Question 1

Which of the following is more likely to be a problem in a presidential system than in a parliamentary system?

Accepted Answer

A)  weakening of the judiciary over time as a result of conflicts between presidential and legislative authority 
B)  policy disagreement between a legislature and the executive that restricts lawmaking for a long period, even if the executive has become unpopular with the electorate 
C)  policy disagreement between a legislature and the executive that results from a very small party in the legislature denying a law a majority vote 
D)  growth of power in political parties as presidential candidates become more beholden to party loyalists 
A)  weakening of the judiciary over time as a result of conflicts between presidential and legislative authority 
B)  policy disagreement between a legislature and the executive that restricts lawmaking for a long period, even if the executive has become unpopular with the electorate 
C)  policy disagreement between a legislature and the executive that results from a very small party in the legislature denying a law a majority vote 
D)  growth of power in political parties as presidential candidates become more beholden to party loyalists C

Question 2

Bicameral systems can be traced back to different representation for

Accepted Answer

A)  urban and rural groups. 
B)  religious groups. 
C)  regional differences. 
D)  economic classes. 
A)  urban and rural groups. 
B)  religious groups. 
C)  regional differences. 
D)  economic classes. D

Question 3

Which of the following statements about referenda and initiatives is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  National referenda in the United States and Canada are largely used for taxation and economic policy matters. 
B)  Constitutional reform is not subject to reform by referenda because of the ease with which most referenda are passed. 
C)  Formal power to call national referenda lies with the head of state in many European countries. 
D)  Referenda in the United States are more often used at the national level than at the local or state level. 
A)  National referenda in the United States and Canada are largely used for taxation and economic policy matters. 
B)  Constitutional reform is not subject to reform by referenda because of the ease with which most referenda are passed. 
C)  Formal power to call national referenda lies with the head of state in many European countries. 
D)  Referenda in the United States are more often used at the national level than at the local or state level. C

Question 4

Which of the following statements about constitutional courts in the world is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Trials have more influence on constitutional interpretation in countries with a fused appellate and constitutional court than those without a fused system. 
B)  In those countries that have it, the right of judicial review is typically implicit (like in the United States). 
C)  All liberal democracies endow the constitutional court with the power of judicial review. 
D)  Almost all constitutional courts in modern democracies ensure lifetime tenure for their judges. 
A)  Trials have more influence on constitutional interpretation in countries with a fused appellate and constitutional court than those without a fused system. 
B)  In those countries that have it, the right of judicial review is typically implicit (like in the United States). 
C)  All liberal democracies endow the constitutional court with the power of judicial review. 
D)  Almost all constitutional courts in modern democracies ensure lifetime tenure for their judges.

Question 5

A political scientist notes that in a particular voting district,an elected representative has formed an especially close bond with her constituents,and that during her past term she even voted against the will of her party in order to better represent the people in her district.This political scientist would most likely use this observed relationship to argue that

Accepted Answer

A)  single-member district systems are more representative than proportional representation systems. 
B)  mixed electoral systems are more representative than single-member district systems. 
C)  parliamentary systems are more representative than presidential. 
D)  more referenda and initiatives are needed to allow for greater participation by voters in the policy-making process. 
A)  single-member district systems are more representative than proportional representation systems. 
B)  mixed electoral systems are more representative than single-member district systems. 
C)  parliamentary systems are more representative than presidential. 
D)  more referenda and initiatives are needed to allow for greater participation by voters in the policy-making process.

Question 6

Which of the following accurately describes a component of a mixed electoral system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Voters are allowed two votes, one for a candidate and one for a party. 
B)  Voters are allowed two votes, one for a prime minister and the other for a legislative representative. 
C)  Voters participate in a combination of proportional representation and multimember districts. 
D)  Voters are allowed two votes, but split ticket voting is not allowed. 
A)  Voters are allowed two votes, one for a candidate and one for a party. 
B)  Voters are allowed two votes, one for a prime minister and the other for a legislative representative. 
C)  Voters participate in a combination of proportional representation and multimember districts. 
D)  Voters are allowed two votes, but split ticket voting is not allowed.

Question 7

What is meant by the term liberal democracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  democratic system that values equality above all 
B)  democratic system that values personal freedom above all 
C)  democratic system that promotes process, liberty, and minority rights 
D)  democratic system that promotes participation, competition, and liberty 
A)  democratic system that values equality above all 
B)  democratic system that values personal freedom above all 
C)  democratic system that promotes process, liberty, and minority rights 
D)  democratic system that promotes participation, competition, and liberty

Question 8

Which of the following statements about the relationship between democratization,modernization theory,and political elites is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  A core assertion of modernization theory is that a country with political elites will allow democratic institutions to flourish if the country develops enough natural resources to become wealthy. 
B)  According to modernization theory, economic development is important to democratization, but a focus on elites shows that the type of wealth or resources has a big impact on the success of democratization. 
C)  Concentration of economic assets in the hands of a few elites in power ultimately advances democracy because those elites feel secure in their positions and thus allow democratization to flourish. 
D)  Decline of natural resources or economic stagnation typically forces an entrenchment of elites and a reduction of the chances for democratization. 
A)  A core assertion of modernization theory is that a country with political elites will allow democratic institutions to flourish if the country develops enough natural resources to become wealthy. 
B)  According to modernization theory, economic development is important to democratization, but a focus on elites shows that the type of wealth or resources has a big impact on the success of democratization. 
C)  Concentration of economic assets in the hands of a few elites in power ultimately advances democracy because those elites feel secure in their positions and thus allow democratization to flourish. 
D)  Decline of natural resources or economic stagnation typically forces an entrenchment of elites and a reduction of the chances for democratization.

Question 9

Which of the following statements best describes the correlative relationship between the type of executive in a country and the type of electoral system used to elect the legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)  Countries that use a single-member district system have presidential executives, while those with prime ministers rely on proportional representation. 
B)  Countries that use a single-member district system have prime ministers, while presidential systems rely on proportional representation. 
C)  There is no correlation between type of executive and the kind of electoral system used to elect the legislature. 
D)  Semi-presidential systems use proportional representation to elect both the president and the legislature. 
A)  Countries that use a single-member district system have presidential executives, while those with prime ministers rely on proportional representation. 
B)  Countries that use a single-member district system have prime ministers, while presidential systems rely on proportional representation. 
C)  There is no correlation between type of executive and the kind of electoral system used to elect the legislature. 
D)  Semi-presidential systems use proportional representation to elect both the president and the legislature.

Question 10

In a parliamentary system,the prime minister serves as

Accepted Answer

A)  head of state. 
B)  head of government. 
C)  both head of state and head of government. 
D)  neither head of state nor head of government. 
A)  head of state. 
B)  head of government. 
C)  both head of state and head of government. 
D)  neither head of state nor head of government.

Question 11

What is meant by the term republicanism?

Accepted Answer

A)  a system that emphasizes separation of powers and representation of the public through elected officials 
B)  a system rooted in the ideology of liberalism, with its emphasis on individual rights and freedoms 
C)  a system that emphasizes conservative political values 
D)  a system that values equality among individuals above individual rights 
A)  a system that emphasizes separation of powers and representation of the public through elected officials 
B)  a system rooted in the ideology of liberalism, with its emphasis on individual rights and freedoms 
C)  a system that emphasizes conservative political values 
D)  a system that values equality among individuals above individual rights

Question 12

A national vote initiated by the government on a particular policy issue is commonly know as a

Accepted Answer

A)  plebiscite. 
B)  referendum. 
C)  ballot initiative. 
D)  mass ballot. 
A)  plebiscite. 
B)  referendum. 
C)  ballot initiative. 
D)  mass ballot.

Question 13

Is a presidential system more democratic than a parliamentary system? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will frame the differences

Question 14

A diverse fabric of organizations created by people,not necessarily political,to help define and advance their own interests is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  the oligarchy. 
B)  civil society. 
C)  public networks. 
D)  civic autonomy. 
A)  the oligarchy. 
B)  civil society. 
C)  public networks. 
D)  civic autonomy.

Question 15

Proportional representation systems can be defined as

Accepted Answer

A)  electoral systems in which the candidate with the majority of the vote in a district wins the seat. 
B)  electoral systems in which the candidate with the plurality of the vote in a district wins the seat. 
C)  electoral systems in which the percentage of votes a party receives in a district will determine how many seats that party will win. 
D)  two-round systems for electing presidents and prime ministers. 
A)  electoral systems in which the candidate with the majority of the vote in a district wins the seat. 
B)  electoral systems in which the candidate with the plurality of the vote in a district wins the seat. 
C)  electoral systems in which the percentage of votes a party receives in a district will determine how many seats that party will win. 
D)  two-round systems for electing presidents and prime ministers.

Question 16

In which of the following ways does a proportional representation (PR)system differ from a single-member district (SMD)system?

Accepted Answer

A)  In a PR system, individual candidates win by plurality vote instead of a majority vote. 
B)  Each constituency in a PR system has only one representative. 
C)  In a PR system, votes cast for a candidate or party that does not win are essentially wasted. 
D)  Voters in a PR system are typically more willing to vote for smaller parties. 
A)  In a PR system, individual candidates win by plurality vote instead of a majority vote. 
B)  Each constituency in a PR system has only one representative. 
C)  In a PR system, votes cast for a candidate or party that does not win are essentially wasted. 
D)  Voters in a PR system are typically more willing to vote for smaller parties.

Question 17

Describe the role of economic modernization and political elites in theorizing about the emergence of democracy.Why are overall levels of wealth not enough to predict whether a country will opt for democratic reforms?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will note that modernizati

Question 18

What are the most important differences between a single-member district system and a proportional representation system? Which is more democratic? Which is more efficient?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will note that single-memb

Question 19

Single-member district systems are

Accepted Answer

A)  electoral systems in which a candidate must win an absolute majority of the vote in a district to win the seat. 
B)  electoral systems in which the candidate with the largest share of the vote in a district wins the seat. 
C)  electoral systems in which the percentage of votes a party receives in a district will determine how many seats that party will win. 
D)  two-round systems for electing presidents and prime ministers. 
A)  electoral systems in which a candidate must win an absolute majority of the vote in a district to win the seat. 
B)  electoral systems in which the candidate with the largest share of the vote in a district wins the seat. 
C)  electoral systems in which the percentage of votes a party receives in a district will determine how many seats that party will win. 
D)  two-round systems for electing presidents and prime ministers.

Question 20

In a presidential system,the president typically serves as

Accepted Answer

A)  head of state. 
B)  head of government. 
C)  both head of state and head of government. 
D)  neither head of state nor head of government. 
A)  head of state. 
B)  head of government. 
C)  both head of state and head of government. 
D)  neither head of state nor head of government.

Which of the following is more likely to be a problem in a presidential system than in a parliamentary system?

Bicameral systems can be traced back to different representation for

Which of the following statements about referenda and initiatives is accurate?

Which of the following statements about constitutional courts in the world is accurate?

Which of the following accurately describes a component of a mixed electoral system?

What is meant by the term liberal democracy?

Which of the following statements about the relationship between democratization,modernization theory,and political elites is accurate?

Which of the following statements best describes the correlative relationship between the type of executive in a country and the type of electoral system used to elect the legislature?

In a parliamentary system,the prime minister serves as

What is meant by the term republicanism?

A national vote initiated by the government on a particular policy issue is commonly know as a

Is a presidential system more democratic than a parliamentary system? Why or why not?

A diverse fabric of organizations created by people,not necessarily political,to help define and advance their own interests is known as

Proportional representation systems can be defined as

In which of the following ways does a proportional representation (PR)system differ from a single-member district (SMD)system?

Describe the role of economic modernization and political elites in theorizing about the emergence of democracy.Why are overall levels of wealth not enough to predict whether a country will opt for democratic reforms?

What are the most important differences between a single-member district system and a proportional representation system? Which is more democratic? Which is more efficient?

Single-member district systems are

In a presidential system,the president typically serves as

Introduction

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Nations and Society

Political Economy

Nondemocratic Regimes

Political Violence

Developed Democracies

Communism and Postcommunism

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Exam 5: Democratic Regimes

Which of the following is more likely to be a problem in a presidential system than in a parliamentary system?

Bicameral systems can be traced back to different representation for

Which of the following statements about referenda and initiatives is accurate?

Which of the following statements about constitutional courts in the world is accurate?

Which of the following accurately describes a component of a mixed electoral system?

What is meant by the term liberal democracy?

Which of the following statements about the relationship between democratization,modernization theory,and political elites is accurate?

Which of the following statements best describes the correlative relationship between the type of executive in a country and the type of electoral system used to elect the legislature?

In a parliamentary system,the prime minister serves as

What is meant by the term republicanism?

A national vote initiated by the government on a particular policy issue is commonly know as a

Is a presidential system more democratic than a parliamentary system? Why or why not?

A diverse fabric of organizations created by people,not necessarily political,to help define and advance their own interests is known as

Proportional representation systems can be defined as

In which of the following ways does a proportional representation (PR)system differ from a single-member district (SMD)system?

Describe the role of economic modernization and political elites in theorizing about the emergence of democracy.Why are overall levels of wealth not enough to predict whether a country will opt for democratic reforms?

What are the most important differences between a single-member district system and a proportional representation system? Which is more democratic? Which is more efficient?

Single-member district systems are

In a presidential system,the president typically serves as

Introduction

States

Nations and Society

Political Economy

Nondemocratic Regimes

Political Violence

Developed Democracies

Communism and Postcommunism

Developing Countries

Globalization and the Future of Comparative Politics

Filters