CLEP American Government Midterm Prep | Actual
Questions with Verified A+ Answers 2025/2026
The differences between the political attitudes of men and women are referred
to as
(A) the political gap
(B) the gender gap
(C) partisan politics
(D) party loyalty
(E) the median voter theory - correct answer (B) the gender gap
According to the Constitution, which of the following decides the presidential
election outcome in the event that a single candidate does not get a majority
of electoral votes?
(A) The Supreme Court
(B) The Senate
(C) The House of Representatives
(D) Both houses of Congress
(E) The sitting president - correct answer (C) The House of Representatives
If the vice presidency of the United States is vacated, the Constitution
stipulates that the president must
(A) appoint a new vice president with the approval of the House only
(B) appoint a new vice president with the approval of the Senate only
(C) appoint a new vice president with the approval of both houses of
Congress
(D) instate the Speaker of the House as the new vice president
,(E) leave the vice presidency vacant for the remainder of the term of office -
correct answer (C) appoint a new vice president with the approval of both
houses of Congress
James Madison's goal of setting power against power to minimize the
concentration of authority in any one branch of government is outlined in the
Constitution as a system of
(A) separation of powers
(B) checks and balances
(C) divided government
(D) national supremacy
(E) federalism - correct answer (B) checks and balances
The ability of the media to define the importance of particular events and
issues is called
(A) preemption
(B) agenda setting
(C) investigative reporting
(D) minimal effects thesis
(E) adversarial journalism - correct answer (B) agenda setting
The power of judicial review was established in
(A) McCulloch v. Maryland
(B) Gitlow v. New York
(C) Dandridge v. Williams
(D) Miranda v. Arizona
(E) Marbury v. Madison - correct answer (E) Marbury v. Madison
,Which of the following is true of both the House of Representatives and the
Senate?
(A) Both chambers must approve the president's nominees for judicial and
administrative positions.
(B) Both chambers employ a complex system of permanent committees to
assist them in carrying out their legislative duties.
(C) Both the Speaker of the House and the Senate's president pro tempore
are elected by majority vote of their respective chamber.
(D) Both chambers encourage and permit extensive discussion of important
issues and proposed legislation on the chamber floor.
(E) When midterm vacancies occur in either chamber, state governors are
permitted to appoint replacement members. - correct answer (B) Both
chambers employ a complex system of permanent committees to assist them
in carrying out their legislative duties.
The authority of a chief executive to withhold approval from specific parts of
appropriations bills passed by the legislature is known as
(A) a pocket veto
(B) a line-item veto
(C) a legislative veto
(D) an executive order
(E) an executive privilege - correct answer (B) a line-item veto
The weakening of political parties is most often traced to
(A) the single-member, winner-take-all system
(B) the growth of political action committees (PACs)
(C) Progressive Era reforms
(D) voters' increasing level of education
(E) voter apathy - correct answer (C) Progressive Era reforms
, Which of the following contemporary political ideologies posits that
government power should be used to promote individual economic security
and redistribute resources, but rejects the notion that government should favor
a particular set of social values?
(A) Liberalism
(B) Conservatism
(C) Communitarianism
(D) Libertarianism
(E) Elitism - correct answer (A) Liberalism
Which of the following best describes a referendum?
(A) A chief executive appoints an independent commission to investigate
allegations of political corruption.
(B) A legislature repeals an unpopular law to improve the electoral advantage
of incumbents.
(C) A political party caucuses to choose its candidates for a general election.
(D) Citizens vote directly on laws proposed by a state legislature.
(E) Citizens initiate the process of removing elected officials from office. -
correct answer (D) Citizens vote directly on laws proposed by a state
legislature.
Which of the following is a check on the power of the United States Supreme
Court?
(A) Congress controls the number of justices who may sit on the Court.
(B) The Court has the power to enforce its decisions.
(C) Cases involving a state's laws can be heard only through the Court's
original jurisdiction.
(D) The Court reviews all legislation after the president signs it into law.
Questions with Verified A+ Answers 2025/2026
The differences between the political attitudes of men and women are referred
to as
(A) the political gap
(B) the gender gap
(C) partisan politics
(D) party loyalty
(E) the median voter theory - correct answer (B) the gender gap
According to the Constitution, which of the following decides the presidential
election outcome in the event that a single candidate does not get a majority
of electoral votes?
(A) The Supreme Court
(B) The Senate
(C) The House of Representatives
(D) Both houses of Congress
(E) The sitting president - correct answer (C) The House of Representatives
If the vice presidency of the United States is vacated, the Constitution
stipulates that the president must
(A) appoint a new vice president with the approval of the House only
(B) appoint a new vice president with the approval of the Senate only
(C) appoint a new vice president with the approval of both houses of
Congress
(D) instate the Speaker of the House as the new vice president
,(E) leave the vice presidency vacant for the remainder of the term of office -
correct answer (C) appoint a new vice president with the approval of both
houses of Congress
James Madison's goal of setting power against power to minimize the
concentration of authority in any one branch of government is outlined in the
Constitution as a system of
(A) separation of powers
(B) checks and balances
(C) divided government
(D) national supremacy
(E) federalism - correct answer (B) checks and balances
The ability of the media to define the importance of particular events and
issues is called
(A) preemption
(B) agenda setting
(C) investigative reporting
(D) minimal effects thesis
(E) adversarial journalism - correct answer (B) agenda setting
The power of judicial review was established in
(A) McCulloch v. Maryland
(B) Gitlow v. New York
(C) Dandridge v. Williams
(D) Miranda v. Arizona
(E) Marbury v. Madison - correct answer (E) Marbury v. Madison
,Which of the following is true of both the House of Representatives and the
Senate?
(A) Both chambers must approve the president's nominees for judicial and
administrative positions.
(B) Both chambers employ a complex system of permanent committees to
assist them in carrying out their legislative duties.
(C) Both the Speaker of the House and the Senate's president pro tempore
are elected by majority vote of their respective chamber.
(D) Both chambers encourage and permit extensive discussion of important
issues and proposed legislation on the chamber floor.
(E) When midterm vacancies occur in either chamber, state governors are
permitted to appoint replacement members. - correct answer (B) Both
chambers employ a complex system of permanent committees to assist them
in carrying out their legislative duties.
The authority of a chief executive to withhold approval from specific parts of
appropriations bills passed by the legislature is known as
(A) a pocket veto
(B) a line-item veto
(C) a legislative veto
(D) an executive order
(E) an executive privilege - correct answer (B) a line-item veto
The weakening of political parties is most often traced to
(A) the single-member, winner-take-all system
(B) the growth of political action committees (PACs)
(C) Progressive Era reforms
(D) voters' increasing level of education
(E) voter apathy - correct answer (C) Progressive Era reforms
, Which of the following contemporary political ideologies posits that
government power should be used to promote individual economic security
and redistribute resources, but rejects the notion that government should favor
a particular set of social values?
(A) Liberalism
(B) Conservatism
(C) Communitarianism
(D) Libertarianism
(E) Elitism - correct answer (A) Liberalism
Which of the following best describes a referendum?
(A) A chief executive appoints an independent commission to investigate
allegations of political corruption.
(B) A legislature repeals an unpopular law to improve the electoral advantage
of incumbents.
(C) A political party caucuses to choose its candidates for a general election.
(D) Citizens vote directly on laws proposed by a state legislature.
(E) Citizens initiate the process of removing elected officials from office. -
correct answer (D) Citizens vote directly on laws proposed by a state
legislature.
Which of the following is a check on the power of the United States Supreme
Court?
(A) Congress controls the number of justices who may sit on the Court.
(B) The Court has the power to enforce its decisions.
(C) Cases involving a state's laws can be heard only through the Court's
original jurisdiction.
(D) The Court reviews all legislation after the president signs it into law.
