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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. Force + Legitimacy






2. 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






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






4. 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






5. 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?






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






7. 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.






8. Basically - synonymous for statistical method - Large numbers of observational data - 'Control' for confounding factors






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






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






11. 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






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






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






14. 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






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






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






17. 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






18. Basically - density and quality of civil society






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






20. All voluntary associations/all secondary associations






21. The opportunity to choose among alternative candidates and positions






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






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






24. 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






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






26. 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






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






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






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






30. 19th - in the United States and Western Europe.






31. Also known as interpersonal trust & tolerance






32. Hypotheses based on what has been observed.






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






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






35. 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






36. Any identity that significantly shapes our political decisions






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






38. 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






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






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






41. monopoly over the legitimate use of force






42. 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






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






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






45. 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.






46. Shared sets of meanings






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






48. Charismatic - Rational-legal - Traditional/patrimonial






49. 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.






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