Deck 4: Germany

Question 1

Germany is the world's _____________ largest exporter.

A) second
B) third
C) fourth
D) fifth
E) tenth

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Two factors that made the unification of Germany prior to 1806 difficult were

A) uncertain geographic boundaries and religious divisions.
B) uncertain geographic boundaries and the lack of a cohesive German cultural identity.
C) religious diversity and constant European conflict.
D) the lack of a cohesive German cultural identity and religious divisions.
E) uncertain geographic boundaries and the lack of a powerful leader.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

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.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

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.

Question 5

Germany is about the size of

A) California.
B) Texas.
C) Maine.
D) Minnesota.
E) Montana.

Question 6

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 7

The government of the Federal Republic of Germany was

A) a democracy.
B) a communist party state.
C) a Socialist party state.
D) a dictatorship.
E) a Nazi party state.

Question 8

Hitler' s policies included all of the following EXCEPT

A) remilitarization of the Rhineland.
B) unification with Austria.
C) support for labor unions.
D) support for huge public projects.
E) emphasis on heavy industry and banking.

Question 9

The first chancellor of the FRG was

A) Paul von Hindenburg.
B) Konrad Adenauer.
C) Willy Brandt.
D) Helmut Schmidt.
E) Adolf Hitler.

Question 10

Germany's unification in 1990 was the second time that the country had been unified under single rule. The first time was

A) 1819.
B) 1834.
C) 1871.
D) 1890.
E) 1900.

Question 11

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 12

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 13

The Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) was founded in

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

Question 14

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) Following 9/11, Germany has become more isolationist.
B) Following 9/11, Germany supported the Bush Administration's war in Iraq but did not send troops to aid the war effort.
C) Germany opposed the recent efforts to impose a "no fly" zone in Libya.
D) German soldiers have never been stationed outside of the country.
E) Following 9/11, Germany broke from its European allies to oppose the American invasion of Iraq.

Question 15

Unlike the gasterberter period, migrants coming to Germany after 2000 arrived from unstable regimes in

A) eastern Europe and Africa.
B) the middle east and Africa.
C) Africa and Asia.
D) eastern Europe and Russia.
E) Latin America and eastern Europe.

Question 16

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.

Question 17

When Germany' s economy went into recession during the recent global economic downturn

A) the German standard of living declined sharply, indicting just how vulnerable Germany is to fluctuations in the global economy.
B) German citizens were uncomfortable with the power of government spending to counter the recession.
C) the approval rating of the European Union among Germans declined sharply.
D) German workers were viewed as expendable by employers whereas guest workers were viewed more favorably.
E) German businesses were quick to cut their payrolls by dismissing large numbers of guest workers while retaining native workers.

Question 18

Hitler refused to acknowledge the territorial divisions of World War I, as signed in the Versailles Treaty, because

A) Germany had too much responsibility for controlling Poland.
B) Germany was forced to give up Bavaria.
C) it prevented Germany from expanding into Eastern Europe.
D) it put too many Jews in German territory.
E) they favored Russia.

Question 19

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 20

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

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

Question 21

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) It has led the country to question whether its system of apprenticeship training will continue to flourish.
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's economy has experienced a significant downturn due to the poorly performing economies of it fellow member-states.

Question 22

The gastarbeiter program

A) was a poverty reduction program that was implemented in East Germany while it was under communist rule.
B) is Germany's naturalization program that allows immigrants t obtain German citizenship.
C) is Germany's liberal political asylum policy.
D) recruited temporary workers from Southern Europe on the understanding that they would return to their native countries if German unemployment increased.
E) allowed persons of German descent living in Eastern Europe to return to Germany and claim automatic German citizenship.

Question 23

Which of the following has NOT been a challenge to Germany's high standard of living?

A) The costs of unification
B) EU rules and regulations
C) The impact of globalization
D) Mobile capital investment
E) All of the above have been challenges to Germany's high standard of living.

Question 24

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 25

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 26

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 27

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 the above statements are true.

Question 28

The postmaterial social movement

A) reflects the gender gap in Germany.
B) is a movement that promotes larger families and increased government funding for family friendly programs like free daycare.
C) is a social movement that has demanded the government play a greater role in consumer advocacy.
D) is a social movement that focuses on lifestyle concerns.
E) has challenged the dominance of the working class in Germany.

Question 29

Germany' s participation in the Eurozone

A) was driven by a need to discard its traditionally weak currency.
B) burdens the country because it must continuously bail out participating Euro zone countries with failing economies.
C) makes it easier for Germany to sell its goods in the United States and Asia.
D) was driven by a desire among the elite to control public spending and inflation.
E) helps to attract foreign investment to the country.

Question 30

Democratic corporatism refers to

A) the existence of a significant number of representatives from Germany's business associations within its legislature.
B) Germany's attempt to emulate corporate structures and practices within its bureaucracy.
C) the 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) the activities of quasi-governmental organizations in the healthcare, education, and housing sectors.

Question 31

The official name of the German constitution is the

A) German Constitution.
B) Basic Law.
C) Founding Document.
D) Bonn Constitution.
E) Constitution of the Unified Lander of Germany.

Question 32

The lower house of the German legislature is called the

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

Question 33

Which of the following is NOT true?

A) Trade unions are a powerful force in Germany, representing over 6 million workers.
B) Workers are organized in eight country-wide, multi-sectoral organizations.
C) Germany has the highest minimum wage in Europe.
D) Workers are represented by work councils inside the workplace.
E) Collective bargaining agreements result in German workers enjoying high wages and fringe benefits.

Question 34

Only ____________ percent of Germany's young adults go to university with most of the remainder completing three-year apprenticeships.

A) 40
B) 30
C) 35
D) 25
E) 45

Question 35

The German economy before 1945 could best be characterized as a

A) laissez-faire economy.
B) strong state-controlled economy focused on heavy industry.
C) command economy with all economic decisions made by the government.
D) feudal agrarian economy.
E) centrally controlled economy that focused on service industries.

Question 36

In order to obtain seats in the German lower house, a party must receive a minimum of _________ percent of the popular vote.

A) one
B) three
C) five
D) seven
E) ten

Question 37

Which of the followings statements about the status of women in the German economy is TRUE?

A) They have made significant strides in gaining positions of authority in management but not labor unions.
B) The labor force participation rate for women has remained steady at about 70 percent for decades.
C) Although German women are as likely to work outside of the home as their American counterparts, they are far more likely to work part-time.
D) Their social and economic progress has been greater in the western part of the country than the eastern part.
E) They have made great strides in gaining positions of authority in labor unions but not in businesses.

Question 38

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 39

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 40

The average German worker receives ____________ weeks of paid vacation per year.

A) two
B) four
C) six
D) eight
E) ten

Question 41

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 42

The executive in Germany is

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

Question 43

Which of the following is TRUE of the Lander?

A) Regional political parties are significantly different from national ones.
B) There is a strict separation of powers between the federal and Lander 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 Landers with stronger economies help to support those with weaker economies.
E) The number of Lander changes frequently as the federal government tries to give more autonomy to different regions and ethnic groups.

Question 44

About _____________ of the Bundestag's elected members are civil servants.

A) one- third
B) half
C) one-quarter
D) two-fifths
E) one-eighth

Question 45

How many Lander comprise the Federal Republic of Germany?

A) 10
B) 13
C) 16
D) 19
E) 23

Question 46

Cabinet ministers

A) cannot be members of parliament.
B) are selected by the president.
C) must be confirmed by the Bundestag.
D) are collectively responsible for cabinet policy.
E) All of the above statements are true.

Question 47

The procedure for legislation is generally which of the following?

A) It is introduced by the Bundestag, sent to committee for deliberation, and then approved by the Bundesrat.
B) It is introduced by the executive, it is 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 for deliberation, and then approved by the executive.
E) It is introduced simultaneously in both the Bundesrat and Bundestag, sent to committee for deliberation, and then approved by the executive.

Question 48

The Bundesrat's absolute veto

A) only slows the passage of legislation.
B) can only be exercised on amendments to the constitution and laws that directly affect the Lander.
C) can be overturned by a two-thirds majority vote in the Bundestag.
D) applies to an ever-growing amount of legislation due to a 2006 constitutional reform.
E) has been ruled unconstitutional by the German courts.

Question 49

The secret police in East Germany was known as the

A) KGB.
B) Stasi.
C) Betriebsrate.
D) Krankenhassen.
E) Faktion.

Question 50

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 51

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 52

The German electoral system is best described as

A) a single-member-district system.
B) proportional representation.
C) a mixed member system.
D) a series of referenda.
E) authoritarian.

Question 53

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 majority of the Lander must approve that selection.

Question 54

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

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

Question 55

The percentage of Germany' s civil servants who work for the federal government (as opposed to state and local governments) is

A) 15 percent
B) 25 percent
C) 35 percent
D) 10 percent
E) 40 percent

Question 56

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 is easily able to identify a party's position across a range of issues.
D) The parties tend to adopt consistent positions over time.
E) None of the above.

Question 57

Which of the following is TRUE of the German military?

A) Germany is completely demilitarized with all military functions having been taken over by NATO.
B) Germany was forced to quickly develop a strong military in response to the Soviet threat.
C) Germany and France have a combined military force.
D) Originally, the German military was to be used only for defensive purposes under NATO control, but this general prohibition has recently ended.
E) Germany has combined its military with the common military of the European Union.

Question 58

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 59

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

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

Question 60

Although the Bundestag and Bundesrat are broadly representative of all interests in Germany, ______________ and ____________ are overrepresented.

A) business; labor
B) retirees; ecological interests
C) pro-European; business
D) anti-immigrant groups; rural interests
E) urban interests, labor

Question 61

Until 1998, Germany relied upon ethnicity as its primary criteria for citizenship. Discuss the difficulties of this definition especially in light of the European Union and the increased migration characteristic of a globalized world economy. What political problems has this created? What policies and programs has Germany adopted to address these problems? What kinds of additional reforms might be beneficial and why?

Question 62

There was a split in the Green Party between

A) members who questioned the veracity of global warming and those who thought that global warming represented a grave threat.
B) members opposed to nuclear power and those who saw it as viable alternative to oil.
C) the realists, who wanted to moderate the party's stance in order to gain political power, and the fundamentalists, who opposed partnerships with existing parties.
D) those who wanted to work within the existing political system and those who wanted to use violence to achieve their goals.
E) those who saw global warming as the most important ecological threat and those who saw diminishing resources as the primary theat.

Question 63

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 64

The rise of cartel parties has led to

A) the decline of party responsiveness to their core constituencies.
B) the rise of party dependence upon state resources for financial support.
C) parties adopting similar platforms.
D) a decrease in voter turnout.
E) All of the above statements are true.

Question 65

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 66

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 67

Which of the following is NOT an example of a significant protest movement that appeared in Germany after the late 1960s?

A) The feminist movement
B) The peace movement
C) The antinuclear movement
D) The anti-immigrant movement
E) All of the above are examples of significant protest movements that appeared in Germany after the late 1960s.

Question 68

Markedly different attitudes towards 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 69

The Greens first received seats in the German lower house in

A) 1979.
B) 1983.
C) 1990.
D) 1998.
E) 2010.

Question 70

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 71

The social market claims to represent a balance between free-enterprise capitalism and state-led socialism. First, discuss the major characteristics of this set of policy options that characterize the German political economy, paying particular attention to how it differs from both capitalism and socialism. Second, analyze the strengths and weakness of the social market system. Finally, assess how this system has been and is being impacted by such challenges as globalization and continued integration with the European Union.

Question 72

Until 1999, when the SPD-Green government liberalized citizenship requirements, German citizenship was based on

A) blood.
B) knowledge of the German language.
C) religion.
D) naturalization.
E) place of birth.

Question 73

An example of Euro-skepticism in German 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 74

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

Question 75

The Free Democratic Party is a

A) far-left party with an emphasis on increased welfare and social spending.
B) far-right party that opposes all immigration.
C) coalition of parties that oppose European integration.
D) pro-market, right-of-center party.
E) centrist party that combines economic liberalism and social liberalism.

Question 76

Which two political parties are causing 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 Part and the Free Democratic Party
E) the Communist Party and the National Democratic Party

Question 77

All of the following are challenges that face Germany 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 78

The Left Party

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 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 Lander.
E) is a party that merged members of the old East German communist party with left wing fundis from the Green Party.

Question 79

Among Germany's political parties, which actively opposed German troop deployment to Afghanistan?

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

Question 80

Voter turnout in federal elections average between

A) 40 and 50 percent.
B) 50 and 60 percent.
C) 60 and 70 percent.
D) 30 and 40 percent.
E) 80 and 90 percent.