Question 1

The existence of discrete legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government in America is a manifestation of:
A) separation of powers
B) separation of politics from government
C) separation of state from national power
D) the U.S. constitution's deep roots in the British history
E) the founding fathers' prioritization of governmental efficiency

Accepted Answer

The existence of discrete legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government in America is a manifestation of separation of powers. The concept of separation of powers is an essential component of American democracy and refers to the division of power among different branches of government, which serves as a system of checks and balances to prevent any branch from becoming too powerful.

Question 2

The NGO called Freedom House is directly involved in trying to assess the:
A) human rights abuses of Communist countries only
B) human rights abuses in Southern hemisphere LDCs
C) relative health of democracy in all parts of the world
D) relative health of free market economics in all parts of the world
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

Freedom House is known for assessing the state of global democracy, including political rights and civil liberties, in all regions of the world.

Question 3

The trust of American citizens in their government has risen slowly but measurably along with the expansion of the successes of the U.S. economy.

Accepted Answer

Trust in the U.S. government has generally been on a decline since the 1960s, with fluctuations often not directly correlating to the state of the economy. Economic success does not automatically lead to increased trust in government.

Question 4

A feudal government based on heredity in which political authority is exercised by a powerful military clan leader is referred to as a:
A) politburo
B) Supreme Soviet
C) shogunate
D) caudillismo
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

A shogunate is a form of feudal government in Japan where a powerful military clan leader, known as the shogun, exercised political authority over the emperor and other clans. The shogunate was hereditary and based on military power. The other options, politburo and Supreme Soviet, refer to Soviet government bodies, while caudillismo specifically refers to the leadership style of Latin American strongmen.

Question 5

Which model of U.S. democracy relies most heavily on the viability of political parties?
A) democratic elitism model
B) multi-party system
C) pluralist model
D) parliamentary model
E) republican model

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which model of U.S. democracy relies most...

Question 6

Popular sovereignty and majority rule are characteristic of:
A) NGOs
B) governmental institutions
C) democracies
D) dictatorships
E) MNCs

Accepted Answer

Popular sovereignty and majority rule are principles of democracy, which emphasizes the importance of citizen participation and decision-making through voting and representation. NGOs, governmental institutions, dictatorships, and MNCs may or may not adhere to these principles.

Question 7

The Russian people still wait in vain for their first taste of a competitive vote for the office of Russian president.

Accepted Answer

Russia has held presidential elections since 1991, with multiple candidates running for office, indicating a form of competitive voting, despite criticisms regarding election fairness and transparency.

Question 8

The interlocking directorate of tight political party control over the operations of governmental institutions described in this chapter dealt with which country?
A) China
B) Japan
C) Russia
D) Soviet Union
E) Mongolia

Accepted Answer

The answer of The interlocking directorate of tight political party...

Question 9

Which of the following countries has a parliamentary system of government?
A) Brazil
B) Russia
C) United States
D) United Kingdom
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The United Kingdom has a parliamentary system of government, in which the legislative branch (Parliament) selects the government and the Prime Minister serves as the head of government. Brazil and the United States have presidential systems, while Russia has a semi-presidential system.

Question 10

The greater the outcomes at stake in any conflict, the more committed will the various competing groups become. This insight is best illustrated in chapter twelve by:
A) the election of president Fernando Henrique Cardoso in Brazil
B) the new constitution proposed by Boris Yeltsin in 1993
C) Jesse Jackson's favoring of affirmative action in the U.S.
D) the politics of medical malpractice lawsuits in the U.S.
E) the politics of racial policy in the U.S.

Accepted Answer

The chapter discusses how the high stakes involved in medical malpractice lawsuits lead to increased commitment from both sides, with doctors and insurers seeking to limit damages while plaintiff's lawyers and patients seek higher awards. This illustrates the principle that greater outcomes at stake lead to increased commitment in conflict.

Question 11

Policies attempted by __________________fell under the rubrics of glasnost, demokratizatsia, and perestroika.
A) Boris Yeltsin
B) Deng Xiaoping
C) Vladimir Putin
D) Mao Zedong
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The policies of glasnost (openness), demokratizatsia (democratization), and perestroika (restructuring) were initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev, not any of the leaders listed in the options.

Question 12

The power of judicial review is one enjoyed by the U.S. Supreme Court but not possessed by the top court in the United Kingdom.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court has the power of judicial review, which allows it to declare laws unconstitutional. The top court in the United Kingdom, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, does not have this power.

Question 13

The motto emblazoned on Brazil's flag suggests quite strongly that this is a country which values liberty or freedom more than it values order and progress.

Accepted Answer

The motto "Order and Progress" on Brazil's flag suggests that the country places a higher value on order and progress than on liberty or freedom.

Question 14

Despite the fact that the U.S. occupied Japan during its post-WW II reconstruction, the organizational structure of Japan's government actually approximates that of the U.K. much more than that of America.

Accepted Answer

Japan's governmental system is a constitutional monarchy, similar to the U.K.'s system, with a parliamentary government headed by a prime minister and a hereditary emperor serving as a ceremonial figurehead. The U.S., in contrast, has a presidential system with a separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Question 15

British history and Russian history share a similar scenario in which their respective monarchies gradually made accommodations to public demands for a voice in the governing process, thus allowing the royals to remain intact as cultural symbols rather than political decision-makers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of British history and Russian history share a...

Question 16

This chapter suggested that modern American liberalism favors significant governmental intervention in the economy, but little governmental intervention into popular moral or intellectual affairs.

Accepted Answer

The chapter suggests that modern American liberalism prioritizes governmental intervention in the economy, but generally favors individual autonomy in matters of morality and intellectual pursuits.

Question 17

The institution of government constitutes a:
A) cultural universal
B) cultural ethnocentricity
C) feature unique to democracies
D) feature unique to wealthy countries only
E) variable that has nothing to do with the political process

Accepted Answer

The institution of government is a cultural universal, meaning it is present in every known culture or society, although the specific forms and functions of government may vary.

Question 18

In which country did non-elected military and elected civilian governments share time most equitably during the twentieth century?
A) Brazil
B) China
C) Mexico
D) Japan
E) Cuba

Accepted Answer

Brazil experienced numerous shifts between military and civilian rule throughout the 20th century, making it a country where power was relatively evenly shared between non-elected military and elected civilian governments.

Question 19

Which concept comes closest to the essence of what it is that fascinates political scientists?
A) cooperative behavior
B) political parties
C) competition for power
D) ethical issues
E) historical case studies

Accepted Answer

Political scientists are primarily interested in studying the competition for power within and between political systems. This encompasses a wide range of topics including elections, political institutions, public policy, and international relations. While cooperative behavior, political parties, ethical issues, and historical case studies are all important areas of study in political science, they are ultimately secondary to the fundamental concern with power and its distribution within society.

Question 20

Governments differ from other forms of social institutions because they can make:
A) voluntary compliance rules
B) authoritative rules
C) flexible rules
D) popular sovereignty
E) popular consultations

Accepted Answer

Governments have the authority and power to make authoritative rules that are backed by the use of force or coercion if necessary. Voluntary compliance rules are typically made by other social institutions, such as businesses or non-profit organizations. Flexible rules may apply to both governments and other social institutions, but the ability to make authoritative rules is unique to governments. Popular sovereignty and popular consultations are related concepts but do not directly address the question of the rule-making power of governments.

Quiz 12: Political Science: Who Gets What, When, and How

The existence of discrete legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government in America is a manifestation of:

The NGO called Freedom House is directly involved in trying to assess the:

The trust of American citizens in their government has risen slowly but measurably along with the expansion of the successes of the U.S. economy.

A feudal government based on heredity in which political authority is exercised by a powerful military clan leader is referred to as a:

Which model of U.S. democracy relies most heavily on the viability of political parties?

Popular sovereignty and majority rule are characteristic of:

The Russian people still wait in vain for their first taste of a competitive vote for the office of Russian president.

The interlocking directorate of tight political party control over the operations of governmental institutions described in this chapter dealt with which country?

Which of the following countries has a parliamentary system of government?

The greater the outcomes at stake in any conflict, the more committed will the various competing groups become. This insight is best illustrated in chapter twelve by:

Policies attempted by __________________fell under the rubrics of glasnost, demokratizatsia, and perestroika.

The power of judicial review is one enjoyed by the U.S. Supreme Court but not possessed by the top court in the United Kingdom.

The motto emblazoned on Brazil's flag suggests quite strongly that this is a country which values liberty or freedom more than it values order and progress.

Despite the fact that the U.S. occupied Japan during its post-WW II reconstruction, the organizational structure of Japan's government actually approximates that of the U.K. much more than that of America.

British history and Russian history share a similar scenario in which their respective monarchies gradually made accommodations to public demands for a voice in the governing process, thus allowing the royals to remain intact as cultural symbols rather than political decision-makers.

This chapter suggested that modern American liberalism favors significant governmental intervention in the economy, but little governmental intervention into popular moral or intellectual affairs.

The institution of government constitutes a:

In which country did non-elected military and elected civilian governments share time most equitably during the twentieth century?

Which concept comes closest to the essence of what it is that fascinates political scientists?

Governments differ from other forms of social institutions because they can make: