American Government CLEP Study Guid

American Government CLEP
Study Guide
Which of the following is generally the most significant influence on an individual's
identification with a particular political party? - Answer-Family


Which statement best reflects the pluralist theory of American politics? - Answer-
Public policies emerge from compromises reached among competing groups.


Which of the following committee assignments would confer the most power and
influence on members of the House of Representatives? - Answer-Ways and Means


What is the Ways and Means committee? - Answer-A permanent committee of the
House of Representatives, which makes recommendations to the House on all bills
for raising revenue. The committee is the principal source of legislation concerning
issues such as taxation, customs duties, and international trade agreements.


Which statement about Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka is correct? - Answer-
It declared segregation by race in the 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... - Answer-in a
conference room meeting.


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-Deference to state legislatures


The following statements accurately describe the president's veto power - Answer-1.
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A president sometimes threatens to veto a bill that is under discussion in order to
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influence congressional decision making. 2. Congress is usually unable to override a
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president's veto. j




All of the following issues were decided at the constitutional Convention of 1787 -
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Answer-Representation in the legislature; the method of electing the president; j j j j j j j j j j




congressional power to override a presidential veto; qualifications for members of j j j j j j j j j j j




the House and Senate
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This is an example of soft money - Answer-Money that is given to a political party for
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advertisements about the party's goals j j j j




The usefulness to the president of having cabinet members as political advisers is
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undermined by the fact that - Answer-the loyalties of cabinet members are often j j j j j j j j j j j j j




divided between loyalty to the president and loyalty to their own executive
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departments.


In the electoral history of the United States third parties have been effective vehicles
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of protest when they - Answer-dramatized issues and positions that were being
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ignored by the major parties j j j j




The following best defines the term "judicial activism" - Answer-The attempts by
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judges to influence public policy through their case decisions.
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