Deck 21: Unitary and Federal Systems

Question 1

Which of the following may be identified as a characteristic of Germany?

A) The Bundesrat sometimes refuses to pass legislation initiated by the lower house
B) Germany is a unitary state
C) Germany demonstrates a weaker form of federal bicameralism in comparison to Canada
D) Germany is unique in that it is not a bicameral federal state.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

In Germany,what does the term Bundestag mean?

A) It's the official title of the Chancellor.
B) It's the upper house of the legislative branch.
C) It's the lower house of the legislative branch.
D) It's the application of basic law.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a federal state?

A) Australia
B) Canada
C) United Kingdom
D) Mexico

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Why was James Madison's contribution to the Federalists so important?

A) He solved the problem of understanding sovereignty as an indivisible concept, assigned to one level of government.
B) He was the first to declare that government was the instrument of the people.
C) He argued for a strong allocation of powers to the central government.
D) He understood that democracy had no room for clashes between groups.

Question 5

Which of the following activities would a county government be most likely to perform in a unitary system?

A) Oversee national social programs at the local level.
B) Raise taxes to fund the development of local infrastructure.
C) Consul local experts to develop new policy initiatives.
D) Develop publicly-funded programs tailored to local needs

Question 6

A government representing the Northern part of a country makes healthcare policy,but has no assurance it will be allowed to implement the new ideas.What type of government is this an example of?

A) confederation
B) unitary system
C) devolution
D) federalism

Question 7

In The Federalist Papers,James Madison expressed his fear of tyranny of the majority.Which of the following is NOT an example of tyranny of the majority?

A) Racist segregationist laws promoted by national courts.
B) A central government exploiting the natural resources of a small or isolated region.
C) Legislation that effectively stifles the voice of a special-interest group.
D) Different religious groups forming strong factions within a nation to protect cultural identity.

Question 8

Which of the following distinguishes a confederal system from a federal system?

A) the extent to which sovereignty is retained by constituent governments
B) the extent to which legitimacy is retained by the central government
C) the extent to which the governmental system is dominated by the bureaucracy
D) the extent to which central political parties dominate the legislature

Question 9

What would be the best system for a country where the majority of the population followed one religion,but an isolated community followed a different religion?

A) unitary state
B) confederation
C) devolution
D) asymmetrical federation

Question 10

Which of the following does NOT represent an advantage that federal states frequently have over unitary states?

A) Citizens feel closer to the decision-making process.
B) Socio-culturally unique regions enjoy a measure of institutional autonomy.
C) Limits are placed on the concentration of power in any one government.
D) Legislation can be passed efficiently with minimal conflict.

Question 11

Which characteristic is typical of federal systems of government?

A) a separation of powers between branches of government.
B) a division of powers between levels of government.
C) checks and balances between regions.
D) a coalition of powers between branches of government.

Question 12

Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the experience the British have had with their system of government?

A) It can be difficult to delegate power to regions that have not traditionally held authority.
B) It can be difficult to maintain a unitary system in a country with regional or cultural cleavages.
C) Devolution is difficult in countries that have traditionally had a single source of power, located in the monarch.
D) Devolution is not desirable in a country where all the citizens share a language.

Question 13

What characteristic do unitary governments exhibit a high degree of?

A) unity
B) devolution
C) centralization
D) decentralization

Question 14

Which relationship between central and constitution governments is NOT true?

A) A unitary state has no constituent governments and has a single, central government.
B) In a federal system, sovereignty is divided between central and constituent governments.
C) A devolutionary system is characterized by strong constituent governments that are in no way under control of the central government.
D) A confederal system is characterized by constituent governments that possess sovereignty while a central government also exists.

Question 15

What is the major difference between the American federalism and Canadian federalism?

A) Americans have evolved towards a stronger central government.
B) Americans have evolved towards a weaker central government.
C) Canadians have evolved towards a stronger central government.
D) Canadians have evolved towards weaker regional governments

Question 16

What important role does judicial review play in federal systems?

A) The courts become referees for deciding the precise division of powers.
B) It gives the courts the power to amend the constitution.
C) It allows the courts to make judicial appointments.
D) It gives the executive the power to review judicial decisions.

Question 17

Which publication brilliantly pointed out that federalism checks tyrannical tendencies?

A) Confederation Debates
B) The Federalist Papers
C) On Representative Government
D) Social Contract

Question 18

Which of the following is a significant factor in the transition from a centralized to decentralized federation?

A) increased federal taxes
B) decreased provincial dependence on federal finances
C) decreased voter turnout in federal elections
D) increased voter turnout in provincial elections

Question 19

Which characteristic is typical of federalism?

A) division of powers between levels of government
B) parliamentary government
C) constitutional government
D) centralized government

Question 20

Which group of characteristics most accurately describes the government of Germany?

A) democratic, parliamentary, federal, and bicameral
B) democratic, presidential, federal, and bicameral
C) democratic, parliamentary, unitary, and bicameral
D) democratic, presidential, unitary, and unicameral

Question 21

Which of the following statements about disallowance is NOT true?

A) It is created by Canada's constitution.
B) It has been used more commonly in recent years
C) It may occur if the Cabinet nullifies a provincial act within one year of passage, even if it has received royal assent.
D) It has generally been replaced by judicial review in Canada.

Question 22

What has American federalism evolved towards?

A) stronger unicameralism
B) stronger decentralization
C) stronger devolution
D) stronger centralization

Question 23

Given the example of the European Union,at which point does it become difficult to distinguish between an international organization of nation states and a confederation?

A) When the number of member states doubles.
B) When the individual governments become limited in their choice of policy options for domestic affairs.
C) When the agreements are based on economic principles.
D) When offices for the organization are located in multiple member states.

Question 24

Which of the following states is the least likely to benefit from a federal system?

A) a small state with one official language and one official religion.
B) a small state with historical tension between northern and southern citizens
C) a state with a small population dispersed over a large landmass
D) a state where several religious, linguistic and cultural groups were intermixed throughout the county.

Question 25

Which system would most effectively preserve the culture and traditions of different regions?

A) asymmetrical federalism
B) confederation
C) executive federalism
D) devolution

Question 26

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways in which the government of Canada can nullify provincial legislation?

A) judicial challenge
B) reservation
C) residual power
D) disallowance

Question 27

Country X was divided into several regions,and each region possessed a parliament with limited legislative powers.However,when affairs became unmanageable in Country X,the central government of the country declared each regional parliament dissolved.What is this an example of?

A) disallowance
B) the termination of devolution
C) a unitary system plagued by regional unrest
D) executive federalism

Question 28

Which of the following is a characteristic of devolution?

A) There are no constituent governments.
B) Constituent governments exist but only after a referendum.
C) Constituent governments exist but their powers are delegated by statute.
D) Constituent governments can vote to dissolve the central government.

Question 29

Logically,why might federal states be prone to separatist movements?

A) They give no power to distinct regions.
B) They are implemented because strong regional, cultural, or linguistic differences exist amongst a population.
C) They create checks and balances in different levels of government.
D) They have written constitutions.

Question 30

In Canada,the lieutenant governor of a province can refuse royal assent to a bill and refer it to the federal Cabinet for a final decision.What is the term for this?

A) disallowance
B) judicial review
C) reservation
D) consultation

Question 31

Which of the following is a benefit of federalism?

A) Its ability to ensure effective regional representation in federal legislatures.
B) Its ability to revoke regional powers in the case of political turmoil or violence.
C) Its ability to deal with shifting power dynamics between different groups
D) Its ability to dissolve national government in times of regional crisis.

Question 32

In Canada,to which of the following are residual powers allocated by the constitution?

A) municipalities
B) provinces
C) federal government
D) public

Question 33

Which comparison of the American and Canadian written constitutions is correct?

A) In Canada, residual powers go to the provinces; in the U.S., they go to the states.
B) In Canada, residual powers go to the provinces; in the U.S., they go to the federal government.
C) In Canada, residual powers go to the federal government as they do in the U.S.
D) In Canada, residual powers go to the federal government; in the U.S., they go to the states.

Question 34

Federal powers are explicitly enumerated in the U.S.and Canadian constitutions.There are,however,some powers that are not specifically enumerated in the Constitution.What is the term for these powers?

A) residual powers
B) devolutionary powers
C) federal powers
D) emergency powers

Question 35

Northern Ireland had a regional government from 1921 until it was abolished by the U.K.Parliament in 1972.What characteristic of devolved regional governments does this example illustrate?

A) They are always prone to factionalism.
B) They are usually long-lasting.
C) They are not examples of federalism.
D) They are created by independent centrifugal forces.

Question 36

What would the Meech Lake Accord have achieved?

A) It would have resolved all current jurisdictional disputes.
B) It would have increased the extent of federal power.
C) It would have led to more asymmetry.
D) It would have transformed the Canadian government into a devolved system.

Question 37

What does the development of executive federalism in Canada most clearly demonstrate?

A) that provincial leaders prefer represent their region's interests themselves
B) that traditional federal institutions are no longer effective
C) that Canadian politicians prefer an interstate approach to political negotiations.
D) that federal systems require an effective institution dedicated to promoting regional interests

Question 38

Appointments to the Senate of Canada are

A) They are made by the legislative assembly
B) They are made by the provinces.
C) They are made by the federal judiciary.
D) They are made by the Governor General on advice of the prime minister.

Question 39

According to the Constitution Act of 1867,how many senators were Ontario and Quebec each entitled to?

A) 2
B) 6
C) 10
D) 24

Question 40

Which of the following best describes Canadian federalism?

A) interstate federalism
B) intrastate federalism
C) legislative union
D) mostly unitary, partly federal

Question 41

How did federalism originate?

A) It was a product of the Industrial Revolution.
B) It was a product of the French Revolution.
C) It was a product of the American Revolution.
D) It was derived from Machiavelli's Prince.

Question 42

The use of 'reservation' and 'dissolution' in Canada has evolved since confederation.What conclusion can be drawn from this evolution?

A) Canadians are more accepting of centralized power today than they were historically.
B) Canadians were more accepting of centralized power in the past than they are today.
C) Lieutenant governors are more respected today than they did in the past.
D) Over time, the federal government has become less respectful of provincial jurisdiction.

Question 43

By definition,Canada is an example of confederation.

Question 44

Switzerland is a unitary state.

Question 45

Which phrase best characterizes Canadian federalism?

A) no power to the provinces and territories
B) a capitulation of the Canadian government to American foreign policy
C) the concentration of power in the Senate
D) the division of powers and responsibilities amongst levels of government.

Question 46

What is the essential difference between federalism and devolution?

A) Devolution is statutory, while federalism constitutional.
B) Federalism is statutory, while devolution is constitutional.
C) Devolution is a step towards centralization, while federalism is not.
D) Federalism is a step towards centralization, while devolution is not.

Question 47

Why might a government in a unitary system be less concerned about the courts than a government in a federal system?

A) In a unitary system the courts can strike down laws, but in a federal system they can also give power to regional governments.
B) In a federal system the courts can strike down laws, but in a unitary system they can also give power to regional governments
C) In a unitary system the national government appoints Supreme Court Judges, but in a federal system the regional governments make the appointments.
D) Courts general tend to be more favourable towards the less powerful party. In a federal system this often means courts support the regional governments.

Question 48

In federal governments,powers are divided between a central government and regional or provincial governments.

Question 49

Disallowance refers to the practice of not allowing the provincial governments to be at the table when there is a discussion of constitutional amendment.

Question 50

In which of the following situations would a unitary system be more favourable than a federal system?

A) In a small country whose citizens belonged to several different religions .
B) In a large country with linguistic cleavages.
C) In a small country with a shared language and history.
D) In a country where a revolution has just overthrown an authoritarian or totalitarian ruler

Question 51

Asymmetrical federalism denotes federations in which the territorial size of some constituent states or provinces is very different from one another (e.g.,PEI vs.Ontario,or Vermont vs.Texas).

Question 52

What does the term disallowance in the Canadian federal system refer to?

A) the capacity of the federal government to stop provincial legislation from passing
B) the capacity of the Crown to stop the prime minister from acting
C) the capacity of the Senate to regulate legislation coming from the House of Commons
D) an outdated method of electing a party leader

Question 53

Unitary systems of government are designed to concentrate sovereignty within a central government.

Question 54

Which word best describes how sovereignty is exercised in a federal state?

A) divided
B) concentrated
C) delegated
D) individuated

Question 55

In which state is executive federalism a manifestation of interstate federalism?

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

Question 56

Residual powers refer to those powers that are vested in municipal governments in a federal system.

Question 57

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council was designed to listen to complaints from private members of the Canadian legislature.

Question 58

Federal systems of government are designed to accommodate regional disparities within states that have larger geographical areas.

Question 59

Devolution refers to the practice of federal governments becoming more like unitary governments.

Question 60

In Canada,executive federalism is the description used by the left to describe the sharing of power between executives of large corporations and the federal government in Ottawa.

Question 61

A unitary state is one in which all government functions are shared equally among partners in a federation.

Question 62

In ________ systems of government,powers and responsibilities are concentrated within the central government.The granting of government responsibilities to regional governments is called __________.

Question 63

What are some of the common structural features of federal states? In your response,explain how these features work (or do not)in Canada.

Question 64

Is the European Union an example of confederation? If not,what is?

Question 65

In November 2006,the House of Commons recognized that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada.Do you agree? In your answer,consider the views of Charles Taylor,Guy Laforest,and Kenneth McRoberts.

Question 66

In your opinion,which structure of government would be ideal in a country with deep ethnic,religious,or cultural divides? Use examples to explain your answer.

Question 67

A term used to convey the idea of unevenly divided powers among provinces,of some provinces having greater responsibilities or more autonomy than others,is known as _________ federalism.

Question 68

In federal systems,the _________ often become arbiters of intergovernmental conflict.The power to declare legislation unconstitutional,known as _______________,is an important feature of most federal constitutions.

Question 69

In a ___________ system of government,sovereignty is divided between a central government and various regional governments.One of the structural features of this system is that the levels of government must be written in a ___________.

Question 70

Define and explain the significance of devolution.Illustrate your answer with reference to the experience of the United Kingdom.

Question 71

What is the best way to achieve unity and successful government: by means of symmetrical,uniform,and territorial federalism,or by asymmetrical,diverse and multinational federalism? Does asymmetry balkanize,and create instability,or does it provide the necessary flexibility demanded in a large and diverse society?

Question 72

Federalism was an invention of the Dutch as they colonized and settled their empire.

Question 73

In which ways is a confederation similar to executive federalism? In which ways is it different?

Question 74

In November 2006,the Canadian House of Commons passed a motion introduced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to recognize that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada.

Question 75

In November 2006,the Canadian House of Commons recognized that the Québécois form a ____________ within a united Canada.Many applaud this as a reflection of the ___________ character of Canadian federalism.

Question 76

There have been many proposals for reforming the Canadian federal system.Identify and explain what you consider to be among the most important.

Question 77

Devolution refers to the practice within federal states of giving more power to constituent governments and taking power away from the central government.

Question 78

In a federal system of government,the powers not specifically mentioned in a constitution are known as _________ powers.In Canada,these powers were given to the _________.In contrast,in the U.S.,these powers are reserved to the _________ or to the people.

Question 79

What are the differences between federal and unitary states? List the major features of each type of government.

Question 80

Until 1949,the highest Canadian appeals court was the ________________,a special British court.In 1949,this was replaced by the ____________________ of Canada.