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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. 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.






2. Use of method of inference to create generalizeable explanations






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






4. 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






5. All voluntary associations/all secondary associations






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






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






8. how many seats are allotted to each electoral district






9. 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?






10. 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






11. 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.






12. monopoly over the legitimate use of force






13. 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






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






15. Concentration vs. dispersal of power


16. 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.






17. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






26. 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.






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






28. 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.






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






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






31. Efficiency vs. representativeness


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






33. Traditionally measured as capacity and autonomy






34. Any identity that significantly shapes our political decisions






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






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






37. Political parties - Interest groups - Social movements






38. Also known as interpersonal trust & tolerance






39. Shared sets of meanings






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






41. 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






42. A government with a one house legislature.






43. Charismatic - Rational-legal - Traditional/patrimonial






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






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






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






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






48. Basically - density and quality of civil society






49. The opportunity to choose among alternative candidates and positions






50. 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