Deck 15: National Decision-Making Institutions: Presidential Government

Question 1

Russia, Brazil, and Mexico are presidential systems.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

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

A) Russia
B) Germany
C) South Africa
D) Great Britain
E) the United States

Answer 2

E

Question 3

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

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The hybrid presidential system is well characterized by:

A) France
B) Britain
C) the United States
D) Germany
E) Sweden

Question 5

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

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."

Question 7

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

Question 8

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

A) Speaker of the House John Boehner
B) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
C) President Barack Obama
D) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
E) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

Question 9

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

Question 10

Compared to a parliamentary system, a presidential system:

A) has clearer lines of responsibility
B) is less likely to recruit the country's top leader from the national legislature
C) is more flexible when major changes are needed
D) has greater scrutiny and control of the executive by the legislature
E) is more likely to split executive powers between a chief executive and a head of state

Question 11

Democratic presidential systems are most common in:

A) western Europe.
B) eastern Europe.
C) Latin America.
D) South Asia.
E) North Africa.

Question 12

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

Question 13

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

A) Democrats controlled the presidency and the Senate, but not the House
B) Democrats controlled the Senate and the House, but not the presidency
C) Democrats controlled the Senate, but not the House or the presidency
D) Republicans controlled the Senate and a majority of the state legislatures
E) Republicans controlled the House and the Senate, but not the presidency

Question 14

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

Question 15

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

Question 16

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

A) Clear lines of responsibility
B) Majority rule
C) Coherent
D) Gridlock
E) Quick policy formation

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.

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.

Question 19

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

Question 20

The United States House of Representatives:

A) is substantially more powerful than the United States Senate
B) has strong and independent committees
C) follows the lead of the president on nearly all policies
D) has similar powers as the British House of Commons
E) has the power to approve presidential appointments to the Supreme Court

Question 21

What are the typical roles and the overall power of a democratically elected legislature in a presidential system such as the United States?

Question 22

Critical Thinking
Policy-making in the 21^st century is a very complex challenge. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of threads of policy weave together into some kind of composite approach to solving problems and promoting development. "Comprehensive" policy-making would presumably mean that policies were broad, thorough and effective in the face of tough problems. Think about parliamentary and presidential systems and all their upsides and downsides. Can you draw any conclusion about which form of political system is likely more effective as we move more deeply into this century?

Question 23

What are the main advantages and disadvantages of the presidential system in the United States? Would the United States be better served with a parliamentary system of government?

Question 24

Critical Thinking
Examine the issue of fixed terms versus "calling" elections. Does either make tough, unpopular decisions easier or more difficult? In parliamentary systems, campaigns are short and "lame duck" situations do not exist. How important are these realities to effective policy-making?

Question 25

What are the typical roles and the overall power of the president in a presidential system?

Question 26

What are the key differences between a parliamentary system and a presidential system? Which is able to make important policies more easily? Is this a good thing or a bad thing?