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. The body composed of electors from the 50 states who formally have the power to elect the president and vice president of the United States. Each state has a number of electors and electoral votes equal to its number of senators and representatives i






2. A writ designed to protect against illegal imprisonment by requiring that a person who is detained be brought before a judge for investigation.






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






4. Prohibits citizens of one state or foreign country from suing another state.






5. 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:






6. Beginning with the election of Abraham Lincoln - the period between 1860 and the Great Depression was dominated by this political party.






7. Cabinet department responsible for the management of public lands - wildlife - natural resources - and Native American affairs. Established in 1849






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






9. ________________ of the Constitution governs the relationships of the states.






10. In lieu of an indictment - the state prosecutor may file a _______________ charging the person with a crime.






11. Article VI - Paragraph 2 - of the Constitution - which declares that the Constitution - and the laws and treaties of the United States made under it - are 'the supreme Law of the Land' and prevail over any conflicting state constitutions or laws.






12. This 1957 judgement prohibited pornography material as utterly without redeeming social significance - later reversed in Miller v. California






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






14. A relaxation of international tensions.






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






16. 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






17. Today the South is is a two-party battleground - in which the ______________ often have the upper hand






18. An ideology that advocates limits on government power to address economic and social problems - relying instead on economic markets and individual initiative to address problems like health care and education - while promoting government involvement






19. An individual who does not join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.






20. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over budget and appointments of leadership.






21. A policy that takes something away from one person and gives it to someone else -






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






23. Tax legislation must originate in this house.






24. The policy established after the Second World War that America must take an active leadership role in world affairs






25. Federal categorical grants in which the granting agency has much discretion over how the recipient spends the money.






26. Formal approval or consent given to a constitution - constitutional amendment - or treaty before it goes into effect.






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






28. The provisions of the Constitution that divide power among three constitutionally equal and independent branches of government






29. Article VII of the Constitution outlines the process of ____________________.






30. The power to tax is an example of _______________ powers.






31. Washington v. Chrisman (1982) established the _________________ - allowing police officers to seize evidence without a warrant if the evidence is in obvious sight.






32. Government agencies that exercise quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative powers and are administratively independent of both the president and Congress (although politically independent of neither).






33. The Medicaid and Food Stamp programs are examples of two very large






34. Year of the 2nd Continental Congress.






35. The belief that one can understand politics and therefore participate in politics






36. Form of obstruction in the Senate where an attempt is made to infinitely extend debate upon a proposal in order to delay the progress or completely prevent a vote on the proposal taking place.






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






38. Political party lead by Andrew Jackson from 1828 to 1856. Campaigned against strong central government and fought to end elitism.






39. Economists generally agree that the major responsibility for promoting prosperity and full employment falls on ________________.






40. Executive office responsible for helping the President write the federal budget and monitoring federal spending.






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






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






43. Literally meaning 'right of blood' - confers citizenship to a child from the parents.






44. Laws passed by state legislatures that are designed to protect reporters from being forced to reveal their news sources.






45. It the job of _________ committees of a political party to hold voter registration drives - recruit new party members and final candidates for city and county positions.






46. Head of the Supreme Court.






47. A law passed in 1966 that requires federal executive branch and regulatory agencies to make information available to journalists - scholars - and the public unless it falls into one of several confidential categories.






48. The 15th Amendment - also know as _________________ - was intended to help recently freed blacks from unconstitutional state laws designed to circumvent federal laws.






49. Most modern political scientists believe there is ________________ between politics and government.






50. Proponents of limited government - unregulated free markets - national self-reliance - and conventional social values are best describes as