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. Leader of the House of Representatives - elected by the majority party. 2nd in line of succession for the Presidency.






2. The coming to power of a new coalition - replacing an old dominant coalition of the other party






3. 1974 Act mandating that all government files about private citizens be kept confidential.






4. The concentration of economic power in the hands of a relatively few large companies.






5. President Hoover's laissez-faire approach to the economy during the Great Depression left many poor voters disenfranchised by the Republican Party. They left to join the _______________ Party.






6. Cabinet positions must be ____________ by the Senate






7. In charge of all state funds. Supervises the collection of taxes and payment of state's bill






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






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






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






11. A series of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton - John Jay - and James Madison under the pseudonym Publius advocating the ratification of the United States Constitution.






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






13. Members of the ______________ committee of a political party work to maintain influence during non election years through congressional campaign committees.






14. A system of _______________ - as in Italy - encourages the existence of many parties by allotting seats to competing candidates according to the percentage of votes they win.






15. 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.






16. 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'






17. (1945-1991) The period after the Second World War marked by rivalry and tension between the two nuclear superpowers - the United States and the communist government of the Soviet Union. The Cold War ended when the Soviet government collapsed in 1991.






18. Unwritten law based on custom and tradition.






19. In 1978 - the Supreme Court - in the 'seven dirty words' case - ruled that the government has the right to prohibit the broadcasting of _______________.






20. Bills that benefit legislators' home districts - or powerful corporate contributors - with sometimes wasteful or unnecessary public works or other projects.






21. Clause in the 14th Amendment that forbids any state to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. The 5th Amendment also imposes this limitation on the national government.






22. The 1892 platform of the Populist party repudiating laissez-faire and demanding economic and political reform






23. The introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution - setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words - 'We the people of the United States - in order to form a more perfect union. ...'






24. Since 1960 - there has been a general trend of ______________ participation in elections.






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






26. The Supremacy Clause appears in ________________ of the Constitution.






27. 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.






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






29. A legal principle of fair dealing - which may provide preventive measures and legal remedies that are unavailable under existing common law and statutory law.






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






31. As part of the negotiations concerning the Constitution - the South fought for and won an agreement forbidding the imposition of _______________.






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






33. Number of current cabinet positions under GW Bush.






34. Law intended to promote free competition in the market place by outlawing monopolies






35. Concept of the British statesman Edmund Burke that legislators should act according to their own consciences.






36. Lawsuit brought by an individual or group of people on behalf of all those similarly situated






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






38. The belief that all people possess certain basic rights that may not be abridged by government.






39. This event was an important factor in creating the climate for a new Constitution.

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






41. Also known as the Massachusetts ballot - groups candidates according to the office for which they are running






42. Most house committees are limited to _____ subcommittees.






43. ______________________is responsible for the management of the federal debt and the printing of currency. It is the major fiscal policy agency.






44. Laws must be reasonable. The Supreme Court has abandoned this concept in regards to business matters citing that it is the responsibility of Congress to regulate economic matters. The court has continued to apply this to matters of civil liberties an






45. Constitutional protection of the accused to not be tried for the same crime twice.






46. A federal law passed by Congress in 1939 to restrict political activities by federal workers. The law prevents federal employees while on duty from taking an active part in party politics or campaigns and also bars federal employees from running for






47. Loose - competitive relationships among policy experts - interest groups - congressional committees - and federal agencies. Many observers argue that these have replaced iron triangles.






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






49. The ruling in this case provided that the government must prove a threat to national security in order to impose prior restraint.






50. In his classic study of community power in New Haven - Connecticut - political scientist Robert A. Dahl concluded that the city was a __________ system dominated by many different sets of leaders