Deck 5: Japan

Question 1

The ancestors of the Japanese people came from several parts of the Pacific Rim, particularly Korea.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Japan became powerful in the early 1900s as a result of a bottom-up revolution that led to democratization and industrialization.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The MacArthur Constitution allowed the Japanese emperor to keep his pre-war position and power, while introducing elements of Western-style democracy.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Japanese prime ministers are weaker than their British and German counterparts.

Question 5

Because it is where most important policy decisions are made, the Japanese Diet is the most powerful institution in the Japanese political system.

Question 6

Japanese politics and elections are dominated by several candidates on the ideological left.

Question 7

The Japanese ministries of trade, finance, and foreign affairs are quite powerful.

Question 8

Japanese cabinet ministers are experts in their portfolio and maintain only one portfolio to maximize their effectiveness.

Question 9

Japanese culture was nearly obliterated by the industrialization process.

Question 10

The ability of Japanese workers to easily switch to better-paying jobs combined with its low cost of living has produced some of the best living conditions in the world for those who work hard.

Question 11

Japan's money politics is rooted in politicians' winning office through the lavish use of funds rather than running on the basis of party platforms or personality.

Question 12

Japan experienced __________ for seven centuries.

A) communism
B) colonization
C) feudalism
D) constitutional democracy

Question 13

The racist ideology that the Japanese were biologically superior warriors was propagated by the __________.

A) military
B) Koran
C) party
D) American government of occupied Japan

Question 14

The Japanese conquest of Manchuria made it clear that the __________ was in charge in Japan.

A) Diet
B) prime minister
C) army
D) League of Nations

Question 15

When was the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in control of the Japanese government?

A) The DPJ has been in control for most of the past century.
B) The DPJ has never been in control.
C) The DPJ has been in control since 2005.
D) The DPJ was in control from 2009 to 2012.

Question 16

Japanese prime ministers experience short terms in office due to __________.

A) pressure from the emperor to resign
B) term limits
C) frequent no-confidence votes
D) party fragmentation

Question 17

The Japanese legislature is referred to as the __________ and is __________.

A) Chamber of Deputies; unicameral
B) Diet; bicameral
C) Shogun; unicameral
D) Federal Assembly; unicameral

Question 18

The lower house in the Japanese legislature is the __________, and its members are elected for terms that are a maximum of __________ years.

A) Senate; 5
B) House of Representatives; 4
C) Diet; 2
D) House of Councilors; 10

Question 19

Since 1996, 300 members of the Japanese lower house are elected based on __________ while 180 are elected based on __________.

A) proportional representation; first past the post
B) single-transferable; proportional representation
C) proportional representation; upper house elections
D) single-member districts; proportional representation

Question 20

What kind of electoral system does Japan use?

A) mixed-member
B) mixed-member proportional
C) electoral college
D) pure proportional

Question 21

The Japanese upper house is called the __________ and, consistent with parliamentary systems in general, is __________ powerful than/as the lower house.

A) House of Lords; more
B) House of Councilors; less
C) House of Representatives; equally as
D) Diet; more

Question 22

Of the following countries, which is the best example of a dominant-party system?

A) China
B) Japan
C) Mexico
D) Russia

Question 23

Which party has been most dominant in postwar Japan?

A) Democratic Socialist Party
B) Liberal Democratic Party
C) Democratic Party of Japan
D) Christian Democratic Party

Question 24

In 2009, the __________ won a parliamentary majority-the first time that Japan's dominant party had lost in decades.

A) Democratic Party of Japan
B) Liberal Democratic Party
C) Christian Democratic Party
D) Democratic Socialist Party

Question 25

Which of the following was an intended (but not realized) effect of the 1993 Japanese electoral reforms?

A) an increase in the influence of farmers
B) an increase in coalition governments
C) a decrease in intraparty party factionalism
D) in increase in the number of parties

Question 26

Japan's territorial organization is a unitary system with some powers reserved for local government that most closely resembles the system used in __________.

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

Question 27

Entrance into Japanese educational institutions is based almost exclusively on __________.

A) political or family connections
B) merit
C) party identification
D) whether the student's presence will help make the campus more diverse

Question 28

Which of the following is especially high in Japan?

A) individualism
B) racial and ethnic heterogeneity
C) the national debt
D) military might

Question 29

Japanese emphasis on __________ is seen in classrooms where fast learners are assigned to help slow learners.

A) education first
B) individualism
C) meritocracy
D) groupness

Question 30

The Japanese "iron triangle" refers to the mutually beneficial relationships among __________.

A) political parties and interest groups
B) political parties, leading politicians, and political interest groups
C) leading politicians, economic interest groups, and ministries
D) economic interest groups, finance ministries, and the prime minister

Question 31

Which of the following is most prevalent in the Japanese legislature?

A) the pork barrel
B) illegal stuffing of ballot boxes
C) violence and intimidation
D) immigrants

Question 32

Japan's economy can be most accurately characterized as __________.

A) indicative planning
B) free-market
C) statist
D) guided capitalism

Question 33

Which of the following is an example of the corruption endemic to the Japanese political system?

A) prime ministers' slush funds
B) the disappearance or murder of political opponents
C) laws outlawing of opposition political parties that pose a threat to the party in power
D) government control of the media

Question 34

The term "__________" refers to the informal rule that any component of the economic system can block innovation if desired.

A) put a cork in it
B) Hoover Dam
C) groupness
D) unit veto

Question 35

Japan's post-WWII economic growth is like that of __________.

A) Brazil
B) Germany
C) Lesotho
D) China

Question 36

Which pattern best illustrates Japan's economic growth?

A) a zig-zag
B) a crosshatch
C) an S-curve
D) an exponential increase

Question 37

How has Japan's experience with feudalism affected its political institutions over time? Specifically, how has it helped shape current institutions and distribution of power? Provide examples in your answer.

Question 38

Which actors influence policy in Japan? Who has the most influence over policy? Provide examples and justifications for your answer.

Question 39

How did the Liberal Democratic Party maintain power in Japan for so long? Discuss its origins, policies, tactics, successes, and failures.

Question 40

How does Japan's current economy compare to its post-World War II economy? Describe Japan's economic trends. What explains the patterns you observe? Address potential political, social, and economic causes in your answer and provide examples.

Question 41

How has Japanese culture and political culture influenced its political and economic development?