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 view of the majority of the Supreme Court that First Amendment rights must be weighed against the competing needs of the community to preserve order.






2. While the verbiage of the 4th Amendment is vague as to what constitutes 'reasonable'. Police departments must rely on _____________; they cannot act on unfounded suspicion.






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






4. Between conventions - the governing body of a major political party. Members of this group are chosen in the states and formally elected by the party






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






6. Love of country and a desire for independence; it can also mean an excessive form of patriotism exploited by political leaders.






7. Germany - Switzerland - and India are examples of countries with a _______________ system of government.






8. Constitutionally required address by the President typically given in a joint session of Congress.






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






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. This type of government suits a large country with a diverse population






12. This contraversial legal technicality intended to protect civil liberties has allowed criminals to remain free when the courts refuse to admit evidence that may have been obtained illegally.






13. While both Asian and Hispanic immigrants experience various types of discrimination - Hispanic immigrants are more likely to experience economic discrimination. This explains why most Hispanics identify with the ____________ party - while Asians do n






14. While these voters have traditionally supported the Democrats - some have begun to support Republicans in light of the Democrats liberal policies on abortion.






15. This category of interest groups has been the strongest and most effective in lobbying Washington






16. This group of voters historically supported Republicans - a party founded on an anti-slavery platform. During the 1930's they began supporting the New Deal policies of the Democratic party.






17. A vote in the House of Representatives in which the position of each member is noted and published in the Congressional Record.






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






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






20. Responsible for determining which bills will be considered on the House floor - and when they will be considered.






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






22. The estimated number of illegal aliens living in the US.






23. The federal fiscal year begins ___________.






24. The philosophy that government should intervene as little as possible in economic affairs.






25. The Immigration Act of 1965 abolished the practice of _______________ allowing more diversity among immigrants.






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






27. The 1776 pamphlet by Thomas Paine that prompted King George III's Prohibitory Act and the sending of mercenaries to the colonies.






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






29. In the view of W. Lance Bennett - the people who hold and express opinions are constantly changing - as are the issues and conditions to which the public responds. As a result - Bennett suggests that public opinion is______________.






30. Defamation by written or printed words - pictures - or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures.






31. Elects the President if no candidate receives 270 Electoral College votes.






32. Private groups that attempt to influence the government to respond to the shared attitudes of their members.






33. Ruling by the Supreme Court in 1954 that racial segregation in public schools violates the Fourteenth Amendment's requirement of equal protection of the laws for all persons.






34. Minor criminal offenses - such as speeding.






35. California measure designed to deny welfare and other benefits to illegal aliens. Overwhelmingly passed the popular vote - but overturned in federal court because it extending beyond the bounds of state rights to attempt to control immigration.






36. Voting based on looking back and making judgments about the way things have gone and the kind of government experienced during a political leader's time in office.






37. The way things should be by law






38. A pluralist theory by C. Wright Mills where a small number of wealthy elite wield most of the power. Fundamental to all governments around the world - the elite rule while they make the lower classes feel like they are involved in democracy. The elit






39. A joint committee of Congress established to help negotiate discrepancies and gain consensus between legislation passed in each house before sending the bill to the President.






40. The primary purpose of _______________consolidate the nation's disability laws and provide for strong federal enforcement of a strengthened disability rights mandate






41. During the 1800's and early 1900's - some state and local party committees became ________________ dominating party activities. Committee members would promise new recruits money - jobs - and other benefits for joining and voting the straight party t






42. This amendment includes the due process clause - the equal protection clause - and gave rights to former slaves.






43. Gave authority over atomic energy from military to civilians.






44. Money spent by individuals or gorups not asociated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office






45. Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Congress authorized and appropriated.






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






47. A group of independent states or nations that come together for a common purpose and whose central authority is usually limited to defense and foreign relations.






48. Polls taken as people leave voting places. In the past - television networks sometimes used these polls to predict election outcomes before the polls close. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to project the winner in a state until the major






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






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