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






2. Independent agencies governed by an appointed and confirmed commission. Examples include the Food and Drug Administration - Environmental Protection Agency - and the Securities and Exchange Commission.






3. Political commercials that strongly attack a rival candidate.






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






5. 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.






6. Provisions tacked on to a piece of legislation that are not relevant to the bill.






7. 14th Amendment is often used to support the right to ____________.






8. Things government decides to do - example: taxation - crime control - national defense - education - etc.






9. Formal approval or consent given to a constitution - constitutional amendment - or treaty before it goes into effect.






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






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






12. This called for three-fifths of all slaves in a state were counted for purposes of apportioning representation in the House of Representatives.






13. Committees appointed for investigative or crisis situations.






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






15. Early civil rights leader established the Niagara Movement and helped to establish the NAACP.






16. Number of original cabinet positions under George Washington.






17. Puerto Rico has ____________ status.






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






19. 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






20. Direct oral or written speech directed at a specific individual or group






21. At one time - the press generally refrained from publishing personal information that would be damaging. FDR - Eisenhower - and JFK all benefited from this reluctance to engage in _____________________. However - the American publics appetite for sen






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






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






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






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






26. Article VII of the Constitution outlines the process of ____________________.






27. The constitutional requirement (in article II - sec 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed - even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws






28. Senators are re-elected every ___ years with 1/3 of the Senate being up for election every 2 years.






29. ___________ vote in both the House and Senate may override a Presidential veto of legislation.






30. Minor criminal offenses - such as speeding.






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






32. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






33. In 1943 - The Supreme Court upheld the Jehovah's Witnesses right to refrain from saluting the American flag based on their right to _____________.






34. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over budget and appointments of leadership.






35. The right to privacy is ___________ in the Constitution.






36. Most likely to board a foreign ship suspected of drug trafficking at a U.S. port






37. 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.






38. The Supreme Court's broad interpretation of this clause has denied direct aid from the government for religious groups - but does allow religious groups to make use of government services such as police and fire.






39. Unwritten law based on custom and tradition.






40. When the minority party becomes stronger than the majority party - usually the result of winning a critical election.






41. 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






42. 1966 Act allowing citizens to inspect all government records with the exception of classified military or intelligence documents - trade secrets or private personnel files.






43. Most house committees are limited to _____ subcommittees.






44. Most modern political scientists believe there is ________________ between politics and government.






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






46. Responsible for further investigation - hearings - and amendment to a bill






47. An opinion of one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion of the court which gives rise to its judgment.






48. Most Americans support ______________ primarily as part of their criticism of PACs






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






50. Cabinet department oversees nuclear reactors.Established in 1973 in response to the Energy Crisis.