POLS 102 EXAM 1 | 119 ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS | UPDATED
2025
What is the definition of politics offered by Harold Lasswell? - ANSWER "Who
gets what, when, and how."
What is the difference between High Politics and Low politics? - ANSWER High
politics is about Defense and Security. Low Politics is more about the economy,
(Environment, Health, and Education).
How do idealism and Realism; Socrates and Thrasymachus lay out the "hope of
politics" versus "the art of the possible?" - ANSWER - Socrates and
Thrasymachus: the purpose of the state and the purpose of politics should be to
ensure the happiness of citizenry.
- Idealism and Realism: we must balance the drive to do what we think is best
with what we must do or are able to do.
How does the intellectual construction of utopias help us to understand the
political reality today? - ANSWER - Utopian visions are actually part of the
reality of politics because the people in the world who are politically active are
often people who are trying to make the real world more like whatever it is they
imagine a perfect world to be.
What are the reasons for different levels of federal funding in different parts of
the United States? - ANSWER - How much you pay the government.
,- Taxes, grants, etc.
What are the primary reasons and benefits of studying Political Science? -
ANSWER - Highly diverse discipline.
- Pulls from Sociology, Economic, History, Philosophy, English, Anthropology, and
Criminal Justice.
- Entry point into Careers in law, Government, Diplomacy, Education, International
business.
- You need Political Science to participate in Civic life, have a family, Breathe, and
Succeed.
Describe why Political Science is a "science?" - ANSWER - centers on which set
of research methodologies is best, and it probably has to be admitted that the
different perspectives in that debate are often driven by the self-interests of
scholars.
What is the purpose of creating an ideology? - ANSWER - a coherent way of
political thinking.
- Can serve as TV commercials for Ideal Worlds are meant to stir you to political
action.
- is created to convince large numbers of people to buy into a belief system.
Which was the first modern political ideology? - ANSWER Liberalism
Who are the key individuals in the formation of Conservative and Liberal
Ideologies? - ANSWER - Edmund Burke
- John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Adam Smith
, What conflict in society saw the emergence of classic liberalism? - ANSWER -
Conceived at a time when Nouveau Riche (Merchants/Bankers) were battling Old
Money (Rural Aristocrats).
What are the key aspects of classic liberalism? - ANSWER - First about Respect
for Individuals Rights and Limited Government Regulation. Belief in sphere of
privacy. Roots of Libertarianism mixed with Adam Smith and Capitalism.
- Classical Liberalism is the basis of Global Trade and sanctioned by Reagan, Bush,
Etc.
- People are inherently good.
What are the areas that Reform (Modern) Liberalism sees the need for
government intervention and expansion of government services? - ANSWER -
Became Reform Liberalism with a pursuit of addressing inequalities: Guarantee
access to schools, jobs, houses, by limiting discrimination and helping those who
lack the power to help themselves. Belief in the right to protest injustice.
Amidst what major world events was the Conservative ideology developed? -
ANSWER American and French Revolutions
What are the two branches of modern conservatism and what are some specific
policy areas that each branch emphasizes? - ANSWER - Social Conservatives:
Focus on Morality and Values Choose Self Restraint over Self Expression.
- Economic Conservatives: hard work must be rewarded. Government services
should not be based on entitlement.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS | UPDATED
2025
What is the definition of politics offered by Harold Lasswell? - ANSWER "Who
gets what, when, and how."
What is the difference between High Politics and Low politics? - ANSWER High
politics is about Defense and Security. Low Politics is more about the economy,
(Environment, Health, and Education).
How do idealism and Realism; Socrates and Thrasymachus lay out the "hope of
politics" versus "the art of the possible?" - ANSWER - Socrates and
Thrasymachus: the purpose of the state and the purpose of politics should be to
ensure the happiness of citizenry.
- Idealism and Realism: we must balance the drive to do what we think is best
with what we must do or are able to do.
How does the intellectual construction of utopias help us to understand the
political reality today? - ANSWER - Utopian visions are actually part of the
reality of politics because the people in the world who are politically active are
often people who are trying to make the real world more like whatever it is they
imagine a perfect world to be.
What are the reasons for different levels of federal funding in different parts of
the United States? - ANSWER - How much you pay the government.
,- Taxes, grants, etc.
What are the primary reasons and benefits of studying Political Science? -
ANSWER - Highly diverse discipline.
- Pulls from Sociology, Economic, History, Philosophy, English, Anthropology, and
Criminal Justice.
- Entry point into Careers in law, Government, Diplomacy, Education, International
business.
- You need Political Science to participate in Civic life, have a family, Breathe, and
Succeed.
Describe why Political Science is a "science?" - ANSWER - centers on which set
of research methodologies is best, and it probably has to be admitted that the
different perspectives in that debate are often driven by the self-interests of
scholars.
What is the purpose of creating an ideology? - ANSWER - a coherent way of
political thinking.
- Can serve as TV commercials for Ideal Worlds are meant to stir you to political
action.
- is created to convince large numbers of people to buy into a belief system.
Which was the first modern political ideology? - ANSWER Liberalism
Who are the key individuals in the formation of Conservative and Liberal
Ideologies? - ANSWER - Edmund Burke
- John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Adam Smith
, What conflict in society saw the emergence of classic liberalism? - ANSWER -
Conceived at a time when Nouveau Riche (Merchants/Bankers) were battling Old
Money (Rural Aristocrats).
What are the key aspects of classic liberalism? - ANSWER - First about Respect
for Individuals Rights and Limited Government Regulation. Belief in sphere of
privacy. Roots of Libertarianism mixed with Adam Smith and Capitalism.
- Classical Liberalism is the basis of Global Trade and sanctioned by Reagan, Bush,
Etc.
- People are inherently good.
What are the areas that Reform (Modern) Liberalism sees the need for
government intervention and expansion of government services? - ANSWER -
Became Reform Liberalism with a pursuit of addressing inequalities: Guarantee
access to schools, jobs, houses, by limiting discrimination and helping those who
lack the power to help themselves. Belief in the right to protest injustice.
Amidst what major world events was the Conservative ideology developed? -
ANSWER American and French Revolutions
What are the two branches of modern conservatism and what are some specific
policy areas that each branch emphasizes? - ANSWER - Social Conservatives:
Focus on Morality and Values Choose Self Restraint over Self Expression.
- Economic Conservatives: hard work must be rewarded. Government services
should not be based on entitlement.
