Oxnard College » Political Science » Political Science 100 - Introduction to Politics » Fall 2021

Political Science 100 - Introduction to Politics » Fall 2021 » Chapter 7 Parliamentary Dem

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Question #1

What is a parliamentary system of government?

A. A system of government where parliament is led by a prime minister, who is the head of the government

B. A system of government with two distinct chambers of the legislature

C. A system of government led by a president, who is appointed by the parliament

D. A system of government led by a president, who is considered to be more powerful than the parliament

E. A system of government where the power is divided among three equal branches of government

Question #2

Why would Aristotle characterize the British government as a mixed system?

A. Because the system includes both a president and a prime minister

B. Because the system lacks a single all-powerful leader

C. Because the system includes democratic and aristocratic elements

D. Because the system is generally moderate in character

E. Because the system has different chambers for the different social classes

Question #3

In the modern era in Great Britain, which chamber of parliament is considered supreme?

A. The House of Burgesses

B. The House of Lords

C. The House of Commons

D. The Senate

E. The Chamber of Deputies

Question #4

How often are national elections held in Great Britain?

A. Only when the majority party fails a confidence vote

B. Every six years in November

C. Every four years in November

D. At least every ten years, unless the majority party fails a confidence vote

E. At least every five years, unless the majority party fails a confidence vote

Question #5

Which of the following might explain the higher degree of party line voting in Great Britain than in the United States?

A. The calming influence of a hereditary monarch

B. The parliamentary system, especially no-confidence votes

C. The absence of a president to unify the nation

D. The unitary system of government

E. The presence of strong religious differences in voting

Question #6

Who is the head of state in Great Britain?

A. The president

B. The king or queen

C. The Speaker of the House

D. The Archbishop of Canterbury

E. The prime minister

Question #7

In comparison with Italy’s parliament, Great Britain’s parliament could be described as what?

A. Much less representative of the lower classes

B. Highly unstable

C. Far more ideologically extreme

D. Highly stable

E. Roughly equally stable

Question #8

What was the main political change in France between the Fourth Republic (1946–1958) and the Fifth Republic (1958–present)?

A. The power of each part of the national government was reduced.

C. The judicial branch was made stronger relative to the executive branch and the legislature.

D. The legislature and the judicial branch were made stronger relative to the executive branch.

E. The executive branch was made stronger relative to the legislature.

F. The legislature was made stronger relative to the executive branch.

Question #9

Although the French parliament is bicameral, which branch is considered to be the more powerful?

A. The House of Burgesses

B. The House of Commons

C. The National Assembly

D. The Chamber of Delegates

E. The House of Lords

Question #10

After the political reforms that started the Fifth Republic, France had the potential of a divided executive. What is meant by this term?

A. A situation where the president lacks strong support from his or her cabinet

B. A situation where the prime minister and the president are of different parties or ideologies

C. A situation where the president lacks strong support among the public

D. A situation where the prime minister lacks strong support from his or her parliamentary party

E. A situation where the prime minister lacks strong support among the public

Question #11

Which Russian leader is given much of the credit for the opening of relations between the Soviet bloc and the Western countries?

A. Khruschev

B. Gorbachev

C. Putin

D. Stalin

E. Lenin

Question #12

What was the primary reason for the adoption of federalism in Germany?

A. To decrease the risk of economic overregulation

B. To increase administrative efficiency

C. To reflect the historical regionalism of Germany

D. To increase potential access points for special interest groups

E. To prevent the over-centralization of power

Question #13

The chancellor in Germany is most similar to what position in other parliamentary democracies?

A. President

B. Prime minister

C. King or queen

D. Minister for the economy

E. Minority leader

Question #14

Although the German parliament is bicameral, which branch is considered to be the more powerful?

A. The National Senate

B. House of Common

C. Bundestag

D. House of Burgesses

E. Chamber of Delegates

Question #15

Since 1949, what have been the two main parties in Germany?

A. The Social democrats and the Christian democrats

B. The Social democrats and the communists

C. The Social democrats and the Greens

D. The Christian democrats and the Greens

E. The Christian democrats and the Free Democrats

Question #16

Why does the German constitution, the Basic Law, so prominently protect civil liberties?

A. As the result of long-term political advocacy by civil libertarians

B. In order to be compliant with European Union regulations

C. Because it was required to do so by the United States when Berlin was reunified

D. In response to the historical experiences of Nazi Germany

E. Because it was required to do so by the European Court of Human Rights

Question #17

How did German chancellor Merkel respond to the euro crisis that started in 2007–2008?

A. She encouraged significant increases in immigration to stimulate the economy.

B. She pushed for big increases in government spending to stimulate the economy.

C. She pushed for cuts to government spending and monetary and fiscal reforms.

D. She did not respond, believing it to be a purely national issue.

E. She encouraged the European Union to expel some of the member states responsible for the crisis.

Question #18

What was the Meiji Restoration?

A. The beginning of Japan’s parliamentary era, when the emperor was abolished

B. The end of Japan’s feudal era, when the United States wrote a new constitution based on their constitution

C. The end of Japan’s presidential era, when a new parliament was created

D. The beginning of Japan’s feudal era, when the emperor empowered a series of local aristocrats

E. The end of Japan’s feudal era, when a new emperor and bureaucracy were established

Question #19

Which political party has largely dominated Japanese politics since 1955?

A. The Free Democrats Party

B. The Social Democratic Party

C. The New Democratic Party

D. The Liberal Democratic Party

E. The Republican Party

Question #20

Although India’s parliament is bicameral, which chamber is considered to be supreme?

B. Lok Sabha

C. Chamber of Deputies

D. House of Delegates

E. Council of Revisions

F. House of Representatives

Question #21

What is the primary goal of Zionism?

A. To establish and support a Jewish state of Israel

B. To help displaced Jewish families return to their homes in eastern Europe

C. An end to anti-Semitism in western Europe

D. The promotion of Jewish history in schools

E. The creation of the United Nations and the prevention of future world wars

Question #22

What was the significance of the Camp David Accords?

A. They prevented Saudi Arabia from taking over the West Bank.

B. They established peace between Iraq and Israel and affirmed the right of Israel to exist.

C. They established peace between Egypt and Israel and affirmed the right of Israel to exist.

D. They ended the first Intifada and reduced violence in Israel.

E. They ended the protracted war between Iraq and Iran.

Question #23

Why is the political structure of the Knesset problematic?

A. Elections are highly proportional, leading to large, unwieldy coalitions.

B. The prime minister holds dictatorial-level powers.

C. Committees are very powerful and can delay major legislation for years.

D. The president can suspend the Knesset with little warning.

E. Elections are often suspended due to violence.

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