The CLEP American Government exam covers material that is usually taught in a one-semester introductory course in American government and politics at the college level.  CLEP American Government Exam content: Institutions and Policy Processes: Presidency, Bureaucracy, Congress, and the Federal Courts (30%–35%) The major formal and informal institutional arrangements and powers Structure, policy processes, and outputs Relationships among these three institutions and links between them and political parties, interest groups, the media, and public opinion Structure and processes of the... Show more

The CLEP American Government exam covers material that is usually taught in a one-semester introductory course in American government and politics at the college level. 

CLEP American Government Exam content:

Institutions and Policy Processes: Presidency, Bureaucracy, Congress, and the Federal Courts (30%–35%)
The major formal and informal institutional arrangements and powers
Structure, policy processes, and outputs
Relationships among these three institutions and links between them and political parties, interest groups, the media, and public opinion
Structure and processes of the judicial system, with emphasis on the role and influence of the Supreme Court

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (10%–15%)
The development of civil rights and civil liberties by judicial interpretation
The Bill of Rights
Incorporation of the Bill of Rights
Equal protection and due process

Political Parties and Interest Groups (15%–20%)
Political parties (including their function, organization, mobilization, historical development, and effects on the political process)
Interest groups (including the variety of activities they typically undertake and their effects on the political process)
Elections (including the electoral process)

Political Beliefs and Behavior (15%–20%)
Processes by which citizens learn about politics
Political participation (including voting behavior)
Public opinion
Beliefs that citizens hold about their government and its leaders
Political culture (the variety of factors that predispose citizens to differ from one another in terms of their political perceptions, values, attitudes, and activities)
The influence of public opinion on political leaders

Constitutional Underpinnings of American Democracy (15%–20%)
The development of concepts such as:

Federalism (with attention to intergovernmental relations)
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
Majority rule
Minority rights
Considerations that influenced the formulation and adoption of the Constitution
Theories of democracy

Related test: CLEP American Government Exam Practice Test 1

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CLEP American Government Exam Practice Test 2

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25 Questions

1. Which of the following are sometimes referred to collectively as the fourth branch of government?

The president’s advisorsThe mediaNonprofit organizationsRecent immigrantsVoters

2. Which of the following documents that helped to make the U.S. Constitution possible came first?

English Bill of RightsMagna CartaSpirit of the LawsSecond Treatise on GovernmentAmerican Bill of Rights

3. The United States splits political power between the state and federal governments. This form of power sharing is called

demonstrative governmentappropriate jurisdictionnationalismshared jurisdictionfederalism

4. The political philosophy that calls for the government to do what most people in the country want is

monetarismmajoritarianismliberalismpluralismlibertarianism

5. Which of the following statements about federal elections is accurate?

Presidents are elected every 2 years, representatives every 2 years, and senators every 4 years.Presidents are elected every 4 years, representatives every 4 years, and senators every 4 years.Presidents are elected every 4 years, representatives every 2 years, and senators every 6 years.Presidents are elected every 4 years, representatives every 4 years, and senators every 6 years.Presidents are elected every 4 years, representatives every 3 years, and senators every 6 years.

6. An easily digestible policy statement is often referred to as

hold and holda sound biteinfotainmenta talking pointcondensed news

7. Which body of colonial leaders devised the Articles of Confederation?

Second Continental CongressFirst Continental CongressSenateHouse of RepresentativesThe Association

8. What clause in the Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate interstate trade?

Regulation clauseGibbons clauseCommerce clauseEnhancement clauseCommon market clause

9. How can Congress override a president’s veto?

With a two-thirds majority vote in both chambersWith a national referendumWith a majority vote in both chambersWith a three-fifths vote in the Senate aloneWith the support of two-thirds of the state legislatures

10. In Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), the Supreme Court set out guidelines that, if followed, would theoretically keep government support of religious institutions—schools, for example—within the bounds of the First Amendment. All of the following are included in the Court’s guidelines EXCEPT

a requirement that information about religions different from that of the institution being assisted be made availablea requirement that the basic purpose receiving the assistance be secularthe basic effect of the activity receiving support should not stand in the way of religious practicethe assistance must not entangle government in religionthe basic effect of the activity receiving support should not advance religion

11. Each of the following is an example of direct democracy EXCEPT

a propositiona referenduma recalla class actionan initiative

12. Which of the following seeks to encourage underrepresented or minority groups to apply for employment positions?

The House Equal Action CommitteeTariffsAffirmative actionJim Crow legislationThe Twenty-sixth Amendment

13. The redistricting in the states of seats for the U.S. House of Representatives is determined by

the Department of the Interiorcensus figures on state populationsfederal judgesthe executive branchthe House Rules Committee

14. In the Mayflower Compact, we see the emergence of enduring principles important to the American political system: (1) a willingness to live under the rule of law and (2)

separation of powerschecks and balancesgovernment by the consent of the governeda bicameral legislatureseparation of church and state

15. The Voting Rights Act of 1982

allowed nonregistered voters to register and vote on the same daygave the right to vote to 18-year-oldsencouraged the creation of congressional districts in which racial minorities would comprise majoritiesdisallowed literacy tests for prospective votersdisallowed poll taxes

16. Washington, D.C.’s delegate to Congress has what kind of power?

Full voting powersPower limited to advising voting membersNo voting power, except in the case of a tie among Congress membersThe power to vote in the full chamber but not in committeesThe power to vote in committees but not in the full chamber

17. The political notion that all Americans should have a chance in life to succeed is encapsulated in the term

freedom of choiceequal opportunityequality of outcomecivil rightsaffirmative action

18. The first president to use radio effectively was

Richard NixonHarry TrumanLyndon JohnsonJohn KennedyFranklin Roosevelt

19. Which of the following spurred the process of desegregation in the southern and some midwestern states?

Brown v. Board of Education of TopekaBusingPlessy v. FergusonNo Child Left BehindDesegregation of the military

20. The U.S. Postal Service is a government corporation that sells services, thus generating

federal government revenuecompeting industryworkersits own revenueoutside criticism

21.
Source: http://www.abortionfacts.com/statistics/statistics.aspThe map above reflects the fact that

abortion is legal in some states and illegal in othersabortion is legal across the country though dealt with differently in different statesthe proposed Constitutional amendment to make abortion illegal is likely to be ratifiedabortion into the third trimester is legal in every statethe Supreme Court has required states to follow specific federal regulations on abortion

22. Which of the following statements about vice presidents is MOST accurate?

The framers of the Constitution envisioned vice presidents would hold more power and influence than they actually have had, especially since the Civil War.The Constitution requires presidents to consult with vice presidents before vetoing legislation.Until the election of 1896, House speakers moved to the position of vice president following a presidential election.Vice presidents were more influential in the late twentieth century than they were in the early twentieth century.Vice presidents were more influential in the early twentieth century than they were in the late twentieth century.

23. The Constitution prohibits the House of Representatives from doing all of the following EXCEPT

initiating tax legislationspending money from the treasury that is not expressly accounted for in legislationimposing taxes on goods from southern states imported into northern statesassigning to anyone a formal title of nobilitypassing ex post facto laws

24. Which of the following is a presidential appointee within the Justice Department who regularly makes legal arguments to the Supreme Court on behalf of the U.S. government?

U.S. Office of Special CounselChief U.S. MarshalAttorney GeneralInspector GeneralSolicitor General

25. Insofar as the Constitution is concerned, the purpose of the census is to

reapportion the number of a state’s U.S. senatorsdetermine the ethnic and linguistic makeup of the nationmodify the number of judges sitting on the Supreme Courtdetermine where Federal Reserve banks should be locatedreapportion the number of a state’s U.S. representatives