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CLEP Political Science

Subjects : clep, political-science
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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  • 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. America's two ideologies (Liberal and Conservative) are two versions of classic liberalism






2. 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






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






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






6. 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






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. 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.






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






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






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






12. The opportunity to choose among alternative candidates and positions






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






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






15. Force + Legitimacy






16. 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






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






18. Charismatic - Rational-legal - Traditional/patrimonial






19. Basically - density and quality of civil society






20. A government with a one house legislature.






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






22. 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.






23. Political parties - Interest groups - Social movements






24. 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






25. 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?






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






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






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






29. 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.






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






31. All voluntary associations/all secondary associations






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






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. Hypotheses based on what has been observed.






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






36. Also known as interpersonal trust & tolerance






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






38. Shared sets of meanings






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






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






41. 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.






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






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






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






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






46. 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






47. Efficiency vs. representativeness

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48. 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






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






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