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






2. how many seats are allotted to each electoral district






3. 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






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






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






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






7. 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






8. 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)






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






10. 19th - in the United States and Western Europe.






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






12. Basically - density and quality of civil society






13. 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






14. Use of method of inference to create generalizeable explanations






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






16. 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.






17. Hypotheses based on what has been observed.






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






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






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






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






22. 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.






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






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






25. 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.






26. Political parties - Interest groups - Social movements






27. 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






28. 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






29. The making of collectively binding decisions






30. A government with a one house legislature.






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






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






33. Also known as interpersonal trust & tolerance






34. Efficiency vs. representativeness


35. Traditionally measured as capacity and autonomy






36. 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






37. Shared sets of meanings






38. monopoly over the legitimate use of force






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






40. The opportunity to choose among alternative candidates and positions






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






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






43. Concentration vs. dispersal of power


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






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






46. 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






47. 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.






48. 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.






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






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