Question 1

The ability of constitutional courts to strike down legislation even in the absence of a specific court case is known as ________ review.

Accepted Answer

A)  concrete 
B)  abstract 
C)  appellate 
D)  activist 
A)  concrete 
B)  abstract 
C)  appellate 
D)  activist

Question 2

Which of the following statements about legislative structures is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Upper houses of bicameral systems always fulfill a strictly ceremonial role. 
B)  The majority of liberal democracies have bicameral systems. 
C)  Larger countries are more likely to have unicameral systems. 
D)  Smaller countries are more likely to have bicameral systems. 
A)  Upper houses of bicameral systems always fulfill a strictly ceremonial role. 
B)  The majority of liberal democracies have bicameral systems. 
C)  Larger countries are more likely to have unicameral systems. 
D)  Smaller countries are more likely to have bicameral systems.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about semi-presidential systems is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Prominent semi-presidential systems typically place most of the power with the prime minister. 
B)  The prime minister is typically the initiator of policy. 
C)  Constitutional courts are often less powerful as a result of appointment by the president. 
D)  Semi-presidential systems have gone out of favor and have decreased in number during the last two decades. 
A)  Prominent semi-presidential systems typically place most of the power with the prime minister. 
B)  The prime minister is typically the initiator of policy. 
C)  Constitutional courts are often less powerful as a result of appointment by the president. 
D)  Semi-presidential systems have gone out of favor and have decreased in number during the last two decades.

Question 4

The origins of British democracy can be traced back to the

Accepted Answer

A)  Magna Carta, 1215. 
B)  Bill of Rights, 1689. 
C)  Patronage Act, 1752. 
D)  Reform Act, 1911. 
A)  Magna Carta, 1215. 
B)  Bill of Rights, 1689. 
C)  Patronage Act, 1752. 
D)  Reform Act, 1911.

Question 5

Describe the benefits that political parties bring to a democracy.How might the structure of political parties differ between proportional representation systems and single-member district systems?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will note the primary func

Question 6

Which of the following statements about bicameralism is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bicameralism is typically linked to unitary states, though not exclusively so. 
B)  Members of lower houses typically serve longer terms than members of upper houses in bicameral systems. 
C)  Bicameral systems were often retained in modern times to restrict the power of popularly elected lower houses of the legislature. 
D)  Lower houses are generally weaker than upper houses in bicameral systems. 
A)  Bicameralism is typically linked to unitary states, though not exclusively so. 
B)  Members of lower houses typically serve longer terms than members of upper houses in bicameral systems. 
C)  Bicameral systems were often retained in modern times to restrict the power of popularly elected lower houses of the legislature. 
D)  Lower houses are generally weaker than upper houses in bicameral systems.

Question 7

The idea of legal institutions to which everyone is subject is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  the reign of democracy. 
B)  the rule of law. 
C)  majority rule. 
D)  the consent of the governed. 
A)  the reign of democracy. 
B)  the rule of law. 
C)  majority rule. 
D)  the consent of the governed.

Question 8

Prime ministers can be removed through which mechanism?

Accepted Answer

A)  impeachment 
B)  vote of no confidence 
C)  plebiscite 
D)  recall vote 
A)  impeachment 
B)  vote of no confidence 
C)  plebiscite 
D)  recall vote

Question 9

Should democracies rely more on initiatives or referenda to decide policy,or are forms of indirect democracy better? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will note that a political

Question 10

In which of the following ways does a parliamentary system differ from a presidential one?

Accepted Answer

A)  Prime ministers are directly elected by the people, while presidents must be elected indirectly through an electoral college. 
B)  Election dates are more easily altered in presidential systems than in parliamentary systems. 
C)  Prime ministers must command a majority to stay in office; presidents do not. 
D)  Presidents are more easily removed from office than prime ministers. 
A)  Prime ministers are directly elected by the people, while presidents must be elected indirectly through an electoral college. 
B)  Election dates are more easily altered in presidential systems than in parliamentary systems. 
C)  Prime ministers must command a majority to stay in office; presidents do not. 
D)  Presidents are more easily removed from office than prime ministers.

Question 11

The executive in charge of dealing with running the state and formulating policy is the

Accepted Answer

A)  head of government. 
B)  head of state. 
C)  chief executive. 
D)  chancellor. 
A)  head of government. 
B)  head of state. 
C)  chief executive. 
D)  chancellor.

Question 12

The executive who symbolizes and represents the people is the

Accepted Answer

A)  head of government. 
B)  head of state. 
C)  chief executive. 
D)  chancellor. 
A)  head of government. 
B)  head of state. 
C)  chief executive. 
D)  chancellor.

Question 13

Which of the following was an effect of the rapid development of many Asian countries in the 1970s on the study of democracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  It demonstrated that elites were the driving force behind early democratization. 
B)  It helped to discredit modernization theory. 
C)  It proved that a middle class was essential for democratization. 
D)  It demonstrated that overall poverty is not an impediment to democratization. 
A)  It demonstrated that elites were the driving force behind early democratization. 
B)  It helped to discredit modernization theory. 
C)  It proved that a middle class was essential for democratization. 
D)  It demonstrated that overall poverty is not an impediment to democratization.

Question 14

Civil rights typically refers to the promotion of

Accepted Answer

A)  equality. 
B)  freedom. 
C)  civic duties. 
D)  republicanism. 
A)  equality. 
B)  freedom. 
C)  civic duties. 
D)  republicanism.

Question 15

The electoral system that tends to produce a large number of political parties is

Accepted Answer

A)  the single-member district system. 
B)  the single transferable vote. 
C)  the mixed electoral system. 
D)  proportional representation. 
A)  the single-member district system. 
B)  the single transferable vote. 
C)  the mixed electoral system. 
D)  proportional representation.

The ability of constitutional courts to strike down legislation even in the absence of a specific court case is known as ________ review.

Which of the following statements about legislative structures is accurate?

Which of the following statements about semi-presidential systems is accurate?

The origins of British democracy can be traced back to the

Describe the benefits that political parties bring to a democracy.How might the structure of political parties differ between proportional representation systems and single-member district systems?

Which of the following statements about bicameralism is accurate?

The idea of legal institutions to which everyone is subject is known as

Prime ministers can be removed through which mechanism?

Should democracies rely more on initiatives or referenda to decide policy,or are forms of indirect democracy better? Why or why not?

In which of the following ways does a parliamentary system differ from a presidential one?

The executive in charge of dealing with running the state and formulating policy is the

The executive who symbolizes and represents the people is the

Which of the following was an effect of the rapid development of many Asian countries in the 1970s on the study of democracy?

Civil rights typically refers to the promotion of

The electoral system that tends to produce a large number of political parties is

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

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Exam 5: Democratic Regimes

The ability of constitutional courts to strike down legislation even in the absence of a specific court case is known as ________ review.

Which of the following statements about legislative structures is accurate?

Which of the following statements about semi-presidential systems is accurate?

The origins of British democracy can be traced back to the

Describe the benefits that political parties bring to a democracy.How might the structure of political parties differ between proportional representation systems and single-member district systems?

Which of the following statements about bicameralism is accurate?

The idea of legal institutions to which everyone is subject is known as

Prime ministers can be removed through which mechanism?

Should democracies rely more on initiatives or referenda to decide policy,or are forms of indirect democracy better? Why or why not?

In which of the following ways does a parliamentary system differ from a presidential one?

The executive in charge of dealing with running the state and formulating policy is the

The executive who symbolizes and represents the people is the

Which of the following was an effect of the rapid development of many Asian countries in the 1970s on the study of democracy?

Civil rights typically refers to the promotion of

The electoral system that tends to produce a large number of political parties is

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