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






2. The opportunity to choose among alternative candidates and positions






3. 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.






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






5. 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






6. 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






7. A government with a one house legislature.






8. 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.






9. Shared sets of meanings






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






11. Use of method of inference to create generalizeable explanations






12. 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.






13. All voluntary associations/all secondary associations






14. 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.






15. 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?






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






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






18. Historical origins. Failure of liberalism to address shortcomings of capitalist industrialization; Marx - Central assumption: All persons are of equal value - but they cannot develop themselves alone






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






20. 19th - in the United States and Western Europe.






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






23. 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






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






25. Political parties - Interest groups - Social movements






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






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






28. A subset of culture - based on our ability to attach labels to ourselves and others - or to define ourselves in terms of the groups we belong to - Some political examples: Partisan identity - Class identity - Ethnic identity - National identity






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






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






31. The making of collectively binding decisions






32. Traditionally measured as capacity and autonomy






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






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






35. 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






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






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






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






39. Any identity that significantly shapes our political decisions






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






41. Basically - density and quality of civil society






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






43. 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






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






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






46. Concentration vs. dispersal of power


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






48. 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






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






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