Final answer:
Political science is a systematic and empirical study of government and political processes, focusing on how resources are allocated, how power is exercised, and how conflicts are resolved. It uses scientific methods similar to other social sciences to analyze political phenomena.
Step-by-step explanation:
Political science is the systematic study of political phenomena, primarily focused on understanding the process by which governments make decisions, allocate resources, and exercise power. The scope of political science encompasses not just current events, but also involves developing empirical hypotheses to explain political behaviors and using theories to predict outcomes and patterns. It is a social science with methodologies similar to those used in other scientific disciplines, relying on data, evidence, and logical reasoning to study the political realm. Empirical political science specifically refers to the application of the scientific method to study political behavior, creating hypotheses that can be tested with evidence. Furthermore, political science examines how different actors within the political sphere influence each other and how conflicts are resolved. Through the study of political science, individuals gain valuable communication and analytical skills that are useful beyond the field of politics, making it a versatile and practical discipline. Therefore, political science is the study of current events among other things, as it considers not just what is happening now, but also the underlying principles and patterns that inform those events. It also looks into how these events shape future probabilities and actions within the political context.