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. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and cooperate.






2. Test whereby the Supreme Court established criteria by which state may provide aid to religious groups.






3. The Supreme Court has sometimes used a narrow interpretation of the Establishment Clause allowing the government to provide aid to religious groups as long as it remains ______________ and does not promote one religion at the expense of another. This






4. Guarantees the right to a civil trial by jury.






5. Government branch established in Article I of the Constitution.






6. Authority based on an individual's outstanding traits - which attract followers






7. Senators have a __________ rate of re-election than Representatives primarily because of their larger constituency and lack of direct involvement with them.






8. Freedoms that protect the individual from the government.






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






10. Requires that a suspect in a federal case be arraigned without unnecessary delay.






11. The only amendments to be ratified through the process of 'ratifying conventions -' not a vote in the state legislatures






12. The right to privacy is ___________ in the Constitution.






13. In the view of W. Lance Bennett - the people who hold and express opinions are constantly changing - as are the issues and conditions to which the public responds. As a result - Bennett suggests that public opinion is______________.






14. 6 In the view of Robert L. Lineberry - policy analysts focus on the _______________.






15. This influential English document signed by King John in 1215 limited the absolute power of the monarchy - established due process - and limited arbitrary seizure of property.






16. The main mechanism used by modern political parties to nominate their candidate for President.






17. In Johnson v. Texas (1989) - the Supreme Court ruled that burning the flag in a manner that does not pose a threat to people or property is allowed as this type of freedom of speech.






18. Popular until the early 20th century when they lost favor to primaries due to corruption - now used in only 12 states.






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






20. A legislature with only one house.






21. This type of government suits a large country with a diverse population






22. _____________ are expected to specialize in a few policy areas rather than claim expertise in the whole range of legislative concerns






23. Act of exchanging favors for mutual gain






24. Process by which citizens propose an amendment by petition.






25. Independent agencies governed by an appointed and confirmed commission. Examples include the Food and Drug Administration - Environmental Protection Agency - and the Securities and Exchange Commission.






26. A course of action chosen by government officials






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






28. A philosophy that the Supreme Court should avoid constitutional questions when possible and uphold acts of Congress unless they clearly violate a specific section of the Constitution.






29. A form of city government under which a council - usually elected on a nonpartisan ticket - hires a professional city manager - who runs the city government and has power to hire and fire officials.






30. Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.






31. The total group from which poll-takers may select a random sample in order to measure public opinion.






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






33. Elections that reflect the basic party identification of the voters.






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






35. 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?






36. This amendment applied the Bill of Rights to states.






37. The absent colony at the 2nd Continental Congress.






38. The term 'Reagan Democrats' has become a generic term for






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






40. Elects the President if no candidate receives 270 Electoral College votes.






41. A power of the president to kill a bill by taking no action (if Congress adjourns during the 10-day period after the president receives the bill). Some court rulings have suggested that a president may exercise a pocket veto only when Congress adjour






42. In this 1972 case - the Supreme Court established four guidelines for determining if a trial was appropriately speedy and fair: cause of delay - length of delay - affect on the outcome - and the defendant's claim to a speedy trial.






43. Federal laws limit the amount of ___________ that can be donated directly to campaign coffers.






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






45. Units of government under the president - within the executive branch - that are not part of a cabinet department.






46. 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.






47. In order to win support for ratification of the Constitution - the Federalists had to promise that the first order of business under a new government would be to _______________.






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






49. Executive check on Legislative Branch.






50. The right of the Supreme Court - under the Constitution - to hear certain kinds of cases directly - such as cases involving foreign diplomats - or cases in which one of the 50 states is a party.