CLEP American Government 2025 complete questions ( frequently tested) and answers| already graded A+

determind that Bill of Rights applied to the Fed govt and did not bind state govts, confirmed dual citizenship (citizens of both fed govt and state they reside in)

Barron v Baltimore, 1833

practiced in US, system of govt that divides govt responsibilities between state and fed govts

federalism

implies that the powers of the central and state govts are separate but overlapping

layer-cake federalism

idea that national and state govts are sovereign in their own distinct spheres, clear distinctions between govts

dual federalism

also known as marble-cake federalism, emphasizes responsibilities of state govts and the fed govt overlap, shared responsibilities

cooperative federalism

Article 1, Sec 2, fed courts use to enhance power of national govt, Congress has power to regulate commerce that takes place between States

commerce clause

14th Amendment, strike down segregationist laws

equal protection clause

segregation as a matter of law

de jure segregation

segregation resulting from the fact that people of different colors lived in different areas and therefore went to different schools

de facto segregation

grants to fund specific projects

categorical grants

federal grants with fewer strings attached, states prefer these to categorical grants

block grants

fed govt instructs a state to meet certain requirements without providing funding, for example the Real ID Act of 2005

unfunded mandate

shifting of power

devolution

Constitution, federal court system

Article III

presidential appointee within the Justice Dept who argues on the government's behalf

solicitor general

first step in a case being heard by the Supreme Court, calls for lower court to send records related to the case

writ of certiorari

the case is sent back to a lower court for retrial

remanded

an unsigned opinion

opinion per curiam

justices agree with their decision but for reasons different from those stated in the majority opinion

concurring opinion

Supreme Court decisions, public record

United States Report

under the Supreme Court, have general jurisdiction (over varied topics), trial courts related to federal govt or law, each state has at least 1

US district courts

appellate court, appeal made after US district court decision

US court of appeals

submitted by interest groups, "friend of the court" briefs persuade the court that it should decide a case a certain way

amicus curiae briefs

a court that grants the federal govt the power to place surveillance on suspected spies, initiated by FISA Act (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978)

FISA court

a senator's veto of a judicial nomination

senatorial courtesy

Supreme Court's main judicial officer, manages the Court itself, presides over the federal court system and the Judicial Conference of the US, setting the court system's priorities

chief justice

the power to determine what is and what isn't constitutional, established in Marbury v Madison, 1803

judicial review

judges acting as legislators and making policy as they see fit

judicial activism

federal judges decide narrow constitutional matters and don't usurp the power of the other branches of govt

judicial restraint

interpret the Constitution in light of its underpinning principles and in light of evolving moral and cultural standards, , "living Constitution", liberal

broad construction approach

wish to be faithful to the letter of the words of the Constitution

strict construction approach

govt right to acquire private property in the public interest

eminent domain

freedoms granted to us by the Constitution

civil liberties

privileges and powers granted to the people as equals under the law

civil rights

in Bill of Rights, 1st Amendment, Congress may not establish (found) an official religion

establishment clause

in Bill of Rights, 1st Amendment, individuals have freedom to engage in religious practices

free-exercise clause

provided courts/interest groups with a "Lemon Test" to determine whether their activity was constitutional, remained in place until 1997

Lemon v Kurtzman 1971

court decided that 1st Amendment of Constitution requires only govt neutrality toward religion, allowed public school teachers to teach remedial, nonreligious classes at religious schools at taxpayer expense

Agostini v Felton

court allowed parents to use publicly funded school vouchers to pay tuition at religious schools

Zelman v Simmons- Harris, 2002

Court held that a Christmas manger display, along with a depiction of Santa, on public property was constitutional

Lynch v Donnelly, 1984

Court prohibited Bible reading and prayer in public schools

Engel v Vitale

Court ruled that a state could not decline to give unemployment benefits on account of a Seventh-Day Adventist's refusal to work on a Saturday

Sherbert v Verner, 1963

"Clear and present danger" test, free speech

Schenck v US, 1919

Mapp v Ohio, evidence obtained illegally cannot be used against a defendant (4th Amendment)

exclusionary rule

if a warrant to gather evidence was based on faulty evidence but given in good faith, the evidence could still be used in trial

good faith exception principle

handing over to private enterprise work that was formerly done by government employees

privatization

if government regulates less and allows private enterprise greater freedom, government growth will slow, because there is less regulation to enforce

deregulation

turning over of functions carried out by federal government to the states

devolution

the party that generally favors privatization, deregulation and devolution more

Republicans

1. specialization

2. chain of command

3. rules and guidelines

4. written records

5. professionalism

5 characteristics of Bureaucracy

system where political victory went with benefits like the ability to give supporters jobs

spoils system

another term for the spoils system

patronage

first law to make some government jobs off-limits to patronage

Pendleton Act of 1883

the primary purpose of agencies within the federal bereaucracy

implement laws passed by Congress

write and enforce rules that regulate some element of industry (ICC)

independent regulatory commissions

government organization that sells services and thus generates its own revenue (USPS, US Mint)

government corporation

not part of an executive department but still under congressional and presidential oversight

independent agency

written rules of each bureaucracy (over 90,000 pages)

Federal Register

bureaucratic bodies resemble courts when they settle through a judicial process (when rules are broken)

rule adjudication

1. implement laws passed by Congress

2. regulation

3. rule-making

4. income redistribution

tasks of federal bureaucracies

lobbyists are former employees with the government agency they are lobbying

"revolving door"

federal organizations, congressional committees, and interest groups work together to benefit each other, public may not benefit though

iron triangles

groups with particular interest in a particular issue band together to advocate that issue

issue networks

agencies protecting the interests of their own agencies and careers, competing for "turf"

bureaucratic imperialism

media

"Fourth branch of government"

broadcast media, radio, television, Internet

mass media

newspaper, magazines

print media

1. hold politicians accountable

2. inform people about what the govt is up to

3. identify problems and present potential agenda items to the country

4. to make money (for-profit agencies)

purpose of news media:

the idea that TV makes one feel informed, when in fact, that's not actually happening

television hypothesis

depends on whether the public's attention is grabbed

newsworthiness

fixation on who's winning, who's losing, and the gamesmanship of campaigning

horse race journalism

snappy phrases

sound bites

easily digestible policy statements

talking points

professional commentators, talking heads

pundit class

people who pay close attention to political matters

attentive policy elites

editors and producers

media gatekeepers

Used by presidents when Congress is not in session to appoint ambassadors, judges of Supreme Court, or other "officers of the US" like cabinet members, when Congress reconvenes the appointee has to undergo formal confirmation process

recess appointment

presidential orders which have the force of law to create and shape policies without congressional approval

executive order

presidential statement made when a president signs a piece of legislation into law, giving the president a chance to state how he intends to enforce the law

signing statement

presidential arrangements with other nations, can be revoked by Congress but does not require congressional approval to make

executive agreement

broad authority given by Congress that enhances the president's power

delegation of powers

another form of delegation of powers from Congress, used with trade agreements with other nations that Congress can either approve/disapprove but not amend

fast-track authority

2/3 votes in the House and the Senate

requirements for overturning presidential veto

1. Vice president

2. speaker of the House of Reps

3. President pro tempore of Senate

4. Secretary of State

5. Secretary of Treasury

6. Attorney General

7. Secretary of the Interior...Agriculture...Commerce

Presidential Succession Act 1947

Number of people in President's cabinet

20

a situation in which people close to the president come to the same conclusion but without thorough analysis

groupthink

one party in the White House and the other party in charge of at least one of the congressional bodies

divided government

divided government that can't get any work done

gridlock

politicians of different parties working together

bipartisanship

leader of nation

head of state

leader of political party and main fundraiser

commander in chief

lobbyist in chief

primary diplomat of the nation

president

Portion of the Constitution that states the president's powers

Article II

1804, provided official procedure by which president and vice president are elected

12th Amendment

1933, guidelines for duration of terms of federal offices and line of succession should the President die

20th Amendment

1947, imposed a term limit of 2 terms of 4 years each for a total of 8 years, on the presidency

22nd Amendment

When president is unfit for duty, the VP can assume the role of acting president if a majority of the cabinet agrees to it and the president pro tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House agree

25th Amendment

the most basic kind of congressional committee, permanent status, both chambers have about 20

standing committee

ad hoc committee, congressional committee organized to deal with a temporary matter, disbanded once its purpose has been served,

select committee

committee concerned with spending of federal dollars

appropriations committee

committee comprising members of both houses and are primarily responsible for fact finding and for raising awareness of particular problems and issues

joint committee

like select committees, are temporary and are put together to work out differences between Senate and House versions of a bill

conference committee