Question 1

Which of the following countries does NOT use federal arrangements?

Accepted Answer

Chile does not use federal arrangements. Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico all have federal systems.

Question 2

Which of the following countries uses federal arrangements?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 3

Which policy is most likely to be placed in the national government under federalism?

Accepted Answer

Defense policy is most likely to be placed in the national government under federalism because it involves matters of national security and the protection of the entire country, rather than just individual states. Education, health, and cultural policies are typically handled at the state or local level.

Question 4

Which policy is most likely to be placed at the subnational level under federalism?

Accepted Answer

Education policy is typically implemented at the state or local level in a federalist system. Defense policy and foreign relations are typically the purview of the federal government, while economic policy can be implemented at both the federal and state level.

Question 5

What types of powers do the national and subnational governments in a federal regime share?

Accepted Answer

In a federal regime, national and subnational governments typically share concurrent powers, which are powers that both levels of government can exercise. Examples of concurrent powers include the power to tax, regulate commerce, and establish courts.

Question 6

Peru is best described as:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Peru is best described as:
...

Question 7

Venezuela is best described as:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Venezuela is best described as:
...

Question 8

How did decentralization affect Venezuelan politics in the 1990s?

Accepted Answer

Decentralization in Venezuela during the 1990s led to the fragmentation of political parties as power shifted from the central government to the states and municipalities. This weakened the influence of national parties and gave rise to regional ones, making it difficult for any one party to gain a majority in national elections.

Question 9

What has created problems for decentralization in Peru?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What has created problems for decentralization in...

Question 10

The subdivisions created by federalism in Latin America originally emerged to protect which groups?

Accepted Answer

The subdivisions created by federalism in Latin America originally emerged to protect regional caudillos, or local leaders, who wanted to maintain autonomy and power within their own regions. This was especially important during the early years of independence from colonial rule. Indigenous groups and working class movements were not typically given much consideration in the formation of federal systems, and religious groups were not a major factor in the political landscape at the time.

Question 11

Which of the following is a common characteristic of legislative institutions under federalism?

Accepted Answer

Bicameralism, or the division of legislative power into two chambers, is a common characteristic of legislative institutions under federalism. This is seen in the United States Congress, where power is divided between the House of Representatives and the Senate. Proportional representation, term limits, and strong impeachment powers may also be features of legislative institutions under federalism, but they are not as universally characteristic as bicameralism.

Question 12

Which country uses federal arrangements, but does not use bicameralism?

Accepted Answer

Venezuela is a federal country but has a unicameral legislature, unlike the other options which have bicameral legislatures.

Question 13

Federalism favors which approach to representation?

Accepted Answer

Federalism favors territorial representation, where political power is divided and shared between central and regional governments. This allows for regional diversity and interests to be represented in government decision making.

Question 14

In Latin America, what is the name of the congressional chamber that represents "the people" in the form of popular representation?

Accepted Answer

In Latin American countries such as Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina, the lower house of Congress is often referred to as the Chamber of Deputies, which represents the people through popular representation. This is in contrast to the Senate, which typically represents the different states or regions within the country. The ombudsman is a completely different entity, responsible for investigating complaints of maladministration or violation of rights. The legislative committee is a generic term that could refer to various groups involved in the legislative process, but does not specifically represent popular representation.

Question 15

Which of the following does NOT complement federalism?

Accepted Answer

Executive decree power does not complement federalism because it centralizes authority in the executive branch, potentially undermining the distribution of power between different levels of government that is fundamental to federalism.

Question 16

Which institution best complements federalism?

Accepted Answer

A strong judiciary is essential to complement federalism as it helps to interpret and uphold the division of powers between the federal and state governments. The judiciary also serves as a check and balance on the powers of both levels of government, ensuring that they remain within their constitutional limits. While the other options may also have a role to play in a federal system, they are not as directly related to the functioning and sustainability of federalism as a strong judiciary.

Question 17

The direct election of municipal officials is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The direct election of municipal officials is an example of political decentralization because it involves the distribution of political power and decision-making authority to local governments or the public, allowing citizens to directly influence local governance through their vote.

Question 18

Unconditional transfers are an example of:

Accepted Answer

Unconditional transfers refer to the distribution of funds from a higher level of government to a lower level without any specific requirements or conditions attached. This is an example of fiscal decentralization, as it involves the transfer of financial resources from a central authority to regional or local authorities. Administrative decentralization refers to the transfer of administrative authority from a central government to lower-level authorities, while judicial decentralization involves the transfer of judicial authority. Political decentralization involves a broader transfer of political power and decision-making authority to lower levels of government, including aspects such as elections and public participation.

Question 19

Local level control over education policy is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Local level control over education policy is an example of administrative decentralization, as it involves devolving decision-making power from the central government or higher authorities to local entities such as schools, districts, or communities. Fiscal decentralization would involve devolving financial resources and decision-making power, judicial decentralization would involve devolving judicial powers and responsibilities, and political decentralization would involve devolving political power and decision-making authority.

Question 20

Contemporary reform trends in Latin America have embraced:

Accepted Answer

Contemporary reform trends in Latin America have embraced decentralization, which refers to the transfer of power and decision-making authority from the central government to regional or local governments. This trend is aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of governance, fostering democratic participation and reducing corruption.

Quiz 9: Federalism and Unitarism: Learning to Share