Question 1

Guillermo O'Donnell argues that Latin Americans are inclined toward &#34;delegative democracy.&#34; By this he means:&#10;A) They see government as a matter for the legislature; presidents should only implement laws&#10;B) If a president fails to keep his/her promises, the military should intervene to replace them&#10;C) Presdients consider that election gives them a mandate to rule that elevates them over legislatures and the judiciary&#10;D) Presidents have an obligation to hear views of delegates from those affected by his decisions

Accepted Answer

O'Donnell's concept of "delegative democracy" suggests that presidents in such systems believe their election victory grants them broad authority to govern, often placing themselves above other branches of government like the legislature and judiciary. This reflects a belief in a strong, centralized executive power, derived from their direct mandate from the electorate.

Question 2

What is &#34;impeachment of the street&#34;?&#10;A) When the military parades a deposed president down the main thoroughfare of the capital city&#10;B) The way in which mayors of big cities are often removed by angry crowds&#10;C) How a number of elected presidents in Latin America have been forced from office by popular uprisings&#10;D) How street blockades are used to isolate capital cities and force the resignation of mayors or presidents

Accepted Answer

"Impeachment of the street" refers to the phenomenon where elected presidents in Latin America have been forced from office due to popular uprisings, reflecting the power of mass protests in political changes.

Question 3

Which of the following best fits the description of political arrangements, rules, or organizations valued for themselves as ways to process demands, resolve conflicts,or promote the general welfare?&#10;A) Constitutions&#10;B) Regimes&#10;C) Institutions&#10;D) Parties

Accepted Answer

Institutions are the structures and mechanisms of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of individuals within a given human community. They are valued for themselves as ways to process demands, resolve conflicts, or promote the general welfare, encompassing a broad range of established laws, norms, and customs.

Question 4

In Latin America, an organic law is best understood as:&#10;A) A law with a quasi-constitutional status requiring more than 50% to change&#10;B) A law that orginates with the people via a referendum&#10;C) A law that a regulates matters directly related to life itself&#10;D) A natural law, so obvious that it does not require formal legislation

Accepted Answer

Organic laws in Latin America are laws that have a special status, sitting below the constitution but above ordinary laws. They often require a higher majority to be amended or passed, reflecting their importance in the legal hierarchy.

Question 5

The removals of office of President Zelaya of Honduras and President Lugo of Paraguay had in common that:&#10;A) Both were clear examples of coups d'etat&#10;B) Both were defended by backers of removals as defense of the constitution but by presidential supporters as coups&#10;C) Both were caused by massive popular protests against neoliberal policies&#10;D) Both put an end to presidents who attempted to expand their powers with military support

Accepted Answer

Both removals were defended by their proponents as being in defense of the constitution, while supporters of the presidents saw these actions as coups. This reflects the contentious and polarized nature of the political situations in Honduras and Paraguay, where the legality and legitimacy of the removals were hotly debated.

Question 6

Regarding the elections that took place in El Salvador (1982) and Nicaragua (1984), the United States...&#10;A) Accepted the outcome of both elections as legitimate&#10;B) Saw both elections as deeply flawed and illigitimate&#10;C) Accepted the outcome in El Salvador as legitimate but rejected the outcome in Nicaragua&#10;D) Accepted the outcome in Nicaragua as legitimate but the outcome in El Salvador

Accepted Answer

The United States accepted the outcome of the 1982 elections in El Salvador as legitimate, viewing them as a step towards democracy despite criticisms regarding fairness and transparency. However, the U.S. rejected the legitimacy of the 1984 Nicaraguan elections, criticizing them as undemocratic and rigged, largely due to the political context of the Sandinista government, which was opposed by the U.S.

Question 7

Election observer teams always attempt to verify the count and conditions at voting statiions, but a fuller evaluation would require that:&#10;A) They run the election rather than leave it in the hands of national authorities&#10;B) They monitor the conditions before the election to make sure that all sides have adequate freedom to campaign&#10;C) They can punish candidates and parties that threaten one another with violence&#10;D) They be in charge of counting the ballots

Accepted Answer

Election observer teams aim to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process. Monitoring conditions before the election to ensure all sides have adequate freedom to campaign is crucial for a fuller evaluation of the election's fairness, as it addresses potential issues of bias, intimidation, or restrictions on political participation before the actual voting takes place.

Question 8

What position do neoliberals take toward good governance?&#10;A) They think good governance require that popular majorities cannot have a say in economic matters.&#10;B) The reject it because they think good governance is a socialist idea that attempts to increase state power against civil society.&#10;C) Good governance means putting only business people in charge of key offices concerned with the economy.&#10;D) Good governance provides a favorable environment for capitalism by limiting corruption and &#34;rent seeking behavior&#34;.

Accepted Answer

Neoliberals believe in the efficiency of the market economy and argue that good governance is essential for creating a conducive environment for capitalism. This includes reducing corruption and preventing rent-seeking behavior, which can distort markets and economic efficiency.

Question 9

In most of Latin America, presidential decree powers:&#10;A) Can only be declared by the judiciary.&#10;B) Are often authorized by legislatures&#10;C) Are common in military but rare in civilian governments&#10;D) Are almost always imposed by presidents over the resistence of legislators

Accepted Answer

Presidential decree powers in Latin America are often authorized by legislatures, allowing presidents to enact certain policies or measures without needing to pass through the full legislative process. This mechanism is designed to streamline decision-making in specific circumstances.

Question 10

Most observers see Brazil's federalism:&#10;A) As an example of how Latin American countries can avoid over-centralization&#10;B) As a system that allows for political and economic experimentation before implemented nationally&#10;C) As weak, leaving states vulnerable to national government policies&#10;D) As disfunctional for carrying out national reforms and programs

Accepted Answer

Brazil's federalism is often criticized for its dysfunctionality in implementing national reforms and programs. This is due to the complex interplay between federal, state, and municipal levels of government, which can lead to inefficiencies and obstacles in policy implementation across the country.

Deck 14: Institutions, Constitutions and Constituent Power