Question 1

Which of the following has been used to restrict access to voting in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Historically, both property requirements and taxes have been used to restrict access to voting in the United States. Property requirements were used in the early years of the United States to limit voting to property owners, and poll taxes were used in some states to disenfranchise voters, particularly African Americans, until the 24th Amendment and subsequent legislation abolished such practices.

Question 2

In the United States, the Supreme Court has consistently interpreted the Bill of Rights to mean that individual liberties such as freedom of expression are absolute liberties/freedoms.

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court has held that individual liberties, including freedom of expression, are not absolute and can be limited under certain circumstances, such as when they conflict with other important interests or public safety.

Question 3

All the world's stable democracies are old democracies (that is, democracies which have existed as democracies for at least 150 years).

Accepted Answer

Many stable democracies have not existed for 150 years but are considered stable, such as Germany, India, and Japan, which became democracies more recently in historical terms.

Question 4

All democratic countries have written constitutions and written Bills of Rights.

Accepted Answer

Some democratic countries, like the United Kingdom, do not have a single written constitution or a formal written Bill of Rights. Instead, their constitutional framework is based on statutes, conventions, judicial decisions, and historical documents.

Question 5

Which of the following is true of nondemocratic governments?

Accepted Answer

Nondemocratic governments can indeed mobilize the citizenry to act politically for various purposes, such as supporting government initiatives or demonstrating national unity, despite the lack of democratic freedoms.

Question 6

Nondemocratic governments

Accepted Answer

Nondemocratic governments can suppress groups within society, create laws and policies that don't reflect the popular will, and often have unclear lines of succession, making all the provided options correct.

Question 7

Pericles

Accepted Answer

Pericles is famous for favoring and strengthening democracy in Athens during the 5th century BCE. He did not oppose democracy, nor did he prefer monarchy; instead, he played a significant role in developing the democratic institutions of Athens. There is no evidence that he was the first person to analyze political socialization.

Question 8

Leaders of democratic country X want to increase levels of democracy by increasing the standard of living and the overall quality of life enjoyed by the demos.In emphasizing these elements of democracy, leaders of country X are emphasizing

Accepted Answer

Performance democracy focuses on the outcomes of governance, such as improving the standard of living and overall quality of life, which aligns with the leaders' goals in the scenario.

Question 9

The process of political learning that involves the formation of political attitudes is known as

Accepted Answer

Political socialization is the process through which individuals learn about politics and form political attitudes.

Question 10

Women gained voting rights earlier in the United States than in Switzerland.

Accepted Answer

Women in the United States gained the right to vote in 1920 with the 19th Amendment, whereas Swiss women did not gain the right to vote in federal elections until 1971.

Question 11

The __________ is a component of pluralist democracy as practiced in _________.

Accepted Answer

The church tax is a component of pluralist democracy in Germany, where it is collected by the government for the support of religious institutions.

Question 12

The Magna Carta

Accepted Answer

The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, is a foundational document that proclaimed the king would recognize the rights of his subjects, marking a significant step in the development of constitutional governance in Britain.

Question 13

Both compulsory and optional referenda are used in Switzerland.

Accepted Answer

Switzerland employs both compulsory and optional referenda, allowing citizens to vote on constitutional amendments (compulsory) and laws challenged by a sufficient number of voters (optional).

Question 14

Civil society

Accepted Answer

Civil society encompasses the elements of society that exist outside of the governmental and for-profit sectors, including non-governmental organizations, non-profit organizations, and other groups that operate in the public interest.

Question 15

A study of U.S.political history reveals that during the eighteenth century groups considered to be "dependents"

Accepted Answer

During the eighteenth century, groups considered to be "dependents" (such as women, children, and non-property-owning men) could indeed be denied the right to vote. This was based on the belief that only those who had a stake in property could make informed decisions about governance. Social welfare systems, as we understand them today, were not established, and the majority of employment was agricultural rather than industrial during this period.

Question 16

In the United States, the case of Roe v.Wade

Accepted Answer

Roe v. Wade (1973) was a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that upheld the legality of abortion by ruling that the right to privacy under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment extended to a woman's right to have an abortion.

Question 17

Nawal el Saadawi

Accepted Answer

Nawal el Saadawi is a renowned Egyptian feminist, writer, activist, physician, and psychiatrist who has been a leading voice in the fight against female oppression in Egypt and the Arab world, advocating for women's rights, freedom of expression, and social justice.

Question 18

The component of democracy that assesses the extent to which people develop their own awareness of their role in promoting self-government is known as the _____ component.

Accepted Answer

The developmental component of democracy refers to the process through which individuals become aware of their role and responsibilities in promoting and sustaining self-government. This involves the development of civic skills, political awareness, and active participation in the democratic process.

Question 19

Group X is a pro-democracy interest group that emphasizes democracy's ability to limit government power so that excessive governmental regulation does not occur.Group X's emphasis on limiting governmental power is the equivalent of emphasizing which component of democracy

Accepted Answer

Group X's emphasis on limiting governmental power to prevent excessive governmental regulation aligns with the concept of protection in democracy. This aspect of democracy focuses on safeguarding individual freedoms and rights from potential overreach by the government.

Question 20

In both Egypt and Tunisia, supporters of the Arab Spring were in agreement on the undesirability of Sharia law, while opponents of the Arab Spring agreed that Sharia law was desirable.

Accepted Answer

The Arab Spring movements in Egypt and Tunisia were complex, with varying opinions on Sharia law among both supporters and opponents. The movements were primarily driven by demands for political freedom, economic opportunity, and social justice, rather than a unified stance on Sharia law.

Quiz 8: Comparative Politics I