Question 1

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. B

Question 2

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. C

Question 3

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. C

Question 4

In which of the following ways does the Labour Party differ from the Conservative Party?

Accepted Answer

A) It has proved less willing to engage in coalition governments. 
B) It has formally reduced the once-dominant role of trade unions in party policy. 
C) It is more ideologically pure. 
D) It has suffered more internal divisions. 
A) It has proved less willing to engage in coalition governments. 
B) It has formally reduced the once-dominant role of trade unions in party policy. 
C) It is more ideologically pure. 
D) It has suffered more internal divisions.

Question 5

The current mayor of London, notable for being the first nonwhite and Muslim mayor of a major Western capital, is

Accepted Answer

A) Sadiq Khan. 
B) Boris Johnson. 
C) Ken Livingstone. 
D) Nigel Farage. 
A) Sadiq Khan. 
B) Boris Johnson. 
C) Ken Livingstone. 
D) Nigel Farage.

Question 6

The Labour Party's devolution reforms of 1999 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 7

_______ is a system based on local customs and precedent, and serves as the basis for contemporary legal systems in the United Kingdom (except Scotland).

Accepted Answer

A) Celtic law 
B) Code law 
C) Common law 
D) Informal law 
A) Celtic law 
B) Code law 
C) Common law 
D) Informal law

Question 8

The Conservative Party is also known as the

Accepted Answer

A) Whigs. 
B) Reds. 
C) Backbenchers. 
D) Tories. 
A) Whigs. 
B) Reds. 
C) Backbenchers. 
D) Tories.

Question 9

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.

Question 10

The SNP's ability to win the 2007 Scottish regional elections resulted in part 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) economic revival in Scotland 
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) economic revival in Scotland 
D) the promise by the EU of membership for an independent Scotland

Question 11

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 of 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 of moderate free-market policies and ambitious constitutional reform.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about the United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union (EU) 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 13

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 14

What does it mean for the United Kingdom's political regime to be majoritarian? What about the structural relationship among the legislature, judiciary, and executive encourages majoritarianism, and what effect has it had on electoral politics in the United Kingdom?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will specify that a majori

Question 15

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 16

What type of social division or identity is most salient in the United Kingdom?

Accepted Answer

A) ethnic 
B) religious 
C) class-based 
D) regional 
A) ethnic 
B) religious 
C) class-based 
D) regional

Question 17

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 18

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 19

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

Question 20

Which term best describes the United Kingdom's political regime?

Accepted Answer

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

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

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

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

In which of the following ways does the Labour Party differ from the Conservative Party?

The current mayor of London, notable for being the first nonwhite and Muslim mayor of a major Western capital, is

The Labour Party's devolution reforms of 1999 are best described as

_______ is a system based on local customs and precedent, and serves as the basis for contemporary legal systems in the United Kingdom (except Scotland).

The Conservative Party is also known as the

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

The SNP's ability to win the 2007 Scottish regional elections resulted in part from which of the following?

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

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

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

What does it mean for the United Kingdom's political regime to be majoritarian? What about the structural relationship among the legislature, judiciary, and executive encourages majoritarianism, and what effect has it had on electoral politics in the United Kingdom?

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

What type of social division or identity is most salient in the United Kingdom?

In 1998, violence in Northern Ireland was largely ended by

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

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?

Which term best describes the United Kingdom's political regime?

Introduction

States

Nations and Society

Political Economy

Political Violence

Democratic Regimes

Developed Democracies

Nondemocratic Regimes

Communism and Postcommunism

Developing Countries

Globalization and the Future of Comparative Politics

Russia

China

Iran

Mexico

Nigeria

Filters

Exam 12: United Kingdom

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

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

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

In which of the following ways does the Labour Party differ from the Conservative Party?

The current mayor of London, notable for being the first nonwhite and Muslim mayor of a major Western capital, is

The Labour Party's devolution reforms of 1999 are best described as

_______ is a system based on local customs and precedent, and serves as the basis for contemporary legal systems in the United Kingdom (except Scotland).

The Conservative Party is also known as the

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

The SNP's ability to win the 2007 Scottish regional elections resulted in part from which of the following?

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

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

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

What does it mean for the United Kingdom's political regime to be majoritarian? What about the structural relationship among the legislature, judiciary, and executive encourages majoritarianism, and what effect has it had on electoral politics in the United Kingdom?

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

What type of social division or identity is most salient in the United Kingdom?

In 1998, violence in Northern Ireland was largely ended by

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

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?

Which term best describes the United Kingdom's political regime?

Introduction

States

Nations and Society

Political Economy

Political Violence

Democratic Regimes

Developed Democracies

Nondemocratic Regimes

Communism and Postcommunism

Developing Countries

Globalization and the Future of Comparative Politics

Russia

China

Iran

Mexico

Nigeria

Filters