Course

Course Summary

Credit Type:

Exam

ACE ID:

CLEP-0007

Organization:

College Board's College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Dates Offered:

Credit Recommendation & Competencies

Level	Credits (SH)	Subject
Lower-Division Baccalaureate	3	American Government or US Government

Credit is recommended for candidates scoring 50 and above.

Description

Objective:

The American Government examination covers material that is usually taught in a one-semester introductory course in American government and politics at the college level. The scope and emphasis of the exam reflect what is most commonly taught in introductory American government and politics courses in political science departments around the United States. These courses go beyond a general understanding of civics to incorporate political processes and behavior. The exam covers topics such as the institutions and policy processes of the federal government, the federal courts and civil liberties, political parties and interest groups, political beliefs and behavior, and the content and history of the Constitution.The exam contains approximately 100 questions to be answered in 90 minutes. Some of these are pretest questions that will not be scored. Any time test takers spend on tutorials and providing personal information is in addition to the actual testing time.

Skills Measured:

The American Government examination requires candidates to demonstrate one or more of the following abilities: knowledge of American government and politics; understanding of typical patterns of political processes and behavior (including the components of the behavioral situation of a political actor), as well as the principles used to explain or justify various governmental structures and procedures; and analysis and interpretation of simple data that are relevant to American government and politics. The skills measured include institutions and policy processes: presidency, bureaucracy, and congress (30-35 percent); federal courts, civil liberties, and civil rights (15-20 percent); political parties and interest groups (15-20 percent); political beliefs and behavior (10-15 percent); and constitutional underpinnings of American democracy (15-20 percent).

Instruction & Assessment