Question 1

A minority government

Accepted Answer

A)  is impossible. 
B)  tends to be more unstable than one with a majority. 
C)  is possible only in a presidential system. 
D)  is a common feature in a semi-presidential system. 
E)  is theoretically possible, but has not yet been created in any European country. 
A)  is impossible. 
B)  tends to be more unstable than one with a majority. 
C)  is possible only in a presidential system. 
D)  is a common feature in a semi-presidential system. 
E)  is theoretically possible, but has not yet been created in any European country. B

Question 2

In a parliamentary system of governance, which of the following is NOT true about the prime minister?

Accepted Answer

A)  He or she is a member of parliament. 
B)  He or she is selected by parliament. 
C)  He or she can be dismissed by parliament. 
D)  He or she is elected for a fixed term of office. 
E)  He or she is the head of government. 
A)  He or she is a member of parliament. 
B)  He or she is selected by parliament. 
C)  He or she can be dismissed by parliament. 
D)  He or she is elected for a fixed term of office. 
E)  He or she is the head of government. D

Question 3

In a parliamentary system, elections are held

Accepted Answer

A)  every four years. 
B)  every five years. 
C)  every six years. 
D)  only after the term of the parliament is finished. 
E)  if the prime minister calls for them to be held. 
A)  every four years. 
B)  every five years. 
C)  every six years. 
D)  only after the term of the parliament is finished. 
E)  if the prime minister calls for them to be held. E

Question 4

Divided government

Accepted Answer

A)  makes accountability to voters more problematic. 
B)  is common in parliamentary systems. 
C)  means that no party has a majority in parliament. 
D)  means that there is a coalition government. 
E)  forces governments to call for early elections. 
A)  makes accountability to voters more problematic. 
B)  is common in parliamentary systems. 
C)  means that no party has a majority in parliament. 
D)  means that there is a coalition government. 
E)  forces governments to call for early elections.

Question 5

One could argue that parliamentary systems are superior to presidential systems because

Accepted Answer

A)  parliamentary systems have separation of powers. 
B)  parliamentary systems offer more choices to voters. 
C)  parliamentary systems require coalition governments. 
D)  parliamentary systems do not have "lame duck" leaders. 
E)  parliamentary systems employ a "winner-takes-all" logic. 
A)  parliamentary systems have separation of powers. 
B)  parliamentary systems offer more choices to voters. 
C)  parliamentary systems require coalition governments. 
D)  parliamentary systems do not have "lame duck" leaders. 
E)  parliamentary systems employ a "winner-takes-all" logic.

Question 6

The example in this chapter of the role played by Vaclav Klaus in ratifying the Lisbon Treaty shows

Accepted Answer

A)  the Czech Republic is best understood as a parliamentary system. 
B)  the Czech Republic is best understood as a presidential system. 
C)  the Czech Republic is best understood as a semi-presidential system. 
D)  Klaus is a stronger backer of the European Union. 
E)  the Czech presidency is entirely symbolic. 
A)  the Czech Republic is best understood as a parliamentary system. 
B)  the Czech Republic is best understood as a presidential system. 
C)  the Czech Republic is best understood as a semi-presidential system. 
D)  Klaus is a stronger backer of the European Union. 
E)  the Czech presidency is entirely symbolic.

Question 7

Compared to the Italian prime minister, the British prime minister typically

Accepted Answer

A)  is weaker. 
B)  is stronger. 
C)  has the same amount of power. 
D)  must rely on support from both houses of Parliament. 
E)  lasts a relatively short time in office. 
A)  is weaker. 
B)  is stronger. 
C)  has the same amount of power. 
D)  must rely on support from both houses of Parliament. 
E)  lasts a relatively short time in office.

Question 8

According to the textbook, which country does NOT have a coalition government?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ireland 
B)  Greece 
C)  Sweden 
D)  Germany 
E)  Great Britain 
A)  Ireland 
B)  Greece 
C)  Sweden 
D)  Germany 
E)  Great Britain

Question 9

A politicized bureaucracy

Accepted Answer

A)  is more inefficient than a professional one. 
B)  reflects the partisan composition of the current government. 
C)  is staffed with career civil servants. 
D)  has been a goal of reformers in post-communist Europe. 
E)  is more powerful than a professional one. 
A)  is more inefficient than a professional one. 
B)  reflects the partisan composition of the current government. 
C)  is staffed with career civil servants. 
D)  has been a goal of reformers in post-communist Europe. 
E)  is more powerful than a professional one.

Question 10

Presidentialization suggests

Accepted Answer

A)  more countries in Europe are adopting presidential systems. 
B)  presidential systems perform better than parliamentary ones. 
C)  prime ministers are increasingly gaining power at the expense of parliament. 
D)  presidents are becoming more powerful than parliaments. 
E)  prime ministers need to be elected by voters in order to stay in office. 
A)  more countries in Europe are adopting presidential systems. 
B)  presidential systems perform better than parliamentary ones. 
C)  prime ministers are increasingly gaining power at the expense of parliament. 
D)  presidents are becoming more powerful than parliaments. 
E)  prime ministers need to be elected by voters in order to stay in office.

Question 11

Minority governments occur when no single party gets a majority of the seats in parliament.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

"Cohabitation" is unique to

Accepted Answer

A)  presidential systems. 
B)  parliamentary systems. 
C)  semi-presidential systems. 
D)  countries with a minority government. 
E)  countries with a coalition government. 
A)  presidential systems. 
B)  parliamentary systems. 
C)  semi-presidential systems. 
D)  countries with a minority government. 
E)  countries with a coalition government.

Question 13

Prime ministers are more accountable to parliament than presidents.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Some presidents in Europe have only symbolic powers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Some argue the merits of presidential/semi-presidential and parliamentary systems with claims about the efficiency of one type of system vis-à-vis the other. In your view, which one is likely to be more "efficient"?

Accepted Answer

The efficiency of a presidential/semi-pr

Question 16

The only country in Europe with a U.S.-style presidential system is

Accepted Answer

A)  Poland. 
B)  France. 
C)  Finland. 
D)  Cyprus. 
E)  Bulgaria. 
A)  Poland. 
B)  France. 
C)  Finland. 
D)  Cyprus. 
E)  Bulgaria.

Question 17

Semi-presidentialism can be found in

Accepted Answer

A)  Cyprus 
B)  Germany 
C)  Spain 
D)  The Netherlands 
E)  Poland 
A)  Cyprus 
B)  Germany 
C)  Spain 
D)  The Netherlands 
E)  Poland

Question 18

The cabinet in a political system is best understood as

Accepted Answer

A)  part of the legislative branch. 
B)  a collection of government ministers. 
C)  a symbolic institution. 
D)  a committee that meets only in emergencies. 
E)  an unelected body typically led by the head of states. 
A)  part of the legislative branch. 
B)  a collection of government ministers. 
C)  a symbolic institution. 
D)  a committee that meets only in emergencies. 
E)  an unelected body typically led by the head of states.

Question 19

Data from countries that have democratized since World War II suggest

Accepted Answer

A)  presidential systems perform best of all. 
B)  parliamentary systems perform best of all. 
C)  semi-presidential systems perform best of all. 
D)  all systems of government perform about equally well. 
E)  presidential systems are more successful economically but are less stable. 
A)  presidential systems perform best of all. 
B)  parliamentary systems perform best of all. 
C)  semi-presidential systems perform best of all. 
D)  all systems of government perform about equally well. 
E)  presidential systems are more successful economically but are less stable.

Question 20

In a parliamentary system, elections can be held at virtually any time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

A minority government

In a parliamentary system of governance, which of the following is NOT true about the prime minister?

In a parliamentary system, elections are held

Divided government

One could argue that parliamentary systems are superior to presidential systems because

The example in this chapter of the role played by Vaclav Klaus in ratifying the Lisbon Treaty shows

Compared to the Italian prime minister, the British prime minister typically

According to the textbook, which country does NOT have a coalition government?

A politicized bureaucracy

Presidentialization suggests

Minority governments occur when no single party gets a majority of the seats in parliament.

"Cohabitation" is unique to

Prime ministers are more accountable to parliament than presidents.

Some presidents in Europe have only symbolic powers.

Some argue the merits of presidential/semi-presidential and parliamentary systems with claims about the efficiency of one type of system vis-à-vis the other. In your view, which one is likely to be more "efficient"?

The only country in Europe with a U.S.-style presidential system is

Semi-presidentialism can be found in

The cabinet in a political system is best understood as

Data from countries that have democratized since World War II suggest

In a parliamentary system, elections can be held at virtually any time.

Introduction: What Is Europe

Political and Economic Development in Western and Eastern Europe

The Institutions and Policies of the European Union

Parliaments and Electoral Systems

Executive Authority in Europe

Political Parties and Elections

Political Culture and Political Behavior

Economic Issues in Europe

Immigration and Multi-Culturalism

European Security and Foreign Policy

Possible Scenarios and Final Questions

Filters

Exam 6: Legal Structures and Judicial Systems

A minority government

In a parliamentary system of governance, which of the following is NOT true about the prime minister?

In a parliamentary system, elections are held

Divided government

One could argue that parliamentary systems are superior to presidential systems because

The example in this chapter of the role played by Vaclav Klaus in ratifying the Lisbon Treaty shows

Compared to the Italian prime minister, the British prime minister typically

According to the textbook, which country does NOT have a coalition government?

A politicized bureaucracy

Presidentialization suggests

Minority governments occur when no single party gets a majority of the seats in parliament.

"Cohabitation" is unique to

Prime ministers are more accountable to parliament than presidents.

Some presidents in Europe have only symbolic powers.

Some argue the merits of presidential/semi-presidential and parliamentary systems with claims about the efficiency of one type of system vis-à-vis the other. In your view, which one is likely to be more "efficient"?

The only country in Europe with a U.S.-style presidential system is

Semi-presidentialism can be found in

The cabinet in a political system is best understood as

Data from countries that have democratized since World War II suggest

In a parliamentary system, elections can be held at virtually any time.

Introduction: What Is Europe

Political and Economic Development in Western and Eastern Europe

The Institutions and Policies of the European Union

Parliaments and Electoral Systems

Executive Authority in Europe

Political Parties and Elections

Political Culture and Political Behavior

Economic Issues in Europe

Immigration and Multi-Culturalism

European Security and Foreign Policy

Possible Scenarios and Final Questions

Filters