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. Committees of Congress composed of both representatives and senators.






2. Requires the Electoral College to vote for President and Vice President separately.






3. The belief that one is effective when participating in politics - for example that the government will respond to one's demands






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






5. Broadly worded warrants used by British soldiers during colonial America to search for contraband and prevent smuggling.






6. In the mid-term elections following a President's inauguration - his party tends to ___________ seats in Congress.






7. According to one survey - what percentage of Americans belongs to groups that sometimes take a stand on public issues






8. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendment to bills or provides that only memebers of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments






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






10. After hearings are complete - a congressional subcommittee will usually determine a bill's future in final deliberations known as






11. 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






12. Cabinet department responsible for managing school lunch programs and food safety. Established in 1862.






13. A philosophy that Supreme Court justices and other judges should boldly apply the Constitution to social and political questions.






14. 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






15. A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.






16. New Jersey v. TLO (1985) established that school authorities may search students without _____________ as long as they are reasonable.






17. The expression of attitudes about government and politics.






18. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments provide for _____________.






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






20. This author was highly influential on Thomas Jefferson - rejecting divine right - proposing that government is a social contract requiring the consent of the govern and establishing the concept of self-evident rights of life - liberty - and property.






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






22. The Equal Rights Amendment was defeated in 1982 because ____________________________.






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






24. 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 _______________.






25. This 1963 case extended the right to counsel to all felony cases.






26. A world economy characterized by the free movement of goods - capital - labor - and information across national borders.






27. In addition to a quick and speedy trial - the 6th Amendment also guarantees ________________.






28. 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.






29. James Madison proposed to deal with the threat of political factions by ______________________.






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






31. Independent organizations - but more often the political arms of corporations - labor unions - or interest groups - established to contribute to candidates or to work for general political goals.






32. This rule established by US v. Leon (1984) angered civil liberties groups by allowing exception to the Exclusionary Rule in instances where probably cause may not fully exist.






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






34. Procedure typically requiring 3/5 vote of the entire Senate to end a filibuster.






35. Grants that an accused may not be held in custody without charge - literally 'You shall have the body'.






36. A controversial law overwhelmingly passed by Congress in October 2001 - after the terrorist attacks of September 11 on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It greatly expanded the power of federal law enforcement authorities to move against suspe






37. Lead by Theodore Roosevelt - this party platform focused on women's suffrage - social reform - fair business practices - and direct election of senators. The won 25% of the popular vote in 1911 - splitting the Republican vote and allowing Democrat Wo






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






39. Define US Citizenship as any person born or naturalized in the United States.






40. A 1972 treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union limiting the number of defensive missiles each country could build. In 2001 President George W. Bush withdrew the United States from the treaty.






41. Most likely to board a foreign ship suspected of drug trafficking at a U.S. port






42. Established by President Hoover - It is the _______________ job to keep the press informed and orchestrate press conferences






43. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






44. Laws that were designed to segregate black and white Americans and give legal recognition to discrimination.






45. To negotiate a complex and politically sensitive trade treaty - a President will often






46. Judicial Check on Legislative Branch. Not specifically outlined in the Constitution - but established in the case of Marbury v. Madison through the application of the Supremacy Clause in Article VI.






47. The tendency of presidents to lose support over time.






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






49. This 1689 English Document made the monarch






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