Question 1

Since 1949, what have been the two main parties in Germany?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Social democrats and the Greens
B)  The Social democrats and the Christian democrats
C)  The Christian democrats and the Free Democrats
D)  The Social democrats and the communists
E)  The Christian democrats and the GreensF) A) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 2

How does the electoral system for France's parliament limit the influence of minor parties?

Accepted Answer

A)  Minor parties can rarely raise enough money to get their message to the public.
B)  Minor parties rarely make it on the ballot due to restrictive ballot access laws.
C)  Each electoral district elects only a single representative, so minor parties must receive the most votes to win the seat.
D)  Minor parties must reregister with the state every year and pay a substantial fee in order to be recognized as an official party.
E)  The ballots have two rounds, so mainstream and less ideological parties often win more votes in the second round.F) B) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 3

In comparison with Italy's parliament, Great Britain's parliament could be described as what?

Accepted Answer

A)  Highly stable
B)  Highly unstable
C)  Roughly equally stable
D)  Far more ideologically extreme
E)  Much less representative of the lower classesF) A) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 4

Compare the strength of political parties in the United States and Great Britain. Which country has stronger political parties? Why might differences in institutions lead to stronger or weaker parties?

Accepted Answer

The strength of political parties in the...

Question 5

Although India's parliament is bicameral, which chamber is considered to be supreme?

Accepted Answer

A)  Council of Revisions
B)  Lok Sabha
C)  House of Representatives
D)  House of Delegates
E)  Chamber of DeputiesF) A) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 6

Why might a prime minister in Great Britain call an election early?

Accepted Answer

A)  In order to avoid cancelling their planned summer holidays
B)  In order to take advantage of the current mood of the voters
C)  In order to catch the opposing party without a parliamentary leader
D)  In order to gain momentum for their legislative agenda
E)  In order to provide a distraction from an ongoing scandalF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 7

What is Germany's historic capital city that was divided between East and West Germany at the end of World War II?

Accepted Answer

A)  Frankfort
B)  Berlin
C)  Munich
D)  Dusseldorf
E)  ViennaF) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 8

What is meant by Germany's "constructive vote of no confidence"? How is this different from other no-confidence votes? What is the purpose of this rule?

Accepted Answer

Germany's "constructive vote of no confi...

Question 9

The chancellor in Germany is most similar to what position in other parliamentary democracies?

Accepted Answer

A)  President
B)  King or queen
C)  Minister for the economy
D)  Minority leader
E)  Prime ministerF) A) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 10

Why has the House of Lords declined in authority over time?

Accepted Answer

A)  The leadership of the House of Lords was of poor quality and unable to stand up for the institution.
B)  The queen grew frustrated with the House of Lords and used her authority to weaken the institution.
C)  The House of Lords refused to address major issues of the day and the public voted to weaken the institution.
D)  The president has assumed many of the powers previously given to the House of Lords.
E)  The aristocratic nature of the House of Lords became inconsistent with a democratic Great Britain.F) B) and C)
G) None of the above

Question 11

The British government is what kind of political system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Parliamentary
B)  Presidential
C)  Autocratic
D)  Socialist
E)  UnicameralF) A) and C)
G) C) and D)

Question 12

Who is the head of state in Great Britain?

Accepted Answer

A)  The prime minister
B)  The Speaker of the House
C)  The Archbishop of Canterbury
D)  The president
E)  The king or queenF) D) and E)
G) None of the above

Question 13

What is common law and how did it come about? How is common law an important part of American and British law to this day? How is common law used differently in the two countries?

Accepted Answer

Common law is a system of law that is ba...

Question 14

Although the German parliament is bicameral, which branch is considered to be the more powerful?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bundestag
B)  The National Senate
C)  Chamber of Delegates
D)  House of Common
E)  House of BurgessesF) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 15

Why is the political structure of the Knesset problematic?

Accepted Answer

A)  Elections are often suspended due to violence.
B)  The prime minister holds dictatorial-level powers.
C)  The president can suspend the Knesset with little warning.
D)  Committees are very powerful and can delay major legislation for years.
E)  Elections are highly proportional, leading to large, unwieldy coalitions.F) B) and C)
G) A) and C)

Question 16

After the political reforms that started the Fifth Republic, France had the potential of a divided executive. What is meant by this term?

Accepted Answer

A)  A situation where the prime minister and the president are of different parties or ideologies
B)  A situation where the prime minister lacks strong support from his or her parliamentary party
C)  A situation where the prime minister lacks strong support among the public
D)  A situation where the president lacks strong support from his or her cabinet
E)  A situation where the president lacks strong support among the publicF) B) and E)
G) B) and C)

Question 17

Examine the current economic and political situation in Japan. How likely is their government to remain stable in the present economy? How likely is their economy to recover with significant competition from recently emerging economies such as India and China?

Accepted Answer

As of the current economic and political...

Question 18

How does the German electoral system reduce the likelihood of fringe parties taking power?

Accepted Answer

The German electoral system is designed ...

Question 19

The largest party in the British Parliament outside of the majority is known as what?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Runners-Up
B)  The Minority
C)  The Alternates
D)  The Loyal Opposition
E)  The OpponentsF) B) and D)
G) All of the above

Question 20

Which of the following issues is a serious impediment to Great Britain's attempt to leave the European Union?

Accepted Answer

A)  The complexity of going back to the British pound from the euro
B)  Questions about the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland
C)  Concerns about military conflict with western Europe
D)  Disagreements regarding whether Great Britain would take on a portion of the European Union's debt
E)  Conflict over the extent of Great Britain's fishing rights in the North SeaF) C) and E)
G) A) and D)

Exam 7: Parliamentary Democracy: Pros and Cons of Perishable Governments

Since 1949, what have been the two main parties in Germany?

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What is Germany's historic capital city that was divided between East and West Germany at the end of World War II?

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Who is the head of state in Great Britain?

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What is meant by Germany's "constructive vote of no confidence"? How is this different from other no-confidence votes? What is the purpose of this rule?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIGermany's "constructive vote of no confi...View AnswerShow Answer

Why is the political structure of the Knesset problematic?

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The chancellor in Germany is most similar to what position in other parliamentary democracies?

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How does the German electoral system reduce the likelihood of fringe parties taking power?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe German electoral system is designed ...View AnswerShow Answer

In comparison with Italy's parliament, Great Britain's parliament could be described as what?

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Although the German parliament is bicameral, which branch is considered to be the more powerful?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How does the electoral system for France's parliament limit the influence of minor parties?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

After the political reforms that started the Fifth Republic, France had the potential of a divided executive. What is meant by this term?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why has the House of Lords declined in authority over time?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is common law and how did it come about? How is common law an important part of American and British law to this day? How is common law used differently in the two countries?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AICommon law is a system of law that is ba...View AnswerShow Answer

Compare the strength of political parties in the United States and Great Britain. Which country has stronger political parties? Why might differences in institutions lead to stronger or weaker parties?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe strength of political parties in the...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following issues is a serious impediment to Great Britain's attempt to leave the European Union?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Examine the current economic and political situation in Japan. How likely is their government to remain stable in the present economy? How likely is their economy to recover with significant competition from recently emerging economies such as India and China?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIAs of the current economic and political...View AnswerShow Answer

The largest party in the British Parliament outside of the majority is known as what?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Although India's parliament is bicameral, which chamber is considered to be supreme?

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Why might a prime minister in Great Britain call an election early?

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The British government is what kind of political system?

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Germany's "constructive vote of no confi...
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The German electoral system is designed ...
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Common law is a system of law that is ba...
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The strength of political parties in the...
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As of the current economic and political...
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