Deck 4: Germany

Question 1

Adolf Hitler came to power as chancellor through

A) a military coup.
B) a revolution led by the National Socialist Party.
C) direct election.
D) an appointment by the German president.
E) foreign intervention.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

In Germany, framework regulations

A) specifically dictate what firms can and can't do.
B) typically require subsequent elaboration, often through formal agreements.
C) established " five-year plans " in communist East Germany.
D) establish how many "guest workers" are permitted to enter Germany each year.
E) refer to price controls on important products like energy resources.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The reunification of Germany proved more difficult than expected due to

A) resistance to reunification from both populations.
B) lack of support from the international community.
C) opposition from the Soviet Union.
D) the poor state of the economy in east Germany.
E) opposition from NATO.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The Weimar Republic failed due to all of the following EXCEPT

A) resentment over the punitive conditions of the Treaty of Versailles.
B) its policies of discrimination against Jews.
C) its inability to control inflation.
D) its lack of support from a broad cross-section of society.
E) unstable governments with shaky minority governments.

Question 5

The social market economy is

A) a sharp conflict between socialism and capitalism.
B) a capitalist economy with generous social benefits.
C) a democratic socialist economic program.
D) the economic program of the former East Germany.
E) a central command economy.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about Germany is NOT correct?

A) It is about the size of Montana.
B) It has the largest population of any European country other than Russia.
C) It lacks natural borders on the East and West.
D) It is densely populated.
E) It has little land for agriculture.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about Germany's population is NOT correct?

A) Most of Germany's nearly 81 million people are ethnic Germans.
B) Germany has a sizable Muslim population.
C) There are roughly an equal number of Catholics and Protestants in Germany.
D) Cultural and ethnic diversity in Germany began to increase in the 1960s.
E) Just over 7 million foreign citizens live in Germany.

Question 8

In his kulturkampf , Bismarck sought to

A) remove Germany's education and cultural institutions from the Catholic Church and place them under the state.
B) transform Germany into a democracy.
C) extend Germany's colonial empire.
D) strengthen Germany's defenses.
E) minimize state interference in the country's economy.

Question 9

The Third Reich's policies included all of the following EXCEPT

A) remilitarization.
B) massive public works programs.
C) banning political parties (other than the National Socialists) and labor unions.
D) eliminating regional autonomy by centralizing power in Berlin.
E) forming a short-lived military alliance with the U.S.S.R.

Question 10

The Second Reich was characterized by

A) persecution of the Jews.
B) strong support for democratic governance.
C) government acceptance of the socialist ideas of Marx and Engels.
D) an authoritarian regime, rapid industrialization, and the creation of a strong central state.
E) an authoritarian regime, persecution of minorities, and rapid industrialization.

Question 11

The first guest workers in Germany generally came from

A) Turkey.
B) Latin America.
C) Africa.
D) its former colonies.
E) northern Europe.

Question 12

The individual who led the unification of Germany through a "revolution from above" was

A) Napoleon Bonaparte.
B) Kaiser Wilhelm II.
C) Freidrich Engles.
D) Otto von Bismarck.
E) Adolf Hitler.

Question 13

The term gastarbeiter refers to

A) a German worker.
B) a type of German ale.
C) policies undertaken by West Germany toward Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.
D) a foreign worker recruited to join Germany's labor force.
E) an illegal immigrant residing in Germany.

Question 14

The Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) was formally established in

A) 1945.
B) 1946.
C) 1947.
D) 1948.
E) 1949.

Question 15

The process by which representatives of employees help determine the direction of the company in which they work is called

A) co-option.
B) co-determination.
C) co-direction.
D) democratic corporatism.
E) democratic socialism.

Question 16

An underlying frustration that Europeans have with Germany is its

A) refusal to abide by European Union environmental standards.
B) recent rejection of the Lisbon Treaty.
C) refusal to participate in an all-European military force.
D) tendency to export to its neighbors more than it imports from them.
E) refusal to participate in the Euro-zone.

Question 17

It is estimated that _____________ million Jews were killed in Nazi concentration camps.

A) 2
B) 4
C) 6
D) 8
E) 10

Question 18

The official name of the former East German communist regime (1949-1990) was

A) East Germany.
B) the Federal Republic of Germany.
C) the German Democratic Republic.
D) the Socialist Republic of Germany.
E) the East German Democratic Republic.

Question 19

Germany' s current economy can be described as

A) a command economy in which the state makes all economic decisions.
B) a strictly laissez-faire economy.
C) one in which the state sets the ground rules and then allows the private sector to work unimpeded within these.
D) a socialist economy with many key industries owned by the state.
E) a statist economy focused on agriculture.

Question 20

Democratic corporatism refers to

A) the existence of a significant number of representatives from Germany's business associations within its legislature.
B) practice of attempting to emulate corporate structures and practices within a governmental bureaucracy.
C) a cooperative relationship between labor unions, business associations, and the state in the making of public policy.
D) the participation of representatives from Germany's semi public institutions within the cabinet.
E) a type of political practice linking private and state actors that is common throughout all of Europe.

Question 21

The primary driving force within the German policy-making process is the

A) Bundestag.
B) Länder.
C) European Union.
D) Chancellor and cabinet.
E) Bundesrat.

Question 22

Germany's first female chancellor came from the

A) Greens.
B) Christian Democrats.
C) Social Democrats.
D) Left Party.
E) Free Democrats.

Question 23

Which of the following is TRUE of the Länder?

A) Regional political parties are significantly different from national ones.
B) There is a strict separation of powers between the federal and Länder governments.
C) They have few powers and are not a significant force in policy-making.
D) They are required to share a portion of their revenues so Länder governments with stronger economies help to support those with weaker economies.
E) The number of Länder change frequently as the federal government tries to give more autonomy to different regions and ethnic groups.

Question 24

The executive in Germany is a dual one

A) with a chancellor who chooses a president.
B) with most powers given to the president and a mainly ceremonial position of chancellor.
C) consisting of a chancellor and a monarch who serves only a ceremonial role.
D) with most powers given to the chancellor and a mainly ceremonial position of president.
E) with a chancellor chosen by a monarch.

Question 25

The term energiewende refers to

A) a German policy to cut back on its use of fossil fuels and to increase its use of nuclear energy.
B) the bureaucracy responsible for overseeing Germany's nuclear power plants.
C) a European Union-wide policy to switch toward sustainable energy resources that came about due to heavy lobbying by the German Green Party.
D) a German policy to switch toward sustainable energy resources.
E) traditionally powerful energy cartels in Germany.

Question 26

The lower house of the German legislature is called the

A) Bundesrat.
B) Bundestag.
C) National Assembly.
D) People's Assembly.
E) Länder.

Question 27

A mixed member system means that

A) citizens generally vote based on the personality of the candidates.
B) citizens cast two ballots, one for an individual and one for a party.
C) numerous parties generally win seats in the Bundestag making it difficult to form coalitions.
D) due to the generally low turnout, well-known personalities have an advantage.
E) the electoral system favors weak and decentralized parties.

Question 28

The 5 percent clause means that a party must

A) have the support of 5 percent of registered voters to be an official party.
B) have 5 percent minority membership.
C) win 5 percent of the seats in the Bundestag to be part of the governing coalition.
D) win 5 percent of the vote to be awarded seats in the Bundestag.
E) win 5 percent of the vote to be awarded public financing in the next election.

Question 29

Due to the difficulty to call snap elections and the constructive vote of no confidence, only ___________ time(s) has an entire government been replaced with a new one.

A) one
B) two
C) three
D) four
E) five

Question 30

A constructive vote of no confidence means that

A) a vote of no confidence must have a supermajority of 60 percent.
B) both houses of parliament must vote in favor of no confidence.
C) a majority of the Lander, as well as the Bundestag, must vote for no confidence.
D) the Bundestag must vote in a new chancellor at the same time that a vote of no confidence is taken.
E) the Bundestag must vote in a new chancellor at the same time that a vote of no confidence is taken, and the majority of the Lander must approve that selection.

Question 31

Which of the following statements about Germany's participation in the European Union is NOT true?

A) It has forced the country to adopt an unfamiliar free-market economic model.
B) Membership in the European Union has permitted Germany to undertake tasks and to assume roles that it may not have done on its own.
C) Limits have been placed by the country's Constitutional Court on deeper German integration with the European Union.
D) Germany has benefitted economically from European integration.
E) Germany is a member of the European Union, but has not adopted the euro.

Question 32

The Blue Card scheme is a European Union policy that

A) specifies water purity standards.
B) forces Germany to grant citizenship to the second-and third-generation guest workers.
C) makes "guest worker" programs illegal.
D) permits highly skilled foreigners living outside the European Union to live and work in its member states, including Germany.
E) permits member states, like Germany, to adopt more restrictive rules concerning political asylum.

Question 33

The three main branches of the German court system are

A) the Federal High Court, the Supreme Court, and the Special Constitutional Court.
B) the Executive Court, the Federal High Court, and the Administrative Court.
C) the Executive Court, the Supreme Court, and the Federal High Court.
D) the Federal High Court, the Special Constitutional Court, and the Administrative Court.
E) the district courts, the Special Constitutional Court, and the Administrative Court.

Question 34

Saying that Germany is a reluctant hegemon means that the country

A) refuses to use its military outside of Europe but has been willing to do so within Europe.
B) is hesitant to take on a greater role in the European Union but desires to have a greater role in the United Nations.
C) is cautious but influential in world affairs.
D) is unwilling to become too involved in security alliances but very willing to become involved in international economic organizations.
E) is indecisive in its foreign policy decision making.

Question 35

Free market supporters have criticized the German social market economy for

A) its weak financial rules that allowed German banks to make risky financial investments abroad.
B) its consistently high level of unemployment.
C) the close relationship of German federal and state governments, business associations, and labor unions.
D) generous labor laws, pension plans, and unemployment insurance.
E) all of these.

Question 36

Which of the following statements about German cabinet ministers is NOT correct?

A) They have broad autonomy to set policy within their ministries.
B) They are chosen on personal and political grounds.
C) They must be confirmed by the Bundesrat (upper house).
D) They are collectively responsible for cabinet policy.
E) They are selected by the chancellor.

Question 37

Which of the following is said to be a drawback to Germany's tradition of strong unified parties in the Bundestag?

A) New members must serve long stints as backbenchers.
B) Party leaders can punish defiant members by giving them a low position on the party list.
C) The electorate can easily identify a party's position across a range of issues.
D) Political parties tend to adopt consistent positions over time.
E) The number of independent voters is low and voters belong to and consistently vote for the same party in Germany's parliamentary elections.

Question 38

Which statement  about Germany's civil servants is NOT correct?

A) They are mainly employed by Länder and local governments.
B) They are not permitted to run for political office.
C) They are protected by civil service laws, such as a guarantee of employment, and are usually chosen on the basis of merit.
D) They are the main agents of policy implementation.
E) Federal, Länder, and local civil servants very often work closely with one another.

Question 39

Which statement about the German chancellor is NOT correct?

A) S/He must be elected by an absolute majority of the Bundesrat.
B) S/He names cabinet members.
C) S/He is the country's head of government.
D) S/He can reorganize the number and type of governmental ministries.
E) S/He is difficult to remove from office.

Question 40

The organization of Germany's Federal Republic has been successful in establishing a stable democracy in all of the following ways EXCEPT

A) it has permitted successful alterations in power.
B) it has helped to assure that undemocratic right-wing parties receive little support.
C) its system of divided powers has kept policy change slow.
D) its introduction of a weak presidency has minimized potential abuse of executive power.
E) its allowances for emergency powers have minimized legislative deadlocks.

Question 41

Which of the following statements about voting and elections in Germany is NOT correct?

A) Voter turnout in Germany has historically been rather high.
B) Germany has historically had fairly stable electoral allegiances.
C) There is an increasing danger that Germany's multiparty system might result in inconclusive elections.
D) Coalition government has been the norm in Germany because no party has been able to capture an absolute majority.
E) Voter turnout in Germany has historically been on par with that of other West European countries.

Question 42

The German Green Party

A) has never been a member of a national governing coalition.
B) has been a member of one national governing coalition.
C) draws its support only from environmentalists.
D) performs well in elections for the European Parliament but has never made much of a national impact in German politics.
E) usually wins seats at the Länd level but not at the national level.

Question 43

The Christian Democrats are a

A) far-right party that seeks to turn Germany into a Christian theocracy.
B) coalition of parties from both sides of the political spectrum.
C) slightly left party that opposed German unification.
D) moderately conservative party that supports European integration.
E) far-left party that advocates closed immigration.

Question 44

Which statement about Germany's Free Democratic Party is INCORRECT?

A) It has traditionally been a swing party upon which the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats have relied to form governing coalitions.
B) It has always cleared the 5percent threshold and thus secured seats in the lower house of parliament.
C) It has regularly held both the economic and foreign ministries in coalition governments.
D) In recent years, it has become more explicitly pro-market.
E) Ideologically, it has traditionally supported both economic and social liberalism.

Question 45

The Left Party in Germany

A) has achieved considerable success in Bundestag elections although never enough to capture the office of the chancellor.
B) plays an important role in forming governing coalitions.
C) achieves significant success in federal elections but has yet to have much success in regional elections.
D) gains most of its support from former East German Länder.
E) is a party that merged members of the old East German communist party with left-wing fundis from the Green Party.

Question 46

Which two political parties are causing all of Germany's parties to begin engaging in grass-roots efforts to mobilize support from their rank-and-file members?

A) The German People' s Union and the Left Party
B) The Christian Democrats and the Greens
C) The Greens and the Left Party
D) The Social Democratic Party and the Free Democratic Party
E) The Communist Party and the National Democratic Party

Question 47

Until the 1980s, Germany had a "two-and-a-half" party system meaning that

A) it was dominated by two large parties and one small one.
B) although two parties dominated national politics, a variety of smaller ones dominated Länder politics.
C) two parties dominated national politics while a small third party dominated Länder politics.
D) governing coalitions were always comprised of two major parties with a third junior partner.
E) governing coalitions were necessary.

Question 48

Which of the following party combinations has NOT been the basis of a coalition government in Germany?

A) The CDU/CSU and the Social Democratic Party (SPD)
B) The CDU/CSU and the Free Democratic Party (FDP)
C) The Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Free Democratic Party (FPD)
D) The Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green Party
E) The Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Left Party

Question 49

Germany is called a ____________ because of the important role political parties play in shaping state policy.

A) party democracy
B) party oligarchy
C) party federation
D) party republic
E) party commonwealth

Question 50

Which of the following statements about nuclear energy politics is NOT correct?

A) Germany and the United States get about the same amount of energy from nuclear power.
B) Germany's antinuclear movement has tended to be more radical than its American counterpart.
C) In both Germany and the United States, private companies are responsible for the production of nuclear power.
D) Neither Germany nor the United States has yet to open a site for the storage of nuclear waste.
E) Both Germany and the United States have recently decided to phase out their nuclear power plants over the next decade.

Question 51

Which statement about the Bundesrat is NOT correct?

A) It cannot initiate bills.
B) Its members come from Länder governments.
C) It administers the world's largest public television network.
D) It represents the German government in some negotiations with the European Union.
E) Its suspensive veto can be overridden by the Bundestag.

Question 52

The Alternative for Germany

A) advocates Germany to encourage weaker European Union member states to leave the Eurozone.
B) is a far-right, anti-immigrant party.
C) won one seat in the 2013 national election.
D) is a movement that advocates Germany adopting the alternative vote electoral system.
E) is a movement that advocates greater use of sustainable energy resources.

Question 53

Which of the following statements about women in Germany is NOT correct?

A) There has never been a female chancellor.
B) During the period of divided Germany, more women worked in West Germany than East Germany.
C) During the period of divided Germany, women were politically and economically marginalized in both the east and west.
D) Women's participation in the labor force has generally been unchanged since unification.
E) The percentage of women holding seats in the Bundestag has consistently risen over the past few decades.

Question 54

The Social Democratic Party is a

A) left party with an emphasis on increased welfare and social spending.
B) far-left party that favors strict limitations on immigration.
C) a centrist party that favors European integration.
D) a pro-market, right-of-center party.
E) a far-right party that blames all of Germany's ills on immigrants.

Question 55

All of the following are challenges that face Germany will face in the future EXCEPT

A) its role in NATO.
B) issues still unresolved from unification.
C) expansion of the European Union and its free-market principles.
D) globalization.
E) identity issues emerging from unification, the European Union and immigration.

Question 56

The absolute veto refers to the ability of the

A) Bundesrat to reject any bill passed by the Bundestag if that bill directly affects the Lander.
B) Bundestag to reject a cabinet.
C) Bundestag to reject any bill passed by the Bundesrat if that bill affects the Lander.
D) chancellor to reject a bill passed by the German parliament.
E) German president to reject a law.

Question 57

The procedure for the passage of legislation in Germany is generally which of the following?

A) It is introduced by the Bundestag, sent to committee in the Bundestag for deliberation, and then approved by the Bundesrat.
B) It is introduced by the executive, voted on by the Bundestag, and then approved by the Bundesrat.
C) It is introduced by the executive, voted on by the Bundesrat, and then approved by the Bundestag.
D) It is introduced by the Bundestag, sent to committee in the Bundestag for deliberation, and then approved by the executive.
E) It is introduced simultaneously in both the Bundesrat and Bundestag; sent to committee, in both houses, for deliberation, and then approved by the executive.

Question 58

An example of Euro-skepticism in Germany is

A) the recent rejection of the use of the euro.
B) the rejection of the Constitutional Treaty by German voters.
C) the Constitutional Court's rejection of the Lisbon Treaty on the grounds that it established a federal "United States of Europe."
D) the growing lack of public support for German participation in the European Union.
E) the Bundesrat's recent refusal to transpose European Union legislation into German law.

Question 59

The Bundesrat's suspensive veto

A) allows it to veto any bill passed by the Bundestag if that bill directly affects the Länder.
B) allows it to force the Bundestag to pass a bill a second time.
C) applies only to constitutional matters.
D) allows it to delay but not prevent the passage of a bill.
E) allows it to dismiss a cabinet minister when it chooses to do so.

Question 60

Which of the following statements about German citizenship is NOT correct?

A) Historically, German citizenship was based on blood.
B) The current Grand Coalition has agreed to allow dual citizenship be given to anyone of foreign background who was born in Germany.
C) The first significant change in German citizenship laws came under the SDP-led coalition in the 1990s.
D) Only about 10 percent of Germany's population are foreign residents.
E) Historically, Germany has restricted political asylum.

Question 61

Describe Germany's federal system. How does it differ from other federal systems?

Question 62

Describe the political impact of Germany switching from a "two-and-a-half" party system to a multiparty system.

Question 63

Germany utilizes a mixed member electoral system. First, describe this electoral system and how it works. Next, discuss at least two political impacts of this system.

Question 64

Describe how membership in the European Union has impacted Germany.  Explore what possible future impacts this may have.

Question 65

Describe the political and economic implications of the generational gap in Germany.

Question 66

Discuss the role of Germany's major social cleavages (e.g. gender, ethnicity, age) and their role and impact in the economy and politics. Please draw upon specific examples in your answer.

Question 67

Markedly different attitudes toward immigrants can be seen between formerly east and west Germans. What are the causes for these differences? What have been some government policies regarding immigration and how do these relate to these differences? How does immigration factor into current economic issues?

Question 68

Explain which features of the German political system make coalition government the norm in that country.

Question 69

Germany attained both industrial development and democracy later than its European neighbors Britain and France. What are the benefits and liabilities for Germany being an economic and political latecomer?

Question 70

Describe the major features of Germany's social market.