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 term 'Reagan Democrats' has become a generic term for






2. Th joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the twelfth amendment






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






4. In an election with more than 2 options - the number of votes for the candidate or party receiving the greatest number - but less that half of the votes.






5. German sociologist theorized that the engine of government needs bureaucracies to provide expertise in a way that short-term elected or appointed official cannot.






6. _______________ indicates a citizens' faith and trust in government and their own belief that they can understand and influence political affairs






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






8. 1946 Act requiring bureaucratic agencies to appeal to the affected parties before adopting new policies. Legislative check on Bureaucracy.






9. Finding that enough evidence exists to warrant a criminal trial.






10. Compromise between the large states and small states that established the bicameral Legislature consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives. Also included 3/5 compromise on the status of slaves in representation.






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






12. Dissenting Democrats focused on foreign affairs. Aligned with the US Communist Party.

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13. Colonies controlled by the British king through governors appointed by him and through the king's veto power over colonial laws.






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






15. 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






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






17. Number of Senators elected at large per state -






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






19. Cabinet department responsible for insuring mortgages and providing housing subsidies. Established in 1965






20. The expansion of cable and satellite tv has _________________ the president's power to influence public opinion.






21. 1798 Act that criminalized speech that was derisive to the government. Later ruled unconstitutional - Andrew Jackson issued blanket pardon in 1801






22. In California v. Avecedo (1991) - The Supreme Court established that authorities may search ____________________ without a warrant providing reasonable suspicion.






23. High School Dropouts - Blacks - Hispanics - Recent immigrants - and People under 25 or over 75 tend to have a _________ voter turnout.






24. A written opinion by some of the judges of a court which agrees with the majority of the court but might arrive there in a different manner.






25. Colonies in which the proprietors (who had obtained their patents from the king) named the governors - subject to the king's approval.






26. The FCC's equal time policy applies to _____________.






27. Presides over any impeachment trial.






28. Responsible for assigning bills to committee in the Senate.






29. Elections that may lead to a basic shift in the party identification of the electorate.






30. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






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






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






33. Infamous 1735 English case established the precedent for Freedom of the Press in the US.






34. What occurs when government adopts a public policy that provides - or distributes - benefits to people or groups.






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






36. Libel - obscenity - fighting words - and commercial speech - which are not entitled to constitutional protection in all circumstances.






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






38. An official document - published every weekday - which lists the new and proposed regulations of executive departments and regulatory agencies.






39. A White House council created under the National Security Act of 1947 to advise the president and help coordinate American military and foreign policy.






40. Executive Check on the Legislative Branch.






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






42. A primary in which any registered voter is able to vote for candidates from more than one party. A voter - for example - may vote for a Democrat for U.S. senator and for a Republican for governor. In 2000 - the Supreme Court struck down the blanket p






43. Literally - a 'friend of the court' brief - filed by an individual or organization to present arguements in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case






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






45. A method of polling - considered less reliable than a random sample - in which interviewers are instructed to question members of a particular group in proportion to their percentage in the population as a whole.






46. These party members take active non-leadership roles such as working polls or contributing money to campaigns. Tend to compromise on important issues and are mostly concerned about winning elections.






47. In 2002 - a federal appeals court struck down the Pledge of Allegiance on the grounds that it violated ________________.






48. Committees of Congress composed of both representatives and senators.






49. A term often used to describe the economic and political ties between the military establishment and the defense-aerospace industry.






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