Deck 4: Executive Institutions

Question 1

In a multiple executive situation:

A) there is a president and a prime minister
B) there are several co-presidents in a political system
C) the legislature and the executive compete for power
D) the president serves more than one term in office

Answer 1

there are several co-presidents in a political system

Question 2

In a presidential model executive we find

A) a political leader with both political power and symbolic authority.
B) a political leader with no checks on his or her power.
C) a political leader subject to a vote of non-confidence from the legislature.
D) a political leader who is unable to serve more than one term of office.

Answer 2

a political leader with both political power and symbolic authority.

Question 3

The term "immobilism" refers to a situation in which

A) a prime minister is part of a coalition government.
B) a president is unable to introduce a bill to the legislature.
C) the executive can block the legislature and the legislature can block the executive.
D) the judiciary has the ability to rule acts of the legislature unconstitutional.

Answer 3

the executive can block the legislature and the legislature can block the executive.

Question 4

A parliamentary-model executive is one in which

A) the president is chosen by an electoral college.
B) the head of state and chief executive roles are performed by the same person.
C) the prime minister is not controlled by a confidence vote.
D) the head of state and chief executive roles are performed by two different people.

Question 5

The head of state role

A) exercises the true political power of the regime.
B) is passed from generation to generation within a family.
C) has increased its true political power over the years.
D) symbolizes the state and the dignity of the political regime.

Question 6

A head of state may be chosen by heredity, self-selection, or

A) economic success.
B) height.
C) a legislature.
D) a judicial body.

Question 7

The Magna Carta was a document that

A) described the King of England's family history.
B) described the foreign policy of England and France.
C) described the relationship between the King of England and the Barons of the time.
D) described how elections for the legislature took place.

Question 8

King James's divine right of kings theory suggested that the monarch

A) should have more than one palace, strategically placed around the kingdom.
B) should be elected by all English citizens.
C) derived his power directly from God.
D) should have to study with priests.

Question 9

De jure, most powers of British government today

A) are exercised in the name of the Queen.
B) are exercised in the name of the Prime Minister.
C) are exercised in the name of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
D) are exercised in the name of the King.

Question 10

Today's British cabinet has _______________ as its historical roots.

A) the British foreign office
B) a committee of English, Scottish, and Welsh leaders
C) a group of Swiss political leaders
D) the Privy Council, a group of advisors for the King

Question 11

The existence of both a prime minister and a monarch is an illustration of

A) presidential government.
B) the duality of executive leadership.
C) a political coalition.
D) separation of powers.

Question 12

The chief executive in most parliamentary governments

A) inherits office from a parent and holds office for life.
B) is elected as a member of the legislature, just as all other members of the legislature.
C) has a single, fixed, four-year term of office, and cannot be reelected.
D) can veto acts of the legislature.

Question 13

In this text, the term Government (with a capital "G") refers to:

A) the bureaucratic branch of government
B) the legislature
C) the prime minister and cabinet
D) the judicial review of the executive

Question 14

An indication by the legislature that the prime minister has the support of a majority in the
Legislature is called a:

A) vote of confidence
B) vote of retainer
C) vote of non-confidence
D) vote of responsibility

Question 15

The idea that the legislature "hires" the chief executive, or invests him or her with power, is an illustration of the principle of:

A) executive supremacy
B) judicial review
C) bureaucratic oversight
D) legislative supremacy

Question 16

When the prime minister resigns we say that the

A) Government has responsibility.
B) Government has fallen.
C) Government is in a coalition.
D) Government exercises judicial review.

Question 17

A situation in which the prime minister does not control a majority of the legislative seats is:

A) minority government
B) coalition government
C) responsible government
D) judicial government

Question 18

A coalition government is a situation in which

A) two or more non-majority parties pool their seats to form a majority in the legislature.
B) a government has the support of a majority of the legislature.
C) political parties have voted not to approve a legislative proposal.
D) legislative parties are unable to decide on a leader.

Question 19

________ is the term used to describe the head of state "firing" all legislators and calling for new elections.

A) Dissolution
B) Non-confidence
C) Responsibility
D) Authoritarianism

Question 20

Coalition governments tend to be

A) more frequent than single-party majority governments.
B) as stable as single-party majority governments.
C) more stable than single-party majority governments.
D) less stable than single-party majority governments.

Question 21

The system by which members of a political party are expected to vote as their party leader wants is called:

A) coalition government
B) divided government
C) party discipline
D) judicial review

Question 22

Which is the concept that reflects the government's ability to deliver on its promises?

A) party discipline
B) responsible government
C) judicial review
D) divided government

Question 23

A sudden military takeover of the government is referred to as a:

A) military coup
B) reform coup
C) palace coup
D) executive coup

Question 24

The term "bureaucracy" includes all of the following except?

A) It has "fixed and official jurisdictional areas"
B) Management of the office "is based upon written documents ('the files')"
C) The office takes requests based upon social class and ethnic group.
D) The management of the office follows general rules.

Question 25

In relation to bureaucracies, what is the meaning of a "merit system"?

A) Officials consider the merits of policy proposals before undertaking action.
B) Individuals requesting service need to earn "merit points" in reviews.
C) Individuals take an examination to receive a position, or receive a position based uponsome perceived objective skill.
D) The legislature and executive decide on bureaucratic proposals

Question 26

The parliamentary model of government typically has a weak executive.

Question 27

The political system of France is an example of a multiple executive system.

Question 28

Some chief executives have an absolute veto of legislation. The President of the United States does not.

Question 29

The head of state receives ambassadors, hosts receptions, and performs many of the
ceremonial tasks government requires.

Question 30

The witenagemot was a legislative assembly of sorts that existed in 1066.

Question 31

When we discuss the development of parliamentary government, we are, in fact, discussing
French political history.

Question 32

An interesting aspect of the Magna Carta was that it was not a claim on new rights demanded
by the peasants, but was a claim by the barons on what they considered to have been a past relationship.

Question 33

When James I dissolved Parliament he was, in fact, sending them to debtor's prison.

Question 34

The real growth in the institution of cabinet government in Britain took place in the 20^th Century.

Question 35

The term "Government" (with a capitalized "G") refers to the prime minister and cabinet.

Question 36

A vote of confidence from the legislature is a statement that they are certain they have found
a successor to the previous prime minister.

Question 37

Before the Chancellor in Germany can assume power, he or she must receive a legislative vote of confidence.

Question 38

The term "responsible government" refers to the Government's ability to deliver on its promises.

Question 39

Only two Latin American nations have experienced at least one attempted coup since 1945.

Question 40

Public bureaucracies are perhaps the most common political structures in the world today.

Question 41

There are many ways to compare presidential and parliamentary systems of government. Which do you think is most effective in passing legislation and making policy? Why?

Question 42

There are many ways to compare presidential and parliamentary systems of government. Which do you think is most effective in protecting minority rights? Why?

Question 43

There are many ways to compare presidential and parliamentary systems of government. Which do you think is most effective in establishing stable political leadership?

Question 44

Describe the relationship between legislative supremacy and executive supremacy.

Question 45

The bureaucracy has often been referred to as the fourth branch of government. Should it be placed on the same level as the legislature, judiciary, and executive branches? Why or Why Not?