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. International agreements between the president and foreign heads of state that - unlike treaties - do not require Senate approval.






2. First civil rights organization to use non-violent tactics to promote racial equality and desegregation






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






4. A law passed by Congress in 1973 in an effort to set a time limit on the use of combat forces abroad by a president.






5. This 1963 case extended the right to counsel to all felony cases.






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






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






8. A system in which national and state government have shared or overlapping powers. FDR's New Deal legislation established this system in the US.






9. 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______________.






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






11. Requires the Electoral College to vote for President and Vice President separately.






12. Practice by which voters of one party crossing over and voting in the primary of another party - effectively allowing a party to help choose its opposition's candidate.






13. In Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972) - the Supreme Court extended the right to counsel to those accused of misdemeanors if the defendant is _____________.






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






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






16. Infamous 1735 English case established the precedent for Freedom of the Press in the US.






17. Members of this party typically include Conservative Christian groups - higher socio-economic classes - middle-class white collar - and suburban voters.






18. When neither political party is dominant.






19. A form of city government under which a board of city commissioners is popularly elected (often on a nonpartisan ballot). The commissioners make policy as a city council - but they also run city departments as administrators.






20. Repealed by the 21st Amendment - this Amendment prohibited alcohol.






21. In the Federalist Papers - James Madison proposed that the states under the new Constitution would retain ____________ sovereignty.






22. When the President's own party gains power and influence - it more puts pressure on the President to conform to the will of the party - leading to________________ between the President and the party to define their public identities






23. Judicial Check on Legislative Branch. Not specifically outlined in the Constitution - but established in the case of Marbury v. Madison through the application of the Supremacy Clause in Article VI.






24. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was somewhat undermined by racist practices in the real estate market such as _____________ and ______________ - which continued illegally in many areas following passage of the Act.






25. If significant amendments are made to a bill during committee - the bill is sometimes given a new number as a _______________.






26. Guarantees that any rights not explicitly outlined heretofore are reserved for the states.






27. The principle of civilian control of the military - based on the clear constitutional power of the president as supreme commander of the armed forces.






28. The sum of the goals - decisions - and actions that govern a nation's relations with the rest of the world.






29. Smith v. Allwight (1994) was the first vase in which the Supreme Court upheld the voting rights of _____________ in state primary elections.






30. The right of the Supreme Court - under the Constitution - to hear certain kinds of cases directly - such as cases involving foreign diplomats - or cases in which one of the 50 states is a party.






31. 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.






32. The amount of money available when the government's income is greater than what it spends in a fiscal year.






33. A provision of law in which Congress asserts the power to nullify actions of the executive branch. In 1983 the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional - but Congress continued to pass laws containing such provisions.






34. Plan that proposed unicameral legislature with each state having one vote.






35. The period of time after the election of FDR until the Vietnam War was dominated by the Democratic Party and know as the __________________ Era.






36. Established national income tax.






37. While the voting rights act of 1965 did direct the Attorney General to investigate the constitutionality of poll taxes and prohibit literacy tests - it did not expressly prohibit _____________.






38. Legislative house whose membership was intended to represent the state.






39. Economists generally agree that the major responsibility for promoting prosperity and full employment falls on ________________.






40. A group of writers - journalists - and critics who exposed corporate malfeasance and political corruption in the first decade of the 20th century.






41. Cabinet department responsible for insuring mortgages and providing housing subsidies. Established in 1965






42. In this case - a gay man from Georgia charged with committing sodomy in his own home with a consenting adult. The court ruled that the Constitution does not explicitly grant the right for homosexuals to practice their lifestyle and that laws against






43. Spending determined by the number of qualified recipients and their legally determined need is called






44. Which branch has the power to stop an executive order?






45. Term limit for House of Representatives.






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






47. Colonies controlled by the British king through governors appointed by him and through the king's veto power over colonial laws.






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






49. A place of work in which any person may be hired provided that he or she joins the union within a specified time.






50. In the 1964 case of ____________ - the Supreme Court: established 'one person - one vote' -