the Supreme Court established precedents for ___________________ in schools and government institutions.






5. Under this governing document - national government lacked authority to set up tariffs - regulate commerce - levy taxes - control international relations - establish common currency






6. The 23rd Amendment guaranteed voting rights to whom?






7. Guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial.






8. In the year 2000 - the Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts of America had a constitutional right to ban _____________ members.






9. 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.






10. 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.






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






12. The ___________ aspects of Federalism include: conflicts between state and national government - economic and racial discrimination - uneven enforcement of law - and dominance of local governments by special interest groups






13. Presidential management model requiring the President to have strong leadership skills and a keen eye for detail. FDR and JFK were well known for this style of leadership.






14. Between conventions - the governing body of a major political party. Members of this group are chosen in the states and formally elected by the party






15. Private groups that attempt to influence the government to respond to the shared attitudes of their members.






16. The binding decisions that the government makes whether in the form of laws -regulations - or judicial decisions






17. This House committee is responsible for all taxes - tariffs - and other revenue raising measures in addition to social security - child support - Medicare - foster care - and unemployment.






18. Beginning with the election of Abraham Lincoln - the period between 1860 and the Great Depression was dominated by this political party.






19. The state officer typically responsible for overseeing federal elections at the state level is the






20. Number of Electoral College votes required to win the Presidency.






21. In Reynolds v. US (1879) - the Supreme Court denied this right to Reynolds because his religion's practice of polygamy violated federal law.






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






23. Puerto Rico has ____________ status.






24. Type of interest group represented in Washington by another individual or organization. (Ex. Ford Motor Company pays a lobbyist in Washington to represent them.)






25. These party members take active non-leadership roles such as working polls or contributing money to campaigns. Tend to compromise on important issues and are mostly concerned about winning elections.






26. The way things should be by law






27. What occurs when government adopts a public policy that provides - or distributes - benefits to people or groups.






28. This Supreme Court case infamously decided that a slave was not a citizen but property to be 'used in subservience to the interests - the convenience - or the will of his owner'






29. Bills passed by Congress to pay for the spending it has authorized.






30. The executive office established in response to intelligence lapses during WWI. Oversees American foreign policy and includes the President - Vice President - Secretary of State - Secretary of Defense and is lead by the National Security Advisor.






31. Independent organizations - but more often the political arms of corporations - labor unions - or interest groups - established to contribute to candidates or to work for general political goals.






32. Lead by Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. Dedicated to defending federal authority and high tariffs. Gained supports of merchants - bankers - industrialists and planters.






33. Which powers of the national government flow from its enumerated powers and from the 'elastic clause' of the Constitution?






34. After hearings are complete - a congressional subcommittee will usually determine a bill's future in final deliberations known as






35. 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.






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






37. 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.






38. High School Dropouts - Blacks - Hispanics - Recent immigrants - and People under 25 or over 75 tend to have a _________ voter turnout.






39. When the minority party becomes stronger than the majority party - usually the result of winning a critical election.






40. Guarantees the right to bare arms.






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






42. Included are Ways and Means - Veteran's Affairs - Transportation and Infrastructure - Standards of Official Conduct - Small Business - Science - Judiciary - Rules - Resources - Oversight of Government Reform - House Administration - Homeland Security






43. In addition to overseeing the activities of one or more federal agencies - a ___________________may also serve as the authorizing committee for federal agencies' programs and operations.






44. Assigns bills to the appropriate House committee.






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






46. Finding that enough evidence exists to warrant a criminal trial.






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






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






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






50. Executive office responsible for helping the President write the federal budget and monitoring federal spending.