Deck 12: Votes, Elections, Legislatures, and Legislators

Question 1

In what ways are legislatures designed faithfully to represent the public?

A) By ensuring its members are representative of all the major strata of national society.
B) By ensuring equal representation for all territorial units of the country.
C) By facilitating the expression of views of constituents.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following statements best encapsulates what legislatures do?

A) In democracies parliaments are designed faithfully to reflect the structure of public opinion.
B) In democracies parliaments are designed to ensure equal weight for every citizen's vote.
C) In democracies parliaments are designed to ensure that all shades of opinion have an opportunity to be expressed.
D) In democracies parliaments are designed to ensure that elected representatives are typical of their constituents.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Burke's view of the role of elected representatives was that they should faithfully express the views of their constituents.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

In general what proportion of new laws originates with proposals from members of parliaments? Please select all that apply.

A) 50%
B) 90%
C) 10%

Question 5

Which type of public agency performs which kind of check on the executive?
b. Horizontal accountability = audit offices

Question 6

What is the rationale for the distance between the two front benches in the House of Commons?

A) To be too far apart for one member to spit on another.
B) To be close enough to allow opponents to shake hands at the end of a debate.
C) To ensure opponents are unable to easily stab opponents with a sword.

Question 7

Which other procedural function do legislatures perform apart from ritualizing conflict and transparency?

Question 8

According to Mezey, which type of legislature can be found in the countries specified?

Question 9

In general, bicameral legislatures produce better legislation.

Question 10

In general, bicameral legislatures slow down the legislative process.

Question 11

The term 'political class' denotes politicians who use their public office to increase their ownership of wealth.

Question 12

The self-interest of politicians in a democracy determines their political behaviour.

Question 13

What was the proportion of respondents in the following countries (listed in Table 12.3 (in the text)) that reported a high degree of domestic public confidence in their national parliament?

Question 14

Surveys enquiring about public confidence in parliament simply reflect popular views on the institution of parliament.

Question 15

What are the reasons for low levels of public confidence in the legislature, according to Norton? Select all that apply.

A) Political culture.
B) Low standards of living.
C) Gender quota in parliaments.