CLEP* Study Guide

American Government

The only study guide that teaches you what you need to know to pass the American Government exam (with no prior knowledge needed), and is constantly updated based on student feedback to guarantee you the best possible results.

About the CLEP* Exam

The American Government CLEP exam is designed to test the student on material that would typically be covered in an introductory level one semester undergraduate course on the American government and politics. This is considered a fairly challenging exam and requires not just simple rote-memorization of facts, but a solid understanding of political processes and behavior. Carefully studying InstantCert's flashcards and truly understanding the material presented in the questions and explanations--not just memorizing what goes in the blanks--will allow you to pass this exam without any trouble.

Topics Covered in this Course

Institutions and Policy Processes: Presidency, Bureaucracy, and Congress
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
Federal Courts, Civil Liberties, and Civil Rights
Structure and processes of the judicial system with emphasis on the role and influence of the Supreme Court
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
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
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
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

Customer Test Results for this Exam

1248 users submitted test results since June, 2006.
1094 of those users reported a passing score (88%).

Below are ten of the most recent user-submitted test results. These are unfiltered, real results that were submitted by InstantCert students:

Date of ExamResultScore
Mar 16, 2024passed74
Mar 8, 2024passed75
Mar 8, 2024passed59
Feb 7, 2024passed56
Feb 4, 2024passed71
Jan 31, 2024passed60
Jan 30, 2024passed66
Jan 24, 2024passed58
Dec 29, 2023failed48
Dec 15, 2023failed46
Live, unfiltered results posted by InstantCert students

Practice Tests Now Available!

In addition to our flashcard-based study guides, we now also offer full-length practice tests for this subject. Click here to see more details on our American Government CLEP Practice Tests.

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* CLEP is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

Our Study Guide:

- 363 flashcards with detailed explanations.
- Updated "Insider" tips from other students.
- NO prior knowledge required.
- 100% online. Start studying instantly.

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