Question 1

Many observers claim that during the twentieth century the power of legislatures

Accepted Answer

A)  increased steadily. 
B)  declined significantly. 
C)  remained the same. 
D)  increased relative to the executive but declined relative to the judiciary. 
E)  declined in bicameral but not in unicameral legislatures. 
A)  increased steadily. 
B)  declined significantly. 
C)  remained the same. 
D)  increased relative to the executive but declined relative to the judiciary. 
E)  declined in bicameral but not in unicameral legislatures. B

Question 2

As the head of state, the chief executive

Accepted Answer

A)  manages the administration. 
B)  represents the governing party coalition. 
C)  embodies the national identity. 
D)  takes the lead on major legislation. 
E)  All of the above 
A)  manages the administration. 
B)  represents the governing party coalition. 
C)  embodies the national identity. 
D)  takes the lead on major legislation. 
E)  All of the above C

Question 3

At the heart of the adjudication function is the attempt to

Accepted Answer

A)  interpret and apply the laws to a given system. 
B)  regulate the proper implementation of new laws. 
C)  ensure that the laws are fair. 
D)  enact the laws for the state. 
E)  guard against government corruption. 
A)  interpret and apply the laws to a given system. 
B)  regulate the proper implementation of new laws. 
C)  ensure that the laws are fair. 
D)  enact the laws for the state. 
E)  guard against government corruption. A

Question 4

Explain why executives seem to be increasingly dominant relative to legislatures. Do you believe this situation should be altered? How might the power of the executive be limited? Should the legislature or another political actor (which one?) be empowered to balance executive power?

Accepted Answer

Executives seem to be increasingly domin

Question 5

Some contend that judicial review is not compatible with democracy. Outline the main arguments for and against this contention. Indicate which position is most persuasive and explain why.

Accepted Answer

Judicial review, the power of a court to

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a major role of the legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)  Oversight of the executive branch 
B)  Interpretation of laws 
C)  Representation of citizens 
D)  Enactment of legislation 
E)  All of the above are major roles. 
A)  Oversight of the executive branch 
B)  Interpretation of laws 
C)  Representation of citizens 
D)  Enactment of legislation 
E)  All of the above are major roles.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a function of the judiciary?

Accepted Answer

A)  Settling disputes among private actors 
B)  Social control 
C)  Interpretation of policy 
D)  Arbitrating disagreements among other branches of government 
E)  Approval of major administrative appointments 
A)  Settling disputes among private actors 
B)  Social control 
C)  Interpretation of policy 
D)  Arbitrating disagreements among other branches of government 
E)  Approval of major administrative appointments

Question 8

In a political system with a fused executive,

Accepted Answer

A)  one actor carries out ceremonial aspects of the executive role while another carries out more political aspects. 
B)  a small number of people exercise collective executive leadership. 
C)  the ceremonial and political functions of the top executive both reside in the same actor. 
D)  All of the above 
E)  None of the above 
A)  one actor carries out ceremonial aspects of the executive role while another carries out more political aspects. 
B)  a small number of people exercise collective executive leadership. 
C)  the ceremonial and political functions of the top executive both reside in the same actor. 
D)  All of the above 
E)  None of the above

Question 9

Briefly describe the functions of legislatures and the main difficulties legislatures may experience in carrying out those functions. Could those difficulties be overcome by structural change? Explain why or why not.

Accepted Answer

Legislatures play a crucial role in the

Question 10

Which of the following is a potential drawback of a bicameral legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)  Proliferation of elections 
B)  Less effective representation 
C)  Stalemates in policymaking 
D)  Proliferation of political parties 
E)  All of the above 
A)  Proliferation of elections 
B)  Less effective representation 
C)  Stalemates in policymaking 
D)  Proliferation of political parties 
E)  All of the above

Question 11

The actual provision of public goods and services is primarily performed by members of the

Accepted Answer

A)  executive. 
B)  legislature. 
C)  administration. 
D)  judiciary. 
E)  foot soldiers. 
A)  executive. 
B)  legislature. 
C)  administration. 
D)  judiciary. 
E)  foot soldiers.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT one of the forms of administration discussed in the Compare in 6?

Accepted Answer

A)  Humane administration 
B)  Inept administration 
C)  Corrupt administration 
D)  Discriminatory administration 
E)  Weberian bureaucracy 
A)  Humane administration 
B)  Inept administration 
C)  Corrupt administration 
D)  Discriminatory administration 
E)  Weberian bureaucracy

Question 13

Which of the following is most responsible for the state's relations with other countries?

Accepted Answer

A)  The legislature 
B)  The administration 
C)  The executive 
D)  The judiciary 
E)  All are equally responsible. 
A)  The legislature 
B)  The administration 
C)  The executive 
D)  The judiciary 
E)  All are equally responsible.

Question 14

The power of judicial review means that judicial actors can

Accepted Answer

A)  revoke the actions of the legislature. 
B)  impeach the executive. 
C)  evaluate the actions of other judges. 
D)  reject the executive's judicial appointments. 
E)  conduct hearings regarding executive conduct. 
A)  revoke the actions of the legislature. 
B)  impeach the executive. 
C)  evaluate the actions of other judges. 
D)  reject the executive's judicial appointments. 
E)  conduct hearings regarding executive conduct.

Question 15

In the majority of countries with legislatures, the national legislature

Accepted Answer

A)  has one powerful house and one weak house. 
B)  has two relatively powerful houses. 
C)  has only one house. 
D)  has more than 500 members. 
E)  is dominated by a single party. 
A)  has one powerful house and one weak house. 
B)  has two relatively powerful houses. 
C)  has only one house. 
D)  has more than 500 members. 
E)  is dominated by a single party.

Question 16

One very visible cross-national difference in the structural arrangements of legislatures is the

Accepted Answer

A)  ratio of votes to seats. 
B)  length of the session. 
C)  number of political parties. 
D)  qualifications for office. 
E)  number of houses. 
A)  ratio of votes to seats. 
B)  length of the session. 
C)  number of political parties. 
D)  qualifications for office. 
E)  number of houses.

Question 17

In comparison to legislatures, executive structures tend to be

Accepted Answer

A)  more streamlined. 
B)  more capable of decisive action. 
C)  more unified. 
D)  more streamlined and unified but not more decisive. 
E)  more streamlined, decisive and unified. 
A)  more streamlined. 
B)  more capable of decisive action. 
C)  more unified. 
D)  more streamlined and unified but not more decisive. 
E)  more streamlined, decisive and unified.

Question 18

What are the advantages and disadvantages of bureaucracy as it exists in contemporary political systems? Under what conditions would a non-bureaucratic form of administration be desirable?

Accepted Answer

Advantages of bureaucracy in contemporar

Question 19

According to Edmund Burke, a legislator

Accepted Answer

A)  should attempt to represent the majority view of his constituency. 
B)  should make policy decisions on the basis of his intellect and conscience. 
C)  should represent and support his political party. 
D)  should be guided by the national interest. 
E)  should work collaboratively to enact legislation. 
A)  should attempt to represent the majority view of his constituency. 
B)  should make policy decisions on the basis of his intellect and conscience. 
C)  should represent and support his political party. 
D)  should be guided by the national interest. 
E)  should work collaboratively to enact legislation.

Question 20

Which of the following is an important area of legislative oversight?

Accepted Answer

A)  Approving major executive appointments 
B)  Enacting regulatory legislation 
C)  Committee hearings on legislation 
D)  Control of the agenda by the legislative majority 
E)  All of the above 
A)  Approving major executive appointments 
B)  Enacting regulatory legislation 
C)  Committee hearings on legislation 
D)  Control of the agenda by the legislative majority 
E)  All of the above

Many observers claim that during the twentieth century the power of legislatures

As the head of state, the chief executive

At the heart of the adjudication function is the attempt to

Explain why executives seem to be increasingly dominant relative to legislatures. Do you believe this situation should be altered? How might the power of the executive be limited? Should the legislature or another political actor (which one?) be empowered to balance executive power?

Some contend that judicial review is not compatible with democracy. Outline the main arguments for and against this contention. Indicate which position is most persuasive and explain why.

Which of the following is NOT a major role of the legislature?

Which of the following is NOT a function of the judiciary?

In a political system with a fused executive,

Briefly describe the functions of legislatures and the main difficulties legislatures may experience in carrying out those functions. Could those difficulties be overcome by structural change? Explain why or why not.

Which of the following is a potential drawback of a bicameral legislature?

The actual provision of public goods and services is primarily performed by members of the

Which of the following is NOT one of the forms of administration discussed in the Compare in 6?

Which of the following is most responsible for the state's relations with other countries?

The power of judicial review means that judicial actors can

In the majority of countries with legislatures, the national legislature

One very visible cross-national difference in the structural arrangements of legislatures is the

In comparison to legislatures, executive structures tend to be

What are the advantages and disadvantages of bureaucracy as it exists in contemporary political systems? Under what conditions would a non-bureaucratic form of administration be desirable?

According to Edmund Burke, a legislator

Which of the following is an important area of legislative oversight?

Politics and Knowledge

Political Theory and Political Beliefs

Political Actions

Influences on Beliefs and Actions

Political Systems, States, and Nations

Political Institutions II: Institutional Arrangements

Political Economy

Public Policy, Power, and Decision

Change and Political Development

Politics Across Borders

Political Violence

The Developed Countries of the Global North

The Developing Countries of the Global South

The Transitional Developed Countries

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Exam 6: Political Institutions I: Institutional Structures

Many observers claim that during the twentieth century the power of legislatures

As the head of state, the chief executive

At the heart of the adjudication function is the attempt to

Explain why executives seem to be increasingly dominant relative to legislatures. Do you believe this situation should be altered? How might the power of the executive be limited? Should the legislature or another political actor (which one?) be empowered to balance executive power?

Some contend that judicial review is not compatible with democracy. Outline the main arguments for and against this contention. Indicate which position is most persuasive and explain why.

Which of the following is NOT a major role of the legislature?

Which of the following is NOT a function of the judiciary?

In a political system with a fused executive,

Briefly describe the functions of legislatures and the main difficulties legislatures may experience in carrying out those functions. Could those difficulties be overcome by structural change? Explain why or why not.

Which of the following is a potential drawback of a bicameral legislature?

The actual provision of public goods and services is primarily performed by members of the

Which of the following is NOT one of the forms of administration discussed in the Compare in 6?

Which of the following is most responsible for the state's relations with other countries?

The power of judicial review means that judicial actors can

In the majority of countries with legislatures, the national legislature

One very visible cross-national difference in the structural arrangements of legislatures is the

In comparison to legislatures, executive structures tend to be

What are the advantages and disadvantages of bureaucracy as it exists in contemporary political systems? Under what conditions would a non-bureaucratic form of administration be desirable?

According to Edmund Burke, a legislator

Which of the following is an important area of legislative oversight?

Politics and Knowledge

Political Theory and Political Beliefs

Political Actions

Influences on Beliefs and Actions

Political Systems, States, and Nations

Political Institutions II: Institutional Arrangements

Political Economy

Public Policy, Power, and Decision

Change and Political Development

Politics Across Borders

Political Violence

The Developed Countries of the Global North

The Developing Countries of the Global South

The Transitional Developed Countries

Filters