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. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






2. These voters are registered as a party member but only participate by voting in primary and general elections. Tend to vote straight-party ticket and follow the leads of local party officials.






3. Repealed by the 21st Amendment - this Amendment prohibited alcohol.






4. A test established by Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes - Jr. - in 1919 to define the point at which speech loses the protection of the First Amendment.






5. Freedoms that protect the individual from the government.






6. The case of Gregg v. Georgia set the precedent for a ________________ system in which guilt and sentencing and tried separately.






7. Most house committees are limited to _____ subcommittees.






8. According to the Speedy Trial Act of 1974 - federal trials must commence within _______ days of arrest with the exception of delay for mental health testing of the defendant and illness of the defendant or key witness.






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






10. An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted






11. Congress' first step towards allocating funds






12. 'lame duck' amendment






13. Political leaders typically try to both lead and follow ____________.






14. In Congress - _____________ are informal organizations of individual congressional representatives with like interests or constituencies. Members work together to promote the interests of the groups they represent through legislation - policy - and p






15. 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.






16. Electoral college system and other campaign practices make it exceedingly difficult for even popular ______________ candidates to successfully run for the presidency.






17. The formal source of all authority in each major political party. It nominates the party candidates for president and vice president - writes a platform - settles disputes - writes rules - and elects the members of the national committee.






18. An offical who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator






19. Petition that - if signed by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives - will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration






20. The power of some municipalities to modify their charters and run their affairs without approval by the state legislature.






21. Total number of Representatives apportioned to the states based on population and reapportioned with the census every 10 years






22. The total amount of money that the United States owes to its creditors.






23. An economic system in which the factors of production are owned by the publicand operate for the welfare of all.






24. 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






25. A legislator who automatically mirrors the will of the majority of his or her constituents.






26. In his historic decision in the case of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - Chief Justice Marshall established the principle of _____________.






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






28. While both Asian and Hispanic immigrants experience various types of discrimination - Hispanic immigrants are more likely to experience economic discrimination. This explains why most Hispanics identify with the ____________ party - while Asians do n






29. Article I of the Constitution establishes the ___________________ branch.






30. Serious crimes - such as murder - arson - or rape.






31. A policy of avoiding foreign involvement.






32. The rules and regulations made and applied by federal regulatory agencies and commissions.






33. 6 In the view of Robert L. Lineberry - policy analysts focus on the _______________.






34. A judicial opinion agreed to by a majority of the members of a court. A majority opinion sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision.






35. This 1689 English Document made the monarch






36. A provision of the Federal Communications Act that requires broadcasters to provide the same amount of exposure to all legally qualified political candidates.






37. Something given in exchange for something else; swap






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






39. The only instance in which the government can prohibit religious activities






40. The 19th Century __________ party platform was opposed to the spread of slavery - promoted preservation of the union - supported the abolition of slavery - and promoted post civil was reconstruction.






41. After a bill has passed both the House and Senate - it goes to _________________ where any differences between the house bill and the senate bill are resolved before sending to the President for signature






42. An opinion of one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion of the court which gives rise to its judgment.






43. Walter DeVries and Lance Tarrance have concluded that in many elections the outcome is determined by ______________.






44. To an extent - the press and the government have a relationship that is _______________ and mutually dependent.






45. Appointed by Eisenhower - this Supreme court justice who played an important role in the court's stance on the advancement of civil rights.






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






47. States that states may draw reasonable distinctions between the rights of residents and non-residents (ex. In state and out of state tuition)






48. Which branch has the power to stop an executive order?






49. When neither political party is dominant.






50. If 10 days remain in session and the president does not sign an act of Congress - the law is ___________.