Midterm Multiple Choice

Question 1

What is power according to the textbook?

Answer 1

“The ability to achieve goals in a political system and to have others do as you want them to.”

Question 2

What are the four subfields of political studies?

Answer 2

Political Theory - abstract
Canadian Politics - internal Canadian politics
International relations - studies international events and systems
Comparative politics - comparing different systems of government

Question 3

What is the difference between political theory and political ideology?

Answer 3

Political theory - abstract interpretation of events and how society is and should function
Political ideology - a concrete set of ideas and values government policy should be based on

Question 4

What is the difference between thick ideologies and thin ideologies?

Answer 4

Thin - focused on a specific set of issues in society
Thick - general - overarching set of principles that guide political choices

Question 5

What are some of the key points of “small l” liberalism?

Answer 5

Protection of individual rights
Limits on government power
Tolerance of diversity (religious, speech, etc)

Question 6

What are some differences between classical and social liberals?

Answer 6

Classical liberals believe in a limited government function, less taxation, and a greater focus on the individual to sustain themselves.
Social liberals believe in focus on the community, greater government involvement in the economy, and a greater social safety net.

Question 7

What is neo-liberalism?

Answer 7

Neo-liberals want to reduce the size of the government, reduce taxes, and allow for a capitalist free market along with a minimal safety net and free trade.

Question 8

What is the difference between the “government” and the “state”?

Answer 8

The “state” is the organization that is permanently has control over a country. The “government” represents those who currently manage and control the state.

Question 9

What are the differences between a mixed - economy and a free market?

Answer 9

A mixed - economy allows for some government involvement in the economy, while a free market has very little government involvement, limited only to facilitating the existence of the free market itself.

Question 10

What is sovereignty?

Answer 10

Sovereignty means “a nation - state that has ultimate political authority within a geographical boundary.”

Question 11

What is devolution?

Answer 11

Devolution is the process where a national government gives powers it hold to a regional or local government.

Question 12

What is fiscal federalism?

Answer 12

Fiscal federalism is the concept of deciding who pays for what in a country based on the responsibilities and resources of each level of government.

Question 13

What is a unitary system?

Answer 13

A form of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a central government and little is given to regional or local ones.

Question 14

How many referendums occurred in Quebec and when?

Answer 14

Two referendums occurred in 1980 and 1995.

Question 15

What is a run off system?

Answer 15

A run off system is a electoral system where if no candidate gains a majority, the top 2 candidates advance until there is a majority.

Question 16

What was the political philosophy of Plato?

Answer 16

Plato believed that everyone in society should perform the skills they can do best. In the context of governing, he felt that those who had “knowledge of the good” and understood “justice” should run the state.

Question 17

What was the political philosophy of Aristotle?

Answer 17

Aristotle believed in the idea that ethics was connected to the individual, whereas politics was connected to what was good for the community.
The needs of the community came before the needs of the individual, and those most committed to the “good life” should run the state.

Question 18

What was the political philosophy of John Hobbes?

Answer 18

In Hobbs view, humans need to exist under governments because they would suffer without them in nature and governments provide stability and safety. In order to ensure this stability, governments needed to have total control over their citizens.

All humans were fundamentally equal, and there exists a invisible social contract where if the government provides opportunity, an increasing quality of life, security and stability for it’s people. So long as does that, it can govern with an iron fist with few rights for the individual.

Question 19

What was the political philosophy of Edmond Burke?

Answer 19

Burke thought that revolutions can bring about more harm than good as they tend to destroy the traditional ways of governance and societal norms. Those are things that be preserved as they have existed for decades or centuries and therefore are worth preserving.
Government should move toward gradual reforms while retaining said tradition as much as possible.

Question 20

What is equalization in Canada?

Answer 20

Equalization is the act of transferring money from wealthier provinces to poorer ones in order to ensure all provinces have comparable levels of public services. This is based on measuring the “fiscal capacity of all the provinces”.