Question 1

In which of the following situations would a unitary system be more favourable than a federal system?

Accepted Answer

A)  In a small country whose citizens belonged to several different religions . 
B)  In a large country with linguistic cleavages. 
C)  In a small country with a shared language and history. 
D)  In a country where a revolution has just overthrown an authoritarian or totalitarian ruler 
A)  In a small country whose citizens belonged to several different religions . 
B)  In a large country with linguistic cleavages. 
C)  In a small country with a shared language and history. 
D)  In a country where a revolution has just overthrown an authoritarian or totalitarian ruler

Question 2

Which characteristic is typical of federal systems of government?

Accepted Answer

A)  a separation of powers between branches of government. 
B)  a division of powers between levels of government. 
C)  checks and balances between regions. 
D)  a coalition of powers between branches of government. 
A)  a separation of powers between branches of government. 
B)  a division of powers between levels of government. 
C)  checks and balances between regions. 
D)  a coalition of powers between branches of government.

Question 3

In ________ systems of government,powers and responsibilities are concentrated within the central government.The granting of government responsibilities to regional governments is called __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In ________ systems of government,powers and responsibilities...

Question 4

Which of the following distinguishes a confederal system from a federal system?

Accepted Answer

A)  the extent to which sovereignty is retained by constituent governments 
B)  the extent to which legitimacy is retained by the central government 
C)  the extent to which the governmental system is dominated by the bureaucracy 
D)  the extent to which central political parties dominate the legislature 
A)  the extent to which sovereignty is retained by constituent governments 
B)  the extent to which legitimacy is retained by the central government 
C)  the extent to which the governmental system is dominated by the bureaucracy 
D)  the extent to which central political parties dominate the legislature

Question 5

Which of the following is a characteristic of devolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  There are no constituent governments. 
B)  Constituent governments exist but only after a referendum. 
C)  Constituent governments exist but their powers are delegated by statute. 
D)  Constituent governments can vote to dissolve the central government. 
A)  There are no constituent governments. 
B)  Constituent governments exist but only after a referendum. 
C)  Constituent governments exist but their powers are delegated by statute. 
D)  Constituent governments can vote to dissolve the central government.

Question 6

Disallowance refers to the practice of not allowing the provincial governments to be at the table when there is a discussion of constitutional amendment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which of the following states is the least likely to benefit from a federal system?

Accepted Answer

A)  a small state with one official language and one official religion. 
B)  a small state with historical tension between northern and southern citizens 
C)  a state with a small population dispersed over a large landmass 
D)  a state where several religious, linguistic and cultural groups were intermixed throughout the county. 
A)  a small state with one official language and one official religion. 
B)  a small state with historical tension between northern and southern citizens 
C)  a state with a small population dispersed over a large landmass 
D)  a state where several religious, linguistic and cultural groups were intermixed throughout the county.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a federal state?

Accepted Answer

A)  Australia 
B)  Canada 
C)  United Kingdom 
D)  Mexico 
A)  Australia 
B)  Canada 
C)  United Kingdom 
D)  Mexico

Question 9

Which comparison of the American and Canadian written constitutions is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  In Canada, residual powers go to the provinces; in the U.S., they go to the states. 
B)  In Canada, residual powers go to the provinces; in the U.S., they go to the federal government. 
C)  In Canada, residual powers go to the federal government as they do in the U.S. 
D)  In Canada, residual powers go to the federal government; in the U.S., they go to the states. 
A)  In Canada, residual powers go to the provinces; in the U.S., they go to the states. 
B)  In Canada, residual powers go to the provinces; in the U.S., they go to the federal government. 
C)  In Canada, residual powers go to the federal government as they do in the U.S. 
D)  In Canada, residual powers go to the federal government; in the U.S., they go to the states.

Question 10

Devolution refers to the practice of federal governments becoming more like unitary governments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

What does the term disallowance in the Canadian federal system refer to?

Accepted Answer

A)  the capacity of the federal government to stop provincial legislation from passing 
B)  the capacity of the Crown to stop the prime minister from acting 
C)  the capacity of the Senate to regulate legislation coming from the House of Commons 
D)  an outdated method of electing a party leader 
A)  the capacity of the federal government to stop provincial legislation from passing 
B)  the capacity of the Crown to stop the prime minister from acting 
C)  the capacity of the Senate to regulate legislation coming from the House of Commons 
D)  an outdated method of electing a party leader

Question 12

What important role does judicial review play in federal systems?

Accepted Answer

A)  The courts become referees for deciding the precise division of powers. 
B)  It gives the courts the power to amend the constitution. 
C)  It allows the courts to make judicial appointments. 
D)  It gives the executive the power to review judicial decisions. 
A)  The courts become referees for deciding the precise division of powers. 
B)  It gives the courts the power to amend the constitution. 
C)  It allows the courts to make judicial appointments. 
D)  It gives the executive the power to review judicial decisions.

Question 13

Why was James Madison's contribution to the Federalists so important?

Accepted Answer

A)  He solved the problem of understanding sovereignty as an indivisible concept, assigned to one level of government. 
B)  He was the first to declare that government was the instrument of the people. 
C)  He argued for a strong allocation of powers to the central government. 
D)  He understood that democracy had no room for clashes between groups. 
A)  He solved the problem of understanding sovereignty as an indivisible concept, assigned to one level of government. 
B)  He was the first to declare that government was the instrument of the people. 
C)  He argued for a strong allocation of powers to the central government. 
D)  He understood that democracy had no room for clashes between groups.

Question 14

What has American federalism evolved towards?

Accepted Answer

A)  stronger unicameralism 
B)  stronger decentralization 
C)  stronger devolution 
D)  stronger centralization 
A)  stronger unicameralism 
B)  stronger decentralization 
C)  stronger devolution 
D)  stronger centralization

Question 15

Residual powers refer to those powers that are vested in municipal governments in a federal system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of the following is a benefit of federalism?

Accepted Answer

A)  Its ability to ensure effective regional representation in federal legislatures. 
B)  Its ability to revoke regional powers in the case of political turmoil or violence. 
C)  Its ability to deal with shifting power dynamics between different groups 
D)  Its ability to dissolve national government in times of regional crisis. 
A)  Its ability to ensure effective regional representation in federal legislatures. 
B)  Its ability to revoke regional powers in the case of political turmoil or violence. 
C)  Its ability to deal with shifting power dynamics between different groups 
D)  Its ability to dissolve national government in times of regional crisis.

Question 17

Which phrase best characterizes Canadian federalism?

Accepted Answer

A)  no power to the provinces and territories 
B)  a capitulation of the Canadian government to American foreign policy 
C)  the concentration of power in the Senate 
D)  the division of powers and responsibilities amongst levels of government. 
A)  no power to the provinces and territories 
B)  a capitulation of the Canadian government to American foreign policy 
C)  the concentration of power in the Senate 
D)  the division of powers and responsibilities amongst levels of government.

Question 18

Which of the following may be identified as a characteristic of Germany?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Bundesrat sometimes refuses to pass legislation initiated by the lower house 
B)  Germany is a unitary state 
C)  Germany demonstrates a weaker form of federal bicameralism in comparison to Canada 
D)  Germany is unique in that it is not a bicameral federal state. 
A)  The Bundesrat sometimes refuses to pass legislation initiated by the lower house 
B)  Germany is a unitary state 
C)  Germany demonstrates a weaker form of federal bicameralism in comparison to Canada 
D)  Germany is unique in that it is not a bicameral federal state.

Question 19

Appointments to the Senate of Canada are

Accepted Answer

A)  They are made by the legislative assembly 
B)  They are made by the provinces. 
C)  They are made by the federal judiciary. 
D)  They are made by the Governor General on advice of the prime minister. 
A)  They are made by the legislative assembly 
B)  They are made by the provinces. 
C)  They are made by the federal judiciary. 
D)  They are made by the Governor General on advice of the prime minister.

Question 20

Until 1949,the highest Canadian appeals court was the ________________,a special British court.In 1949,this was replaced by the ____________________ of Canada.

Accepted Answer

Judicial Committee o

Exam 21: Unitary and Federal Systems

In which of the following situations would a unitary system be more favourable than a federal system?

Which characteristic is typical of federal systems of government?

In ________ systems of government,powers and responsibilities are concentrated within the central government.The granting of government responsibilities to regional governments is called __________.

Which of the following distinguishes a confederal system from a federal system?

Which of the following is a characteristic of devolution?

Disallowance refers to the practice of not allowing the provincial governments to be at the table when there is a discussion of constitutional amendment.

Which of the following states is the least likely to benefit from a federal system?

Which of the following is NOT a federal state?

Which comparison of the American and Canadian written constitutions is correct?

Devolution refers to the practice of federal governments becoming more like unitary governments.

What does the term disallowance in the Canadian federal system refer to?

What important role does judicial review play in federal systems?

Why was James Madison's contribution to the Federalists so important?

What has American federalism evolved towards?

Residual powers refer to those powers that are vested in municipal governments in a federal system.

Which of the following is a benefit of federalism?

Which phrase best characterizes Canadian federalism?

Which of the following may be identified as a characteristic of Germany?

Appointments to the Senate of Canada are

Until 1949,the highest Canadian appeals court was the ________________,a special British court.In 1949,this was replaced by the ____________________ of Canada.

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

Parliamentary and Presidential 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

In systems of government,powers and responsibilities are concentrated within the central government.The granting of government responsibilities to regional governments is called __.

Until 1949,the highest Canadian appeals court was the ,a special British court.In 1949,this was replaced by the ____ of Canada.