Question 1

In the Canadian parliamentary system,who performs the functions of the U.S.president?

Accepted Answer

A)  the prime minister 
B)  the prime minister and the premiers 
C)  the monarch and the governor general 
D)  the monarch and the prime minister 
A)  the prime minister 
B)  the prime minister and the premiers 
C)  the monarch and the governor general 
D)  the monarch and the prime minister

Question 2

Who holds the shortest term of elected office in the United States presidential system?

Accepted Answer

A)  members of the House of Representatives 
B)  members of standing committees 
C)  the president 
D)  members of the cabinet 
A)  members of the House of Representatives 
B)  members of standing committees 
C)  the president 
D)  members of the cabinet

Question 3

Which of the following government structures would James Madison most likely support?

Accepted Answer

A)  A system where the head of state had constitutional powers over economic affairs. 
B)  A system where the courts, the legislatures, and the executive all had separate roles and powers. 
C)  A system where the head of government was also an elected member of the legislature. 
D)  A system where different political institutions had separate, but not exclusive, powers and responsibilities. 
A)  A system where the head of state had constitutional powers over economic affairs. 
B)  A system where the courts, the legislatures, and the executive all had separate roles and powers. 
C)  A system where the head of government was also an elected member of the legislature. 
D)  A system where different political institutions had separate, but not exclusive, powers and responsibilities.

Question 4

After winning a majority of House of Commons seats in a general election,the Liberals form a cabinet that relies on a working majority in the House.What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

A)  a majority government 
B)  party discipline 
C)  cabinet solidarity 
D)  coalition government 
A)  a majority government 
B)  party discipline 
C)  cabinet solidarity 
D)  coalition government

Question 5

The prime minister and provincial premiers are Canada's heads of government.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following branches of American government has the most effective short-term veto on legislation?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Senate 
B)  the President 
C)  Congress 
D)  the courts 
A)  the Senate 
B)  the President 
C)  Congress 
D)  the courts

Question 7

Identify some important features that help to define the uniqueness of the parliamentary system of government.

Accepted Answer

The parliamentary system of government i

Question 8

In Canada,neither the federal prime minister nor the provincial premiers are elected directly by the people,but they are in fact asked by the heads of state to form government.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

In the U.S.A.,the term of office for a member of the House of Representatives is two years.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

What is the meaning of the term "judicial review"?

Accepted Answer

A)  the periodic assessment of the performance of the judiciary 
B)  the power to appoint new members to the judiciary 
C)  the power to declare legislation unconstitutional 
D)  the power to initiate legislation affecting the Supreme Court 
A)  the periodic assessment of the performance of the judiciary 
B)  the power to appoint new members to the judiciary 
C)  the power to declare legislation unconstitutional 
D)  the power to initiate legislation affecting the Supreme Court

Question 11

Suppose a minister in the government publicly criticizes government policy in a modern parliamentary system.Which principle does this violate?

Accepted Answer

A)  parliamentary procedure 
B)  party discipline 
C)  expression of cabinet concerns only within the party caucus 
D)  cabinet solidarity 
A)  parliamentary procedure 
B)  party discipline 
C)  expression of cabinet concerns only within the party caucus 
D)  cabinet solidarity

Question 12

The fusion of powers is characteristic of parliamentary models of government.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

What does the term Westminster Model refer to?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Statute of Westminster of 1931 
B)  American presidential government 
C)  British common law 
D)  British parliamentary practice 
A)  the Statute of Westminster of 1931 
B)  American presidential government 
C)  British common law 
D)  British parliamentary practice

Question 14

A Bill in the Canadian parliamentary system must go through ____________ in both the _____________ and the ____________.There are also a series of _________ that must review the content of any proposed legislation before it is sent to the _____________ for royal assent and proclamation.

Accepted Answer

three readings; Hous

Question 15

Which of the following examples would not happen in the French semi-presidential system?

Accepted Answer

A)  6 months after an election triggered by a vote of non-confidence, the opposition parties threaten to vote against the government on the budget. 
B)  Opposition parties successfully bring down the prime minister and the cabinet in a non-confidence motion. 
C)  A deadlock is created between the head of government and the National Assembly. 
D)  There is no clear majority party in the National Assembly, forcing another election. 
A)  6 months after an election triggered by a vote of non-confidence, the opposition parties threaten to vote against the government on the budget. 
B)  Opposition parties successfully bring down the prime minister and the cabinet in a non-confidence motion. 
C)  A deadlock is created between the head of government and the National Assembly. 
D)  There is no clear majority party in the National Assembly, forcing another election.

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of a minority government?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Liberal Party forms a cabinet based on winning 155 of 308 seats in the House of Commons. 
B)  The Conservative Party forms a cabinet based on winning 143 of 308 seats in the House of Commons. 
C)  The New Democratic Party and the Liberal Party join together to form the government. 
D)  The Conservative Party wins 140 of 308 seats, while a NDP/Liberal coalition together wins 150 seats. 
A)  The Liberal Party forms a cabinet based on winning 155 of 308 seats in the House of Commons. 
B)  The Conservative Party forms a cabinet based on winning 143 of 308 seats in the House of Commons. 
C)  The New Democratic Party and the Liberal Party join together to form the government. 
D)  The Conservative Party wins 140 of 308 seats, while a NDP/Liberal coalition together wins 150 seats.

Question 17

What does the term "cabinet solidarity" refer to?

Accepted Answer

A)  members of the cabinet expressing solidarity when discussing bills in cabinet meetings 
B)  a strategy of the opposition 
C)  the public expression of support by cabinet members regarding government policy 
D)  the union that represents the cabinet in salary negotiations 
A)  members of the cabinet expressing solidarity when discussing bills in cabinet meetings 
B)  a strategy of the opposition 
C)  the public expression of support by cabinet members regarding government policy 
D)  the union that represents the cabinet in salary negotiations

Question 18

What is required for the president of the United States to appoint a new judge to the United States Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

A)  He would require the consent of the Speaker of the House. 
B)  He would require the approval of the Senate. 
C)  He would require the approval of the House of Representatives. 
D)  He would require the approval of both Houses of Congress. 
A)  He would require the consent of the Speaker of the House. 
B)  He would require the approval of the Senate. 
C)  He would require the approval of the House of Representatives. 
D)  He would require the approval of both Houses of Congress.

Question 19

Suppose the head of government sees that her party is ahead in the polls.She chooses to have an election and capitalize on the popular support.In which of the following situations would this example take place?

Accepted Answer

A)  In the American presidential system when the president's party has a majority in Congress. 
B)  In the American presidential system when the president's party has a majority in the Senate. 
C)  In the Canadian parliamentary system when the prime minister's party has a majority in the Senate. 
D)  In the Canadian parliamentary system when the prime minister's party has a minority in the House of Commons 
A)  In the American presidential system when the president's party has a majority in Congress. 
B)  In the American presidential system when the president's party has a majority in the Senate. 
C)  In the Canadian parliamentary system when the prime minister's party has a majority in the Senate. 
D)  In the Canadian parliamentary system when the prime minister's party has a minority in the House of Commons

Question 20

Which of the following statements best describes the difference between a president and prime minister?

Accepted Answer

A)  A president is both head of state and head of government, whereas a prime minister is only head of government. 
B)  A president is a member of the popularly elected legislative branch, whereas the prime minister is not a member of the House of Commons 
C)  A president may appoint officials without consultations, whereas prime ministerial appointments must be approved by the Cabinet. 
D)  A president is both head of state and head of government, whereas a prime minister is only head of state. 
A)  A president is both head of state and head of government, whereas a prime minister is only head of government. 
B)  A president is a member of the popularly elected legislative branch, whereas the prime minister is not a member of the House of Commons 
C)  A president may appoint officials without consultations, whereas prime ministerial appointments must be approved by the Cabinet. 
D)  A president is both head of state and head of government, whereas a prime minister is only head of state.

Exam 20: Parliamentary and Presidential Systems

In the Canadian parliamentary system,who performs the functions of the U.S.president?

Who holds the shortest term of elected office in the United States presidential system?

Which of the following government structures would James Madison most likely support?

After winning a majority of House of Commons seats in a general election,the Liberals form a cabinet that relies on a working majority in the House.What is this an example of?

The prime minister and provincial premiers are Canada's heads of government.

Which of the following branches of American government has the most effective short-term veto on legislation?

Identify some important features that help to define the uniqueness of the parliamentary system of government.

In Canada,neither the federal prime minister nor the provincial premiers are elected directly by the people,but they are in fact asked by the heads of state to form government.

In the U.S.A.,the term of office for a member of the House of Representatives is two years.

What is the meaning of the term "judicial review"?

Suppose a minister in the government publicly criticizes government policy in a modern parliamentary system.Which principle does this violate?

The fusion of powers is characteristic of parliamentary models of government.

What does the term Westminster Model refer to?

A Bill in the Canadian parliamentary system must go through ____________ in both the _____________ and the ____________.There are also a series of _________ that must review the content of any proposed legislation before it is sent to the _____________ for royal assent and proclamation.

Which of the following examples would not happen in the French semi-presidential system?

Which of the following is an example of a minority government?

What does the term "cabinet solidarity" refer to?

What is required for the president of the United States to appoint a new judge to the United States Supreme Court?

Suppose the head of government sees that her party is ahead in the polls.She chooses to have an election and capitalize on the popular support.In which of the following situations would this example take place?

Which of the following statements best describes the difference between a president and prime minister?

Government and Politics

Power, Legitimacy, and Authority

Sovereignty, State and Citizenship

The Nation

Political Culture and Socialization

Law

Constitutionalism

Cooperation under Anarchy

Ideology

Liberalism

Conservatism

Socialism and Communism

Nationalism

Feminism

Environmentalism

Classification of Political Systems

Liberal Democracy

Transitions to Democracy

Autocratic Systems of Government

Unitary and Federal Systems

The Political Process

Interest Groups and Political Parties

Communications Media

Elections and Electoral Systems

Representative Assemblies

The Political Executive

The Administration

The Judiciary

Filters

A Bill in the Canadian parliamentary system must go through ______ in both the _ and the __.There are also a series of _ that must review the content of any proposed legislation before it is sent to the _________ for royal assent and proclamation.