The social scientific study of political institutions and political behavior is called:

• A. Political science
• B. Sociology
• C. Anthropology
• D. Public administration

Answer: (A)

Political science is the study of political institutions, processes, and behavior. This field analyzes how governments are structured, how power is exercised, how laws and policies are made, and how citizens participate in politics. It specifically focuses on institutions like legislatures, courts, executives, and electoral systems, and on how people and groups act within those systems. This emphasis on political structures and actions sets it apart from sociology, which looks at society and social relationships more broadly; anthropology, which studies cultures and human societies often across time and space; and public administration, which concentrates on the management and implementation of government programs rather than analyzing political processes and behavior.