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CLEP Political Science Us

Subjects : clep, political-science
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. de jure - 'by law'. Legally enforced practices - such as school segregation in the South before the 1960s. De facto - 'by fact'. Practices that occur even when there is no legal enforcement - such as school segregation in much of the US today.






2. Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return.






3. Makes gov't have heavy burden of proof to regulate & restrict speech.






4. The effort to oversee or to supervise how the executive branch carries out legislation.






5. The power to appoint high-ranking officials.


6. Reasserted the principle of congressional war power - required the president to inform Congress of any planned military campaign. 1973.






7. Constitutional powers that are assigned to one governmental agency but that are exercised by another agency with the express permission of the first.






8. 30 minutes.






9. Persuade people - power within his branch - and going public.






10. Requires police to read the Miranda rights so they know they don't have to self incriminate.






11. A government agency that operates like a business corporation - created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program.






12. President of the body at the Constitutional Convention.






13. The continuous holding of the floor by a party to prevent action. Needs 3/5 to end.






14. First ten amendments to the US Constitution - ratified in 1971; ensure the rights and liberties to the people.






15. A series of meetings to reform the Articles of Confederation convened in Philadelphia in 1787 in response to the economic and social disorder and the dangers of foreign intervention. The result was an entirely new plan of government - the Constitutio






16. The chief presiding officer of the HoR. The speaker is the most important party and House leader - can influence lefislative agenda - fate of individual pieces of legislation - and members positions with the House.






17. Save Our State - 1994 - Prohibit illegal aliens from using health care - public education - and other social services in the U.S. State of California.






18. A claim by a victorious candidate that the electorate has given him or her special authority to carry out promises made during the campaign.






19. Address banking problems and Americas Central Bank.






20. Let the decision stand; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases.






21. The delegation of authority (especially from a central to a regional government).






22. An agreement - between president and other country that is like treaty but doesn't require Congress agreement.






23. An inability to regulate interstate and foreign trade - lack of a chief executive and a national court system - and its rule that amendments must be approved by unanimous consent.






24. No excessive bail and no cruel/unusual punishment.






25. Allows the right to a legal representation in all felony cases.






26. What document was heavily influenced by Locke's philosophies?






27. The civil right to obtain a writ of habeas corpus as protection against illegal imprisonment.






28. The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress






29. Courts usurp authority and make law rather than interpret constitution (otherwise known as judicial activism).






30. An agency of the United States government that is created by an act of Congress and is independent of the executive departments.






31. Legal requirement that the state must respect all of the legal rights that are owed to a person.






32. State no longer had the authority to make private sexual behavior a crime.






33. Laws enacted by southern states following Reconstruction that discriminated against African American.






34. A case brought by someone to help him or her and all others who are similarly situated.






35. One of the Civil War amendments; guaranteed equal protection and due process.






36. (law) The right and power to interpret and apply the law.






37. Interstate Commerce Commission 1887. Created over railroad problems.






38. The branch of the United States government that is responsible for carrying out the laws.






39. 1965 - state forbid the use of contraceptive between married couples. Supreme court overturned the decision.






40. In 1920 the 19th was ratified to give women the right to vote.






41. An effort by a gov't agency to block the publication of material it deems libelous or harmful in some other way; censorship.






42. Who formalized the political science curriculum in the United States?






43. A legal rule stating who is authorized to start a lawsuit.






44. 1954 - stopped state from using race as a criterion of discrimination and gave national gov't the power to intervene.






45. A practice whereby agreements are made between legislators in voting for or against a bill; vote trading.






46. Law should not punish speech unless there was a clear and present danger of producing harmful actions






47. Number of Supreme Court Justices






48. Gave an expansion of free speech. Money for candidates is a form of free speech by 1st amendment. Early 1970s.






49. Implemented following the successful revolt of the British colonies in North America against imperial rule - the articles served as the national government from 1781-1787.






50. Civil liberties are rights that individuals have against government. Among our civil liberties are the right to free expression - the right to worship (or not) as we choose - and the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. Only the