Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes the Third Way of the Labour Party today?

Accepted Answer

A) It is a means of governing with a very slim majority that requires courting votes from the opposition. 
B) It involves a frequent coalition government between the Labour Party and the Green Party. 
C) It represents devolution to regional governments in order to quell nationalist sentiment. 
D) It is a moderate compromise between the ideological right and the left between moderate free market policies and ambitious constitutional reform. 
A) It is a means of governing with a very slim majority that requires courting votes from the opposition. 
B) It involves a frequent coalition government between the Labour Party and the Green Party. 
C) It represents devolution to regional governments in order to quell nationalist sentiment. 
D) It is a moderate compromise between the ideological right and the left between moderate free market policies and ambitious constitutional reform. D

Question 2

Why is the United Kingdom's political system an unlikely candidate for coalition government? Briefly explain why a significant increase in support for third parties in the 2015 elections (SNP and UKIP in particular)did not translate into seats in Parliament.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will note that coalition government (lack of a majority party)is rare in plurality SMD electoral systems (or "first past the post")because it strongly favors a two-party system.Third parties gained considerably more support between 2010 and 2015 in the aggregate but this increased support was concentrated in a small number of districts (high levels of SNP support in Scotland,e.g. )or the increased support was diffused throughout districts (UKIP)where they were unable to win pluralities.

Question 3

The British party system is often called a two-and-a-half party system because the

Accepted Answer

A) Labour Party has two unofficial wings that operate with different policy objectives. 
B) House of Lords is part of government but is not popularly elected. 
C) Scottish National Party holds only a regional sway instead of a national one. 
D) Liberal Democratic Party trails far behind the Conservative and Labour parties in electoral strength. 
A) Labour Party has two unofficial wings that operate with different policy objectives. 
B) House of Lords is part of government but is not popularly elected. 
C) Scottish National Party holds only a regional sway instead of a national one. 
D) Liberal Democratic Party trails far behind the Conservative and Labour parties in electoral strength. D

Question 4

In 1998,violence in Northern Ireland was largely ended by

Accepted Answer

A) a military intervention by the Irish Republic. 
B) the Catholic victory in the civil war. 
C) the Good Friday Agreement. 
D) the Protestant victory in the civil war. 
A) a military intervention by the Irish Republic. 
B) the Catholic victory in the civil war. 
C) the Good Friday Agreement. 
D) the Protestant victory in the civil war.

Question 5

What factors led to the recent vote in favor of "Brexit" in the United Kingdom? Does Brexit represent a sharp break in UK-EU relations?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will note that the Europea

Question 6

Which of the following descriptions of members of the UK House of Commons is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) Members are typically more accessible to the electorate than American legislators. 
B) Members typically act independently of their party's wishes. 
C) Members enjoy more material support and staff than their U.S.counterparts. 
D) Individual members are unable to propose legislation. 
A) Members are typically more accessible to the electorate than American legislators. 
B) Members typically act independently of their party's wishes. 
C) Members enjoy more material support and staff than their U.S.counterparts. 
D) Individual members are unable to propose legislation.

Question 7

Which of the following descriptions of the UK prime minister is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) Prime ministers are frequently removed by votes of no confidence. 
B) Prime ministers are elected to a maximum term of ten years. 
C) Prime ministers are responsible for maintaining the support of their fellow MPs. 
D) Prime ministers largely cede diplomatic responsibilities to the head of state. 
A) Prime ministers are frequently removed by votes of no confidence. 
B) Prime ministers are elected to a maximum term of ten years. 
C) Prime ministers are responsible for maintaining the support of their fellow MPs. 
D) Prime ministers largely cede diplomatic responsibilities to the head of state.

Question 8

Local government in the United Kingdom

Accepted Answer

A) is constitutionally protected. 
B) does not exist at any level. 
C) is led by appointed rather than elected officials. 
D) has formal powers only when granted by the central government. 
A) is constitutionally protected. 
B) does not exist at any level. 
C) is led by appointed rather than elected officials. 
D) has formal powers only when granted by the central government.

Question 9

In which of the following ways did Tony Blair's policies as prime minister differ from those of Margaret Thatcher?

Accepted Answer

A) He was more accepting of his party's status quo mode of operation. 
B) He devolved more power to regional governments. 
C) He moved the country away from free-market policies. 
D) He sought to strengthen the power of trade unions. 
A) He was more accepting of his party's status quo mode of operation. 
B) He devolved more power to regional governments. 
C) He moved the country away from free-market policies. 
D) He sought to strengthen the power of trade unions.

Question 10

The Labour Party's devolution reforms during the 1990s are best described as

Accepted Answer

A) an effort to encourage Scotland,Wales,and Northern Ireland to seek independence. 
B) turning over some central governmental power to regional legislatures in Scotland,Wales,and Northern Ireland. 
C) asserting more power for central government and blocking attempts at independence among Scotland,Wales,and Northern Ireland. 
D) an increase in the number of parliamentary districts in the regions of Scotland,Wales,and Northern Ireland. 
A) an effort to encourage Scotland,Wales,and Northern Ireland to seek independence. 
B) turning over some central governmental power to regional legislatures in Scotland,Wales,and Northern Ireland. 
C) asserting more power for central government and blocking attempts at independence among Scotland,Wales,and Northern Ireland. 
D) an increase in the number of parliamentary districts in the regions of Scotland,Wales,and Northern Ireland.

Question 11

Describe the similarities that exist between Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher,despite Thatcher being a Conservative and Blair a Labourite.

Accepted Answer

A good answer will discuss how Blair and

Question 12

Which term best describes the UK political regime?

Accepted Answer

A) authoritarian 
B) majoritarian 
C) oligarchy 
D) corporatist 
A) authoritarian 
B) majoritarian 
C) oligarchy 
D) corporatist

Question 13

Which of the following statements about the United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) The United Kingdom is a full EU member and has adopted the euro as its currency. 
B) Until recently,people living in the United Kingdom have been fully supportive of membership in the EU. 
C) In the recent referendum known as "Brexit," UK citizens voted to leave the EU. 
D) The United Kingdom is a transitional member of the EU,with membership conditional on acceptance of the single currency. 
A) The United Kingdom is a full EU member and has adopted the euro as its currency. 
B) Until recently,people living in the United Kingdom have been fully supportive of membership in the EU. 
C) In the recent referendum known as "Brexit," UK citizens voted to leave the EU. 
D) The United Kingdom is a transitional member of the EU,with membership conditional on acceptance of the single currency.

Question 14

Which of the following accurately lists two results of the 2017 "snap" parliamentary elections in the United Kingdom?

Accepted Answer

A) the first coalition government involving the Scottish National Party and a major party;a dramatic reduction in popular support for the Labour Party 
B) a rise in the popular vote for the UKIP to 13 percent;the taking of 10 seats in Parliament by the UKIP 
C) the replacement of David Cameron as the prime minister and Conservative Party leader;a general popular acceptance of the previous government's austerity measures 
D) a net loss of seats in Parliament for the Conservatives;the return to a "hung parliament" 
A) the first coalition government involving the Scottish National Party and a major party;a dramatic reduction in popular support for the Labour Party 
B) a rise in the popular vote for the UKIP to 13 percent;the taking of 10 seats in Parliament by the UKIP 
C) the replacement of David Cameron as the prime minister and Conservative Party leader;a general popular acceptance of the previous government's austerity measures 
D) a net loss of seats in Parliament for the Conservatives;the return to a "hung parliament"

Question 15

Which of the following is a characteristic of Britain's use of the single-member district (SMD)electoral system?

Accepted Answer

A) It strengthens democratic rule. 
B) It encourages the strength of smaller parties,which results in more coalition governments. 
C) It supports the dominance of the Labour and Conservative parties. 
D) It weakens the regional concentration of smaller parties. 
A) It strengthens democratic rule. 
B) It encourages the strength of smaller parties,which results in more coalition governments. 
C) It supports the dominance of the Labour and Conservative parties. 
D) It weakens the regional concentration of smaller parties.

Question 16

The SNP's ability to win the 2007 and 2011 Scottish regional elections partially resulted from which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) Scottish support for Blair's Iraq policy 
B) the Labour Party's refusal to devolve power to Scotland 
C) the government's mandate of Scottish devolution in 1997 
D) the promise by the EU of membership for an independent Scotland 
A) Scottish support for Blair's Iraq policy 
B) the Labour Party's refusal to devolve power to Scotland 
C) the government's mandate of Scottish devolution in 1997 
D) the promise by the EU of membership for an independent Scotland

Question 17

In which of the following ways does the British democracy differ from most other parliamentary democracies in Europe?

Accepted Answer

A) The British system has a written constitution that is vastly more comprehensive and explicit than others. 
B) The majority party can enact policies with almost no checks from other branches of government. 
C) The minority party in Parliament has abnormally strong abilities to stop the work of government if it disapproves of policy choices. 
D) The head of government is not elected to a fixed term of office. 
A) The British system has a written constitution that is vastly more comprehensive and explicit than others. 
B) The majority party can enact policies with almost no checks from other branches of government. 
C) The minority party in Parliament has abnormally strong abilities to stop the work of government if it disapproves of policy choices. 
D) The head of government is not elected to a fixed term of office.

Question 18

In which of the following ways has the British welfare state changed in recent decades?

Accepted Answer

A) It has sought more of its funding from personal income taxes instead of corporate taxes. 
B) It has moved away from direct benefits and toward "welfare-to-work" programs. 
C) It has taken on a more Labour-centric structure and moved away from Conservative preferences for welfare. 
D) It has increased in size while providing a narrower range of benefits to citizens. 
A) It has sought more of its funding from personal income taxes instead of corporate taxes. 
B) It has moved away from direct benefits and toward "welfare-to-work" programs. 
C) It has taken on a more Labour-centric structure and moved away from Conservative preferences for welfare. 
D) It has increased in size while providing a narrower range of benefits to citizens.

Question 19

The Magna Carta set an important precedent by establishing

Accepted Answer

A) authoritarian rule. 
B) liberal democracy. 
C) lower-class power. 
D) limits to the power of the monarchy. 
A) authoritarian rule. 
B) liberal democracy. 
C) lower-class power. 
D) limits to the power of the monarchy.

Question 20

Describe the theorized causes behind the four-decade decline in the UK economy following World War II.What is the nature of the current postindustrial UK economy?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will elaborate o

Exam 8: United Kingdom

Which of the following statements best describes the Third Way of the Labour Party today?

Why is the United Kingdom's political system an unlikely candidate for coalition government? Briefly explain why a significant increase in support for third parties in the 2015 elections (SNP and UKIP in particular)did not translate into seats in Parliament.

The British party system is often called a two-and-a-half party system because the

In 1998,violence in Northern Ireland was largely ended by

What factors led to the recent vote in favor of "Brexit" in the United Kingdom? Does Brexit represent a sharp break in UK-EU relations?

Which of the following descriptions of members of the UK House of Commons is accurate?

Which of the following descriptions of the UK prime minister is accurate?

Local government in the United Kingdom

In which of the following ways did Tony Blair's policies as prime minister differ from those of Margaret Thatcher?

The Labour Party's devolution reforms during the 1990s are best described as

Describe the similarities that exist between Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher,despite Thatcher being a Conservative and Blair a Labourite.

Which term best describes the UK political regime?

Which of the following statements about the United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union is accurate?

Which of the following accurately lists two results of the 2017 "snap" parliamentary elections in the United Kingdom?

Which of the following is a characteristic of Britain's use of the single-member district (SMD)electoral system?

The SNP's ability to win the 2007 and 2011 Scottish regional elections partially resulted from which of the following?

In which of the following ways does the British democracy differ from most other parliamentary democracies in Europe?

In which of the following ways has the British welfare state changed in recent decades?

The Magna Carta set an important precedent by establishing

Describe the theorized causes behind the four-decade decline in the UK economy following World War II.What is the nature of the current postindustrial UK economy?

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