practice quiz 5

Question 1

In the United States, electoral college votes are allocated in all but three states (Iowa, Maine and Nebraska) through what kind of system?

Answer 1

winner-take-all.

Question 2

How many Electoral College votes are needed in order to win the American presidency?

Answer 2

270 votes

Question 3

Since the majority party that controls the House of Commons determines the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, we label it as a

Answer 3

parliamentary democracy.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a reason why new democracies would choose multiparty parliamentary systems rather than presidential or majoritarian parliamentary systems?

Question 5

Which delegate to the American Constitutional Convention had the greatest impact on the design of the individual executive?

Answer 5

James Wilson of Pennsylvania

Question 6

The Council of Ministers includes which of the following?

Answer 6

Answers A, B and C

Question 7

According to Steiner and Crepaz, which of the following is an advantage to having an independent executive (president):

Answer 7

All of the above

Question 8

Where is the “real” (governing) power in India?

Answer 8

with the office of the prime minister and his or her Council of Ministers

Question 9

When Alexander Hamilton made a five-hour speech calling for a strong individual executive with imperial powers including a life term and an absolute veto, he may have been doing what?

Answer 9

shifting the debate away from weak presidential models

Question 10

Approximately what percentages of vetoed bills are overridden by Congress with a two-third vote?

Answer 10

4 percent

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT an Indian political party?

Answer 11

All of the above are Indian political parties

Question 12

_________________ is considered the model for parliamentary democracy around the world.

Answer 12

The United Kingdom

Question 13

The two dominant parties in the UK are

Answer 13

Conservative and Labour.

Question 14

The number of Electoral College votes per state is based upon

Answer 14

the number of U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators per state.

Question 15

The “dual executive” system in the United Kingdom includes:

Answer 15

all of the above

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a potential concern about a presidential system, particularly in a newly emerging democracy?

Answer 16

the president may too easily be impeached

Question 17

Approximately how many civilian federal employees does the president oversee as chief executive?

Answer 17

3 million

Question 18

As chief diplomat, the president

Answer 18

recognizes foreign governments, makes treaties, and effects executive agreements.

Question 19

The mechanism that allows the president to veto only certain provisions of a law while signing the rest into law is called:

Answer 19

the line-item veto

Question 20

What alternative to an individual executive did the framers of the American Constitution consider and reject because of the need to act and react quickly in the arena of foreign affairs?

Answer 20

an executive council

Question 21

Which of the following served as the first British Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer?

Answer 21

Robert Walpole

Question 22

This first president of India generated a constitutional crisis in the 1950s by violating the conventions of cabinet government intended by India’s Constituent Assembly.

Answer 22

Rajendra Prasad

Question 23

The United Kingdom is said to possess _____________ political parties.

Answer 23

disciplined

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a Constitutional means by which Congress checks the president’s commander-in-chief powers?

Answer 24

Congress’ authority to appoint ambassadors, ministers and consuls

Question 25

The British Prime Minister is called “first among equals” because…

Answer 25

All of the above.

Question 26

The head of government in the United Kingdom is

Answer 26

the prime minister.

Question 27

British debate on parliamentary systems emerged from the traditional dispute between:

Answer 27

the monarch and parliament

Question 28

As commander in chief, the president is

Answer 28

the ultimate decision maker in military matters.

Question 29

These three executive departments were initially responsible for all federal business.

Answer 29

Departments of Treasury, State, and War

Question 29

The American and French Revolutions signaled to the masses that the only way for government to preserve rights is through ___________.

Answer 29

representation

Question 30

If the president refuses to sign a bill and Congress adjourns within ten working days after the bill has been submitted to the president, it is called a

Answer 30

pocket veto.

Question 31

Which branch of government is most associated with individuals that serve as the independently elected head of government or those who serve as the leader of their party and overall government in the national legislature?

Answer 31

executive

Question 32

What term describes the tendency of members of the prime minister’s party to vote for his/her agenda?

Answer 32

disciplined political parties

Question 33

Presidential systems are characterized by

Answer 33

an executive branch that is independent from the legislature.

Question 34

The method by which Electoral College members are selected has evolved since George Washington’s administration. In the modern era, Electoral College members are selected by

Answer 34

the political parties.

Question 35

Which is NOT true of India’s federal system?

Answer 35

There are four legislative lists of powers.

Question 36

In the United Kingdom, there is a “symbolic head-of-state” that reinforces the state’s history and traditions. That person…

Answer 36

all of the above

Question 37

In _____________ systems the leader of the executive branch is elected by the people in a separate election.

Answer 37

presidential

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT part of the “presidentialization” of the British Prime Minister?

Answer 38

appointment of a “second among equals” analogous to the vice-president

Question 39

Which best describes the current system in the UK?

Answer 39

The United Kingdom typically has a majoritarian system in which one of two parties wins a majority of legislative seats, but currently is being governed by a coalition government.

Question 40

The 15th executive department was created after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. It is the…

Answer 40

Department of Homeland Security.

Question 41

The President is empowered to negotiate treaties with foreign nations. Treaties, however, do not become officially ratified until

Answer 41

ratified by the Senate with a two-thirds vote.

Question 42

Which of the following describes the legislature’s attempt to step away from legislation they consider destructive, and may also give the public a perception that there is instability in the government?

Answer 42

the “vote of no confidence”

Question 43

Indefinite terms of office refer to

Answer 43

the way in which the British prime minister can call for elections within a five-year period, serving as long as the people will continue to re-elect his or her party.

Question 44

What made India’s caste system, which offered few opportunities for economic and social advancement, so difficult to deal with politically?

Answer 44

Social traditions that financially eliminated social progress for millions required more than legal change.

Question 45

The first president of India generated a constitutional crisis in the 1950s by violating the conventions of cabinet government intended by India’s Constituent Assembly. What law resulted to clarify the situation?

Answer 45

the 42nd Amendment

Question 46

What mechanism is periodically used in parliamentary systems to remove a prime minister and call for new elections?

Answer 46

vote of no confidence

Question 47

Which of the following is correct?

Answer 47

The British prime minister can call for parliamentary elections at any point during a five-year period.

Question 48

As chief executive, the president is constitutionally bound to

Answer 48

enforce the acts of Congress, treaties signed by the U.S., and judgments of federal courts.

Question 49

Even though the president is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, only Congress can

Answer 49

declare war.

Question 50

Which is NOT true of India’s divided executive system?

Answer 50

formal constitutional authority (Article 77) of the executive branch is given to the prime minister

Question 51

In addition to an Oath of Office, what other oath must the Prime Minister of India take?

Answer 51

an Oath of Secrecy

Question 52

Alexander Hamilton asserted that presidential pardons can be useful in “seasons of insurrections or rebellions” in this Federalist Paper.

Answer 52

Federalist Paper No. 74

Question 53

When an elected member of a particular political party is allowed to vote against his own party’s platform/issues that system is said to have _____________ political parties.

Answer 53

undisciplined