Question 1

Which of the following statements about referenda and initiatives is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) National referenda in the United States and Canada are largely used for taxation and economic policy matters. 
B) Constitutional reform is not subject to reform by referenda because of the ease with which most referenda are passed. 
C) Formal power to call national referenda lies with the head of state in many European countries. 
D) Referenda in the United States are more often used at the national level than at the local or state level. 
A) National referenda in the United States and Canada are largely used for taxation and economic policy matters. 
B) Constitutional reform is not subject to reform by referenda because of the ease with which most referenda are passed. 
C) Formal power to call national referenda lies with the head of state in many European countries. 
D) Referenda in the United States are more often used at the national level than at the local or state level. C

Question 2

Should democracies rely more on initiatives or referenda to decide policy, or are forms of indirect democracy better? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will note that a political system relying on initiatives and referenda places more power in the hands of the people to decide policies that may directly impact them, resulting in a more direct form of democracy.Limitations on what policy issues are decided by initiatives and referenda (more indirect democracy), however, reduce the risk that a potentially uninformed electorate can make political decisions with unforeseen consequences or that low participation rates in referenda votes translate to undemocratic policy decisions.

Question 3

The executive in charge of dealing with running the state and formulating policy is the

Accepted Answer

A) head of government. 
B) head of state. 
C) chief executive. 
D) chancellor. 
A) head of government. 
B) head of state. 
C) chief executive. 
D) chancellor. A

Question 4

Which of the following statements about semi-presidential systems is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) Prominent semi-presidential systems typically place most of the power with the prime minister. 
B) The prime minister is typically the initiator of policy. 
C) Constitutional courts are often less powerful as a result of appointment by the president. 
D) Semi-presidential systems have gone out of favor and have decreased in number during the last two decades. 
A) Prominent semi-presidential systems typically place most of the power with the prime minister. 
B) The prime minister is typically the initiator of policy. 
C) Constitutional courts are often less powerful as a result of appointment by the president. 
D) Semi-presidential systems have gone out of favor and have decreased in number during the last two decades.

Question 5

Single-member district systems are

Accepted Answer

A) electoral systems in which a candidate must win an absolute majority of the vote in a district to win the seat. 
B) electoral systems in which the candidate with the largest share of the vote in a district wins the seat. 
C) electoral systems in which the percentage of votes a party receives in a district will determine how many seats that party will win. 
D) two-round systems for electing presidents and prime ministers. 
A) electoral systems in which a candidate must win an absolute majority of the vote in a district to win the seat. 
B) electoral systems in which the candidate with the largest share of the vote in a district wins the seat. 
C) electoral systems in which the percentage of votes a party receives in a district will determine how many seats that party will win. 
D) two-round systems for electing presidents and prime ministers.

Question 6

The origins of British democracy can be traced back to the

Accepted Answer

A) Magna Carta, 1215. 
B) Bill of Rights, 1689. 
C) Patronage Act, 1752. 
D) Reform Act, 1911. 
A) Magna Carta, 1215. 
B) Bill of Rights, 1689. 
C) Patronage Act, 1752. 
D) Reform Act, 1911.

Question 7

The electoral system that tends to produce a large number of political parties is

Accepted Answer

A) the single-member district system. 
B) the single transferable vote. 
C) the mixed electoral system. 
D) proportional representation. 
A) the single-member district system. 
B) the single transferable vote. 
C) the mixed electoral system. 
D) proportional representation.

Question 8

Which of the following accurately describes a component of a mixed electoral system?

Accepted Answer

A) Voters are allowed two votes, one for a candidate and one for a party. 
B) Voters are allowed two votes, one for a prime minister and the other for a legislative representative. 
C) Voters participate in a combination of proportional representation and multimember districts. 
D) Voters are allowed two votes, but split ticket voting is not allowed. 
A) Voters are allowed two votes, one for a candidate and one for a party. 
B) Voters are allowed two votes, one for a prime minister and the other for a legislative representative. 
C) Voters participate in a combination of proportional representation and multimember districts. 
D) Voters are allowed two votes, but split ticket voting is not allowed.

Question 9

The executive who symbolizes and represents the people is the

Accepted Answer

A) head of government. 
B) head of state. 
C) chief executive. 
D) chancellor. 
A) head of government. 
B) head of state. 
C) chief executive. 
D) chancellor.

Question 10

In which of the following ways does a proportional representation (PR) system differ from a single-member district (SMD) system?

Accepted Answer

A) In a PR system, individual candidates win by plurality vote instead of a majority vote. 
B) Each constituency in a PR system has only one representative. 
C) In a PR system, votes cast for a candidate or party that does not win are essentially wasted. 
D) Voters in a PR system are typically more willing to vote for smaller parties. 
A) In a PR system, individual candidates win by plurality vote instead of a majority vote. 
B) Each constituency in a PR system has only one representative. 
C) In a PR system, votes cast for a candidate or party that does not win are essentially wasted. 
D) Voters in a PR system are typically more willing to vote for smaller parties.

Question 11

Which of the following statements best describes the correlative relationship between the type of executive in a country and the type of electoral system used to elect the legislature?

Accepted Answer

A) Countries that use a single-member district system have presidential executives, while those with prime ministers rely on proportional representation. 
B) Countries that use a single-member district system have prime ministers, while presidential systems rely on proportional representation. 
C) There is no correlation between type of executive and the kind of electoral system used to elect the legislature. 
D) Semi-presidential systems use proportional representation to elect both the president and the legislature. 
A) Countries that use a single-member district system have presidential executives, while those with prime ministers rely on proportional representation. 
B) Countries that use a single-member district system have prime ministers, while presidential systems rely on proportional representation. 
C) There is no correlation between type of executive and the kind of electoral system used to elect the legislature. 
D) Semi-presidential systems use proportional representation to elect both the president and the legislature.

Question 12

Is a presidential system more democratic than a parliamentary system? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will frame the differences

Question 13

In a presidential system, the president typically serves as

Accepted Answer

A) head of state. 
B) head of government. 
C) both head of state and head of government. 
D) neither head of state nor head of government. 
A) head of state. 
B) head of government. 
C) both head of state and head of government. 
D) neither head of state nor head of government.

Question 14

The idea of legal institutions to which everyone is subject is known as

Accepted Answer

A) the reign of democracy. 
B) the rule of law. 
C) majority rule. 
D) the consent of the governed. 
A) the reign of democracy. 
B) the rule of law. 
C) majority rule. 
D) the consent of the governed.

Question 15

In a parliamentary system, the prime minister serves as

Accepted Answer

A) head of state. 
B) head of government. 
C) both head of state and head of government. 
D) neither head of state nor head of government. 
A) head of state. 
B) head of government. 
C) both head of state and head of government. 
D) neither head of state nor head of government.

Question 16

What is meant by the term liberal democracy?

Accepted Answer

A) democratic system that values equality above all 
B) democratic system that values personal freedom above all 
C) democratic system that promotes process, liberty, and minority rights 
D) democratic system that promotes participation, competition, and liberty 
A) democratic system that values equality above all 
B) democratic system that values personal freedom above all 
C) democratic system that promotes process, liberty, and minority rights 
D) democratic system that promotes participation, competition, and liberty

Question 17

Which of the following was an effect of the rapid development of many Asian countries in the 1970s on the study of democracy?

Accepted Answer

A) It demonstrated that elites were the driving force behind early democratization. 
B) It helped to discredit modernization theory. 
C) It proved that a middle class was essential for democratization. 
D) It demonstrated that overall poverty is not an impediment to democratization. 
A) It demonstrated that elites were the driving force behind early democratization. 
B) It helped to discredit modernization theory. 
C) It proved that a middle class was essential for democratization. 
D) It demonstrated that overall poverty is not an impediment to democratization.

Question 18

Civil rights typically refers to the promotion of

Accepted Answer

A) equality. 
B) freedom. 
C) civic duties. 
D) republicanism. 
A) equality. 
B) freedom. 
C) civic duties. 
D) republicanism.

Question 19

What is meant by the term republicanism?

Accepted Answer

A) a system that emphasizes separation of powers and representation of the public t hrough elected officials 
B) a system rooted in the ideology of liberalism, with its emphasis on individual rights and freedoms 
C) a system that emphasizes conservative political values 
D) a system that values equality among individuals above individual rights 
A) a system that emphasizes separation of powers and representation of the public t hrough elected officials 
B) a system rooted in the ideology of liberalism, with its emphasis on individual rights and freedoms 
C) a system that emphasizes conservative political values 
D) a system that values equality among individuals above individual rights

Question 20

Which of the following is more likely to be a problem in a presidential system than in a parliamentary system?

Accepted Answer

A) weakening of the judiciary over time as a result of conflicts between presidential and legislative authority 
B) policy disagreement between a legislature and the executive that restricts lawmaking for a long period, even if the executive has become unpopular with the electorate 
C) policy disagreement between a legislature and the executive that results from a very small party in the legislature denying a law a majority vote 
D) growth of power in political parties as presidential candidates become more beholden to party loyalists 
A) weakening of the judiciary over time as a result of conflicts between presidential and legislative authority 
B) policy disagreement between a legislature and the executive that restricts lawmaking for a long period, even if the executive has become unpopular with the electorate 
C) policy disagreement between a legislature and the executive that results from a very small party in the legislature denying a law a majority vote 
D) growth of power in political parties as presidential candidates become more beholden to party loyalists

Which of the following statements about referenda and initiatives is accurate?

Should democracies rely more on initiatives or referenda to decide policy, or are forms of indirect democracy better? Why or why not?

The executive in charge of dealing with running the state and formulating policy is the

Which of the following statements about semi-presidential systems is accurate?

Single-member district systems are

The origins of British democracy can be traced back to the

The electoral system that tends to produce a large number of political parties is

Which of the following accurately describes a component of a mixed electoral system?

The executive who symbolizes and represents the people is the

In which of the following ways does a proportional representation (PR) system differ from a single-member district (SMD) system?

Which of the following statements best describes the correlative relationship between the type of executive in a country and the type of electoral system used to elect the legislature?

Is a presidential system more democratic than a parliamentary system? Why or why not?

In a presidential system, the president typically serves as

The idea of legal institutions to which everyone is subject is known as

In a parliamentary system, the prime minister serves as

What is meant by the term liberal democracy?

Which of the following was an effect of the rapid development of many Asian countries in the 1970s on the study of democracy?

Civil rights typically refers to the promotion of

What is meant by the term republicanism?

Which of the following is more likely to be a problem in a presidential system than in a parliamentary system?

Introduction

States

Nations and Society

Political Economy

Political Violence

Developed Democracies

Nondemocratic Regimes

Communism and Postcommunism

Developing Countries

Globalization and the Future of Comparative Politics

United Kingdom

Russia

China

Iran

Mexico

Nigeria

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Exam 6: Democratic Regimes

Which of the following statements about referenda and initiatives is accurate?

Should democracies rely more on initiatives or referenda to decide policy, or are forms of indirect democracy better? Why or why not?

The executive in charge of dealing with running the state and formulating policy is the

Which of the following statements about semi-presidential systems is accurate?

Single-member district systems are

The origins of British democracy can be traced back to the

The electoral system that tends to produce a large number of political parties is

Which of the following accurately describes a component of a mixed electoral system?

The executive who symbolizes and represents the people is the

In which of the following ways does a proportional representation (PR) system differ from a single-member district (SMD) system?

Which of the following statements best describes the correlative relationship between the type of executive in a country and the type of electoral system used to elect the legislature?

Is a presidential system more democratic than a parliamentary system? Why or why not?

In a presidential system, the president typically serves as

The idea of legal institutions to which everyone is subject is known as

In a parliamentary system, the prime minister serves as

What is meant by the term liberal democracy?

Which of the following was an effect of the rapid development of many Asian countries in the 1970s on the study of democracy?

Civil rights typically refers to the promotion of

What is meant by the term republicanism?

Which of the following is more likely to be a problem in a presidential system than in a parliamentary system?

Introduction

States

Nations and Society

Political Economy

Political Violence

Developed Democracies

Nondemocratic Regimes

Communism and Postcommunism

Developing Countries

Globalization and the Future of Comparative Politics

United Kingdom

Russia

China

Iran

Mexico

Nigeria

Filters