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. In 2002 - a federal appeals court struck down the Pledge of Allegiance on the grounds that it violated ________________.






2. Constitutionally required address by the President typically given in a joint session of Congress.






3. Defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing - pictures






4. In the 1990 case OR State Employment Division v. Smith 1990 - the Supreme court allowed the state to fire employees who use peyote during native American religious ceremonies because it is in violation of drug laws. In this case - which clause of the






5. A legislative leader of each party who is responsible for rounding up party members for important votes.






6. Libel - obscenity - fighting words - and commercial speech - which are not entitled to constitutional protection in all circumstances.






7. The rules and regulations made and applied by federal regulatory agencies and commissions.






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






9. Belief in the value of strong government to provide economic secruity and protection for civil rights - combined with a belief in personal freedom from government intervention in social conduct






10. Until the law was changed in 2002 - the term described unregulated campaign funds not subject to the limits of federal law because they went to party committees and not directly to candidates. The 2002 law banned contributions of soft money to nation






11. A registered voter may vote in any party primary regardless of his own party affiliation. When voters do not register with a party before the primary - it is called a pick-a-party primary because the voter can select which party's primary he or she w






12. Assigns bills to the appropriate House committee.






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






14. This branch of government checks Bureaucracy through its control over the creation and elimination of agencies as well as its control over budget appropriations.






15. The policy established after the Second World War that America must take an active leadership role in world affairs






16. Redefined Presidential succession and disability.






17. In Schenck v. US (1919) - The Supreme Court ruled that government may prohibit speech that creates an immediate threat of criminal action. Essentially established different standards for speech during wartime than in peacetime. Thus - establishing th






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






19. An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on a sharply limited government - promoting a free market economy - a non-interventionist foreign policy - and an absence of regulation in the moral and social spheres.






20. First proposed in 1789 - this amendment passed in 1992 prohibits Congress from raising their own pay. Pay raises may not take affect until the beginning of the next term.






21. Wisconsin Republican who exploited public concern for political gain during the 1950's through freewheeling investigations of alleged Communists.






22. 1946 Act requiring bureaucratic agencies to appeal to the affected parties before adopting new policies. Legislative check on Bureaucracy.






23. American politics is dominated by a small ___________ who is responsible for most of the important policy decisions






24. This clause of the 1st amendment establishes a 'wall of separation' between church and state.






25. Theory of democracy in which competition among common interest groups promote ideas to influence politics






26. In 1992 - the television networks agreed not to release these until a majority of polling places had closed in each state






27. An offical who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator






28. States that arrestees must be informed of their right to remain silent - that anything they say can be held against them in a court - that they have a right to an attorney and that an attorney will be appointed to them if they cannot afford one.






29. Because there is no Senate Rules Committee - Senators can debate a bill for an _________________ time.






30. Eisenhower's philosophy of being liberal in all things human and being conservative with all things fiscal. Appealed to both Republicans and Democrats.






31. Elects the President if no candidate receives 270 Electoral College votes.






32. Capital punishment is also known as the _________________.






33. Proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 as an attempt to form a union of the colonies. Later used to help form the Articles of Confederation.






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






35. Number of years a Representative must reside in the US prior to taking office






36. The federal fiscal year begins ___________.






37. 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.






38. A Latin phrase meaning 'stand by past decisions -' a principle that judges often use in deciding cases. Ruling based on precedents.






39. A jury of 6 to 12 persons who determine guilt or innocence in a civil or criminal action






40. ______________ refers to the differences in political attitudes and voting behavior between men and women






41. 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 -






42. A controversial law overwhelmingly passed by Congress in October 2001 - after the terrorist attacks of September 11 on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It greatly expanded the power of federal law enforcement authorities to move against suspe






43. In Woodson v. North Carolina - the Supreme Court struck down mandatory sentencing of capital punishment as ______________________ because it does not allow for any discretion.






44. In order to win support for ratification of the Constitution - the Federalists had to promise that the first order of business under a new government would be to _______________.






45. In charge of all state funds. Supervises the collection of taxes and payment of state's bill






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






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






48. The 1896 case of Plessy v. Fergusan established the racial segregation policy of __________________.






49. Spending by the national committees of the political parties to support the election of congressional candidates is known as






50. Requires reporting of financial information by companies with publicly traded securities