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






2. Walter DeVries and Lance Tarrance have concluded that in many elections the outcome is determined by ______________.






3. Federal aid that states and localities may use mostly as they wish.






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






5. Assistants to the Majority and Minority Leaders of both the House and Senate.






6. Number of justices of the Supreme Court.






7. A judicial opinion agreed to by a majority of the members of a court. A majority opinion sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision.






8. Government regulation of the economy through its control over taxes and government spending. Controlled by the Department of Treasury.






9. These candidates win re-election to the House 80-90% of the time.






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






11. In the 1962 case of Robinson v. California - the Supreme Court ruled that incarcerating a drug addict is ______________________ because drug addiction is an illness.






12. Which committee assignments would confer the most power and influence on members of the Senate?






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






14. The president - the vice president - the heads of the major executive departments of the government - and certain other senior officials who may hold 'cabinet rank.'






15. An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted






16. The Supreme Court holds _____________ jurisdiction in cases against the US - ambassadors - public ministers - and consuls.






17. A provision of law in which Congress asserts the power to nullify actions of the executive branch. In 1983 the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional - but Congress continued to pass laws containing such provisions.






18. Smith v. Allwight (1994) was the first vase in which the Supreme Court upheld the voting rights of _____________ in state primary elections.






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






20. 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






21. The responsibility of the President to appoint federal judges when vacancies occur on the bench is referred to as






22. Established the Federal Reserve Bank - responsible for conducting the nation's monetary policy - maintaining the stability of the financial system - supervising and regulating banking institutions - and protecting the credit rights of consumers - and






23. A provision of the Federal Communications Act that requires broadcasters to provide the same amount of exposure to all legally qualified political candidates.






24. The drawing of the lines of congressional districts - or of any other political district - in order to favor one political party or group over another.






25. 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:






26. Members of this party typically include Conservative Christian groups - higher socio-economic classes - middle-class white collar - and suburban voters.






27. Committees that pull members from both the house and the senate who meet to discuss major policy issues such as economy and taxation.






28. A place of work in which any person may be hired provided that he or she joins the union within a specified time.






29. Method by which federal court judges may lose their position.






30. 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.






31. In Sweatt v. Painter (1950) - The Supreme Court upheld that ___________________ was inherently not the case as is applied to the University of Texas Law School.






32. Organizations or groups - such as labor unions or fraternal - professional - or religious groups - that may influence an individual's opinion.






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






34. Which of the following factors is likely to be the weakest indicator of an individual's political beliefs and opinions? Age - Race - Intelligence - or Religion






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






36. Raise Public Awareness - Create Policy Agenda - Prioritize Agenda - Enact Policy - Public Evaluation






37. 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






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






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






40. The response of the rest of society to actions by the authorities.






41. In Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972) - the Supreme Court extended the right to counsel to those accused of misdemeanors if the defendant is _____________.






42. A method of amending state constitutions under which proposed constitutional amendments can be placed on the ballot if enough signatures are obtained on a petition. Almost half the states also employ the initiative on the ballot to allow voters to en






43. Presidential management model in which the Chief of Staff plays a prominent role as the head of a military style chain of command. Used successfully by Reagan and Eisenhower.






44. 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.






45. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the concept of privacy included the right to a legal abortion?






46. The gap between the government's income and outlays.






47. A legislator who automatically mirrors the will of the majority of his or her constituents.






48. He United States Constitution was opposed by which group?






49. President requires their approval to appoint judges - ambassadors and other high officials.






50. Passed in 1883 - it created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.