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. This article of the Constitution establishes the Executive Branch.






2. Theory of democracy in which competition among common interest groups promote ideas to influence politics






3. A place of work in which any person may be hired provided that he or she joins the union within a specified time.






4. Guarantees that an accused in innocent until proven guilty.






5. Members of this party typically include Conservative Christian groups - higher socio-economic classes - middle-class white collar - and suburban voters.






6. Tax legislation must originate in this house.






7. Prompted by FDR's 4th election to the Presidency - the 22nd Amendment limited the number of Presidential terms to _____ terms.






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






9. A system in which the national government provides grants-in-aid to states using conditions to elicit control.






10. 1917 Reincarnation of the Sedition Act during WWI






11. After a bill is assigned to a committee - the next step is typically a ______________.






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






13. When neither political party is dominant.






14. Established in 1947 as a combined Department of War and Navy.






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






16. The oldest House committee still in existence.






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






18. Protects against unreasonable search and seizure.






19. 3 person executive panel responsible for helping the President develop an economic plan for the nation.






20. The class of independent voters who do not vote according to party affiliation - but who typically have a broader range of concerns than single-issue voters - are known colloquially as






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






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






23. Presidential management model in which corporate CEO tactics are used employing committees - task forces - and special advisors. Successfully utilized by Clinton and G W Bush.






24. A tax on voting abolished by the Twenty-fourth Amendment in 1964 - long used by southern states to keep blacks (and - in some cases - poor whites) from participating in elections.






25. Judges in Legislative Courts serve _______ terms and do not require impeachment.






26. Today the Senate operates with ____ standing and select committees. These select committees - however - are permanent in nature and are treated as standing committees under Senate rules.






27. A provision in a deed to real property prohibiting its sale to a person of a particular race or religion. Judicial enforcement is unconstitutional.






28. Early civil rights leader established the Niagara Movement and helped to establish the NAACP.






29. The pursuit and exercise of power.






30. 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






31. In Sweatt v. Painter (1950) - The Supreme Court upheld that ___________________ was inherently not the case as is applied to the University of Texas Law School.






32. The 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act banned contributions of soft money to______________.






33. In Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972) - the Supreme Court extended the right to counsel to those accused of misdemeanors if the defendant is _____________.






34. 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:






35. Legislature bills that affect only a small group of citizens.






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






37. California measure designed to deny welfare and other benefits to illegal aliens. Overwhelmingly passed the popular vote - but overturned in federal court because it extending beyond the bounds of state rights to attempt to control immigration.






38. 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






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






40. Voter turnout is usually ____________ when there is a binding referendum on the ballot.






41. This category of interest groups has been the strongest and most effective in lobbying Washington






42. The claim by presidents of an inherent right to withhold information from Congress and the judiciary.






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






44. The strongest factor contributing to an individual's political socialization tends to be






45. This amendment includes the due process clause - the equal protection clause - and gave rights to former slaves.






46. In Woodson v. North Carolina - the Supreme Court struck down mandatory sentencing of capital punishment as ______________________ because it does not allow for any discretion.






47. Communication with legislators or other government officials to try to influence their decisions.






48. In states using primaries - the most common form of primary election is the ___________ primary.






49. In this case - a gay man from Georgia charged with committing sodomy in his own home with a consenting adult. The court ruled that the Constitution does not explicitly grant the right for homosexuals to practice their lifestyle and that laws against






50. Cabinet department responsible for collective bargaining and union activity. Established in 1913