Deck 2: Britain

Question 1

New Labour's Third Way referred to

A) efforts to find solutions to society's ills and not allow marginalized citizens to fall through the cracks.
B) an alternative political party to Labour and Conservatives.
C) their rejection of Margaret Thatcher's economic policies.
D) complete reorganization of Great Britain's education system.
E) a return to Labour's socialist roots.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Margaret Thatcher left office as prime minister in 1990 when

A) she resigned due to a leadership challenge within the Conservative Party.
B) she lost her seat as a member of Parliament.
C) the Conservative Party lost a general election.
D) she accepted membership in the House of Lords.
E) she resigned due to health reasons.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The Napoleonic Wars had which of the following consequences?

A) They confirmed Britain's preeminence and set the stage for free international trade.
B) They marked the end of Great Britain as a power on the European continent.
C) They marked the rise of France as the preeminent European power.
D) They led to the Louisiana Purchase by the United States.
E) They were so costly to Great Britain that they lost most of their colonies.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Collectivism is the term applied to

A) the governing philosophy of Tony Blair's New Labour.
B) the appeal of the Conservative Party to working-class voters.
C) the process by which the first post-World War II Labour government took over private industries and moved them into the state sector.
D) the consensus that drove politics in the postwar period and presupposed that the state should take on more responsibility for economic governance and social welfare provision.
E) Margaret Thatcher's economic policies.

Question 5

All of the following were elements of Margaret Thatcher's governing agenda EXCEPT

A) cutting taxes.
B) working cooperatively with trade unions to enhance British competitiveness.
C) using government policy to increase efficiency in the private sector.
D) reducing social service expenditures where possible.
E) traditional cultural values.

Question 6

The Coalition Government's new framework for governance, called "Big Society," is committed to all of the following EXCEPT the

A) recall of Members of Parliament who violate the public trust.
B) public election of police commissioners.
C) ability of parents to start their own schools.
D) election of a mayor in London.
E) rejection of ideological positions in favor of broad appeals.

Question 7

New Labour may be characterized as

A) a new party that emerged under Prime Minister Tony Blair's leadership, after the centrist members broke away from the Labour Party.
B) a "third-way" alternative to the collectivism of traditional Labour Party politics and Thatcherism.
C) an appeal to workers in the high technology and the "new economy" associated with the Internet-based sectors.
D) a reorientation of the Labour Party to commit itself more fully and comprehensively to the needs of all working people in the UK.
E) the resurgence of labor unions after Margaret Thatcher's efforts to curb their influence.

Question 8

Social policy in the UK today

A) offers greater comprehensive services in comparison to its European neighbors.
B) focuses on training and broader social investment.
C) promotes "family friendly" policies that help women balance work and family responsibilities.
D) is characterized by austerity, including recent budget cuts and changes to the National Health Service.
E) emphasizes efficiencies to break welfare dependency.

Question 9

Universal suffrage for both men and women above the age of 21 was achieved in the UK in

A) 1832.
B) 1884.
C) 1918.
D) 1922.
E) 1928.

Question 10

According to the text, the event that marked the end of Britain's position as a dominant player in world politics was

A) the end of World War II.
B) the UK's membership in the European Union since 1973.
C) the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997.
D) the formal independence of India and Pakistan in 1947.
E) David Cameron's recasting of British foreign policy beginning in 2010.

Question 11

The Magna Carta was a document that

A) eliminated the monarchy in Great Britain.
B) unified the Scottish and English crowns.
C) established Norman rule throughout the British Isles.
D) created Great Britain's current constitution establishing a prime minister, Parliament, and the current legal system.
E) placed the first restrictions against absolute power by the monarch.

Question 12

All of the following are true of monetarism EXCEPT that it

A) reflected a radical change from the postwar consensus regarding economic management.
B) signaled a rejection of Keynesian economics.
C) called for a widespread nationalization of industries.
D) assumed that there is a natural rate of unemployment set by the market.
E) indicated that government should intervene in the economy only by manipulating the money supply to keep inflation low.

Question 13

All of the following were laws passed by Parliament to extend the franchise EXCEPT the

A) Reform Act of 1832.
B) Representation of the People Act of 1867.
C) Franchise Act of 1884.
D) Representation of the People Act of 1918.
E) Peoples Charter of 1830.

Question 14

As an approach to economic and social policy in the UK, Keynesianism is based on

A) the notion of low debt, low deficit, and low inflation.
B) deficit reduction as the necessary precondition for maintaining economic stability.
C) the belief that a balanced budget is necessary to achieve a stable economy and full employment.
D) decreased economic management and welfare provision by the state.
E) a commitment to maintain high levels of employment and steady rates of growth, keep prices stable, and achieve a desirable balance-of-payments schedule and rates of exchange.

Question 15

The Reform Act of 1832

A) relieved class-based tensions.
B) enfranchised all male house owners in rural and urban areas.
C) represented the first in a rapid series of voting reforms that politically transformed the UK.
D) nearly doubled the size of the electorate.
E) extended the franchise to a select section of the middle class.

Question 16

Under Gordon Brown, New Labour's economic policies included

A) a focus on a well-educated, well-trained work force that can be competitive in the global economy.
B) widespread privatization of key industries.
C) high taxes to pay for increased social services.
D) renewed relationships with former colonies to stimulate trade.
E) all of the above.

Question 17

The term United Kingdom refers to

A) England only.
B) England and Scotland only.
C) England, Scotland, and Wales only.
D) England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
E) England, Scotland, Wales, and all of Ireland.

Question 18

Great Britain's position as an island has made it less subject to invasion and conquest. It has also had the added effect of

A) complicating matters with the European Union, due to a feeling of separation from mainland Europe.
B) causing Great Britain to practice isolationism for much of its history.
C) causing Great Britain to develop an advanced space program, due to its geographical benefits for space shuttle and rocket launches.
D) causing Great Britain to seek closer relations with mainland Europe to avoid being isolated.
E) making Great Britain one of the strongest supporters of a more powerful European Union to avoid more wars with mainland countries.

Question 19

All of the following are TRUE of the Industrial Revolution EXCEPT that it

A) was a major contributing factor in Great Britain establishing its colonial empire.
B) created pressure for democratization but did not affect the average citizen.
C) involved the rapid expansion of manufacturing production and technological innovation.
D) led to major social and economic transformations.
E) allowed Great Britain to become the dominant international power.

Question 20

All of the following are elements of the Coalition Government's economic policy EXCEPT

A) cuts in government subsidies for public housing.
B) increases in the retirement age.
C) decreased training and social investment, especially for youth.
D) a general 20 percent cut in public spending.
E) a reduction in child benefits for middle-class families.

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT true?

A) Historically, no powers were reserved for subnational units of government in the United Kingdom.
B) The Labour Government of Tony Blair introduced reforms that devolved specified powers to legislative bodies in Scotland and Wales.
C) The Labour Government of Tony Blair introduced reforms that granted some specific powers to all major metropolitan areas.
D) The United Kingdom has historically been a unitary rather than a federal state.
E) The term Great Britain includes England, Wales, and Scotland, but not Northern Ireland.

Question 22

The prime minister is

A) elected by the House of Commons.
B) the leader of the party after a general election who controls a majority of seats in the House of Commons.
C) directly elected by majority vote of the whole electorate.
D) determined after a general election by an electoral college on the basis of votes cast by electors representing England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
E) chosen by the monarch.

Question 23

Cabinet government includes all of the following EXCEPT

A) fusion of powers.
B) supreme control of government.
C) responsibility for policy making.
D) choosing the next monarch.
E) coordination of government departments.

Question 24

The introduction of devolution by Tony Blair's Labour government involved the

A) creation of power-sharing legislative bodies in all geographical areas throughout the UK.
B) redistribution of formal power to an authority governing London with a directly elected mayor.
C) continuance of the private finance initiative (PFI) to expand the involvement of the private sector within the revitalization of British public services.
D) redistribution of policy-making powers to quangos within the British political system.
E) redeployment of power from the House of Commons to the House of Lords.

Question 25

Which of the following is TRUE about the UK Supreme Court?

A) It removed the authority as the highest court of appeal from the House of Lords when it was created in 2009.
B) It cannot rule on the constitutionality of acts of Parliament like the U.S. Supreme Court.
C) It has caused concern among British observers that its senior judges may become more isolated and subject to political attacks by British politicians.
D) None of the above is true.
E) All of the above statements are true.

Question 26

Parliamentary sovereignty means that

A) Parliament has more authority than the executive and judicial branch but not the monarchy.
B) Parliament, the prime minister, and judiciary are three separate and equal branches each with a clear set of powers.
C) Parliament chooses the next king or queen when there is a vacancy due to death, retirement, or abdication.
D) Parliament can overturn decrees passed by the European Union legislature.
E) Parliament has ultimate authority to make or overturn any law and the prime minister and judiciary cannot overturn Parliament's actions.

Question 27

According to the text, Great Britain ranks high for foreign direct investment because

A) of its relationship with the European Union.
B) of strong government control of the economy.
C) its geographic location makes it a gateway to the European mainland.
D) its economy is more market-driven and relies less on state capacity and political arrangements.
E) English is the language most spoken in Great Britain.

Question 28

The British judiciary is generally less influential than the U.S. judiciary due to

A) less competent jurists.
B) a societal emphasis on compromise, resulting in a less litigious society.
C) undue influence from strong prime ministers.
D) the fact that they only meet three months out of the year.
E) a lack of power of judicial review.

Question 29

The political institution that has greatest impact upon economic policy-making in the United Kingdom is the

A) British civil service.
B) House of Commons.
C) British monarch.
D) European Union.
E) British Prime Minister and cabinet.

Question 30

The decision to ally with the United States to invade Iraq illustrates

A) the critical involvement of the cabinet in security matters.
B) the divisive nature of collective responsibility central to cabinet involvement in the decision-making process.
C) the role of the cabinet has declined in the decision-making process in recent years.
D) how a strong cabinet can overrule the prime minister.
E) the importance of the monarchy to the decision-making process.

Question 31

Quangos are

A) a pejorative term political opponents use against each other.
B) quasi-nongovernmental organizations that take responsibility for specific functions and combine government and private sector expertise.
C) private enterprises that take over traditionally public entities such as the mail service.
D) international companies headquartered in another country.
E) the official mascot for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT true?

A) Two important positions in ministries are the permanent secretary (responsible for the daily administrative running of the department) and the principal private secretary (liaison between the minister and senior civil servants).
B) There is a concern that the growing importance of special advisors is eroding the impartiality of civil servants.
C) Civil servants in Britain do much of the work of conceptualizing and refining legislation.
D) The size of the civil service has decreased with the ongoing modernization of Whitehall.
E) All of the above are true statements.

Question 33

Members of the cabinet are

A) chosen by the prime minister, but limited to members of the Commons or the Lords and practice collective decision making.
B) chosen by the prime minister, but limited to members of the governing party and have limited responsibilities.
C) chosen by the prime minister, but limited to members of the Commons and are mainly an advisory board.
D) chosen by the prime minister to reflect a balance between parliamentarians and influential civic and business leaders and are not utilized with any frequency.
E) elected on the same ballot with the prime minister and practice collective responsibility.

Question 34

The West Lothian Question refers to

A) a controversy sparked by devolution in which Scotland has the ability to vote on laws related to England, but not vice versa.
B) an attempt by a small set of islands off of the coast of Wales to demand independence from the UK.
C) a controversy generated between the European Union and the UK over the introduction of regional development agencies.
D) the region in which the rise of Mad Cow disease first began in the UK.
E) a recent attempt by the coalition government to reduce the amount of seats in Parliament from 650 to 600.

Question 35

Members of ethnic minority groups in the United Kingdom

A) are well integrated.
B) are overwhelmingly under the age of twenty-five.
C) are increasingly foreign-born.
D) used to experience considerable racially motivated criminal attacks, but such attacks have decreased since the 1990s.
E) make up a higher proportion in the managerial and professional ranks than white men.

Question 36

Devolution has

A) led to the creation of a federal state within the United Kingdom.
B) had little impact upon the UK's unitary state.
C) been constrained by the UK's participation within the EU.
D) led to the uneven distribution of power between the UK's various regions.
E) been recently reversed by legislation passed by the current coalition government.

Question 37

All of the following are true of Great Britain's constitution EXCEPT that it

A) is not a single, formal written document.
B) sets up a dual executive with the powers equally shared between the prime minister and the monarchy.
C) is a combination of state law, common law, convention, and authoritative interpretation.
D) dates back to the seventeenth century.
E) All of these are true of Great Britain's constitution.

Question 38

Two constitutionally mandated mechanisms for checking the prime minister are

A) the impeachment process and variable elections.
B) the vote of no confidence and the convention of collective responsibility.
C) the monarch and the House of Lords.
D) Question Time and the election process.
E) fusion of powers and judicial review.

Question 39

The House of Commons serves all of the following functions EXCEPT

A) passing laws.
B) providing finances by authorizing taxation.
C) choosing the next monarch.
D) reviewing and scrutinizing public administration and government policy.
E) providing a visible arena for public debate.

Question 40

Women's participation in the British labor market has

A) been traditionally high.
B) been low and is decreasing due to the recent economic downturn.
C) increased recently among high pay, full time jobs.
D) been particularly limited among women from all minority ethnic groups.
E) been shaped by an oversupply of affordable child care.

Question 41

Backbencher dissent

A) rarely occurs in Parliament.
B) has occurred more often since the 1970s.
C) occurs only in the House of Lords.
D) often occurred before the 1980s, but has since decreased in frequency.
E) is sparked by the opposition parties towards the governing party(s).

Question 42

Before a bill becomes a law, all of the following must occur EXCEPT it must be

A) approved by the House of Commons.
B) read and debated in the House of Lords.
C) sent to the Crown for royal assent.
D) approved by the House of Lords.
E) All of these must occur before a bill becomes a law.

Question 43

Blair's doctrine of international community referred to his

A) close relationship with U.S. Presidents, Bill Clinton and George Bush.
B) belief in multilateralism.
C) support for the use of military force when necessary to right human rights abuses.
D) support for increased ties between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
E) belief in giving greater power to international organizations, like the United Nations.

Question 44

Which of the following is TRUE of the Conservative Party?

A) Trade unions make up a large part of its party membership.
B) Their main rival is the Liberal Democratic Party.
C) It is considered to be the most innovative center-right party in Europe.
D) It has won the prime minister position more times than any other party from 1945 to 2010.
E) Due to the current world climate, it is focused on economic and security issues, to the detriment of social and environmental issues.

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT true?

A) Muslims in the United Kingdom are a direct reflection of the country's decolonization process.
B) Muslims in the United Kingdom have experienced police insensitivity, problems accessing the best public housing, and hate crimes.
C) Muslims in the United Kingdom have been increasingly scrutinized since the events of 7/7.
D) Muslims in the United Kingdom are increasingly gaining political office, including the election of dozens of Muslim city councilors around the country and of the first Labour MP in 2010.
E) Muslims in the United Kingdom were unaffected by the events of 9/11.

Question 46

The term special relationship refers to

A) the relationship between the monarchy and the Parliament.
B) the relationship between Great Britain and the European Union.
C) the relationship between Great Britain and their former colonies.
D) the relationship between Great Britain and the United States.
E) British politicians' habit of keeping mistresses.

Question 47

Electoral reforms introduced by the coalition government will

A) make positions in the House of Lords fully elected.
B) make the position of prime minister a directly elected position.
C) stagger elections for the House of Commons, so that only one-third is up for election at any one time.
D) establish fixed terms of four years for the regional assemblies.
E) establish a fixed term of five years for House of Commons members subject to dissolution by a majority of MPs.

Question 48

Backbencher dissent occurred in the Labour Party over

A) Britain's place in the European Union.
B) welfare and education policies.
C) the War in Iraq.
D) reforms to the House of Lords.
E) who should be the leader of the party and therefore the prime minister.

Question 49

Given the questions about representation and fairness that single-member plurality raises, the Liberal Democrats has forced the coalition government to consider changing the electoral system to

A) proportional representation.
B) a winner-take-all electoral system.
C) multi-member districts.
D) the Alternative Vote.
E) a majoritarian system.

Question 50

The events of 7/7 involved

A) ratifying the European Union constitution.
B) an Act of Parliament to devolve substantial powers to Northern Ireland.
C) opening a dialogue with Al-Qaeda.
D) a suicide bomber attack by 4 British Muslims on the London underground.
E) Blair's decision to send troops to Iraq.

Question 51

Britain's electoral system tends to

A) exaggerate the scale of victory of the largest party.
B) result in minority or coalition governments.
C) result in a House of Commons that accurately reflects the demographic characteristics (such as race, ethnic identity, and gender) of the populace.
D) keep the combined popular vote for smaller and regional parties at about 10 percent.
E) All of the above statements are true.

Question 52

All of the following are TRUE of the House of Lords EXCEPT

A) most government policy is initiated here.
B) it can debate, amend, and delay, but not block legislation.
C) it includes senior religious leaders from the Church of England.
D) it is made up of a mixture of hereditary peers and life peers.
E) it is not directly elected.

Question 53

The term two-party system is applied to the UK for all the following reasons EXCEPT

A) from 1945 to 2010, only leaders of the Conservative or the Labour Party served as prime ministers.
B) Conservative or Labour candidates come in first or second in virtually every parliamentary contest throughout the UK.
C) since 1945, the Conservative and Labour parties have routinely divided at least 85 percent of the seats in the Commons.
D) between 1945 and 2005, the Conservative and Labour parties have won roughly the same number of general elections.
E) only two political parties are allowed under British law.

Question 54

Changes in Britain's classic party system are due in large part to

A) the decline in class-based voting.
B) the rise of immigration and multiculturalism.
C) the rise of globalization.
D) disputes over Britain's foreign policy stances.
E) the decline in Britain's economic fortunes.

Question 55

Which of the following is TRUE of the Liberal Democrats?

A) They are insignificant in British politics.
B) They are emerging as an alternative to the two major parties.
C) They have won the prime minister position once since World War II.
D) They alternate power with the two major parties.
E) They are a socialist party.

Question 56

The term backbenchers refers to

A) members of parliament who unseat an incumbent.
B) elderly life peers in the House of Lords.
C) members of the minority party.
D) members of parliament who have no government office and rank-and-file members of the opposition.
E) the shadow cabinet of the opposition party.

Question 57

Minority representation remains low in Parliament due to

A) Britain's single-member plurality electoral system.
B) the low level of minorities in the United Kingdom.
C) deep-seated negative attitudes towards asylum seekers and immigrants in Europe.
D) the disinterest among minorities to run for political office.
E) devolution.

Question 58

Traditionally, elections for parliament

A) occur every four years.
B) are staggered, so that only one-third is up for election at any one time.
C) occur every six years.
D) occur every two years.
E) are at the request of the prime minister, at least every five years.

Question 59

All of the following have been major influences in the last forty years on British culture EXCEPT

A) feminism.
B) antinuclear activism.
C) class identity.
D) environmentalism.
E) All of the above have been major influences.

Question 60

Backbencher dissent occurred in the Conservative Party over

A) the War in Iraq.
B) welfare and education policies.
C) reforms in the House of Lords.
D) Britain's role in the European Union.
E) devolution.

Question 61

What are the most significant implications of the 2010 election? In what way was it a unique election?

Question 62

How well has Britain adjusted to the realities of a postcolonial multicultural society? Discuss the experiences of ethnic minorities in Britain, noting differences among ethnic minority communities, and evaluate government responses and policies intended to improve the economic and political conditions for ethnic minorities. How have 9/11 and the London bombings of July 2005 transformed the context of multicultural politics in Britain? Please utilize specific examples from the text in your answer.

Question 63

Describe how the role of the monarchy has changed over time. In light of this, evaluate the need for this actor within the contemporary British political system. Use specific examples in your answer

Question 64

Some would argue that Britain's joining the European Union and devolution have fundamentally challenged key principles of British politics such as parliamentary sovereignty and the unitary state. Discuss the merits of such an argument. Draw upon specific examples from the text in your answer.

Question 65

Blair's decision to support the U.S. administration in the war on terror was based on all of the following EXCEPT

A) his belief in the threats of weapons of mass destruction, Al Qaeda terrorism, and rogue states.
B) his conviction that humanitarian intervention would save Iraqi Muslims from dire human rights abuses.
C) an understanding that Britain's special relationship required the UK to support the U.S. war in Iraq.
D) a fear that if the United States were left to fight the war alone that unilateralist forces in the United States would be strengthened.
E) his fears about the allegiance of British Muslims following 9/11.

Question 66

Compare and contrast the approach to economic management taken by New Labour, the Conservatives under Thatcher and Major, and the current coalition government. To what extent do these fundamentally differ? What explains the differences and similarities?

Question 67

Gordon Brown signaled a departure from the foreign policy of Tony Blair by

A) immediately withdrawing all British troops from Iraq.
B) appointing ministers who had been publicly critical of the invasion of Iraq.
C) withdrawing from NATO.
D) opening a dialogue with al-Qaeda.
E) joining the euro zone.

Question 68

Scholars have often characterized British democracy as being evolutionary. Discuss the bases for this assumption. Evaluate whether or not this assumption still holds true.

Question 69

Compare and contrast the status of women and minorities within the British system. How would you characterize the level of equality within this country? What challenges remain to the improvement of their status? Please cite specific examples in your answer.

Question 70

What factors point to Great Britain still being considered a world power? What factors hinder Great Britain from being a world power and/or contributed to its decline? Use specific examples from your text in your answer.