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CLEP cheat sheet

CLEP American Government cheat sheet

A condensed reference for the formulas, graph-reading rules, and must-know facts most worth reviewing before exam day.

Structure and principles

  • Separation of powers: legislative (makes laws), executive (enforces), judicial (interprets).
  • Checks and balances: e.g., president vetoes, Congress overrides (2/3) and confirms, courts rule laws unconstitutional.
  • Federalism: power shared between national and state governments; supremacy clause makes federal law supreme.
  • Bill of Rights: the first 10 amendments (speech, religion, due process, etc.).
  • How a bill becomes law: introduced → committee → both chambers → conference → president signs or vetoes.

Landmark cases to know

  • Marbury v. Madison (1803): established judicial review.
  • McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): implied powers + federal supremacy.
  • Brown v. Board of Education (1954): ended 'separate but equal' in schools.
  • Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): right to an attorney; Miranda v. Arizona (1966): right to be informed of rights.

Political behavior quick facts

  • Two-party system; parties, interest groups, media, and elections are 'linkage institutions.'
  • Civil liberties = protections FROM government (Bill of Rights); civil rights = protections against discrimination.
  • Congress: House (435, by population) + Senate (100, two per state).

Practice this first: Constitutional foundations — The Constitution, federalism, and separation of powers are the largest and most-tested area.

Now put it to work — practice CLEP American Government free

Reviewing the sheet is step one. Passers are usually hitting about 70-80% on realistic practice before test day (CLEP costs about $93, with a 3-month retake lockout on a miss), so the fastest way to know you are ready is to start answering real questions.