AP Comparative Government and Politics Unit 2 Quiz

AP Comparative Government and Politics Unit 2 Quiz 1. Why can parliamentary systems be more efficient in terms of policy making compared to presidential systems? A. Parliamentary systems are unicameral, so they can avoid gridlock. B. Legislatures in a parliamentary system can remove the prime minister via a vote of no confidence. C. They separate head of state and the head of government. D. The head of the executive is always from the majority party of the legislature in a parliamentary system. 2. How does the head of the executive get elected in a presidential system? A. They are recommended by the national legislature. B. They are elected through a direct popular vote. C. They are chosen by the legislature. D. They are recommended by a religious leader. 3. Which of the following states has a semi-presidential system? A. Russia. B. The United Kingdom. C. Mexico. D. Nigeria. 4. Which of the following systems has separation of power among its branches? A. A democracy. B. A presidential system. C. A parliamentary system. D. A semi-presidential system. 5. In a parliamentary system, parliaments CANNOT A. censure cabinet ministers. B. refuse to pass executive proposed legislation. C. call election dates. D. question the executive and cabinet ministers. 6. Which of the following is INCORRECT about the executive system in Iran? A. The Supreme Leader is the commander in chief. B. The Supreme Leader appoints the expediency council. C. The president appoints the head of the judiciary. D. The president oversees civil service and conducts foreign policy. 7. A state in which the head of state and head of government are separate is A. Mexico. B. the United Kingdom. C. Nigeria. D. China. 8. Which of the following refers to a period where a political leader's position or term of office will soon end, leading them to have less influence? A. A lame duck period. B. A layoff period. C. A holdback period. D. A suspension period. 9. What is one of the main benefits of having an executive term limit? A. An executive term limit can check executive power and make it more difficult for dictators to arise. B. It limits officeholders' time to implement specific policy goals. C. They force good executives to leave office. D. It helps with establishing policy continuity. 10. Generally speaking, which political actor can remove executive leaders in a democratic state? A. Civil society. B. The citizens. C. The judicial branch. D. The legislative branch. 11. The main way that the head of govemment is removed from their position in a parliamentary system is through A. a referendum. B. a plebiscite. C. a vote of no confidence. D. a runoff election. 12. Of the core countries, the states with bicameral legislatures are A. Mexico, Iran, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom. B. Russia, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, and Mexico. C. China, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Nigeria. D. China, Iran, Russia, and the United Kingdom. 13. Which of the following legislative chambers is NOT elected by direct popular vote of the citizens? A. Iran's Majles. B. Mexico's Chamber of Deputies. C. The United Kingdom's House of Commons. D. Russia's Federation Council. 14. Which of the following legislative chambers are NOT elected by a mixed electoral system? A. Nigeria's House of Representatives. B. Mexico's Senate. C. Mexico's Chamber of Deputies. D. Russia's Duma. 15. What is the main purpose of Iran's Expediency Council? A. To resolve conflicts between the Majles and the Guardian Council. B. To vet candidates. C. To support the Supreme Leader's duties. D. To make sure Iranian laws comply with Islamic Sharia law. 16. What is the actual center of power in the Chinese state? A. The Communist Party of China. B. The National People's Congress. C. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. D. The Politburo Standing Committee. 17. Which country is subject to rule by law, not rule of law? A. The United Kingdom. B. China. C. Nigeria. D. Mexico. 18. Which of the following is NOT correct regarding the core countries' judicial systems? A. The Nigerian judiciary has the power of judicial review. B. Judges in Russia are nominated by the president and approved by the Federation Council. C. Judicial review is regularly and consistently exercised in the United Kingdom. D. Nigerian Supreme Court judges are recommended by a judicial council. 19. Which of the following is NOT an element that reinforces judiciaries' power? A. Strong authority to overrule other branches' decisions. B. High academic background or experience level of judicial officials. C. Fair ways of getting nominated and selected as a judicial official. D. Strong executive power on judicial matters. 20. Something that is NOT a benefit that independent judiciaries can have on strengthening democracy is A. establishing rule by law. B. maintaining checks and balances systems. C. ensuring that civil rights and liberties are protected. D. separating powers. Explanations 1. D: The head of the executive is always from the majority party of the legislature in a parliamentary system. The legislature selects the head of the executive (prime minister) in a parliamentary system. Therefore, decision making is relatively easy, as both the legislative and executive branches have a similar view regarding politics. This can make parliamentary systems resistant to gridlock and thus more efficient. Power and Authority, PAU; Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems, 2.1 2. B: They are elected through a direct popular vote. Presidents are elected through a fixed-term, direct popular vote. On the other hand, prime ministers are elected by the majority party or coalition in the legislature. Power and Authority, PAU; Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems, 2.1 3. A: Russia. The United Kingdom is a parliamentary system. Mexico and Nigeria have presidential systems. Russia has a semi-presidential system, where the president nominates a prime minister. Power and Authority, PAU; Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems, 2.1 4. B: A presidential system. Since presidential systems have divided branch powers, it has more of a checks-and-balances system. However, it is also more difficult to enact policy in a presidential system. Power and Authority, PAU; Comparing Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems, 2.2 5. C: call election dates. Parliaments can censure cabinet ministers, refuse to pass executive proposed legislation, question the executive and cabinet ministers, and impose time deadlines on calling new elections. However, they cannot set the dates for the elections; generally, that right is given to the prime minister. Power and Authority, PAU; Comparing Parliamentary, Presidential, and Semi-Presidential Systems, 2.2 6. C: The president appoints the head of the judiciary. The Supreme Leader is the most powerful position in Iran. The Supreme Leader is the commander in chief, and appoints many governmental positions, such as: top ministers, the Expediency Council, half of the Guardian Council, and the head of the judiciary. The president oversees civil service and conducts foreign policy. Power and Authority, PAU; Executive Systems, 2.3 7. B: the United Kingdom. Mexico and Nigeria are both presidential systems, and the president is the head of state as well as head of government. In China, the president serves both roles as well. However, the head of state in the United Kingdom is the monarch, and the head of government is the prime minister. Power and Authority, PAU; Executive Systems, 2.3 8. A: A lame duck period. The definition of "lame duck" is one whose position or term of office will soon end (Merriam-Webster). In politics, a lame-duck period is considered undesirable because it makes the officeholder have less influence and thus undermines policymaking. Having a lame duck period is one of the disadvantages of having an executive term limit. Power and Authority, PAU; Executive Term Limits, 2.4 9. A: An executive term limit can check executive power and make it more difficult for dictators to arise. Choices B (It limits officeholders' time to implement specific policy goals.) and C (They force good executives to leave office.) are disadvantages to having an executive term limit. Choice D is false, as executive term limits often undermine policy continuity by enforcing a change in power. Power and Authority, PAU; Executive Term Limits, 2.4 10. D: The legislative branch. Executive leaders can be removed by the legislative branch through various procedures that check the misuse of power. Power and Authority, PAU; Removal of Executives, 2.5 11. C: a vote of no confidence. Referendums and plebiscites are ways of having direct democracy or direct participation, where policy matters are directly decided by a vote from the citizens. (A referendum is binding and a plebiscite is nonbinding.) A vote of no confidence occurs when the legislature decides that the head of government no longer represents them, bringing them down from office. A runoff election occurs when no majority is won in an election that requires one. Power and Authority, PAU; Removal of Executives, 2.5 12. B: Russia, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, and Mexico. Of the core countries, China and Iran are unicameral. Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom are bicameral. Power and Authority, PAU; Legislative Systems, 2.6 13. D: Russia's Federation Council. The 170 members of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia's legislature, are chosen by regional politicians, not by direct popular vote of the citizens. Power and Authority, PAU; Legislative Systems, 2.6 14. A: Nigeria's House of Representatives. Mexico's Senate and Chamber of Deputies, as well as Russia's Duma, are elected through a mixed electoral system. However, Nigeria's House of Representatives is elected in a single-member district system. Power and Authority, PAU; Legislative Systems, 2.6 15. A: To resolve conflicts between the Majles and the Guardian Council. The Expediency Council is selected by the Supreme Leader to resolve disputes between the Majles and the Guardian Council. Later, its role changed to advising the Supreme Leader. Power and Authority, PAU; Independent Legislatures, 2.7 16. D: The Politburo Standing Committee. Structure of China's Communist Party, expected promotions of Xi's aides Xi Jinping, 64 General Secretary Politburo Standing Committee 7 members Politbure 25 members Central Committos About 200 members Central Committen andidates About 150 members Party in About 89 million Li Zhanshu, 66 Director of General Office of Communist Party Possibly promoted to Politburo Standing Committee Chen Min'er, 56 Chongqing party chief Certain to join Politburo. possibly moving un two notches to Politburo Standing Comперон Ying Yong, 59 Shanghai mayor Moving three cotches to Politburo shong possibility Cai Qi, 61 Beijing party chief Politburo moving ap three notches Ages are as of Auly 26, promotions expected at party's National Congress this autumn