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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. 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






2. State of nature (collective action problem) - Hobbes' solution: the social contract






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






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






5. A systematic study of the structures of two or more political systems (such as those of Britain and the People's Republic of China) to achieve an understanding of how different societies manage the realities of governing. Also considered are politica






6. Concentration vs. dispersal of power

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7. Compiling a body of data based on direct observation that can be utilized both to explain what has been observed and to form valid generalizations.






8. Utility maximization - Preferences: Comparability/Completeness - Transitivity - Probability - Incomplete information and uncertainty about future - Mathematical modeling






9. Force + Legitimacy






10. Political parties - Interest groups - Social movements






11. Describes the principal characteristics of what has been studied.






12. Use of method of inference to create generalizeable explanations






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






14. Ideology An ideology that seeks the active reshaping of minds of individuals and believes this can/must be done by force - Coercive mobilization - No social or political pluralism






15. All voluntary associations/all secondary associations






16. America's two ideologies (Liberal and Conservative) are two versions of classic liberalism






17. Monarchies - Single-party regimes - Military regimes - Oligarchies - Theocracies - Personalistic regimes






18. A political organization that primarily uses lobbying - Currency/instrument: money - information - numbers






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






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






21. Long-lived - Extreme lack of social pluralism - Well-defined ideology - Against capitalism - Based on Marxist arguments about class solidarity - economic determinism - Socialism run amok?






22. Number of Parties 2 - Constitutional Review: Judicial Review - Number of chambers: bicameral - Federalism: Federal






23. 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






24. 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






25. The opportunity to choose among alternative candidates and positions






26. Hard to amass resources (money and information) - Short-lived - The dilemma of formalization






27. 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






28. Selective incentives - Small group size - Social (solidary) incentives - Homogeneity - Others? Duty and altruism? Love?






29. 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?






30. 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.






31. Charismatic - Rational-legal - Traditional/patrimonial






32. 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






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






34. 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.






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






36. 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)






37. Public administration (civil service). All (non-military) government workers not elected to their posts - but hired (United States beginning in 1880s)






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






39. Tactics An organization that seeks to influence government through 'contentious' or 'disruptive' politics - Currency/instrument: show of force - numbers - brinkmanship - Organization A (non-hierarchical) network of organizations and individuals worki






40. An identity-based community - where the identity is strong enough that we think we should probably be sovereign...






41. Hypotheses based on what has been observed.






42. 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.






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






44. Traditionally measured as capacity and autonomy






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






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






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






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






49. 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






50. A government with a one house legislature.