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About This Exam

The CLEP American Government exam covers the scope of material typically taught in a one-semester introductory course in U.S. government and politics. It goes beyond general civics to include political processes, behavior, and the institutions that shape American governance.

What's Covered

• Constitutional underpinnings — separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, the amendment process, and key constitutional provisions
• Political beliefs and behavior — public opinion, political socialization, voter turnout, political participation, and ideology
• Political parties, interest groups, and mass media — party systems, party realignment, lobbying, PACs, and the media's role in politics
• Institutions and policy processes — the presidency, Congress, the federal bureaucracy, and how legislation moves through the system
• Federal courts and civil liberties — judicial review, the Supreme Court, landmark cases, the Bill of Rights, due process, and equal protection
• Civil rights — historical development of civil rights policy, the Civil Rights Movement, affirmative action, and equal protection under law
• Public policy — the policymaking process, domestic and economic policy, and the federal budget

For the official exam description, see the College Board CLEP American Government page.

Study Tips

1. Know the landmark Supreme Court cases. Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland, Brown v. Board of Education, Gideon v. Wainwright, and Miranda v. Arizona appear frequently.
2. Understand the enumerated, implied, and reserved powers and how they distribute authority between federal and state governments.
3. Be clear on the legislative process — how a bill becomes law, the role of committees, filibuster, cloture, and conference committees.
4. Political behavior questions often test the relationship between demographics and political participation. Know which factors correlate with higher voter turnout.
5. Don't overlook the bureaucracy. The exam tests how agencies are created, how they make rules, and how they are checked by Congress and the courts.

How to Register

Register at clep.collegeboard.org. The exam costs $97 and can be taken at a testing center or remotely. Check with your college for their CLEP credit policy and minimum score requirements before registering. Military service members, their spouses, and eligible veterans may be able to take the exam at no cost through DANTES funding.

About Our Practice Tests

All questions are original and written to match the difficulty, format, and topic coverage of the real exam based on official exam descriptions. We offer two modes: Practice Mode gives you instant feedback and explanations after each question, and Test Mode simulates the real exam with a timer and no feedback until you submit. Both modes are completely free with no account required.

Sample Practice Questions

Review these sample questions to get a feel for the exam. For the full interactive experience, use the Practice Tests above.