Are you ready to ace the CLEP American Government exam? Prepare with confidence using our comprehensive CLEP American Government Prep Exam materials!

Practice this question and more.


What is the term for the process of formally accusing a high-level government official of wrongdoing in the United States?

  1. Impeachment.

  2. Ratification.

  3. Filibustering.

  4. Gerrymandering.

The correct answer is: Impeachment.

Impeachment is the process of formally accusing a high-level government official of wrongdoing. It is a constitutional mechanism specific to the United States, and is typically reserved for serious offenses such as abuse of power or high crimes and misdemeanors. It is not to be confused with ratification, which is the act of officially approving or confirming a decision or agreement. Filibustering refers to the practice of prolonging a debate or delaying a vote in order to prevent a decision from being made, and is not related to the process of formally accusing a government official. Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral boundaries in order to benefit a particular political party or group, and has no direct relationship to the process of impeachment.