CLEP AMERICAN GOVERNMENT TEST 1 NEWEST
ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 200 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
Which of the following statements best reflects the pluralist theory of American
politics? - ANSWER: Public policies emerge from compromises reached among
competing groups.
Which of the following is generally the most significant influence on an individual's
identification with a particular political party? - ANSWER: Family
Which of the following committee assignments would confer the most power and
influence on members of the House of Representatives? - ANSWER: Ways and means
committee
Which of the following statements about Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka is
correct? - ANSWER: It declared segregation by race in public schools
unconstitutional.
Prior to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, literacy tests were used by some southern
states to - ANSWER: Prevent African Americans from exercising their right to vote
The practice whereby individual senators can veto federal judicial nominations in
their respective states is called - ANSWER: Senatorial courtesy
Differences between House and Senate versions of a bill are resolved in - ANSWER: A
conference committee
Which of the following principles protects a citizen from imprisonment without trial?
- ANSWER: Due process
The passage of legislation in Congress often depends on mutual accommodations
among members. This suggests that, to some extent, congressional behavior is based
on - ANSWER: The principle of reciprocity
Which of the following statements accurately describes the president's veto power?
- ANSWER: A president can threaten to veto a bill that is under discussion in order to
influence congressional decision making.
Congress is usually unable to override a president's veto
All of the following issues were decided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 -
ANSWER: -Representation in the legislature
-The method of electing the president
-The congressional power to override a presidential veto
-Qualifications for members of the House and Senate
, Which of the following is an example of soft money? - ANSWER: Money given to a
political party for advertisements about the party's goals
The usefulness to the president of having cabinet members as political advisers is
undermined by the fact that - ANSWER: Cabinet members are often divided between
the loyalty to the president as well as their own executive departments
All of the following are constitutional rights that neither the federal government nor
the state can restrict. The right to - ANSWER: -Remain silent during questioning
-Be represented by counsel
-Be informed of the charges pending
-Receive a trial by jury in a criminal case
In the electoral history of the United States, third parties have been effective
vehicles of protest when they - ANSWER: Dramatized issues and positions that were
being ignored by major parties
Which of the following best defines the term "judicial activism"? - ANSWER: The
attempts by judges to influence public policy through their case decisions.
In the past 30 years, the single most important variable in determining the outcome
of an election for a member of the House of Representatives has been - ANSWER:
incumbency
Which of the following best describes the concept of federalism embodied in the
United States government? - ANSWER: The constitution divides power between a
central government and its constituent governments with some powers being
shared.
High levels of political party participation have been found to be positively
associated with - ANSWER: -High level of interest in politics
-A sense of political efficacy
-A strong sense of civic duty
The power of the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives primarily stems
from its authority to - ANSWER: Limit the time for debate and determine whether
amendments to a bill can be considered
Which of the following is a function of the White House office? - ANSWER: Advising
the president on political decisions
A major difference between political parties and interest groups is that interest
groups - ANSWER: Do not occupy a place on the ballot
An election is realigning or critical election if - ANSWER: There is a lasting change in
party coalition
ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 200 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
Which of the following statements best reflects the pluralist theory of American
politics? - ANSWER: Public policies emerge from compromises reached among
competing groups.
Which of the following is generally the most significant influence on an individual's
identification with a particular political party? - ANSWER: Family
Which of the following committee assignments would confer the most power and
influence on members of the House of Representatives? - ANSWER: Ways and means
committee
Which of the following statements about Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka is
correct? - ANSWER: It declared segregation by race in public schools
unconstitutional.
Prior to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, literacy tests were used by some southern
states to - ANSWER: Prevent African Americans from exercising their right to vote
The practice whereby individual senators can veto federal judicial nominations in
their respective states is called - ANSWER: Senatorial courtesy
Differences between House and Senate versions of a bill are resolved in - ANSWER: A
conference committee
Which of the following principles protects a citizen from imprisonment without trial?
- ANSWER: Due process
The passage of legislation in Congress often depends on mutual accommodations
among members. This suggests that, to some extent, congressional behavior is based
on - ANSWER: The principle of reciprocity
Which of the following statements accurately describes the president's veto power?
- ANSWER: A president can threaten to veto a bill that is under discussion in order to
influence congressional decision making.
Congress is usually unable to override a president's veto
All of the following issues were decided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 -
ANSWER: -Representation in the legislature
-The method of electing the president
-The congressional power to override a presidential veto
-Qualifications for members of the House and Senate
, Which of the following is an example of soft money? - ANSWER: Money given to a
political party for advertisements about the party's goals
The usefulness to the president of having cabinet members as political advisers is
undermined by the fact that - ANSWER: Cabinet members are often divided between
the loyalty to the president as well as their own executive departments
All of the following are constitutional rights that neither the federal government nor
the state can restrict. The right to - ANSWER: -Remain silent during questioning
-Be represented by counsel
-Be informed of the charges pending
-Receive a trial by jury in a criminal case
In the electoral history of the United States, third parties have been effective
vehicles of protest when they - ANSWER: Dramatized issues and positions that were
being ignored by major parties
Which of the following best defines the term "judicial activism"? - ANSWER: The
attempts by judges to influence public policy through their case decisions.
In the past 30 years, the single most important variable in determining the outcome
of an election for a member of the House of Representatives has been - ANSWER:
incumbency
Which of the following best describes the concept of federalism embodied in the
United States government? - ANSWER: The constitution divides power between a
central government and its constituent governments with some powers being
shared.
High levels of political party participation have been found to be positively
associated with - ANSWER: -High level of interest in politics
-A sense of political efficacy
-A strong sense of civic duty
The power of the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives primarily stems
from its authority to - ANSWER: Limit the time for debate and determine whether
amendments to a bill can be considered
Which of the following is a function of the White House office? - ANSWER: Advising
the president on political decisions
A major difference between political parties and interest groups is that interest
groups - ANSWER: Do not occupy a place on the ballot
An election is realigning or critical election if - ANSWER: There is a lasting change in
party coalition
