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

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

Need help with your exam preparation?

Existing Quiz Clients Login here

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 where the power is divided among three equal branches of government

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

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

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

Question #2

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

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

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

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

D. Because the system includes democratic and aristocratic elements

E. Because the system is generally moderate in character

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 Senate

D. The Chamber of Deputies

E. The House of Commons

Question #4

How often are national elections held in Great Britain?

A. Every four years in November

B. Every six years in November

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

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

E. Only when 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 unitary system of government

C. The presence of strong religious differences in voting

D. The parliamentary system, especially no-confidence votes

E. The absence of a president to unify the nation

Question #6

Who is the head of state in Great Britain?

A. The prime minister

B. The king or queen

C. The Archbishop of Canterbury

D. The Speaker of the House

E. The president

Question #7

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

A. Highly unstable

B. Far more ideologically extreme

C. Roughly equally stable

D. Highly stable

E. Much less representative of the lower classes

Question #8

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

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

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

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

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

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

Question #9

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

A. The House of Lords

B. The House of Burgesses

C. The Chamber of Delegates

D. The House of Commons

E. The National Assembly

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 lacks strong support from his or her parliamentary party

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

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

E. A situation where the president 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. Lenin

B. Gorbachev

C. Khruschev

D. Stalin

E. Putin

Question #12

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

A. To reflect the historical regionalism of Germany

B. To increase potential access points for special interest groups

C. To increase administrative efficiency

D. To decrease the risk of economic overregulation

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. King or queen

B. President

C. Minority leader

D. Minister for the economy

E. Prime minister

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. Chamber of Delegates

E. House of Burgesses

Question #15

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

A. The Christian democrats and the Greens

B. The Social democrats and the Christian democrats

C. The Christian democrats and the Free Democrats

D. The Social democrats and the communists

E. The Social democrats and the Greens

Question #16

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

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

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

C. In order to be compliant with European Union regulations

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

E. In response to the historical experiences of Nazi Germany

Question #17

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Republican Party

E. The Liberal Democratic Party

Question #20

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

A. House of Representatives

B. Lok Sabha

C. House of Delegates

E. Council of Revisions

F. Chamber of Deputies

Question #21

What is the primary goal of Zionism?

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

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

C. The promotion of Jewish history in schools

D. To establish and support a Jewish state of Israel

E. An end to anti-Semitism in western Europe

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 ended the protracted war between Iraq and Iran.

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

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

Question #23

Why is the political structure of the Knesset problematic?

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

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

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

D. The prime minister holds dictatorial-level powers.

E. Elections are often suspended due to violence.

Need help with your exam preparation?

Existing Quiz Clients Login here