Question 1

When a statute is under consideration by Parliament,it is referred to as a ___________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a statute is under consideration by...

Question 2

Which of the following bills would most likely be referred to an ad hoc committee instead of a standing committee?

Accepted Answer

A)  A bill addressing the long-term health effects of fertilizer use on farmers. 
B)  A bill seeking to reform the procedure for attaining Canadian citizenship. 
C)  A bill requiring reforms to the Income Tax Act in Canada. 
D)  A bill attempting to regulate the use of new, cutting edge surveillance technology before its release in Canada. 
A)  A bill addressing the long-term health effects of fertilizer use on farmers. 
B)  A bill seeking to reform the procedure for attaining Canadian citizenship. 
C)  A bill requiring reforms to the Income Tax Act in Canada. 
D)  A bill attempting to regulate the use of new, cutting edge surveillance technology before its release in Canada.

Question 3

What was the principle of separation of powers designed to do?

Accepted Answer

A)  make sure the president adheres to party discipline 
B)  minimize the possibility of arbitrary government 
C)  stop Congress from interfering with budgetary matters 
D)  ensure the president's freedom to appoint Supreme Court judges 
A)  make sure the president adheres to party discipline 
B)  minimize the possibility of arbitrary government 
C)  stop Congress from interfering with budgetary matters 
D)  ensure the president's freedom to appoint Supreme Court judges

Question 4

Presidential systems of government are characterized by the separation of powers,but a more apt description would be separated institutions sharing powers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

In Canada,Parliament is just another word for House of Commons.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

In the U.S.A.,the functions of the president are exercised in the Canadian parliamentary system by the monarch and the prime minister.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

In Canada,what is the key difference between the Crown and the prime minister?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Crown is the head of government, the Prime Minister is not. 
B)  The Prime Minister is head of government, the Crown is not. 
C)  The Prime Minister is head of state, the Crown is not. 
D)  There is little discernible difference. 
A)  The Crown is the head of government, the Prime Minister is not. 
B)  The Prime Minister is head of government, the Crown is not. 
C)  The Prime Minister is head of state, the Crown is not. 
D)  There is little discernible difference.

Question 8

What criticism is often made about the legislative process in the parliamentary system of government?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is more prestigious than the executive. 
B)  It is the prime initiator of legislative proposals. 
C)  It is independent of the executive. 
D)  It is dominated by the executive. 
A)  It is more prestigious than the executive. 
B)  It is the prime initiator of legislative proposals. 
C)  It is independent of the executive. 
D)  It is dominated by the executive.

Question 9

A foreign mining company is heavily fined for breaking laws regulating open-pit mining practices.The CEOs of the company want to challenge the fine because it was their understanding that they were not breaking any laws.They also believe the laws to be economically unsound and scientifically unnecessary.Which branch of government should the CEOs deal with to have the fine revoked?

Accepted Answer

A)  legislature 
B)  judiciary 
C)  executive 
D)  senate 
A)  legislature 
B)  judiciary 
C)  executive 
D)  senate

Question 10

Which of the following characteristics of the American presidential system most clearly distinguish it from parliamentary systems of government?

Accepted Answer

A)  fusion of powers and a congressional committee system 
B)  separation of powers and the lack of responsible government 
C)  fusion of powers and the lack of responsible government 
D)  a congressional committee system and responsible government 
A)  fusion of powers and a congressional committee system 
B)  separation of powers and the lack of responsible government 
C)  fusion of powers and the lack of responsible government 
D)  a congressional committee system and responsible government

Question 11

Which of the following aspects of Canadian parliamentary democracy is most essential for an effective Official Opposition?

Accepted Answer

A)  election of majority governments 
B)  possibility of coalition governments 
C)  free votes 
D)  parliamentary sessions ended by regular elections 
A)  election of majority governments 
B)  possibility of coalition governments 
C)  free votes 
D)  parliamentary sessions ended by regular elections

Question 12

Which of the following constitutes the Canadian parliament?

Accepted Answer

A)  Congress, Crown, House of Commons 
B)  Crown and House of Commons 
C)  Congress, Senate, Crown 
D)  Executive, House of Commons, Senate 
A)  Congress, Crown, House of Commons 
B)  Crown and House of Commons 
C)  Congress, Senate, Crown 
D)  Executive, House of Commons, Senate

Question 13

Compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of the parliamentary and presidential models of government.

Accepted Answer

The parliamentary and presidential model

Question 14

The argument could be made that congressional committees are more democratic than cabinet.Which of the following points would this argument be based on?

Accepted Answer

A)  All members of congressional committees are directly elected by the people. 
B)  The decisions made by congressional committees are more transparent than those made during cabinet meetings. 
C)  Congressional committees debate legislation before it is put to a vote in the House. 
D)  Congressional committees have the ability to stall legislation. 
A)  All members of congressional committees are directly elected by the people. 
B)  The decisions made by congressional committees are more transparent than those made during cabinet meetings. 
C)  Congressional committees debate legislation before it is put to a vote in the House. 
D)  Congressional committees have the ability to stall legislation.

Question 15

What does the term "party discipline" mean?

Accepted Answer

A)  The seating in the House is strictly regulated. 
B)  Party members are disciplined when they do not follow the wishes of their constituency. 
C)  If party leaders give direction to MPs, it must be followed. 
D)  Party leaders must follow the advice and wishes of party members. 
A)  The seating in the House is strictly regulated. 
B)  Party members are disciplined when they do not follow the wishes of their constituency. 
C)  If party leaders give direction to MPs, it must be followed. 
D)  Party leaders must follow the advice and wishes of party members.

Question 16

How is the office of the president filled in France?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Crown appoints the president. 
B)  The president is popularly elected. 
C)  The prime minister appoints the president. 
D)  The president is elected by the National Assembly. 
A)  The Crown appoints the president. 
B)  The president is popularly elected. 
C)  The prime minister appoints the president. 
D)  The president is elected by the National Assembly.

Question 17

Which of the following examples provides the best analogy for a "shadow cabinet"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Members of a gang wait for in-fighting to weaken the leadership before they overthrow the leaders and take charge. 
B)  The board of governors of an international corporation often make secretive deals and are not accountable to the employees of the company. 
C)  Members of a defensive line in football match up and "cover" their offensive counterpart. 
D)  On "Bring A Kid to Work Day" children are allowed to follow a working professional for a day to learn about their favourite career. 
A)  Members of a gang wait for in-fighting to weaken the leadership before they overthrow the leaders and take charge. 
B)  The board of governors of an international corporation often make secretive deals and are not accountable to the employees of the company. 
C)  Members of a defensive line in football match up and "cover" their offensive counterpart. 
D)  On "Bring A Kid to Work Day" children are allowed to follow a working professional for a day to learn about their favourite career.

Question 18

Whose advice does the monarch consider in appointing the Governor General?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Secretary of State 
B)  the Prime Minister of Canada 
C)  the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 
D)  the Lieutenant Governors 
A)  the Secretary of State 
B)  the Prime Minister of Canada 
C)  the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 
D)  the Lieutenant Governors

Question 19

Suppose the Canadian government allows caucus members to vote according to the wishes of their constituents.What is the term for this?

Accepted Answer

A)  confidence vote 
B)  non-confidence vote 
C)  free vote 
D)  constituent vote 
A)  confidence vote 
B)  non-confidence vote 
C)  free vote 
D)  constituent vote

Question 20

Under which circumstances would the combined parliamentary/presidential system of France be most difficult to operate?

Accepted Answer

A)  when no single party has a majority in the assembly 
B)  when the president is not a member of the assembly 
C)  when the prime minister is not nationally elected 
D)  when the assembly is dominated by a party hostile to the president 
A)  when no single party has a majority in the assembly 
B)  when the president is not a member of the assembly 
C)  when the prime minister is not nationally elected 
D)  when the assembly is dominated by a party hostile to the president

Exam 20: Parliamentary and Presidential Systems

When a statute is under consideration by Parliament,it is referred to as a ___________.

Which of the following bills would most likely be referred to an ad hoc committee instead of a standing committee?

What was the principle of separation of powers designed to do?

Presidential systems of government are characterized by the separation of powers,but a more apt description would be separated institutions sharing powers.

In Canada,Parliament is just another word for House of Commons.

In the U.S.A.,the functions of the president are exercised in the Canadian parliamentary system by the monarch and the prime minister.

In Canada,what is the key difference between the Crown and the prime minister?

What criticism is often made about the legislative process in the parliamentary system of government?

Which of the following characteristics of the American presidential system most clearly distinguish it from parliamentary systems of government?

Which of the following aspects of Canadian parliamentary democracy is most essential for an effective Official Opposition?

Which of the following constitutes the Canadian parliament?

Compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of the parliamentary and presidential models of government.

The argument could be made that congressional committees are more democratic than cabinet.Which of the following points would this argument be based on?

What does the term "party discipline" mean?

How is the office of the president filled in France?

Which of the following examples provides the best analogy for a "shadow cabinet"?

Whose advice does the monarch consider in appointing the Governor General?

Suppose the Canadian government allows caucus members to vote according to the wishes of their constituents.What is the term for this?

Under which circumstances would the combined parliamentary/presidential system of France be most difficult to operate?

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