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 attitudes and actions of people that sustain and buttress the political system at all levels and allows the political system to continue to work.






2. The Supreme Court practice of applying most of the provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states under the 14th Amendment.






3. 14th Amendment is often used to support the right to ____________.






4. Committees created by Congress to conduct special investigations. Although normally temporary - some become - in effect - permanent.






5. A writ designed to protect against illegal imprisonment by requiring that a person who is detained be brought before a judge for investigation.






6. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to release these until a majority of polling places had closed in each state






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






8. This 1st amendment clause prohibits the government from making any law prohibiting the exercise of any religion






9. Formed as a third party on the issue of slavery by many former Whigs in the 1850's. Anti-slavery platform. Supported by farmers - laborers - and newly-freed blacks.






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






11. After the Vietnam war - American politics entered an era of __________________ during which neither party maintained control over the government.






12. 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.'






13. The concept that all people are of equal worth - even if not of equal ability.






14. By far - the largest amount of federal aid to state and local governments comes in the form of:






15. A centralized system of government - such as that of France - where most of the important policy decisions are made by a central government.






16. 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.






17. 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.






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






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






20. 1944 case established that as as long as a person accepted their beliefs in good faith that it is not the government's authority to determine whether those beliefs are valid.






21. 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.






22. During the period from 1976 to 1824 - This party was lead by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. They wanted a stronger national government that would rectify the pitfalls of the Articles of Confederation. Their supporters held a stronghold in New






23. Requires reporting of financial information by companies with publicly traded securities






24. 1976 Law requiring all governmental agency meetings to be open to the public unless classified information will be discussed.






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






26. The chair and the heads of the three armed services - and - when Marine Corps matters are under consideration - the commandant of the marines. By law - they advise the president and the secretary of defense and are the chiefs of their respective mili






27. A political group organized under section 527 of the IRS code that may accept and spend unlimited amounts of money on election activities so long as they are not spent on broadcast ads run in the last 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a gene






28. A powerful alliance of mutual benefit among an agency or unit of the government - an interest group - and a committee or subcommittee of Congress. Also called a triangle or a subgovernment.






29. A procedure that in certain circumstances permits voters to remove elected state or local officials from office before their terms have expired.






30. Executive check on Legislative Branch.






31. The vote cast by a person who does not like either candidate and so votes for the less objectionable of the two - putting a clothespin over his nose to keep out the unpleasant stench






32. A group of high-level administrators and managers at the top of the government bureaucracy. SES members have less job tenure but are eligible for substantial cash bonuses for merit.






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






34. In the Federalist Papers - James Madison proposed that the states under the new Constitution would retain ____________ sovereignty.






35. Powers of government that are specifically granted to the three branches of the federal government under the Constitution.






36. When the President's own party gains power and influence - it more puts pressure on the President to conform to the will of the party - leading to________________ between the President and the party to define their public identities






37. Signed the executive order banning segregation in the armed forces.






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






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






40. In charge of state's legal business. provide advice to other state official and represents the state in court if the state is involved in a lawsuit






41. According to this nineteenth-century British peer and historian - 'power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'






42. Presidential management model in which the Chief of Staff plays a prominent role as the head of a military style chain of command. Used successfully by Reagan and Eisenhower.






43. Limitations on this freedom including prohibition of defamation and obscenity - limitation on commercial speech - and restriction of inciting words that may cause immediate danger.






44. Clause of the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 10) intended to prohibit state governments from modifying contracts made between individuals; interpreted as prohibiting state governments from taking actions that adversely affect property rights.






45. 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






46. Population migration patterns since the second World War have increased the power of _____________.






47. Political theorist proposed the separation of church and state.






48. 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:






49. This body of government has final authority on the meaning of the Constitution.






50. The pursuit and exercise of power.