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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. Efficiency vs. representativeness

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2. The opportunity to choose among alternative candidates and positions






3. 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






4. Also known as interpersonal trust & tolerance






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






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






7. how many seats are allotted to each electoral district






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






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






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






11. 19th - in the United States and Western Europe.






12. 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.






13. 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






14. 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






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






16. The making of collectively binding decisions






17. A government with a one house legislature.






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






19. 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.






20. 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






21. 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






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






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. Political violence by non-state actors against civilian targets






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






26. 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.






27. 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






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






30. Charismatic - Rational-legal - Traditional/patrimonial






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






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






33. Political parties - Interest groups - Social movements






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






35. Basically - density and quality of civil society






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






37. 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






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






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






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






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






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






43. All voluntary associations/all secondary associations






44. monopoly over the legitimate use of force






45. 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






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






47. 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






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






49. 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






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