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CLEP Political Science

Subjects : clep, political-science
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Utility: self-interest - but what constitutes self-interest? Material self-interest? Economics - Politics. Example: vote maximization - The gospel Failures of rationality - Really incomplete information & satisfaction - Intransitivity and other cogni






2. Regime where the rulers are accountable to the ruled.






3. A government with a one house legislature.






4. Energy or righteous zeal wins large numbers of participants - Nimble in framing issues and changing tactics






5. monopoly over the legitimate use of force






6. Force + Legitimacy






7. Comparative Politics - International Relations - American Politics - (normative) theory or Political Philosophy






8. A basic plan that outlines the structure and functions of the national government. Clearly rooted in Western political thought - it sets limits on government and protects both property and individual rights.






9. Warfare and military technology - Economic: development of trade and manufacturing and new financial/fiscal instruments - Cultural: Enlightenment - (There are also Environmental/geographic factors)






10. No or low citizen accountability ('subjects' rather than 'citizens') - Reciprocal relationship between leader and selectorate - Totalitarianism vs. authoritarianism






11. Political violence by non-state actors against civilian targets






12. A consideration of how nations interact with each other within the frameworks of law - diplomacy - and international organizations such as the United Nations.






13. Historical origins. A reaction to liberalism - Central assumption: 'The highest good of society [is] the maintenance of ordered community and of common values' (p. 28) One of the 3 big idealogies






14. when you must get a minimum percent of votes to have your votes count or (sometimes) to retain your party registration






15. The mathematical formula used to allocate the seats according to the vote - Plurality or 'first-past-the-post' - various PR formulas - such as D'Hondt - largest remainders - St. Lague - etc.






16. Efficiency vs. representativeness


17. In social movements - rational choice and culture come together - Culture: the sense of a righteous - popular will that has been subverted ('framing'/'grievance') - Motivates collective action - But also determines the choice of organization and tact






18. it works better in the long run - less risk/variability






19. Individual rationality does not always lead to collective rationality - Walking on the grass - Policy implementation is problematic - Voting; protests; interest groups; etc. are underprovided (Olson's point)






20. Shared sets of meanings






21. The identities that can become political are those formed very early in life or perhaps vaguely racial/genetic. Struggles to explain (rapid) cultural change - or which identities become politicized






22. Any identity that significantly shapes our political decisions






23. how many seats are allotted to each electoral district






24. The use of force by states or non-state actors to achieve political goals






25. All voluntary associations/all secondary associations






26. (Voluntary) allocation (production and distribution) of goods and services






27. You see a puzzle - You come up with a potential explanation (a 'theory') - You test it with evidence (data drawn from the 5 senses) - You share the results with others and get their feedback - Repeat steps 2 through 4 until you publish






28. The set of relationships among parties in a country - Often categorized by the effective number of parties.






29. 19th - in the United States and Western Europe.






30. Number of Parties 2 - Constitutional Review: Parliamentary supremacy - Number of chambers: Unicameral/weak bicameral - Federalism: Unitary






31. Also known as interpersonal trust & tolerance






32. About agency: we deserve freedom and need to be held meaningfully accountable






33. A historical exploration of the major contributions to political thought from the ancient Greeks to the contemporary theorists. It also involves the philosophical and speculative consideration of the political world.






34. A consciously derived - coherent set of beliefs that offers a comprehensive political program






35. Shorter-lived - Slightly less repressive - Ideology not so clear - In favor of capitalism - though with state involvement - Based more on Social Darwinism/racism/nationlsm - Conservatism run amok?






36. Identities are malleable - and anything can become politicized. Struggles to explain fundamental patterns in political identity or their grasp on our souls. Can't really explain which identities become politicized either






37. Process or moment of changing from one regime type to another Ex: Arab Springs (Causes: cultural or economice - or military culture) - (int'l factors: U.S. foreign policy - Soviet foreign policy - Changes to Catholic doctrine - EU accession - Globali






38. Think of this as gender as outcome; what factors - esp. political ones - lead to changes in gender roles? Key finding: politics does matter - especially who has an organized voice. Formal rules - number/identity of parties - etc.






39. A non-meritocratic system in which jobs and contracts are distributed according to partisan support - (The U.S. 'spoils system' of the 19th century')






40. The rules about making the rules - often embodied in a constitution.






41. Territorial monopoly over the legitimate use of force. Refers to the government + the people + the territory ('the country')






42. The opportunity to choose among alternative candidates and positions






43. equality in political decision making: one vote per person - with all votes counted equally






44. Situation where all fully qualified citizens have an equal say






45. Process tracing through case studies. Requires a well-developed theory and minute examination ('process tracing')






46. Think of this as 'gender as cause'. Gender roles change and/or mix of women in politics changes; what is the consequence? Key finding: having more women in public office changes the policy agenda - i.e. - more focus on women's issues






47. An organization that seeks elective office - Currency/instrument: votes






48. Use of method of inference to create generalizeable explanations






49. Historical origins. A response to the old feudal order and the rise of modern capitalism - 'The highest good of society [is] the ability of the members of that society to develop their individual capacities to the fullest extent' (p. 26) One of the 3






50. A formal document that sets up the basic rules of the political game