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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. Congress because they're tied to the people.


3. 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






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






5. A slave that didn't have due process rights in a free state. 1857.






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






7. 1965 - state forbid the use of contraceptive between married couples. Supreme court overturned the decision.






8. Affecting ambassadors and other public ministers and consuls and disputes between the states.






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






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






11. 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.






12. 13th - abolished slavery. 14th - guaranteed equal protection and due process. 15th - guarenteed voting rights for African American men.






13. 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






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






15. 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.






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






17. Process that executive and independent agencies use to create - or promulgate - regulations.






18. WWll - 1941






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






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






21. A symbol of the inability of the government to under the Articles of Confederation to maintain order.


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






23. 1896 - required segregation of the reaces on trolleys and other public carriers. Louisiana.






24. High-ranking military officers who represent the Navy - Army - Air Force and Marines. They assist the civilian leaders of the Department of Defense-advise the president on security matters.






25. Number of Supreme Court Justices






26. Ability of courts to exclude evidence obtained in violation of the 4th amendment.






27. A Revolutionary War veteran who led a rebellion of farmers against tax collectors and the banks that were siezing their property.






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






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






30. 30 minutes.






31. % of votes to override a presidential veto






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






33. Most common job of Senators






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






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






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






37. Regulation issued by the president that has the effect and formal status of legislation.






38. A governmental agency that regulates businesses in the public interest.






39. The power to appoint high-ranking officials.


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






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






42. A survey of the origins and development of the political system in the United States from the colonial days to modern times with an emphasis on the Constitution - various political structures such as the legislative - executive - and judicial branche






43. # of Cases the Supreme Court receives and hears






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






45. A rule that gov't action toward religion is permissible if it is secular in purpose. Separation of law and religion.


46. 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






47. 1954 - stopped state from using race as a criterion of discrimination and gave national gov't the power to intervene.






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






49. Federal employees are elected/hired based on merit.






50. Wrote the final version of the Constitution.