Political Systems of the World
Chapter Exam Questions
Course Introduction
This course offers a comparative analysis of major political systems across the globe, examining structures such as democracies, authoritarian regimes, monarchies, and hybrid systems. Students will explore how governments are organized, how power is distributed, and the role of institutions like parliaments, executives, and judiciaries. Special focus is given to the political cultures, historical backgrounds, and social factors shaping each system, as well as the impact of globalization and regional integration. Through case studies and contemporary examples, students will gain an understanding of the strengths, weaknesses, and challenges faced by various political systems in an increasingly interconnected world.
Recommended Textbook
Introduction to Comparative Politics 6th Edition by Mark Kesselman\
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Chapter 1: Introducing Comparative Politics
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Q1) A failed state is one in which
A) the leaders of the state violate the rule of law and prey on their own citizens.
B) the leaders of the state fail to pay their United Nations dues.
C) the government is authoritarian and denies its citizens political freedoms.
D) the state is in a state of war with another nation.
E) large numbers of citizens try to leave either legally or illegally.
Answer: A
Q2) Democratic transitions describe a process in which
A) the president of a country resigns from office and is replaced by the vice president.
B) there are elections involving the peaceful transfer of power between administrations.
C) a democratic country becomes a dictatorship.
D) two countries resolve a conflict by peaceful means rather than using military force.
E) authoritarian governments develop more participatory and democratic regimes.
Answer: E
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Chapter 2: Britain
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Q1) Given the questions about representation and fairness that single-member plurality raises, the Liberal Democrats has forced the coalition government to consider changing the electoral system to
A) proportional representation.
B) a winner-take-all electoral system.
C) multi-member districts.
D) the Alternative Vote.
E) a majoritarian system.
Answer: D
Q2) As an approach to economic and social policy in the UK, Keynesianism is based on
A) the notion of low debt, low deficit, and low inflation.
B) deficit reduction as the necessary precondition for maintaining economic stability.
C) the belief that a balanced budget is necessary to achieve a stable economy and full employment.
D) decreased economic management and welfare provision by the state.
E) a commitment to maintain high levels of employment and steady rates of growth, keep prices stable, and achieve a desirable balance-of-payments schedule and rates of exchange.
Answer: E
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Chapter 3: France
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Q1) Why are the grand corps so powerful?
A) The Constitution delegates them important policy-making powers.
B) They can veto the government's policy proposals.
C) They control the nominating process for the president.
D) They fill top executive positions in the private sector and often go on to elected positions in the National Assembly and even the presidency.
E) They control funding to all French universities.
Answer: D
Q2) What is the main purpose of the State Council?
A) To settle disputes between France's central and subnational governments
B) To supervise the actions of the French executive.
C) To mediate disputes between French public employees and the French government
D) To forward names to the president and the legislature for open judicial positions including those on the Constitutional Council
E) To advise the French president on national security matters
Answer: B
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Chapter 4: Germany
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Q1) The German economy before 1945 could best be characterized as a A) laissez-faire economy.
B) strong state-controlled economy focused on heavy industry.
C) command economy with all economic decisions made by the government.
D) feudal agrarian economy.
E) centrally controlled economy that focused on service industries.
Q2) The process by which representatives of employees help determine the direction of the company in which they work is called
A) co-option.
B) co-determination.
C) co-direction.
D) democratic corporatism.
E) democratic socialism.
Q3) About _____________ of the Bundestag's elected members are civil servants.
A) one- third
B) half
C) one-quarter
D) two-fifths
E) one-eighth
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Chapter 5: Japan
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Q1) Japan's trading partners, especially those in the West, have often argued that there are certain structural and behavior features of the country's private sector that lead to unfair trade practices. First, discuss the structural and behavioral features of the private sector of the Japanese economy that set it apart from its counterparts in most Western countries. Second, assess why critics may see these as leading to unfair trade practices. Finally, assess how Japan's continued integration into the global economy affected these features.
Q2) In 2009, Japan's defense budget ranked ____________ in the world.
A) fourth
B) fifth
C) sixth
D) seventh
E) eighth
Q3) Between 1955 and 2009, all but three of Japan's prime ministers came from the
A) Liberal Democratic Party.
B) Social Democratic Party.
C) Democratic Party of Japan.
D) Republican Party of Japan.
E) Liberal Party.
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Chapter 6: India
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Q1) Given the low level of illiteracy
A) voter turnout is low.
B) pictures of party symbols are used for voting.
C) fraud is rampart as corrupt electoral officials can easily take advantage of voters who cannot read.
D) most voters are uninformed.
E) voters have no interest in voting.
Q2) Which of the following is TRUE?
A) Most members of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament, are chosen through direct elections.
B) The Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament, must approve all spending measures.
C) The Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament, cannot amend bills.
D) Most parliamentary bills require the assent of both houses of parliament.
E) All of the above statements are true.
Q3) To what extent has federalism contributed to democracy in India and to what extent has it endangered democracy? On balance, has it contributed more to promoting democracy or endangering it? What factors in contemporary Indian politics will likely shape the impact of federalism in this regard?
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Chapter 7: The United States
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Q1) Which of the following is TRUE?
A) Civic involvement in the United States has long been considered stronger than in other advanced democracies.
B) There has been a general decline in civic involvement in recent years both here in the United States and in other advanced democracies.
C) The wealthier, older, and more educated are more likely to be civically engaged.
D) As civic involvement has declined, Americans talk about politics less with their peers and have a lessened sense that they can shape political outcomes.
E) All of the above statements are true.
Q2) The Constitution gives the president all of the following powers EXCEPT
A) the head of state.
B) the ability to grant pardons.
C) the head of government.
D) the ability to make major appointments such as judges, ambassadors, and the cabinet.
E) the ability to dissolve Congress.
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Chapter 8: Russia
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Q1) The command economy under the Soviet system
A) failed to reduce economic inequality.
B) achieved rapid industrialization.
C) involved state-directed economic planning but not state controls on pricing.
D) opened the country to foreign investment.
E) All of the above statements are true.
Q2) Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A) Wage differentials have decreased substantially since the economic upturn that began in 1999.
B) The average level of disposable income has decreased steadily since market reforms were introduced in the early 1990s.
C) Many Russians of all age groups question some of the values underlying market reform.
D) Urban residents have been less likely to benefit from market reform than rural residents.
E) All of the above statements are true.
Q3) How have executive-legislative relations changed in post-communist Russia? Have such changes strengthened or weakened democratization?
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Chapter 9: Brazil
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Q1) The text describes Brazil as socially and politically fragmented. First, using specific examples, describe how Brazil is fragmented along several axes. Next, explain how, given such fragmentation, Brazil nevertheless has managed to construct a fairly solid and stable sense of national identity. Finally, assess whether or not the challenges currently facing the country are likely to reinforce fragmentation or national identity.
Q2) Which of the following is TRUE of Brazil?
A) It is larger than the continental United States.
B) Its population is concentrated in the southern and southeastern regions.
C) It is rich in natural resources, including oil, and arable land.
D) It occupies about two-thirds of South America.
E) All of the above statements are true.
Q3) Identify persistent problems of Brazil's economic development. How have these been addressed, both historically and since the transition to democracy in the 1980s? How have such steps affected the role of the state in managing the economy?
Q4) Clientelism is perhaps the most prominent feature of Brazilian politics. First, explain what is meant by this concept. Next, citing specific examples, illustrate how clientelism permeates the Brazilian political system. Finally, assess the impact this on Brazil's transition to democracy.
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Chapter 10: Mexico
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Q1) Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A) Until the 1960s, the U.S. government maintained a program that allowed Mexican workers to migrate and enter the country in order to provide seasonal labor for U.S. employers.
B) Remittances-money sent back to Mexico from migrant workers abroad-are of critical importance to the Mexican economy.
C) Communities of Mexican migrants have been and continue to be mainly in California and Texas.
D) Generally, the U.S. government maintained an informal policy of tolerating the employment of undocumented Mexican workers until the 1980s.
E) In 2005, Mexico approved a system under which registered Mexicans living abroad could participate in federal elections.
Q2) In its history, Mexico has been invaded by A) Spain.
B) France.
C) the United States.
D) all of the above.
E) none of the above.
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Chapter 11: South Africa
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Q1) What factors account for the power of the South African executive vis-à-vis the country's legislature? Do you think that this imbalance hinders the democratization process either in the short or long term?
Q2) Which of the following statements about South Africa's post-1994 reintegration into the world economy is NOT true?
A) It has resulted in deep and lasting economic disruptions just as we see in the post-communist transitions in Eastern Europe.
B) It has prompted an outflow of South African investment to other countries.
C) It has led to increased trade with other African countries.
D) WTO-mandated tariff reductions initially led to heavy job losses in the textile and clothing industries.
E) Although initially having a negative impact, reintegration has generally been beneficial leading to a stronger economy.
Q3) Discuss some ways in which racial segregation persists in South Africa? What impact does this have on the democratization process?
Q4) What kinds of external pressures were put on South Africa to end its apartheid policies? What was the impact of such pressures?
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Chapter 12: Nigeria
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Q1) Factors that challenge the further consolidation of democracy in Nigeria include all of the following EXCEPT
A) expressions by the military's senior officers that the military has a role to play in the country's politics.
B) the growing use of extra-systemic measures, including violence, by the political elite to advance their interests.
C) the presence of minor parties with only narrow ethnic constituencies.
D) militias expressing ethno-nationalist demands.
E) the absorption and cooptation of opposition forces by the PDP.
Q2) A recent survey has indicated that most Nigerians
A) prefer democratic rule over other alternatives.
B) have concerns about the pace of democratization.
C) have begun to question the merits of democratic rule.
D) prefer democratic rule over other alternatives but are concerned about both the slow pace of reform and corruption.
E) believe that it is necessary to divide the country into separate nations along ethnic lines.
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Chapter 13: Iran
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Q1) Which of the following helped the clerics to consolidate power?
A) Khomeini's charisma and popularity
B) Iraq's invasion of Iran
C) The rise in the price of oil
D) Both Khomeini's charisma and the rise in the price of oil
E) All of the above statements are true.
Q2) The Constitutional Revolution occurred in
A) 1921.
B) 1941.
C) 1905-1909.
D) 1979.
E) 1900-1905.
Q3) The Retribution Law immediately following the Islamic Revolution promoted a narrow interpretation of Islamic law by
A) mandating the death penalty for moral transgressions.
B) sanctioning stoning, live burials and finger amputations.
C) treating the evidence of one male Muslim as equal to that of two female Muslims.
D) outlawing lending with usury.
E) All of the above statements are true.
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Chapter 14: China
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Q1) Ethnically, China is
A) generally homogenous with over 90 percent of the population being ethnically Chinese.
B) very diverse with over 200 different ethnicities represented.
C) dominated by three major ethnic groups with numerous minorities also being present.
D) equally divided between two major ethnic groups with numerous minorities also being present.
E) characterized by both homogeneity and heterogeneity with just over 60 percent of the population being ethnically Chinese and the remaining 40 percent being comprised of about 50 ethnic minorities.
Q2) Because the current Chinese regime has increasingly recognized the importance of obtaining advice from key sectors of the population while insisting on suppressing dissent, it can be described as
A) a consultative authoritarian regime.
B) a totalitarian regime.
C) an accommodative authoritarian regime.
D) a fragmented authoritarian regime.
E) a transitioning totalitarian regime.
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