Question 1

The phrase power vertical refers to the idea that

Accepted Answer

A)  a single party or party bloc should dominate politics. 
B)  there should exist an integrated and hierarchal structure of executive power ranging from the national to the local level. 
C)  political power should flow upward from "the people." 
D)  federal officials should be free to interfere with regional politics. 
E)  regional governments should have some say in the making of federal policy and the federal government should have some say in the making of regional policy. 
A)  a single party or party bloc should dominate politics. 
B)  there should exist an integrated and hierarchal structure of executive power ranging from the national to the local level. 
C)  political power should flow upward from "the people." 
D)  federal officials should be free to interfere with regional politics. 
E)  regional governments should have some say in the making of federal policy and the federal government should have some say in the making of regional policy.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT true of Russia's semi-presidential system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Generally speaking, the president oversees foreign policy, relations with the regions, and the organs of state security while the prime minister oversees economic issues. 
B)  Except for brief periods, the president has clearly the dominant part of the executive. 
C)  The prime minister has always been the leader of the dominant party or coalition in the legislature. 
D)  If the president dies or becomes incapacitated, the prime minister serves as the acting president until presidential elections can be held. 
E)  The president is directly elected while the prime minister is appointed. 
A)  Generally speaking, the president oversees foreign policy, relations with the regions, and the organs of state security while the prime minister oversees economic issues. 
B)  Except for brief periods, the president has clearly the dominant part of the executive. 
C)  The prime minister has always been the leader of the dominant party or coalition in the legislature. 
D)  If the president dies or becomes incapacitated, the prime minister serves as the acting president until presidential elections can be held. 
E)  The president is directly elected while the prime minister is appointed.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes Russia's relations with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?

Accepted Answer

A)  Russia has expressed a desire to join the organization but has not yet made a formal move towards this. 
B)  Russia has objected to the expansion of the organization but has nevertheless developed stronger working relations with it. 
C)  Russia has been receptive to the expansion of NATO. 
D)  Russia has been formally invited to join the organization. 
E)  An invitation for Russia to join NATO was rescinded after Russia's intervention in Georgia. 
A)  Russia has expressed a desire to join the organization but has not yet made a formal move towards this. 
B)  Russia has objected to the expansion of the organization but has nevertheless developed stronger working relations with it. 
C)  Russia has been receptive to the expansion of NATO. 
D)  Russia has been formally invited to join the organization. 
E)  An invitation for Russia to join NATO was rescinded after Russia's intervention in Georgia.

Question 4

How have center-periphery (national-regional) relations changed in post-communist Russia? What have been the political effects of this change? In light of this, can one argue that Russia is truly a federal system?

Accepted Answer

The center-periphery relations in post-c

Question 5

Describe some ways in which Russia's post-communist transitions have been similar to and different from those seen in other post-communist states.

Accepted Answer

Russia's post-communist transition has b

Question 6

Sovereign democracy refers to the idea that

Accepted Answer

A)  political sovereignty ultimately rests with the Russian people. 
B)  Russia is a sovereign and independent state. 
C)  democracy in Russia should be adapted to Russian traditions. 
D)  the sovereignty of the Russian people is best expressed through democratic means. 
E)  political power in Russia should be vested in a single sovereign at the national level. 
A)  political sovereignty ultimately rests with the Russian people. 
B)  Russia is a sovereign and independent state. 
C)  democracy in Russia should be adapted to Russian traditions. 
D)  the sovereignty of the Russian people is best expressed through democratic means. 
E)  political power in Russia should be vested in a single sovereign at the national level.

Question 7

The Russian president lacks the power to

Accepted Answer

A)  directly appoint regional governors. 
B)  call a state of emergency. 
C)  call for a referendum. 
D)  temporarily suspend the activities of other state organs. 
E)  impose martial law. 
A)  directly appoint regional governors. 
B)  call a state of emergency. 
C)  call for a referendum. 
D)  temporarily suspend the activities of other state organs. 
E)  impose martial law.

Question 8

Oligarchs refer to

Accepted Answer

A)  wealthy individuals who gained ownership and control of important sectors of the Russian economy. 
B)  party leaders. 
C)  leaders of factions within the dominant party. 
D)  regional leaders. 
E)  policy advisers to the Russian president. 
A)  wealthy individuals who gained ownership and control of important sectors of the Russian economy. 
B)  party leaders. 
C)  leaders of factions within the dominant party. 
D)  regional leaders. 
E)  policy advisers to the Russian president.

Question 9

When one says that Russia suffers from a "resource curse," one means that

Accepted Answer

A)  the country's rich deposits of natural resources shelter it from some disruption but also makes it difficult to untangle economic and political power. 
B)  the country lacks the necessary natural resources to develop economically. 
C)  the country's dependence on export revenue from energy resources makes it highly susceptible to boom-and-bust cycles. 
D)  the country has vast natural resources but lacks the capital to gain access to them. 
E)  the country's vast energy reserves are mainly located in areas that are difficult to get to. 
A)  the country's rich deposits of natural resources shelter it from some disruption but also makes it difficult to untangle economic and political power. 
B)  the country lacks the necessary natural resources to develop economically. 
C)  the country's dependence on export revenue from energy resources makes it highly susceptible to boom-and-bust cycles. 
D)  the country has vast natural resources but lacks the capital to gain access to them. 
E)  the country's vast energy reserves are mainly located in areas that are difficult to get to.

Question 10

Members of the Duma are elected

Accepted Answer

A)  through direct national elections that operate under first-pass-the-post (single member district-plurality) rules. 
B)  through direct national elections that operate under a mixed electoral system. 
C)  in staggered intervals so that only a portion of the chamber is up for reelection at any given time. 
D)  through national elections that operate under proportional representation. 
E)  through closed elections held by each party. 
A)  through direct national elections that operate under first-pass-the-post (single member district-plurality) rules. 
B)  through direct national elections that operate under a mixed electoral system. 
C)  in staggered intervals so that only a portion of the chamber is up for reelection at any given time. 
D)  through national elections that operate under proportional representation. 
E)  through closed elections held by each party.

Question 11

Russia may be said to have simultaneously begun four transitions-democratization, market reform, a redefinition of national identity, and integration into the world economy. Write an essay that provides a balance sheet as to Russia's status in each of these transitions. In which transition has Russia made the most progress? In which transition is Russia the weakest?

Accepted Answer

Russia's transitions in democratization,

Question 12

Which of the following benefits of the Soviet era social welfare system has been maintained?

Accepted Answer

A)  Guaranteed employment 
B)  Price subsidies for most products 
C)  Universal health care 
D)  Low levels of income inequality 
E)  Guaranteed pensions paid by the state 
A)  Guaranteed employment 
B)  Price subsidies for most products 
C)  Universal health care 
D)  Low levels of income inequality 
E)  Guaranteed pensions paid by the state

Question 13

The State Council is comprised of the president and

Accepted Answer

A)  the chairs of important legislative committees. 
B)  officials involved with foreign affairs and security. 
C)  regional governors. 
D)  regional governors and members of regional legislatures. 
E)  anyone the president chooses to appoint to this largely ceremonial body. 
A)  the chairs of important legislative committees. 
B)  officials involved with foreign affairs and security. 
C)  regional governors. 
D)  regional governors and members of regional legislatures. 
E)  anyone the president chooses to appoint to this largely ceremonial body.

Question 14

Some argue that Russia should be described as having a "super-presidential" system given the power of the president.  First, describe the powers of the president, paying particular attention to how these can be used to affect other governmental bodies.  Next, assess the relative strength of the presidency vis-a-vis these bodies.  In light of this assessment, would you characterize Russia as a "super-presidential" system?

Accepted Answer

The powers of the president of Russia ar

Question 15

The Russian prime minister can be removed from office

Accepted Answer

A)  by a single vote of no confidence. 
B)  by three repeat votes of no confidence within a three-month period. 
C)  by two repeat votes of no confidence within a three-month period. 
D)  only through new legislative elections. 
E)  by a complex process involving the parliament, the president, and the Supreme Court. 
A)  by a single vote of no confidence. 
B)  by three repeat votes of no confidence within a three-month period. 
C)  by two repeat votes of no confidence within a three-month period. 
D)  only through new legislative elections. 
E)  by a complex process involving the parliament, the president, and the Supreme Court.

Question 16

Describe how Russian social policies have changed since the collapse of communism.

Accepted Answer

Since the collapse of communism, Russian

Question 17

The Federation Council is comprised of

Accepted Answer

A)  two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics with one being appointed by the region's/republic's executive and the other by the region's/republic's legislature. 
B)  members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, with the number from each being proportional to the region's or republic's population. 
C)  two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, both of whom are elected through regional elections. 
D)  two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, with one being chosen through regional elections and one being appointed by the region's/republic's government. 
E)  two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, appointed by the Russian president. 
A)  two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics with one being appointed by the region's/republic's executive and the other by the region's/republic's legislature. 
B)  members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, with the number from each being proportional to the region's or republic's population. 
C)  two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, both of whom are elected through regional elections. 
D)  two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, with one being chosen through regional elections and one being appointed by the region's/republic's government. 
E)  two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, appointed by the Russian president.

Question 18

The 1998 financial crisis had which of the following positive effects on Russia?

Accepted Answer

A)  It made Russian products more competitive with imported goods. 
B)  It resulted in an increase in barter. 
C)  It led to an increase of foreign aid. 
D)  It led to an increase of foreign investment in the country. 
E)  It increased the availability of foreign goods. 
A)  It made Russian products more competitive with imported goods. 
B)  It resulted in an increase in barter. 
C)  It led to an increase of foreign aid. 
D)  It led to an increase of foreign investment in the country. 
E)  It increased the availability of foreign goods.

Question 19

A sign of weak democratization in Russia can be seen in the fact that

Accepted Answer

A)  voter turnout has been low. 
B)  no new parties have been formed since the creation of United Russia. 
C)  national election laws effectively disqualify small national parties and regional parties. 
D)  although the country has held regular elections, Russia has yet to experience a real transfer of power from one political grouping to another. 
E)  new parties cannot be formed without the consent of the government. 
A)  voter turnout has been low. 
B)  no new parties have been formed since the creation of United Russia. 
C)  national election laws effectively disqualify small national parties and regional parties. 
D)  although the country has held regular elections, Russia has yet to experience a real transfer of power from one political grouping to another. 
E)  new parties cannot be formed without the consent of the government.

Question 20

Vladimir Putin

Accepted Answer

A)  served in the Soviet Army and was stationed in East Germany until the collapse of communism there. 
B)  was born in Siberia. 
C)  served as Yeltsin's only prime minister. 
D)  served as an ambassador before being elected president. 
E)  was Medvedev's only prime minister. 
A)  served in the Soviet Army and was stationed in East Germany until the collapse of communism there. 
B)  was born in Siberia. 
C)  served as Yeltsin's only prime minister. 
D)  served as an ambassador before being elected president. 
E)  was Medvedev's only prime minister.

The phrase power vertical refers to the idea that

Which of the following is NOT true of Russia's semi-presidential system?

Which of the following best describes Russia's relations with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?

How have center-periphery (national-regional) relations changed in post-communist Russia? What have been the political effects of this change? In light of this, can one argue that Russia is truly a federal system?

Describe some ways in which Russia's post-communist transitions have been similar to and different from those seen in other post-communist states.

Sovereign democracy refers to the idea that

The Russian president lacks the power to

Oligarchs refer to

When one says that Russia suffers from a "resource curse," one means that

Members of the Duma are elected

Which of the following benefits of the Soviet era social welfare system has been maintained?

The State Council is comprised of the president and

The Russian prime minister can be removed from office

Describe how Russian social policies have changed since the collapse of communism.

The Federation Council is comprised of

The 1998 financial crisis had which of the following positive effects on Russia?

A sign of weak democratization in Russia can be seen in the fact that

Vladimir Putin

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Exam 13: The Russian Federation

The phrase power vertical refers to the idea that

Which of the following is NOT true of Russia's semi-presidential system?

Which of the following best describes Russia's relations with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?

How have center-periphery (national-regional) relations changed in post-communist Russia? What have been the political effects of this change? In light of this, can one argue that Russia is truly a federal system?

Describe some ways in which Russia's post-communist transitions have been similar to and different from those seen in other post-communist states.

Sovereign democracy refers to the idea that

The Russian president lacks the power to

Oligarchs refer to

When one says that Russia suffers from a "resource curse," one means that

Members of the Duma are elected

Which of the following benefits of the Soviet era social welfare system has been maintained?

The State Council is comprised of the president and

The Russian prime minister can be removed from office

Describe how Russian social policies have changed since the collapse of communism.

The Federation Council is comprised of

The 1998 financial crisis had which of the following positive effects on Russia?

A sign of weak democratization in Russia can be seen in the fact that

Vladimir Putin

Introducing Comparative Politics

Britian

France

Germany

European Union

Japan

India

The United States

Brazil

Mexico

South Africa

Nigeria

Iran

China

Filters