Question 1

Russia, Brazil, and Mexico are presidential systems.

Accepted Answer

All three countries have elected presidents as the head of government and state, making them presidential systems.

Question 2

The best-known example of a democratic presidential system is:

Accepted Answer

The United States is the best-known example of a democratic presidential system. It has a separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches and the President is directly elected by the people. The U.S. system serves as a model for many other democracies around the world.

Question 3

In a presidential system, cabinet members are far more likely to have government experience than is the case in a parliamentary system.

Accepted Answer

In a parliamentary system, cabinet members are often chosen from the legislature and are therefore more likely to have government experience, whereas in a presidential system, cabinet members can be chosen from outside the legislature and may not always have prior government experience.

Question 4

The hybrid presidential system is well characterized by:

Accepted Answer

France is known for its hybrid presidential system, where both the president and the prime minister have significant powers, combining elements of both presidential and parliamentary systems.

Question 5

France is an example of a political system that after World War II changed from a presidential to a parliamentary political system.

Accepted Answer

France's political system evolved from a parliamentary system to a semi-presidential system with the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1958, not the other way around.

Question 6

In a presidential system, it is quite possible that different political parties will "control" the legislature and the executive. In this situation, conflicts are easily resolved because the system design generally makes then "coequal."

Accepted Answer

In a presidential system, when different political parties control the legislature and the executive, it often leads to gridlock rather than easy resolution of conflicts, as both branches are independent and coequal, making compromise necessary but sometimes difficult to achieve.

Question 7

_____________________ is found in almost all political systems that fragment power and is rare in those that do not.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _____________________ is found in almost all political...

Question 8

The most dominant political figure in the United States in 2013 was:

Accepted Answer

As the President of the United States, Barack Obama held the highest political office in the country and was the most powerful political figure in 2013. He was responsible for leading the executive branch of the government and setting the agenda for national policy.

Question 9

Under what circumstances would a "president" have an easier time creating social capital than his/her counterpart in a parliamentary system?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Under what circumstances would a "president" have...

Question 10

Compared to a parliamentary system, a presidential system:

Accepted Answer

In a presidential system, the president is often elected independently of the legislature, unlike in a parliamentary system where the prime minister is typically a member of the legislature.

Question 11

Democratic presidential systems are most common in:

Accepted Answer

Democratic presidential systems are most common in Latin America, where countries such as Brazil, Colombia, and Chile have adopted this form of government.

Question 12

In presidential systems, political parties are more tightly organized and display much more party discipline.

Accepted Answer

In parliamentary systems, political parties tend to be more tightly organized and display more party discipline than in presidential systems, as the government's survival depends on maintaining the support of the legislative majority.

Question 13

Divided government is common in presidential systems. After the 2012 election in the United States:

Accepted Answer

After the 2012 election, Democrats controlled the presidency with Barack Obama, and they also held a majority in the Senate. However, Republicans controlled the House of Representatives.

Question 14

In the French system, when the executive and the legislature are controlled by different parties the term the French use is ________________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the French system, when the executive...

Question 15

Greenstein's "qualities" of political leadership include: proficiency as a communicator; organizational capacity; _____________________; vision; cognitive style; and emotional intelligence.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Greenstein's "qualities" of political leadership include: proficiency...

Question 16

Of the following terms, which best captures the presidential of the United States?

Accepted Answer

The term "gridlock" best captures the presidency of the United States, especially in recent years, due to frequent political stalemates between the executive and legislative branches, making it difficult to pass legislation.

Question 17

The fixed terms of a presidential system give the system more flexibility and more ability to make unpopular policies given common term limits.

Accepted Answer

The fixed terms of a presidential system actually limit the flexibility of the system, as the president cannot extend their term in office. Additionally, common term limits may make it more difficult for the president to implement unpopular policies, as their time in office is limited and they may have to answer to voters in the next election.

Question 18

In presidential systems, there is a much less clear path to top leadership positions than in a parliamentary system. Given this, there is also a greater likelihood that a top leader will have less experience with public policy-making or, at least, a longer learning curve.

Accepted Answer

In parliamentary systems, top leaders are typically chosen from within the governing party or coalition, while in presidential systems, candidates can come from a variety of backgrounds and may not have prior government experience. This can result in a longer learning curve as they adjust to the policy-making process.

Question 19

In any presidential system, the legislature and the executive are elected by the voters in separate elections.

Accepted Answer

In a presidential system, the legislature and the executive are elected separately by the voters. The president or the head of the executive branch is elected directly by the people, while members of the legislature are elected in a separate election. This is in contrast to a parliamentary system, where the executive is formed by members of the legislature who are chosen by the people through an election.

Question 20

The United States House of Representatives:

Accepted Answer

The United States House of Representatives has strong and independent committees that play a significant role in the legislative process. While it is an important branch of the federal government, it is not substantially more powerful than the United States Senate. It also does not follow the lead of the president on nearly all policies, and its powers are not similar to those of the British House of Commons. Additionally, while the House does have the power to vote on Supreme Court nominees, the Senate ultimately approves or rejects those appointments.

Quiz 15: National Decision-Making Institutions: Presidential Government