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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. 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.






2. 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.






3. Overall spending targets set by the Congress.






4. First Executive Branch






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






6. This 1st amendment clause prohibits the government from making any law prohibiting the exercise of any religion






7. Number of current cabinet positions under GW Bush.






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






9. 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.






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






11. Appointed by Eisenhower - this Supreme court justice who played an important role in the court's stance on the advancement of civil rights.






12. Programs mandated by law and not subject to annual review by Congress or the president.






13. Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution - for example - the authority to print money.






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






15. 1798 Act that criminalized speech that was derisive to the government. Later ruled unconstitutional - Andrew Jackson issued blanket pardon in 1801






16. Authority based on an individual's outstanding traits - which attract followers






17. Formerly known as the Anti-Federalist - this party lead by Thomas Jefferson advocated states rights pressing the causes of the common people and agrarian interest. Dominated the political arena until the Civil War.






18. Laws - rules - and government programs designed to protect individual rights and specific groups - as well as to benefit society as a whole in such areas as health - worker safety - consumer protection - and the environment.






19. A government that undertakes responsibility for the welfare of its citizens through programs in public health and public housing and pensions and unemployment compensation etc.






20. Bills passed by Congress to pay for the spending it has authorized.






21. 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






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






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






24. The most important committees - always assembled and delegated with the responsibility of handling all bills under their concern. Includes the Ways and Means - Appropriations - Budget - Rules and Agriculture Committees.






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






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






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






28. This house committee is responsible for Supervising the authority of the federal government to borrow money - Raising the revenue required to finance the federal government by levying taxes - Overseeing Social Security and other social insurance prog






29. A system of _______________ - as in Italy - encourages the existence of many parties by allotting seats to competing candidates according to the percentage of votes they win.






30. Legislature bills that affect only a small group of citizens.






31. After a bill is assigned to a committee - the next step is typically a ______________.






32. In 1872 - Susan B Anthony was arrested in Rochester - New York for






33. The introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution - setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words - 'We the people of the United States - in order to form a more perfect union. ...'






34. Age Requirement for House of Representatives.






35. Presidential management model requiring the President to have strong leadership skills and a keen eye for detail. FDR and JFK were well known for this style of leadership.






36. First African American appointed to the Supreme Court






37. The way things actually are.






38. An extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion






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






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






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






42. The head of a national political party






43. Prohibits the use of cruel or unusual punishment.






44. The only court specifically outlined in the Constitution.






45. The spread of nuclear weapons to new nations






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






47. 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.






48. 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.






49. Law enacted by Congress - or by state legislatures or local legislative bodies.






50. Law enacted in 1939 to prohibit civil servants from taking activists roles in partisan campaigns .This act prohibited federal employees from making political contributions - working for a particualr party -or campaining for a particualr canidate






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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