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






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. 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






4. 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.






5. 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.






6. 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.






7. 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






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






9. The opportunity to choose among alternative candidates and positions






10. Use of method of inference to create generalizeable explanations






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






12. 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.






13. Charismatic - Rational-legal - Traditional/patrimonial






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






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






16. 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






17. Traditionally measured as capacity and autonomy






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






19. 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






20. 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






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






22. 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






23. A systematic study of the structures of two or more political systems (such as those of Britain and the People's Republic of China) to achieve an understanding of how different societies manage the realities of governing. Also considered are politica






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






25. Also known as interpersonal trust & tolerance






26. 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






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






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






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






30. 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)






31. The making of collectively binding decisions






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






33. monopoly over the legitimate use of force






34. Basically - density and quality of civil society






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






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






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






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






39. 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






40. 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'






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






42. Force + Legitimacy






43. Hypotheses based on what has been observed.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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