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






2. 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






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






4. 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






5. 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






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






7. 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






8. Efficiency vs. representativeness

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9. 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.






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






11. Shared sets of meanings






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






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






14. 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?






15. 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






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






17. Basically - density and quality of civil society






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






19. 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.






20. A government with a one house legislature.






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






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






23. Political parties - Interest groups - Social movements






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






25. 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






26. Also known as interpersonal trust & tolerance






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






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






29. 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






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






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






32. 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






33. Use of method of inference to create generalizeable explanations






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






35. how many seats are allotted to each electoral district






36. 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.






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






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






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






40. The making of collectively binding decisions






41. 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






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






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






44. Any identity that significantly shapes our political decisions






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






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






48. 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






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






50. 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.