Question 1

What is an example of representation that is symbolic and that can change quickly and in a dynamic way?&#10;A) Members of parliament speaking on issues that affect their constituents.&#10;B) Members of parliament passing bills that address a pressing issue.&#10;C) More members from an underrepresented group being elected to parliament.&#10;D) Members of parliament passing bills that are in line with the preferences of the median voter.

Accepted Answer

Members of parliament speaking on issues that affect their constituents is an example of symbolic representation because it involves actions or statements that signify attention to or concern for a constituency's interests or issues, and this form of representation can change quickly and dynamically in response to new events or information.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of anticipatory representation?&#10;A) Politicians stepping down from office after a scandal.&#10;B) Politicians changing their policy positions after conferring with constituents.&#10;C) Replacement of politicians that do not follow public opinion.&#10;D) Parties changing their policy positions to avoid losing seats at the next election.

Accepted Answer

Anticipatory representation refers to when politicians or parties adjust their policies or positions in anticipation of future public opinion or electoral preferences to maintain or gain support. Choice D exemplifies this by describing parties changing their policy positions to avoid losing seats in the next election, indicating they are acting in anticipation of the voters' future preferences.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a feature of a proportional vision of democracy?&#10;A) Checks and balances on the executive.&#10;B) A large range of voter preferences reflected in the legislature.&#10;C) High levels of clarity of responsibility.&#10;D) A multi-party system.

Accepted Answer

A proportional vision of democracy emphasizes reflecting a wide range of voter preferences in the legislature and often results in a multi-party system. However, it does not inherently ensure high levels of clarity of responsibility, as the presence of many parties and coalition governments can sometimes blur the lines of accountability.

Question 4

Which of the following factors is NOT associated with a higher share of women in parliament?&#10;A) Gender quotas.&#10;B) A First-Past-the-Post election system.&#10;C) A high share of left-wing parties.&#10;D) A central party organization.

Accepted Answer

A First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) election system is generally not associated with a higher share of women in parliament. This is because FPTP tends to favor established candidates, who are often male, due to historical and systemic biases in political representation. In contrast, proportional representation systems, gender quotas, the presence of left-wing parties, and centralized party organizations are factors that have been associated with increasing women's representation in legislative bodies.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about women as heads of government and state is FALSE?&#10;A) Women have been the head of government or state in more than half of European countries between 2015 and 2020.&#10;B) These days, around one third of all ministers are women.&#10;C) Women reach the highest office in the country only when a left-leaning party is in power.&#10;D) Countries that elect more women to parliament are also more likely to have female cabinet members.

Accepted Answer

Statement C is false because women have reached the highest office in countries under various political parties, not just left-leaning ones. Leadership capabilities and opportunities for women in politics are not limited to any specific political ideology.

Question 6

In which situation does an MP have the biggest incentive to cultivate a personal vote?&#10;A) When the electoral system uses closed lists and district magnitude is large.&#10;B) When the electoral system uses an open list and district magnitude is moderate.&#10;C) When the electoral system uses an open list and district magnitude is large.&#10;D) When the electoral system uses closed lists and the district magnitude is equal to the number of seats in parliament.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In which situation does an MP have...

Deck 7: Representation