American Government CLEP Test Ultimate Review | Questions & Answers (100 %Score)
Latest Updated 2024/2025 Comprehensive Questions A+ Graded Answers | With Expert
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Gerrymandering - Redrawing voting districts to give one party or person an unfair
advantages
Filibuster - A tactic used to delay legislation
Legislative, Executive, Judicial - What are the three branches of government?
Checks and Balances - Having two parties compete for the same power to keep each
other in line
Majority Leader - Second or principle deputy to the Speaker of the House
Minority Leader - Leader of the party in opposition in the House
Whips - Deputies who hold an administrative position in each of the two main parties
Supreme Court - Interprets the meaning of the Constitution and applies it to actual
situations
Lobbyist - Paid individuals whose job is to convince Congress members to vote one way
or another on bills
Constitutional Convention - Gathering in 1787 in Independence Hall in which
representatives from the states abolished the Articles of Confederation and wrote the
Constitution. It created the federal system, three branches of government, two
chambers of legislation, and 3/5 representation of slaves
Declaration of Independence - A document passed by the Second Continental
Congress in 1776 declaring the independence of the 13 colonies and creating the
United States
Federalism - A governmental system in which each citizen is subject to two
governments. In the U.S., these are the federal and state governments.
Incumbent - A person who currently holds an office that is running for reelection
Federalist Papers - A series of essays written by James Madison, John Jay, and
Alexander Hamilton in support of the passage of the Constitution
Jim Crow Laws - A series of laws passed in the South after the Civil War which
promoted segregation and racism
, Lemon Test - A set of requirements addressing legislative actions involving religion
General Welfare Clause - Allows Congress to collect taxes to be used for the protection
and general welfare of the citizens
Elastic Clause - Allows Congress to pass all laws considered necessary and proper to
perform their responsibilities
Commerce Clause - Allows congress to regulate trade with foreign nations and between
individual states
We the People Clause - Another name for the Preamble to the Constitution
Supremacy Clause - Declares that the Constitution and laws made by the Federal
Government are the "supreme law of the land"
Casework - Congressional representative's efforts to help a constituent (voter, elector)
resolve a problem with the Federal bureaucracy
Uniformity Clause - Declares that all taxes be uniform throughout the United States
Reserved Powers Clause - Declares that powers and rights not given to Congress by
the Constitution are held by the states and citizens
Comity Clause - Explains that citizens of one state have the same rights as citizens of
other states
Guarantee Clause - Guarantees Republican governments in each state
Block Grant - Money awarded to a specific state by the Federal Government with
general provision on how it is to be used
Categorical Grant - Money awarded to a specific state by the Federal Government with
specific provisions on how it is to be used
Hard Money - Money donated to a specific candidate used for the purpose of
campaigning. Maximum donations are limited by the law.
Soft Money - Money donated to political parties for "party building purposes" often used
by candidates to evade hard money limitations.
Implied powers - Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution
Express powers - Powers explicitly stated in the Constitution
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