Question 1

Britain's House of Lords was reformed in 1999 to keep life peers and exclude most hereditary peers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

The French Estates General,with three houses (for nobles,clerics,and commoners),was the first successful example of parliamentary checks and balances.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Members of the British House of Lords spend most of their time __________.

Accepted Answer

A) crafting new legislation 
B) participating in ministerial debates 
C) approving or rejecting legislation from the lower house 
D) debating broad issues and catching errors in legislation passed by the lower house 
A) crafting new legislation 
B) participating in ministerial debates 
C) approving or rejecting legislation from the lower house 
D) debating broad issues and catching errors in legislation passed by the lower house

Question 4

European parliaments tend to be more efficient than the U.S.Congress.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Which statement explains why the lack of expertise is a structural disadvantage for the U.S.Congress?

Accepted Answer

A) It leads to poorly written laws that are often struck down by the courts. 
B) It gives a large amount of power to junior-level members of standing committees. 
C) It leads legislators to rely on experts in the executive branch for information and advice. 
D) It forces legislators to spend most of their time gathering information instead of debating ideas. 
A) It leads to poorly written laws that are often struck down by the courts. 
B) It gives a large amount of power to junior-level members of standing committees. 
C) It leads legislators to rely on experts in the executive branch for information and advice. 
D) It forces legislators to spend most of their time gathering information instead of debating ideas.

Question 6

Which statement explains why legislative committees are less important in the United Kingdom than in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A) Committees in the United Kingdom only meet twice a year to rubber stamp all bills. 
B) A bill only has to pass one of two houses in the United Kingdom in order to become a law. 
C) There are far fewer legislative committees in the United Kingdom than in the United States. 
D) The fusion of powers in the United Kingdom means that committees almost never criticize or reject bills presented by the cabinet. 
A) Committees in the United Kingdom only meet twice a year to rubber stamp all bills. 
B) A bill only has to pass one of two houses in the United Kingdom in order to become a law. 
C) There are far fewer legislative committees in the United Kingdom than in the United States. 
D) The fusion of powers in the United Kingdom means that committees almost never criticize or reject bills presented by the cabinet.

Question 7

In the United Kingdom,Question Hour __________.

Accepted Answer

A) exemplifies the direct accountability of the government to the people 
B) illustrates how democratic accountability is dependent on partisan advantage 
C) demonstrates how the executive branch is responsive to the legislative branch 
D) shows how the executive branch has oversight over both the courts and the legislature 
A) exemplifies the direct accountability of the government to the people 
B) illustrates how democratic accountability is dependent on partisan advantage 
C) demonstrates how the executive branch is responsive to the legislative branch 
D) shows how the executive branch has oversight over both the courts and the legislature

Question 8

Which statement explains why feudalism is considered an early example of "balance of power" thinking?

Accepted Answer

A) Feudal systems were roughly as powerful as authoritarian ones. 
B) Feudalism made room for influence by various sectors of society. 
C) Feudalism allowed for better cooperation among enemy countries. 
D) Power was given exclusively to parliaments that were democratically elected. 
A) Feudal systems were roughly as powerful as authoritarian ones. 
B) Feudalism made room for influence by various sectors of society. 
C) Feudalism allowed for better cooperation among enemy countries. 
D) Power was given exclusively to parliaments that were democratically elected.

Question 9

Which of these systems demonstrates the clearest separation of power between the executive and legislative branches?

Accepted Answer

A) aristocratic 
B) monarchical 
C) parliamentary 
D) presidential 
A) aristocratic 
B) monarchical 
C) parliamentary 
D) presidential

Question 10

In contrast with most Western European leaders,U.S.presidents __________.

Accepted Answer

A) have more direct legislative power 
B) are more responsive to the legislature 
C) act independently of the legislature 
D) spend more time lobbying the legislature 
A) have more direct legislative power 
B) are more responsive to the legislature 
C) act independently of the legislature 
D) spend more time lobbying the legislature

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of an ombudsman-like action that a Congressional representative could take on behalf of a particular constituent?

Accepted Answer

A) vote against the closure of a military base in the constituent's city 
B) take out a full-page campaign ad in the constituent's hometown newspaper 
C) thank the constituent for a letter of support regarding the issue of climate change 
D) check on the status of the constituent's application for Social Security Disability benefits 
A) vote against the closure of a military base in the constituent's city 
B) take out a full-page campaign ad in the constituent's hometown newspaper 
C) thank the constituent for a letter of support regarding the issue of climate change 
D) check on the status of the constituent's application for Social Security Disability benefits

Question 12

In the United States,it is common for one party to control Congress and the other party to hold the presidency.This possibility __________.

Accepted Answer

A) lowers the chances that the government will shut down 
B) reduces the chances of rapid and foolish policy changes 
C) makes it more likely for moderate candidates to get elected 
D) increases the chances that sweeping policy overhauls will be made 
A) lowers the chances that the government will shut down 
B) reduces the chances of rapid and foolish policy changes 
C) makes it more likely for moderate candidates to get elected 
D) increases the chances that sweeping policy overhauls will be made

Question 13

What is one difference between China's and Great Britain's parliamentary systems?

Accepted Answer

A) China's parliament is bicameral,whereas Britain's is unicameral. 
B) Great Britain's parliament is unitary,whereas China's is Communist. 
C) Great Britain's parliament is bicameral,whereas China's is unicameral. 
D) China's parliament is three-chambered,whereas Britain's is bicameral. 
A) China's parliament is bicameral,whereas Britain's is unicameral. 
B) Great Britain's parliament is unitary,whereas China's is Communist. 
C) Great Britain's parliament is bicameral,whereas China's is unicameral. 
D) China's parliament is three-chambered,whereas Britain's is bicameral.

Question 14

Most of the power in modern legislatures is exercised by __________.

Accepted Answer

A) the cabinet 
B) committees 
C) interest groups 
D) the bureaucracy 
A) the cabinet 
B) committees 
C) interest groups 
D) the bureaucracy

Question 15

Which of these does the most to educate citizens about important issues facing the United States?

Accepted Answer

A) media coverage of filibusters 
B) televised Congressional hearings 
C) committee mark-up of proposed bills 
D) press conferences held by party leaders 
A) media coverage of filibusters 
B) televised Congressional hearings 
C) committee mark-up of proposed bills 
D) press conferences held by party leaders

Question 16

The separation of powers is intended to __________.

Accepted Answer

A) ensure executive subordination to the legislative branch 
B) promote stability through a process of institutional coordination 
C) maximize the influence of political parties over the legislative process 
D) create checks that prevent the government from becoming too powerful 
A) ensure executive subordination to the legislative branch 
B) promote stability through a process of institutional coordination 
C) maximize the influence of political parties over the legislative process 
D) create checks that prevent the government from becoming too powerful

Question 17

Which of the following is one effect of Congress's fragmentation into committees and subcommittees?

Accepted Answer

A) It delays elections. 
B) It delays agreement. 
C) It consolidates power in the executive branch. 
D) It makes it more difficult for constituents to reach their representatives. 
A) It delays elections. 
B) It delays agreement. 
C) It consolidates power in the executive branch. 
D) It makes it more difficult for constituents to reach their representatives.

Question 18

Which statement describes how the executive relates to the legislature in a parliamentary system?

Accepted Answer

A) The executive is appointed by the legislature. 
B) The executive is almost entirely subservient to the legislature. 
C) The executive is almost entirely independent of the legislature. 
D) The executive is largely irrelevant to the activities of the legislature. 
A) The executive is appointed by the legislature. 
B) The executive is almost entirely subservient to the legislature. 
C) The executive is almost entirely independent of the legislature. 
D) The executive is largely irrelevant to the activities of the legislature.

Question 19

The U.S.government is based on the fusion of powers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

What distinguishes the U.S.Congress from most of the world's other bicameral parliaments?

Accepted Answer

A) It is a bicameral legislature in a unitary system. 
B) The lower house is more powerful than the upper house. 
C) The upper house is more powerful than the lower house. 
D) The two chambers have equal power over the legislative process. 
A) It is a bicameral legislature in a unitary system. 
B) The lower house is more powerful than the upper house. 
C) The upper house is more powerful than the lower house. 
D) The two chambers have equal power over the legislative process.

Britain's House of Lords was reformed in 1999 to keep life peers and exclude most hereditary peers.

The French Estates General,with three houses (for nobles,clerics,and commoners),was the first successful example of parliamentary checks and balances.

Members of the British House of Lords spend most of their time __________.

European parliaments tend to be more efficient than the U.S.Congress.

Which statement explains why the lack of expertise is a structural disadvantage for the U.S.Congress?

Which statement explains why legislative committees are less important in the United Kingdom than in the United States?

In the United Kingdom,Question Hour __________.

Which statement explains why feudalism is considered an early example of "balance of power" thinking?

Which of these systems demonstrates the clearest separation of power between the executive and legislative branches?

In contrast with most Western European leaders,U.S.presidents __________.

Which of the following is an example of an ombudsman-like action that a Congressional representative could take on behalf of a particular constituent?

In the United States,it is common for one party to control Congress and the other party to hold the presidency.This possibility __________.

What is one difference between China's and Great Britain's parliamentary systems?

Most of the power in modern legislatures is exercised by __________.

Which of these does the most to educate citizens about important issues facing the United States?

The separation of powers is intended to __________.

Which of the following is one effect of Congress's fragmentation into committees and subcommittees?

Which statement describes how the executive relates to the legislature in a parliamentary system?

The U.S.government is based on the fusion of powers.

What distinguishes the U.S.Congress from most of the world's other bicameral parliaments?

Politics and Political Science

Political Ideologies

States

Constitutions and Rights

Regimes

Political Culture

Public Opinion

Political Communication

Interest Groups

Parties

Elections

Executives and Bureaucracies

Judiciaries

Political Economy

Violence and Revolution

International Relations

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Exam 12: Legislatures

Britain's House of Lords was reformed in 1999 to keep life peers and exclude most hereditary peers.

The French Estates General,with three houses (for nobles,clerics,and commoners),was the first successful example of parliamentary checks and balances.

Members of the British House of Lords spend most of their time __________.

European parliaments tend to be more efficient than the U.S.Congress.

Which statement explains why the lack of expertise is a structural disadvantage for the U.S.Congress?

Which statement explains why legislative committees are less important in the United Kingdom than in the United States?

In the United Kingdom,Question Hour __________.

Which statement explains why feudalism is considered an early example of "balance of power" thinking?

Which of these systems demonstrates the clearest separation of power between the executive and legislative branches?

In contrast with most Western European leaders,U.S.presidents __________.

Which of the following is an example of an ombudsman-like action that a Congressional representative could take on behalf of a particular constituent?

In the United States,it is common for one party to control Congress and the other party to hold the presidency.This possibility __________.

What is one difference between China's and Great Britain's parliamentary systems?

Most of the power in modern legislatures is exercised by __________.

Which of these does the most to educate citizens about important issues facing the United States?

The separation of powers is intended to __________.

Which of the following is one effect of Congress's fragmentation into committees and subcommittees?

Which statement describes how the executive relates to the legislature in a parliamentary system?

The U.S.government is based on the fusion of powers.

What distinguishes the U.S.Congress from most of the world's other bicameral parliaments?

Politics and Political Science

Political Ideologies

States

Constitutions and Rights

Regimes

Political Culture

Public Opinion

Political Communication

Interest Groups

Parties

Elections

Executives and Bureaucracies

Judiciaries

Political Economy

Violence and Revolution

International Relations

Filters