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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. Basically - density and quality of civil society






2. 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.






3. The making of collectively binding decisions






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






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






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






7. 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






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






9. Hypotheses based on what has been observed.






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






11. All voluntary associations/all secondary associations






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






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






14. how many seats are allotted to each electoral district






15. Use of method of inference to create generalizeable explanations






16. 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






17. Charismatic - Rational-legal - Traditional/patrimonial






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






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






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






21. monopoly over the legitimate use of force






22. The organized study of government and politics. It borrows from the related disciplines of history - philosophy - sociology - economics - and law.






23. Public vs. private goods - Non-exclusivity. The owner can't deny access - Inexhaustability. The good is never used up - Jointness of supply. Its existence depends on our combined contribution; truly 'collective' - Free riding. We generally fail to co






24. 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






25. 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






26. 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?






27. A political system controlled by rulers who deny popular participation in government






28. 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






29. 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






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






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






32. A government with a one house legislature.






33. 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






34. 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.






35. 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.






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






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






38. 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






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






40. 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






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






42. Also known as interpersonal trust & tolerance






43. Political parties - Interest groups - Social movements






44. Analyzing the data that has been collected and offering plausible general principles that can be drawn from what has been observed.






45. Situation of stability - no party has incentive and ability to undermine the regime (Causes: cultural or economice - or military culture) - (Int'l Factors: U.S. foreign policy - Soviet foreign policy - Changes to Catholic doctrine - EU accession - G






46. A civil war (...) in which one party is the state - the insurgents win - the insurgents have a lot of popular support - and the insurgents implement 'wholesale political change'






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






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






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






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