Deck 7: Political Parties and Elections

Question 1

In 2008, the Turkish Constitutional Court

A) banned the ruling Justice and Development Party (JDP).
B) cut state funding to the JDP but did not ban the party.
C) banned certain JDP officials from holding public office.
D) invalidated the election of the JDP.
E) dismissed the case against the JDP.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Constitutions typically do all of the following EXCEPT

A) define how power is distributed among political actors.
B) define the nature and extent of citizens' rights.
C) serve as the foundation for all laws.
D) establish how many political parties will exist in a country.
E) establish how political decisions are to be made.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The oldest written constitution in effect in Europe today is that of

A) Great Britain.
B) Germany.
C) Poland.
D) the Netherlands.
E) Norway.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Why do many European constitutions, unlike the U.S. Constitution, establish a number of socioeconomic rights for citizens?

A) These countries were influenced by communism.
B) These constitutions are relatively recent and reflect a larger state role in society.
C) European countries are richer than the United States.
D) The EU made them include these rights.
E) They reflect the heritage of the French Revolution.

Question 5

Judicial review

A) is found in all European countries.
B) has become a more common feature in European countries.
C) gives voters the chance to overturn laws.
D) is an example of majoritarian democracy.
E) occurs in Europe only in the European Court of Justice.

Question 6

What makes the British constitution unique?

A) It has the strongest judicial review in Europe.
B) It is commonly referred to as "unwritten."
C) It is the newest constitution in Europe.
D) It has to be approved by voters.
E) It is the shortest European constitution.

Question 7

One consequence of Great Britain's unique constitutional structure is

A) parliamentary supremacy.
B) the country's rejection of the euro.
C) strong bicameralism.
D) separate constitutions for each of its regions.
E) it is very hard to amend the constitution.

Question 8

Which of the following countries are federal?

A) Poland and Spain
B) Germany and Austria
C) Great Britain and Italy
D) France and Italy
E) Germany and Sweden

Question 9

Federal states in Europe

A) are more homogeneous.
B) have bicameral parliaments where both houses have real power.
C) are semi-presidential.
D) adopt single-member district plurality voting.
E) are concentrated in Eastern Europe.

Question 10

Unitary states

A) are not democratic.
B) have presidential systems.
C) are not federal.
D) are constitutional monarchies.
E) are countries that used to be divided into various parts.

Question 11

Judicial review

A) is found in federal states because powers within the country must be formally divided.
B) is found in unitary states because powers within the country must be formally divided.
C) is found in federal states because people have more rights in a federal system.
D) is found in federal states because they are more diverse.
E) is found in federal states because they have newer constitutions.

Question 12

Subsidiarity

A) is an argument for federalism.
B) is an argument for judicial review.
C) is an argument for unitary states.
D) is an argument for more powers for the EU.
E) is an argument against the use of referendums.

Question 13

Devolution is an example of

A) subsidiarity.
B) judicial review.
C) centralization of power.
D) market-based economic reform.
E) parliamentary supremacy.

Question 14

Strong separatist movements exist in

A) Germany and France.
B) Germany and Italy.
C) Great Britain and Spain.
D) Ireland and Sweden.
E) Bulgaria and Poland.

Question 15

Separatism in Italy seems to be driven by

A) poorer regions wanting to secede.
B) richer regions wanting to secede.
C) ethnic divisions.
D) historical divisions reanimating themselves.
E) linguistic divisions.

Question 16

The group in Spain associated with separatist violence are the

A) Catalans.
B) Padanians.
C) Basques.
D) Castillians.
E) Valencians.

Question 17

According to the textbook, national level courts

A) are hostile to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
B) tell the ECJ how to rule.
C) have worked together to undermine the ECJ.
D) often cooperate with the ECJ.
E) have little to do with the ECJ.

Question 18

One advantage of "common law" is that

A) it is easier to understand.
B) judges just apply the law as it is written.
C) it is more flexible and allows for the law to evolve over time.
D) it is more democratic.
E) it is a common legal code that applies throughout Europe.

Question 19

Where is the legal system built upon "common law"?

A) Ireland
B) Scotland
C) France
D) Spain
E) Switzerland

Question 20

Judges have more power and discretion

A) in systems that use "common law."
B) in systems that use "code law."
C) in supranational systems.
D) in federal systems.
E) in matters involving EU law.

Question 21

Under a system based on "code law," all of the following are true EXCEPT

A) judges have little discretion.
B) defendants often do not have the presumption of innocence.
C) the judge is an agent of the state, not a neutral observer.
D) it is easier to handle cases where the state is the defendant.
E) judicial precedent plays little role.

Question 22

An ombudsman

A) handles complaints about government's abuse of power.
B) helps EU law be written into national law.
C) is a government prosecutor.
D) appoints judges.
E) has been set up in many cases to try cases with "universal jurisdiction."

Question 23

Referendums are used most often in

A) Great Britain.
B) Switzerland.
C) Turkey.
D) Poland.
E) France.

Question 24

The German Constitutional Court

A) is weak compared to similar courts in Europe.
B) has intervened in cases to shape Germany's relationship with the EU.
C) is unique in Europe because voters elect its judges.
D) has never declared a German law unconstitutional.
E) can be overridden if a law is passed with a two-thirds vote.

Question 25

What is a feature of France's Constitutional Council?

A) It is elected by voters.
B) It argues in favor of universal jurisdiction.
C) It reviews laws before they are officially adopted.
D) Ordinary citizens can take a case before it.
E) It has existed since the French Revolution.

Question 26

Judges in Europe are typically elected to office.

Question 27

France's current constitution was adopted after World War II.

Question 28

The U.S. Constitution is longer than most European constitutions.

Question 29

Eastern European countries are not federal because most are not very ethnically diverse.

Question 30

Devolution in Britain has taken powers away from the House of Lords.

Question 31

Padania is a region of Spain that is clamoring for independence.

Question 32

European governments can be sued in the European Court of Justice.

Question 33

The European Court of Justice functions as a supranational institution

Question 34

The ombudsman helps prevent abuse of power by the government.

Question 35

Judicial review is conducted differently in France and Germany.

Question 36

What are the advantages and disadvantages of judicial review?

Question 37

Why has separatism emerged in several European countries? Be able to give examples to complement your analysis.

Question 38

Why might federalism be advantageous? Can you think of disadvantages of federalism?

Question 39

Describe how judicial review differs in France and Germany. In which country is the Constitutional Court more powerful? Why?

Question 40

What is the relationship among national law, national courts, EU law, and the European Court of Justice?