Deck 9: Mexico

Question 1

Compared with most of Latin America, Mexico is a model of growth and prosperity.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The Incan Empire has had a lasting influence on Mexican government and society.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Steel, guns, and horses assisted the Spaniards in their conquest of Mexico.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Mexico's independence movement, initiated by Juan Carlos, was influenced by the Enlightenment thinking and the French and Spanish revolutions.

Question 5

The nonrenewable, six-year presidential term limit failed to truly limit the power of the president until 2000 when the PRI lost its first election.

Question 6

The National Action Party (PAN) of Mexico faces the tricky situation of keeping both Catholic and pro-business strands happy, which could impact their future success.

Question 7

The PRI has successfully kept pro-business and socialist factions united under the same party umbrella.

Question 8

Mexican political culture is well integrated, despite comprising very different strands.

Question 9

Despite economic growth, Mexican Indians still face obstructions to social mobility, as is indicated by their higher rates of infant mortality, malnutrition, poverty, and unemployment.

Question 10

One of Mexico's largest problems is the domestic production of cocaine and the cartels that grow it.

Question 11

Until 2000, Mexico could best be characterized as a(n) __________-party system.

A) one
B) two
C) multi
D) dominant

Question 12

After PRI lost its dominance, Mexico became a(n) __________ system.

A) one-party
B) two-party
C) three-party
D) nonpartisan

Question 13

Which of the following is part of the Mexican political culture?

A) Indian aggression
B) Populist nationalism
C) Spanish generosity
D) Protestant mysticism

Question 14

If you were a political leader and you kept allegiances by ensuring that important groups receive favors such as development projects and subsidies, you would be engaging in __________.

A) favoritism
B) bilateral opposition
C) co-optation
D) clientelism

Question 15

Mexican politics is pulled between two factions, the __________ and the __________. The first pay attention to mass needs and demands, and the second are only concerned with fixing economic instability through policy.

A) party leaders; businessmen
B) políticos; técnicos
C) conservatives; neoliberals
D) technicians; populists

Question 16

The __________ is/are now Mexico's most powerful interest group.

A) army
B) Indians
C) drug cartels
D) Catholic Church

Question 17

What part of Mexico is home to the highest levels of poverty and, not coincidentally, also the origins of the Zapatista rebellion?

A) northern border with U.S.
B) coastal west
C) interior north
D) interior south

Question 18

Which of the following more accurately describes Pemex?

A) stagnant and corrupt
B) efficient and streamlined
C) popular and efficient
D) bankrupt and dynamic

Question 19

Mexico's PRI was once considered the far left. However, now the __________ is to its left and __________ is to its right on the ideological spectrum.

A) PAN; PRD
B) PAN; Labor
C) PRD; PAN
D) PRD; Labor

Question 20

When Mexico was a dominant-party system, which party dominated?

A) PRI
B) PAN
C) Citizen Party
D) PRD

Question 21

The use of co-optation in Mexico includes __________.

A) generous tuition waivers for public universities
B) allowing farmers to make more money off the sales of their products
C) faithfully following through on all promises
D) the government crushing groups that get too demanding

Question 22

Which of the following best describes Mexico's electoral system?

A) pure proportional representation
B) pure winner-take-all
C) pure single-member district
D) a mixed-member system with elements of proportional representation and single-member districts

Question 23

In the Latin American context, "neoliberalism" refers to __________.

A) free-market economics
B) dominance of the democratic party
C) return to statism
D) socialism

Question 24

Which Mexican political party is least supportive of NAFTA?

A) PRI
B) PRD
C) PAN
D) PNR

Question 25

What serves as the best form of foreign aid for Mexico, as it bypasses corrupt political and business officials and goes directly to support Mexican families?

A) remittances
B) foreign direct investment
C) U.S. foreign aid
D) World Bank structural adjustment loans

Question 26

What are the major impediments to Mexican economic growth?

A) NAFTA and other free-market policies
B) U.S. imperialism and world indifference
C) the lack of natural resources and human capital
D) crime and corruption

Question 27

In 2012, __________ from the __________ party was elected president of Mexico.

A) Calderón; PAN
B) Fox; PAN
C) López; PRI
D) Peña Nieto; PRI

Question 28

Mexico, like much of Latin America, modeled its political institutions on the political system of __________.

A) Britain
B) France
C) the United States
D) Spain

Question 29

The Mexican upper legislative house is called the __________ and the lower house is the __________.

A) Senate; Chamber of Deputies
B) House; Congress
C) Senate; House
D) Federal Assembly; Duma

Question 30

A majority of Mexicans prefer a(n) __________ government.

A) monarchic
B) democratic
C) authoritarian
D) communist

Question 31

The __________ is the most powerful actor in Mexican politics.

A) president
B) prime minister
C) Senate
D) Chamber of Deputies

Question 32

Which of the following best describes Mexico's political system?

A) an authoritarian system
B) a unitary system
C) a federal system with more power concentrated in the central government
D) a federal system with more power concentrated in the state governments

Question 33

Which of the following contributes to the large numbers of Mexicans living and working in the United States without proper documents?

A) lax immigration laws in the United States
B) high levels of poverty in the United States
C) the willingness of U.S. employers to hire undocumented immigrants
D) low levels of unemployment in Mexico

Question 34

Which nineteenth-century Mexican leader set high standards for honesty, creating a nice break from the past and a positive influence for the future?

A) Hidalgo
B) Morelos
C) Calles
D) Juárez

Question 35

Which of the following is a problem that Mexicans "quarrel" about?

A) population growth
B) membership in the European Union
C) access to public education
D) economic policies that create jobs

Question 36

Is Mexico a democracy? When did it become a democracy? Explore the various elements of a democracy and then discuss how, and when, Mexico does or does not meet these standards.

Question 37

How did the PRI manage to dominate Mexican politics for so long? What led to their ultimate defeat? Address both the characteristics of the PRI as well as the other two competitive parties in your answer.

Question 38

How would you characterize Mexican political culture? Explain some of the various elements. Is it a cohesive political culture? If so, how? If not, what has held Mexico together if not its political culture?

Question 39

Would you characterize Mexico as a failed state? Explain and provide examples. If it is a failed state, is there any hope for improvement? If it is not a failed state, is there a chance that it would become one in the near future, and if so, why?

Question 40

What is the most powerful institution in Mexican politics? Discuss the relative power of all institutions and justify why this one has the most power. Has this power grown or eroded over time? Explain and provide examples.