Question 1

Which of the following statements about constitutional courts in the world is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) Trials have more influence on constitutional interpretation in countries with a fused appellate and constitutional court than those without a fused system. 
B) In those countries that have it, the right of judicial review is typically implicit (like in the United States). 
C) All liberal democracies endow the constitutional court with the power of judicial review. 
D) Almost all constitutional courts in modern democracies ensure lifetime tenure for their judges. 
A) Trials have more influence on constitutional interpretation in countries with a fused appellate and constitutional court than those without a fused system. 
B) In those countries that have it, the right of judicial review is typically implicit (like in the United States). 
C) All liberal democracies endow the constitutional court with the power of judicial review. 
D) Almost all constitutional courts in modern democracies ensure lifetime tenure for their judges.

Question 2

A diverse fabric of organizations created by people, not necessarily political, to help define and advance their own interests is known as

Accepted Answer

A) the oligarchy. 
B) civil society. 
C) public networks. 
D) civic autonomy. 
A) the oligarchy. 
B) civil society. 
C) public networks. 
D) civic autonomy.

Question 3

Bicameral systems can be traced back to different representation for

Accepted Answer

A) urban and rural groups. 
B) religious groups. 
C) regional differences. 
D) economic classes. 
A) urban and rural groups. 
B) religious groups. 
C) regional differences. 
D) economic classes.

Question 4

In which of the following ways does a parliamentary system differ from a presidential one?

Accepted Answer

A) Prime ministers are directly elected by the people, while presidents must be elected indirectly through an electoral college. 
B) Election dates are more easily altered in presidential systems than in parliamentary systems. 
C) Prime ministers must command a majority to stay in office; presidents do not. 
D) Presidents are more easily removed from office than prime ministers. 
A) Prime ministers are directly elected by the people, while presidents must be elected indirectly through an electoral college. 
B) Election dates are more easily altered in presidential systems than in parliamentary systems. 
C) Prime ministers must command a majority to stay in office; presidents do not. 
D) Presidents are more easily removed from office than prime ministers.

Question 5

Prime ministers can be removed through which mechanism?

Accepted Answer

A) impeachment 
B) vote of no confidence 
C) plebiscite 
D) recall vote 
A) impeachment 
B) vote of no confidence 
C) plebiscite 
D) recall vote

Question 6

Describe the role of economic modernization and political elites in theorizing about the emergence of democracy.Why are overall levels of wealth not enough to predict whether a country will opt for democratic reforms?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will note that modernizati

Question 7

Which of the following statements about legislative structures is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) Upper houses of bicameral systems always fulfill a strictly ceremonial role. 
B) The majority of liberal democracies have bicameral systems. 
C) Larger countries are more likely to have unicameral systems. 
D) Smaller countries are more likely to have bicameral systems. 
A) Upper houses of bicameral systems always fulfill a strictly ceremonial role. 
B) The majority of liberal democracies have bicameral systems. 
C) Larger countries are more likely to have unicameral systems. 
D) Smaller countries are more likely to have bicameral systems.

Question 8

Which of the following statements about the relationship between democratization, modernization theory, and political elites is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) A core assertion of modernization theory is that a country with political elites will allow democratic institutions to flourish if the country develops enough natural resources to become wealthy. 
B) According to modernization theory, economic development is important to democratization, but a focus on elites shows that the type of wealth or resources has a big impact on the success of democratization. 
C) Concentration of economic assets in the hands of a few elites in power ultimately advances democracy because those elites feel secure in their positions and thus allow democratization to flourish. 
D) Decline of natural resources or economic stagnation typically forces an entrenchment of elites and a reduction of the chances for democratization. 
A) A core assertion of modernization theory is that a country with political elites will allow democratic institutions to flourish if the country develops enough natural resources to become wealthy. 
B) According to modernization theory, economic development is important to democratization, but a focus on elites shows that the type of wealth or resources has a big impact on the success of democratization. 
C) Concentration of economic assets in the hands of a few elites in power ultimately advances democracy because those elites feel secure in their positions and thus allow democratization to flourish. 
D) Decline of natural resources or economic stagnation typically forces an entrenchment of elites and a reduction of the chances for democratization.

Question 9

Describe the benefits that political parties bring to a democracy.How might the structure of political parties differ between proportional representation systems and single-member district systems?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will note the primary func

Question 10

What are the most important differences between a single-member district system and a proportional representation system? Which is more democratic? Which is more efficient?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will note that single-memb

Question 11

A political scientist notes that in a particular voting district, an elected representative has formed an especially close bond with her constituents, and that during her past term she even voted against the will of her party in order to better represent the people in her district.This political scientist would most likely use this observed relationship to argue that

Accepted Answer

A) single-member district systems are more representative than proportional representation systems. 
B) mixed electoral systems are more representative than single-member district systems. 
C) parliamentary systems are more representative than presidential. 
D) more referenda and initiatives are needed to allow for greater participation by voters in the policy-making process. 
A) single-member district systems are more representative than proportional representation systems. 
B) mixed electoral systems are more representative than single-member district systems. 
C) parliamentary systems are more representative than presidential. 
D) more referenda and initiatives are needed to allow for greater participation by voters in the policy-making process.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about bicameralism is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) Bicameralism is typically linked to unitary states, though not exclusively so. 
B) Members of lower houses typically serve longer terms than members of upper houses in bicameral systems. 
C) Bicameral systems were often retained in modern times to restrict the power of popularly elected lower houses of the legislature. 
D) Lower houses are generally weaker than upper houses in bicameral systems. 
A) Bicameralism is typically linked to unitary states, though not exclusively so. 
B) Members of lower houses typically serve longer terms than members of upper houses in bicameral systems. 
C) Bicameral systems were often retained in modern times to restrict the power of popularly elected lower houses of the legislature. 
D) Lower houses are generally weaker than upper houses in bicameral systems.

Question 13

A national vote initiated by the government on a particular policy issue is commonly know as a

Accepted Answer

A) plebiscite. 
B) referendum. 
C) ballot initiative. 
D) mass ballot. 
A) plebiscite. 
B) referendum. 
C) ballot initiative. 
D) mass ballot.

Question 14

The ability of constitutional courts to strike down legislation even in the absence of a specific court case is known as ________ review.

Accepted Answer

A) concrete 
B) abstract 
C) appellate 
D) activist 
A) concrete 
B) abstract 
C) appellate 
D) activist

Question 15

Proportional representation systems can be defined as

Accepted Answer

A) electoral systems in which the candidate with the majority of the vote in a district wins the seat. 
B) electoral systems in which the candidate with the plurality 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 the candidate with the majority of the vote in a district wins the seat. 
B) electoral systems in which the candidate with the plurality 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.

Which of the following statements about constitutional courts in the world is accurate?

A diverse fabric of organizations created by people, not necessarily political, to help define and advance their own interests is known as

Bicameral systems can be traced back to different representation for

In which of the following ways does a parliamentary system differ from a presidential one?

Prime ministers can be removed through which mechanism?

Describe the role of economic modernization and political elites in theorizing about the emergence of democracy.Why are overall levels of wealth not enough to predict whether a country will opt for democratic reforms?

Which of the following statements about legislative structures is accurate?

Which of the following statements about the relationship between democratization, modernization theory, and political elites is accurate?

Describe the benefits that political parties bring to a democracy.How might the structure of political parties differ between proportional representation systems and single-member district systems?

What are the most important differences between a single-member district system and a proportional representation system? Which is more democratic? Which is more efficient?

Which of the following statements about bicameralism is accurate?

A national vote initiated by the government on a particular policy issue is commonly know as a

The ability of constitutional courts to strike down legislation even in the absence of a specific court case is known as ________ review.

Proportional representation systems can be defined as

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

Exam 6: Democratic Regimes

Which of the following statements about constitutional courts in the world is accurate?

A diverse fabric of organizations created by people, not necessarily political, to help define and advance their own interests is known as

Bicameral systems can be traced back to different representation for

In which of the following ways does a parliamentary system differ from a presidential one?

Prime ministers can be removed through which mechanism?

Describe the role of economic modernization and political elites in theorizing about the emergence of democracy.Why are overall levels of wealth not enough to predict whether a country will opt for democratic reforms?

Which of the following statements about legislative structures is accurate?

Which of the following statements about the relationship between democratization, modernization theory, and political elites is accurate?

Describe the benefits that political parties bring to a democracy.How might the structure of political parties differ between proportional representation systems and single-member district systems?

What are the most important differences between a single-member district system and a proportional representation system? Which is more democratic? Which is more efficient?

Which of the following statements about bicameralism is accurate?

A national vote initiated by the government on a particular policy issue is commonly know as a

The ability of constitutional courts to strike down legislation even in the absence of a specific court case is known as ________ review.

Proportional representation systems can be defined as

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