Question 1

Parliamentary sovereignty means that Parliament

Accepted Answer

A)  has more authority than the executive and judicial branch but not the monarchy. 
B)  is a separate and equal branch, having a clear set of powers, separate from those given to the prime minister and judiciary. 
C)  chooses the next king or queen when there is a vacancy due to death, retirement, or abdication. 
D)  can overturn decrees passed by the European Union legislature. 
E)  has ultimate authority to make or overturn any law and the prime minister and judiciary cannot overturn Parliament's actions. 
A)  has more authority than the executive and judicial branch but not the monarchy. 
B)  is a separate and equal branch, having a clear set of powers, separate from those given to the prime minister and judiciary. 
C)  chooses the next king or queen when there is a vacancy due to death, retirement, or abdication. 
D)  can overturn decrees passed by the European Union legislature. 
E)  has ultimate authority to make or overturn any law and the prime minister and judiciary cannot overturn Parliament's actions.

Question 2

Compare and contrast the approach to economic management taken by New Labour, the Conservatives under Thatcher and Major, and the current Coalition Government. Describe the extent these approaches fundamentally differ. Compare and contrast their differences and similarities.

Accepted Answer

New Labour, the Conservatives under That

Question 3

Britain's single-member plurality electoral system tends to

Accepted Answer

A)  exaggerate the scale of victory of the largest party. 
B)  result in minority or coalition governments. 
C)  result in a House of Commons that accurately reflects the demographic characteristics (such as race, ethnic identity, and gender) of the populace. 
D)  keep the combined popular vote for smaller and national parties below 5 percent. 
E)  all of these. 
A)  exaggerate the scale of victory of the largest party. 
B)  result in minority or coalition governments. 
C)  result in a House of Commons that accurately reflects the demographic characteristics (such as race, ethnic identity, and gender) of the populace. 
D)  keep the combined popular vote for smaller and national parties below 5 percent. 
E)  all of these.

Question 4

The term hung government refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  a situation of divided partisan control of the two houses of Parliament. 
B)  instances where no party can claim by itself the control of a majority of the seats in Parliament. 
C)  a situation of extreme partisanship within Parliament. 
D)  the formal veto power of Parliament to reject legislation promoted by the executive. 
E)  past instances where the British monarch tried to limit the power of Parliament. 
A)  a situation of divided partisan control of the two houses of Parliament. 
B)  instances where no party can claim by itself the control of a majority of the seats in Parliament. 
C)  a situation of extreme partisanship within Parliament. 
D)  the formal veto power of Parliament to reject legislation promoted by the executive. 
E)  past instances where the British monarch tried to limit the power of Parliament.

Question 5

The extension of the right to vote

Accepted Answer

A)  occurred very quickly within a 50-year time period. 
B)  involved a great deal of violence. 
C)  inflamed existing rural-urban divisions in the United Kingdom. 
D)  was done so mainly on the basis of property qualifications. 
E)  was fully completed by 1900. 
A)  occurred very quickly within a 50-year time period. 
B)  involved a great deal of violence. 
C)  inflamed existing rural-urban divisions in the United Kingdom. 
D)  was done so mainly on the basis of property qualifications. 
E)  was fully completed by 1900.

Question 6

Quangos are

Accepted Answer

A)  a pejorative term political opponents use against each other. 
B)  quasi-nongovernmental organizations that take responsibility for specific functions and combine government and private sector expertise. 
C)  private enterprises that have taken control over traditionally public-owned entities like the mail service. 
D)  international companies headquartered in another country. 
E)  government initiatives to expand private investment in capital projects, like the building of schools and hospitals. 
A)  a pejorative term political opponents use against each other. 
B)  quasi-nongovernmental organizations that take responsibility for specific functions and combine government and private sector expertise. 
C)  private enterprises that have taken control over traditionally public-owned entities like the mail service. 
D)  international companies headquartered in another country. 
E)  government initiatives to expand private investment in capital projects, like the building of schools and hospitals.

Question 7

A state that controls the patterns of alliances and shapes the political developments in countries around the world is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  hegemonic power. 
B)  superpower. 
C)  hyperpower. 
D)  sovereign dominion. 
E)  imperial power. 
A)  hegemonic power. 
B)  superpower. 
C)  hyperpower. 
D)  sovereign dominion. 
E)  imperial power.

Question 8

The choice of Ed Miliband as the leader of the Labour Party in 2010 marked

Accepted Answer

A)  a continuation of  New Labour policies. 
B)  the party's adoption of a more progressive ideology without returning to "Old Labour". 
C)  the party's return to social democracy associated with the Keynesian welfare state and trade unionism. 
D)  the party's adoption of an even more centrist ideology in order to appeal to Liberal Democrat and moderate Conservative Party voters. 
E)  a radicalization of the party's ideology moving it to the extreme left. 
A)  a continuation of  New Labour policies. 
B)  the party's adoption of a more progressive ideology without returning to "Old Labour". 
C)  the party's return to social democracy associated with the Keynesian welfare state and trade unionism. 
D)  the party's adoption of an even more centrist ideology in order to appeal to Liberal Democrat and moderate Conservative Party voters. 
E)  a radicalization of the party's ideology moving it to the extreme left.

Question 9

According to the text, Great Britain ranks high for foreign direct investment because

Accepted Answer

A)  of its relationship with the European Union. 
B)  of strong government control of the economy. 
C)  its geographic location makes it a gateway to the European mainland. 
D)  its economy is more market-driven and it offers a business-friendly political climate. 
E)  English is the language most spoken in Great Britain. 
A)  of its relationship with the European Union. 
B)  of strong government control of the economy. 
C)  its geographic location makes it a gateway to the European mainland. 
D)  its economy is more market-driven and it offers a business-friendly political climate. 
E)  English is the language most spoken in Great Britain.

Question 10

The term United Kingdom refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  England only. 
B)  England and Scotland only. 
C)  England, Scotland, and Wales only. 
D)  England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 
E)  England, Scotland, Wales, and all of Ireland. 
A)  England only. 
B)  England and Scotland only. 
C)  England, Scotland, and Wales only. 
D)  England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 
E)  England, Scotland, Wales, and all of Ireland.

Question 11

Environmental policy in the United Kingdom

Accepted Answer

A)  is solely promoted by the British Green party. 
B)  has begun to reflect a cross-party consensus since the 2013 - 2014 floods. 
C)  prioritizes urban environmental issues over rural ones due to the Coalition Government's urban bias. 
D)  reflects a tension between a growing desire of British citizens to think green and the country's anti-regulatory bias. 
E)  supports fracking. 
A)  is solely promoted by the British Green party. 
B)  has begun to reflect a cross-party consensus since the 2013 - 2014 floods. 
C)  prioritizes urban environmental issues over rural ones due to the Coalition Government's urban bias. 
D)  reflects a tension between a growing desire of British citizens to think green and the country's anti-regulatory bias. 
E)  supports fracking.

Question 12

The current prime minister David Cameron

Accepted Answer

A)  styles himself as a new brand of Conservative, a compassionate conservative. 
B)  represents an atypical prime minister having come to power directly from his former position as the mayor of London. 
C)  is an ex-journalist from a working-class background. 
D)  advocates more centrist policies only because of his party's being in coalition with the Liberal Democrats. 
E)  rejects Britain's monarchy, calling for the establishment of a republic in the United Kingdom. 
A)  styles himself as a new brand of Conservative, a compassionate conservative. 
B)  represents an atypical prime minister having come to power directly from his former position as the mayor of London. 
C)  is an ex-journalist from a working-class background. 
D)  advocates more centrist policies only because of his party's being in coalition with the Liberal Democrats. 
E)  rejects Britain's monarchy, calling for the establishment of a republic in the United Kingdom.

Question 13

The prime minister is

Accepted Answer

A)  elected by the House of Commons. 
B)  the leader of the party after a general election who controls a majority of seats in the House of Commons. 
C)  directly elected by a majority vote of the whole electorate. 
D)  selected by an electoral college on the basis of votes cast by electors representing England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 
E)  chosen by the monarch. 
A)  elected by the House of Commons. 
B)  the leader of the party after a general election who controls a majority of seats in the House of Commons. 
C)  directly elected by a majority vote of the whole electorate. 
D)  selected by an electoral college on the basis of votes cast by electors representing England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 
E)  chosen by the monarch.

Question 14

The British Coalition Government's proposed debt reduction measures are

Accepted Answer

A)  regressive in nature. 
B)  progressive in nature. 
C)  neither regressive nor progress, affecting everyone equally.  
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D)  initially regressive, but over the course of the four years they will become more  progressive. 
E)  initially progressive but over time will affect everyone equally. 
A)  regressive in nature. 
B)  progressive in nature. 
C)  neither regressive nor progress, affecting everyone equally.  
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D)  initially regressive, but over the course of the four years they will become more  progressive. 
E)  initially progressive but over time will affect everyone equally.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about the British police force is NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Those involved in law enforcement enjoy much popular support. 
B)  Constitutional tradition traditionally distanced the British police from politics. 
C)  Beginning in the 1980s, the police came under increasing government control. 
D)  Since the 1990s, concerns have arisen about police conduct regarding its interrogation techniques. 
E)  As a result of the 2008 economic downturn, local police forces are being privatized. 
A)  Those involved in law enforcement enjoy much popular support. 
B)  Constitutional tradition traditionally distanced the British police from politics. 
C)  Beginning in the 1980s, the police came under increasing government control. 
D)  Since the 1990s, concerns have arisen about police conduct regarding its interrogation techniques. 
E)  As a result of the 2008 economic downturn, local police forces are being privatized.

Question 16

All of the following are TRUE of the Industrial Revolution EXCEPT that it

Accepted Answer

A)  created pressures for the country to become more democratic. 
B)  decreased the standard of living throughout the United Kingdom. 
C)  involved the rapid expansion of manufacturing production and technological innovation. 
D)  squeezed small landowners off the land. 
E)  allowed Great Britain to become the dominant international power. 
A)  created pressures for the country to become more democratic. 
B)  decreased the standard of living throughout the United Kingdom. 
C)  involved the rapid expansion of manufacturing production and technological innovation. 
D)  squeezed small landowners off the land. 
E)  allowed Great Britain to become the dominant international power.

Question 17

If it had passed, the 2011 referendum on the "a" vote (alternative vote) system would have established a _______________ voting system in the United Kingdom for its parliamentary elections.

Accepted Answer

A)  proportional representation 
B)  first-past-the-post 
C)  multi-member districts 
D)  rank-ordered preferential 
E)  two-round majoritarian 
A)  proportional representation 
B)  first-past-the-post 
C)  multi-member districts 
D)  rank-ordered preferential 
E)  two-round majoritarian

Question 18

All of the following are TRUE about Britain's two-party system EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  the Conservative and Labour parties routinely divide at least 85 percent of the seats in the House of Commons. 
B)  from 1945 to 2010, only leaders of the Conservative and Labour parties served as prime ministers. 
C)  from 1945 to 2005, the Conservative and Labour parties each won eight general elections. 
D)  since the 1960s, the Liberal Democrats have become an important alternative to Britain's two major parties. 
E)  despite the dominance of Britain's two major parties, it also has a number of national parties. 
A)  the Conservative and Labour parties routinely divide at least 85 percent of the seats in the House of Commons. 
B)  from 1945 to 2010, only leaders of the Conservative and Labour parties served as prime ministers. 
C)  from 1945 to 2005, the Conservative and Labour parties each won eight general elections. 
D)  since the 1960s, the Liberal Democrats have become an important alternative to Britain's two major parties. 
E)  despite the dominance of Britain's two major parties, it also has a number of national parties.

Question 19

The British judiciary is generally less influential than the U.S. judiciary due to

Accepted Answer

A)  being less competent jurists. 
B)  a societal emphasis on compromise, resulting in a less litigious society. 
C)  undue influence from strong prime ministers. 
D)  the fact that they only meet three months out of the year. 
E)  a lack of power of judicial review. 
A)  being less competent jurists. 
B)  a societal emphasis on compromise, resulting in a less litigious society. 
C)  undue influence from strong prime ministers. 
D)  the fact that they only meet three months out of the year. 
E)  a lack of power of judicial review.

Question 20

Under Gordon Brown, New Labour's economic policies emphasized all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  economic stability (low debt, low deficit, and low inflation). 
B)  economic growth, fueled by tax cuts. 
C)  foreign investment. 
D)  government - business partnerships. 
E)  labor market flexibility. 
A)  economic stability (low debt, low deficit, and low inflation). 
B)  economic growth, fueled by tax cuts. 
C)  foreign investment. 
D)  government - business partnerships. 
E)  labor market flexibility.

Parliamentary sovereignty means that Parliament

Compare and contrast the approach to economic management taken by New Labour, the Conservatives under Thatcher and Major, and the current Coalition Government. Describe the extent these approaches fundamentally differ. Compare and contrast their differences and similarities.

Britain's single-member plurality electoral system tends to

The term hung government refers to

The extension of the right to vote

Quangos are

A state that controls the patterns of alliances and shapes the political developments in countries around the world is called a(n)

The choice of Ed Miliband as the leader of the Labour Party in 2010 marked

According to the text, Great Britain ranks high for foreign direct investment because

The term United Kingdom refers to

Environmental policy in the United Kingdom

The current prime minister David Cameron

The prime minister is

The British Coalition Government's proposed debt reduction measures are

Which of the following statements about the British police force is NOT correct?

All of the following are TRUE of the Industrial Revolution EXCEPT that it

If it had passed, the 2011 referendum on the "a" vote (alternative vote) system would have established a _______________ voting system in the United Kingdom for its parliamentary elections.

All of the following are TRUE about Britain's two-party system EXCEPT

The British judiciary is generally less influential than the U.S. judiciary due to

Under Gordon Brown, New Labour's economic policies emphasized all of the following EXCEPT

Introducing Comparative Politics

France

Germany

European Union

Japan

India

The United States

Brazil

Mexico

South Africa

Nigeria

The Russian Federation

Iran

China

Filters

Exam 2: Britian

Parliamentary sovereignty means that Parliament

Compare and contrast the approach to economic management taken by New Labour, the Conservatives under Thatcher and Major, and the current Coalition Government. Describe the extent these approaches fundamentally differ. Compare and contrast their differences and similarities.

Britain's single-member plurality electoral system tends to

The term hung government refers to

The extension of the right to vote

Quangos are

A state that controls the patterns of alliances and shapes the political developments in countries around the world is called a(n)

The choice of Ed Miliband as the leader of the Labour Party in 2010 marked

According to the text, Great Britain ranks high for foreign direct investment because

The term United Kingdom refers to

Environmental policy in the United Kingdom

The current prime minister David Cameron

The prime minister is

The British Coalition Government's proposed debt reduction measures are

Which of the following statements about the British police force is NOT correct?

All of the following are TRUE of the Industrial Revolution EXCEPT that it

If it had passed, the 2011 referendum on the "a" vote (alternative vote) system would have established a _______________ voting system in the United Kingdom for its parliamentary elections.

All of the following are TRUE about Britain's two-party system EXCEPT

The British judiciary is generally less influential than the U.S. judiciary due to

Under Gordon Brown, New Labour's economic policies emphasized all of the following EXCEPT

Introducing Comparative Politics

France

Germany

European Union

Japan

India

The United States

Brazil

Mexico

South Africa

Nigeria

The Russian Federation

Iran

China

Filters