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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. A broad concept that may be defined in many ways - but the term is generally used to refer to the basic protection and defense of the nation.






2. Th joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the twelfth amendment






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






4. Although camera are allowed in most trial courts - they are banned from ______________.






5. The separation of people by race.






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






7. The spread of nuclear weapons to more nations.






8. Limitations on this freedom including prohibition of defamation and obscenity - limitation on commercial speech - and restriction of inciting words that may cause immediate danger.






9. Minor criminal offenses - such as speeding.






10. Loose - competitive relationships among policy experts - interest groups - congressional committees - and federal agencies. Many observers argue that these have replaced iron triangles.






11. A policy that takes something away from one person and gives it to someone else -






12. The 24th amendment banned _____________ - making it harder for states to discriminate against poor and minority voters.






13. Legislative opinions on a matter that do not require Presidential signature.






14. This powerful House committee is in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor.






15. The single biggest item in campaign spending at the presidential level is ___________________.






16. A powerful alliance of mutual benefit among an agency or unit of the government - an interest group - and a committee or subcommittee of Congress. Also called a triangle or iron triangle.






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






18. The pursuit and exercise of power.






19. Agenda that includes issues that affect the daily lives of the people.






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






21. In Congress - _____________ are informal organizations of individual congressional representatives with like interests or constituencies. Members work together to promote the interests of the groups they represent through legislation - policy - and p






22. Government employees who publicly expose evidence of official waste or corruption that they have learned about in the course of their duties.






23. Unwritten law based on custom and tradition.






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. Inherent powers of state governments to pass laws to protect health - safety - and welfare; the national government has no directly granted police powers but accomplishes the same goals through other delegated powers.






26. The 23rd Amendment guaranteed voting rights to whom?






27. Popular until the early 20th century when they lost favor to primaries due to corruption - now used in only 12 states.






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






29. Committees appointed for investigative or crisis situations.






30. A philosophy that the Supreme Court should avoid constitutional questions when possible and uphold acts of Congress unless they clearly violate a specific section of the Constitution.






31. An unwritten custom by which individual senators who belong to the same political party as the president exercise an informal veto power over presidential appointments in their states.






32. 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






33. This 1972 Supreme Court case struck down all state laws allowing the death penalty stating that they allowed for too much discretion on the part of the judge and jury resulting in lack of consistent administration of the penalty.






34. An issue on which voters distinguish rival parties by the degree to which they associate each party or candidate with conditions - goals - or symbols the electorate universally approves or disapproves of. Examples of such issues are economic prosperi






35. First step in the Policy Making Cycle.






36. In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the 1964 Civil Rights Act does not prohibit private affirmative action programs?






37. 1917 Reincarnation of the Sedition Act during WWI






38. Which two British Acts - passed in 1764 - caused American colonists for the first time to organize protests against the injustices of British rule - and sparked the rallying cry 'no taxation without representation'?






39. The coming to power of a new coalition - replacing an old dominant coalition of the other party






40. Clause of the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 10) intended to prohibit state governments from modifying contracts made between individuals; interpreted as prohibiting state governments from taking actions that adversely affect property rights.






41. The belief that one can understand politics and therefore participate in politics






42. Form of government in which the people are sovereign but their power is exercised by their elected representatives.






43. Which historical figure described democracy as 'the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time?'






44. Legislative house responsible for impeachment trials.






45. According to the Speedy Trial Act of 1974 - federal trials must commence within _______ days of arrest with the exception of delay for mental health testing of the defendant and illness of the defendant or key witness.






46. Proponents of limited government - unregulated free markets - national self-reliance - and conventional social values are best describes as






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






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






49. Term limit for House of Representatives.






50. These parties often emerge as off-shoots of major parties or as single-issue parties. They typically act as critic/innovator bringing attention to issues and influencing the platforms of the major parties.







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