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. Between 1909 and 2002 - the number of daily newspapers in the United States______________.






2. Funds spent for or against a candidate by committees not formally connected to the candidate's campaign and without coordination with the campaign.






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






4. Devolutionary system in which the national government returns tax dollars to the state and local governments primarily in the form of block grants.






5. A world economy characterized by the free movement of goods - capital - labor - and information across national borders.






6. The expression of attitudes about government and politics.






7. The yearly value of goods and services produced within a country.






8. The strongest factor contributing to an individual's political socialization tends to be






9. Powers of the national government that flow from its enumerated powers and the 'elastic clause' of the Constitution.






10. 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.






11. ____________ often influence political appointments in an effort to influence bureaucracy.






12. 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. ...'






13. The Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 restructured the number of ______________ in both the House and Senate.






14. Legislative branch incorporating two houses.






15. The name commonly given to a private group - regardless of size - organized to elect political candidates. An organization becomes one by receiving contributions or making expenditures in excess of $1 -000 for the purpose of influencing a federal ele






16. 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.






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






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






19. This House committee is responsible for all taxes - tariffs - and other revenue raising measures in addition to social security - child support - Medicare - foster care - and unemployment.






20. 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






21. Unwritten law based on custom and tradition.






22. Responsibilities include: Coordinating the nation's intelligence activities and Evaluating and disseminating intelligence that affects national security






23. Puerto Rico has ____________ status.






24. Presides over the Senate without voting privileges except in the case of a tie.






25. A word that comes from two Greek roots - demos - 'the populace -' and kratia - 'rule'






26. The power of the president - struck down by the Supreme Court in 1998 - to veto parts of appropriations bills. Most state governors have this power.






27. The practice of victorious politicians to reward their followers with jobs. Also known as the spoils system.






28. Programs are designed to give preferential access to education - employment - health care - or social welfare to groups of people - especially minorities and women - who have historically been discriminated against.






29. Its the responsibility of ___________ committees of a political party to solidify the party within each state and organize primary elections






30. First step in the Policy Making Cycle.






31. An economic system in which the factors of production are owned by the publicand operate for the welfare of all.






32. Constitutional protection of the accused to not be tried for the same crime twice.






33. The Democrats control over politics during the 20th century ended with this President's unpopular handling of the Vietnam War.






34. Included are Agriculture - Nutrition - and Forestry; Appropriations; Armed Services; Banking - Housing and Urban Affairs; Commerce - Science and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Public Works; Finance; Health - Education -






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






36. Act of exchanging favors for mutual gain






37. Requires that a suspect in a federal case be arraigned without unnecessary delay.






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






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






40. These voters tend to have a high voter turnout because of their strong since of civic duty due to growing up during an era of political and civil unrest.






41. The spread of nuclear weapons to new nations






42. The practice under which victorious politicians reward their followers with jobs.






43. In 1987 - the FCC abandoned the fairness doctrine on the grounds that it unconstitutionally restricted the ______________ rights of broadcasters.






44. This customary power allows the President to grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses.






45. According to V. O. Key - Jr. - the Populist Party of the 1890s is an example of a ____________________.






46. The pursuit and exercise of power






47. Leader of the House of Representatives - elected by the majority party. 2nd in line of succession for the Presidency.






48. The Supremacy Clause appears in ________________ of the Constitution.






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






50. Concept of government by the people in which everyone is free to vote - but normally whoever gets the most votes wins the election and represents all the people - including those who voted for the losing candidate.