Deck 15: Presidential and Semi-Presidential Systems

Question 1

A semi-presidential system involves an elected president sharing executive power with _____________.

A) a prime minister and Cabinet
B) a vice president
C) Congress
D) Parliament

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Although Congress is responsible for passing legislation, the President has the authority to issue ____________ such as that which President Obama used to stop the deportation of illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children.

A) presidential veto
B) executive orders
C) presidential measures
D) executive privilege

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The US Congress has some powers to ensure that the executive is acting properly, but presidents have claimed __________ sometimes to try to avoid Congressional investigations.

A) that legislature is over-reaching its authority
B) presidential veto
C) executive privilege
D) that the president is not accountable to Congress

Answer 3

C

Question 4

In order to avoid investigation by Congress, presidents may invoke ________.

A) executive privilege
B) presidential veto power
C) War Powers Act
D) executive order

Question 5

The Congress, the legislative branch of the US government, consists of the Senate and the _________.

A) House of Commons
B) Federalist branch
C) House of Representatives
D) Chamber of Deputies

Question 6

A basic feature of the American presidential systems in which each of the three branches of government is able to check the actions of the others is called ________.

A) the fusion of powers
B) checks and balances
C) a friendly dictatorship
D) executive dominance

Question 7

The president of the United States ________.

A) is elected for a six-year term
B) is expected to resign if Congress passes a motion of non-confidence
C) can be elected to a maximum of two terms
D) can be removed from office by the head of state

Question 8

Which among the following is a feature characteristic of a Presidential system, but not of a Parliamentary system?

A) cabinet secrecy
B) fixed terms of office
C) strong party discipline
D) minority government

Question 9

Proceedings by the legislative branch to impeach Bill Clinton were undertaken for his actions in ________.

A) ordering the bombing of Yugoslavia
B) failing to take action against terrorists
C) having sex with an intern
D) lying to a grand jury and obstructing justice

Question 10

Which other country outside of Central and South America has adopted a version of the presidential system?

A) Malaysia
B) Thailand
C) Australia
D) The Philippines

Question 11

Because of the different powers granted the executive and legislative branches, the US government sometimes suffers from ________.

A) dominance
B) ambiguity
C) gridlock
D) inequality

Question 12

What is one reason given in the text for why the Senate is considered to be the more important of the two chambers of Congress?

A) it is larger and tends to be dominated by one party
B) it contains elected representatives of states rather than smaller districts
C) it is not elected by an Electoral College as is the House of Representatives
D) revenue bills must be introduced in the Senate first

Question 13

The President of the United States is the head of ________.

A) government only
B) state and government
C) Senate
D) legislative branch

Question 14

The House of Representatives of the United States is elected every _____________.

A) 4 years
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years

Question 15

This term is used to describe a condition in which the executive and legislative branches each have distinct powers and personnel.

A) separation of powers
B) federalism
C) division of branches
D) constitutional distinction

Question 16

What is one argument often made in support of a Presidential system?

A) lack of partisanship
B) strong party discipline
C) unified government
D) decisive leadership

Question 17

The War Powers Act of 1973 ________.

A) prevented the allocation of money to the military
B) required the senate to review a declaration of war
C) allowed congress to declare war
D) restricted the powers of the president to go to war

Question 18

The presidential system of government was developed in (the) _____________.

A) United States
B) Mexico
C) Canada
D) Russia

Question 19

The Chairs of powerful Committees of the Congress are chosen by the ________.

A) majority party of each House
B) President
C) party they represent
D) Speaker of the House

Question 20

Party discipline in the American Congress usually is not very tight, because __________.

A) the President and Cabinet do not need the support of a majority in Congress to stay in power.
B) The party whips in Congress are ineffective.
C) the President has the final say on all legislations.
D) Congress can use the non-confidence measure.

Question 21

How does the executive leadership of a semi-presidential system differ from that of both parliamentary and presidential systems?

Question 22

A president cannot hold office if they lack the support of Congress.

Question 23

Presidential systems tend to be less flexible than parliamentarian systems.

Question 24

Bills must be passed in identical form in the two legislative chambers before being presented to the president

Question 25

Unlike in a parliamentary system, the executive (president and the Cabinet) must maintain the support of the legislature to remain in office.

Question 26

The President is also a member of Congress.

Question 27

Which of the following is used by the executive as a check on the legislative power of Congress?

A) Senate appointments
B) Presidential veto
C) Party discipline
D) Filibusters

Question 28

What does the War Powers Act require?

Question 29

What happens when a President vetoes legislation passed by Congress?

Question 30

To be elected president in the United States, one must receive a majority of votes from ___________.

A) the State Senates
B) the general population
C) the Electoral College
D) the majority party in Congress

Question 31

Who developed the term "semi-presidential system"?

A) Richard Nixon
B) Vladimir Putin
C) Maurice Duverger
D) Charles de Gaulle

Question 32

In 2016, Brazilian President Dilma Rouseff was impeached after allegations that her presidential campaign was funded by a drug cartel.

Question 33

Which one of the following countries has a semi-presidential system?

A) Canada
B) the United States
C) the United Kingdom
D) France

Question 34

When might gridlock occur in the American presidential system?

Question 35

In a Presidential system, party discipline is more important than in a Parliamentary system.

Question 36

Members of Parliament have greater independence to represent the population of their districts than the members of Congress.

Question 37

What is the system of checks and balances?

Question 38

The situation where a French president has to share power with opposition parties that control the National Assembly is known as ________.

A) minority government
B) coalition government
C) gridlock
D) cohabitation

Question 39

The Cabinet secretaries in the United States are appointed by the president and confirmed by the House of Representatives.

Question 40

The vice-president of the United States has the constitutional right to preside over the Senate.

Question 41

Discuss the role of the American vice president and how they are chosen.

Question 42

How do parliamentary systems generally differ from presidential systems?

Question 43

Describe the French political system and explain modifications that improved its function since 1958.