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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. 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






2. 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.






3. Any identity that significantly shapes our political decisions






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






5. Hypotheses based on what has been observed.






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






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






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






9. 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






10. 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'






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






12. 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






13. 19th - in the United States and Western Europe.






14. 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






15. The opportunity to choose among alternative candidates and positions






16. All voluntary associations/all secondary associations






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






18. 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






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






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






21. Basically - density and quality of civil society






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






33. 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






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






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






36. 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?






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






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






40. 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.






41. 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






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






43. Also known as interpersonal trust & tolerance






44. 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.






45. 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.






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






47. Use of method of inference to create generalizeable explanations






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






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






50. 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)