Midterm

Question 1

State

Answer 1

a politically organized territory with a defined population, government, and sovereignty over its own affairs

Question 2

Sovereignty?

Answer 2

refers to the exclusive authority and control that a state has over its own territory and government without interference from external actors

Question 3

Civic Nationalism

Answer 3

form of nationalism that emphasizes shared values, political beliefs, and citizenship within a nation, regardless of ethnic or cultural background Example: USA

Question 4

Ethnic Nationalism

Answer 4

a form of nationalism that emphasizes shared ethnic, cultural, and linguistic ties as the basis for a nation.

Question 5

Social Contract

Answer 5

a political theory that suggests that individuals in a society agree to give up some of their freedom and follow rules in exchange for protection and order provided by the government.

Question 6

Marshall Plan

Answer 6

was a U.S. initiative after World War II that provided financial aid to help Western European countries rebuild their economies. Example:____ played a crucial role in the economic recovery of war-torn Europe

Question 7

Welfare State

Answer 7

a government system that provides a wide range of social services and benefits to its citizens, such as healthcare, education, and unemployment support. Example: Sweden is known for its comprehensive ___

Question 8

Neo-liberalism

Answer 8

an economic and political ideology that promotes limited government intervention in the market and emphasizes free-market capitalism. Example: The policies of Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom are often associated with ___

Question 9

Vote of No Confidence

Answer 9

a parliamentary procedure in which members of a legislative body express their lack of support for the current government, often leading to its resignation. Example: A___ can trigger a change in government leadership.

Question 10

Party Discipline

Answer 10

refers to the degree of control a political party has over its members to maintain unity and coherence in voting and policy decisions. Example: In the British Parliament, ___ is essential to pass legislation

Question 11

Question Time

Answer 11

a period in parliamentary sessions when members of the opposition can question government officials, including the Prime Minister, about their policies and actions. Example: The British Parliament holds a ____

Question 12

Majoritarian System

Answer 12

an electoral system in which the candidate or party with the most votes wins, often used in single-member district plurality systems. Example: The “First Past the Post” system in the UK is a

Question 13

Coalition

Answer 13

a government formed by two or more political parties working together to create a majority in a legislative body. Example: In Germany, ___ are common due to the proportional representation electoral system.

Question 14

Consensus System

Answer 14

an electoral system that encourages cooperation and power-sharing among multiple political parties. Example: Switzerland uses a _____, where multiple parties are represented in the government.

Question 15

Unicameralism

Answer 15

a system of government with a single legislative chamber. Example: Sweden has a ___ parliament known as the Riksdag.

Question 16

Bicameralism

Answer 16

a system of government with two legislative chambers, typically an upper house and a lower house. Example: The United Kingdom has a ____ parliament with the House of Commons and the House of Lords

Question 17

Plurality Systems

Answer 17

electoral systems in which the candidate with the most votes in a district wins, even if they do not receive an absolute majority. Example: The electoral system in Canada uses a ____

Question 18

Proportional Representation

Answer 18

an electoral system in which the number of seats a party receives in a legislature is directly proportional to the percentage of votes they receive. Example: Germany’s Bundestag is elected using ____

Question 19

Single-Member District Plurality System (SMDP)

Answer 19

an electoral system in which each constituency elects a single representative, and the candidate with the most votes in that constituency wins a seat in the legislature. Example: The United Kingdom uses a ____

Question 20

Two-Ballot Plurality System

Answer 20

voters cast two separate ballots, often in two rounds of voting, for a candidate in their district and a party list. Example: The French legislative elections use a ____

Question 21

Party List

Answer 21

method of proportional representation where voters choose a political party, and the party selects its candidates in a predetermined order. Example: Many European countries use ___ systems for European Parliament elections.

Question 22

Personalized Proportional Representation

Answer 22

combines elements of both first-past-the-post and proportional representation systems, allowing voters to choose both individual candidates and parties. Example: The Italian electoral system incorporates ____

Question 23

Electoral Threshold

Answer 23

is the minimum percentage of the vote a party must achieve to be eligible for representation in a legislative body. Example: In Germany, parties must pass a 5% ___ to enter the Bundestag

Question 24

Duverger’s Law

Answer 24

is a political science principle suggesting that electoral systems with single-member districts tend to produce two-party systems, while proportional representation systems lead to multi-party systems

Question 25

Head of Government

Answer 25

is responsible for running the day-to-day affairs of the government and is often the leader of the ruling party. Example: In the UK, the Prime Minister is ___

Question 25

Head of State

Answer 25

is a key figure in a country’s government, often serving as a symbolic representative of the nation. Example: In the UK, the monarch (e.g., Queen Elizabeth II) is the

Question 26

Cabinet

Answer 26

a group of senior government ministers chosen by the head of government to advise on policy and make decisions. Example: The British ___ is composed of various government ministers.

Question 27

Constitutional Monarchy

Answer 27

is a system of government where a monarch serves as the head of state within the parameters of a constitution and under the oversight of an elected parliament. Example: The United Kingdom is a

Question 28

Parliamentary System

Answer 28

a form of government where the executive branch derives its democratic legitimacy from the legislature and is accountable to it. Example: The United Kingdom operates under a

Question 29

Minority Government

Answer 29

one where the ruling party or coalition has fewer seats in the legislature than the combined opposition parties. Example: Canada has seen ____ where no party holds an absolute majority in the House of Commons.

Question 30

Presidential System

Answer 30

a form of government where the executive branch, led by the president, is separate from the legislature. Example: The United States operates under a ___

Question 31

Semi-Presidentialism

Answer 31

a system of government that combines elements of both parliamentary and presidential systems, typically with a president and prime minister sharing executive power. Example: France has a ____

Question 32

Cohabitation

Answer 32

occurs when the president and the prime minister in a semi-presidential system are from different political parties, leading to potential conflicts and power-sharing. Example: ___ has occurred in France when the president and prime minister are from different parties.

Question 32

Symbolic Presidentialism

Answer 32

refers to a system in which the president holds a largely ceremonial role with limited political power, with real authority vested in the prime minister and the cabinet. Example: Germany has a largely ___ with executive power held by the chancellor

Question 33

Presidentialization

Answer 33

a process where political systems increasingly adopt characteristics of presidential systems, such as focusing on the figure of the leader. Example: Some scholars argue that the UK’s political system has experienced
___ with a more prominent role for the Prime Minister

Question 34

Judiciary

Answer 34

branch of government responsible for interpreting and applying laws, ensuring justice, and settling legal disputes. Example: The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is a part of the__

Question 35

European Court of Human Rights

Answer 35

an international court that hears cases related to human rights violations in European

Question 36

Referendum

Answer 36

a direct vote in which the electorate is asked to decide on a particular issue, often related to changes in law or constitution. Example: The Brexit ____ in the UK allowed citizens to decide whether the country should leave the European Union.

Question 37

Judicial Review

Answer 37

the power of the judiciary to examine and invalidate government actions, such as laws or executive decisions, that are deemed unconstitutional. Example: In the United States, the Supreme Court has the authority of

Question 38

Federal States

Answer 38

countries with a political structure that divides power between a central government and subnational entities, such as states or regions, with distinct areas of jurisdiction. Example: Germany is a ___

Question 39

Unitary States

Answer 39

countries with a centralized government that holds most, if not all, decision-making authority. Example: The United Kingdom is a ___ ___, with a central government in Westminster.

Question 40

Devolution

Answer 40

the process of granting certain powers and autonomy to subnational entities within a country, such as Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in the UK. Example: The Scotland Act of 1998 granted Scotland devolved powers over areas like education and healthcare.

Question 41

Common Law

Answer 41

is a legal system that relies on precedent and decisions made by previous judges to guide current decisions and establish legal principles. Example: legal recognition of a relationship

Question 42

Code Law

Answer 42

also known as civil law, is a legal system that relies on comprehensive written codes and statutes to govern legal matters. Example: Many European countries, including France, use code law systems.

Question 43

Constitutional Courts

Answer 43

specialized courts responsible for interpreting and adjudicating cases related to the constitution and the fundamental laws of a country. Example: Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court ensures that laws conform to the German Basic Law.