Political Science 2400: Introduction to Comparative Politics���������������������������������������������������������� ��� Summer II 2004
Exam 1
Part I: Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. Mark the letter on the computer-readable form sheet.[1 point per question; 80 points total]
____��������� 1.�� In the context of comparative politics, the best definition of the term "state" is
a. | a subdivision of national government |
b. | national government |
c. | local government |
d. | the collection of decision makers with power |
e. | the executive of the national government |
____��������� 2.�� The most important difference between interest groups and political parties is
a. | only political parties normally run candidates in elections |
b. | only interest groups normally run candidates in elections |
c. | only political parties conduct public opinion polls |
d. | only interest groups conduct public opinion polls |
e. | only interest groups attempt to persuade governments to adopt their policy preferences |
____��������� 3.�� A strong state can best be defined in the context of comparative politics as one
a. | with a lot of money |
b. | which gives its people free health care |
c. | which guarantees its people the most opportunities for participation |
d. | which has the greatest capacity to carry out its policies |
e. | which can only act after achieving large scale public consensus |
____��������� 4.�� The expansion of European and other powers into Africa and Asia in the 19th century was
a. | imperialism |
b. | capitalism |
c. | communism |
d. | democracy |
e. | cold war |
____��������� 5.�� The former communist states' almost-complete control over their societies, politics, and economics was often called
a. | democracy |
b. | autocracy |
c. | totalitarianism |
d. | imperialism |
e. | plutocracy |
____��������� 6.�� OPEC is the
a. | cartel of major oil-producing countries |
b. | organization of leading capitalist countries |
c. | official name of the World Bank |
d. | United Nations human rights office |
e. | primary example of economic liberalization |
____��������� 7.�� In behavioral political science, a theory is
a. | a mathematical equation |
b. | a statement about what society should be like |
c. | an explanation of the causes of a past event |
d. | the belief that religious authorities should have a political role |
e. | a statement that seeks to predict political phenomena |
____��������� 8.�� Political culture is
a. | the process of achieving one's public policy goals through legitimate means |
b. | an agency that gives money to the arts |
c. | the set of basic values and assumptions people hold about their political systems |
d. | another term for political correctness |
e. | attitudes about current incumbents and issues |
____��������� 9.�� Sovereignty is a term used to describe
a. | rule by a king |
b. | constitutional monarchies |
c. | the right to rule by whoever is in power |
d. | the autonomous power of national governments |
e. | power politics |
____��������� 10.� The conflict from 1945 to 1989 between communism and capitalism is usually called the
a. | Splendid Little War |
b. | Cold War |
c. | World War III |
d. | Great War |
e. | War to End All Wars |
____��������� 11.� The institutions of governments and descriptions of their powers are usually outlined in
a. | newspapers |
b. | political science textbooks |
c. | constitutions |
d. | federal registers |
e. | governing parties' platforms |
____��������� 12.� The process of passing on a political culture from one generation to the next occurs through
a. | families |
b. | schools |
c. | religious institutions |
d. | mass media |
e. | all of the above |
____��������� 13.� One thing that India, Iraq, Vietnam, South Africa , and Angola have in common is
a. | large petroleum reserves |
b. | long struggles for independence |
c. | tropical climates |
d. | the widespread use of the English language |
e. | democratic regimes |
____��������� 14.� Systems theory in comparative politics is useful because it
a. | is based on biological models |
b. | allows us to see how states' components interact |
c. | ignores irrelevant aspects like international forces |
d. | treats all components of states as equally powerful |
e. | demonstrates why economic liberalization is the best way to the future |
____��������� 15.� Domestic pressures on the state
a. | often originate in other nations |
b. | can be ignored in non-democratic regimes |
c. | include parties, unions, interest groups, and charismatic leaders |
d. | result in policy changes |
e. | usually divert leaders' attention from threats posed by environmental degradation |
____��������� 16.� The World Bank limits the sovereignty of states whenever it
a. | imposes conditions on loans to states |
b. | consults with member nations |
c. | fails to consult with member nations |
d. | taxes member nations |
e. | agrees with U.S. policy |
____��������� 17.� Weak states generally share all the following characteristics EXCEPT
a. | poverty |
b. | a widespread sense of legitimacy |
c. | deep ethnic divides |
d. | lack of innovation |
e. | competitive, rather than cooperative elites |
____��������� 18.� Which of the following best describes the evolution of the American state?
a. | It occurred relatively smoothly and easily. |
b. | It occurred because the United States was not a major imperial power. |
c. | It left deep divisions along class lines. |
d. | It was relatively tumultuous. |
e. | It happened rapidly in the 18th century. |
____��������� 19.� Which of the following best describes the word liberal in American political life?
a. | support for government reinforcement of moral standards held by majorities |
b. | support for a free market economy |
c. | support for extended social service programs |
d. | opposition to all forms of government |
e. | widely supported by economic elites |
____��������� 20.� Which of the following best describes the word liberal in European political life?
a. | opposition to government reinforcement of moral standards held by majorities |
b. | support for a free market economy |
c. | support for extended social service programs |
d. | opposition to all forms of government |
e. | widely supported by working class groups |
____��������� 21.� Incremental change occurs
a. | only after elections |
b. | only before elections |
c. | in fits and starts |
d. | gradually |
e. | because of revolutions |
____��������� 22.� American political culture can best be defined as
a. | dominated by deep ideological divisions |
b. | active participation in political life by most people |
c. | general distrust of presidents |
d. | widespread desire for limited government |
e. | massive political demonstrations leading to the formulation of policy |
____��������� 23.� Which of the following is not terribly important in determining the way Representatives and Senators vote on bills before them?
a. | their own opinions |
b. | what they think their constituents want |
c. | opinions of lobbyists and campaign contributors |
d. | classical themes in political theory |
e. | what their party leaders want |
____��������� 24.� The one public policy area in which the United States is more active than other liberal democracies is
a. | health care policy |
b. | pension policy |
c. | child card policy |
d. | foreign policy |
e. | economic planning policy |
____��������� 25.� Policy making in the United States tends to be
a. | quick |
b. | effective |
c. | incremental |
d. | strong |
e. | ideological |
____��������� 26.� The "New Left" was concerned with which issue?
a. | feminism |
b. | gay/lesbian rights |
c. | environmental quality |
d. | civil rights |
e. | all of the above |
____��������� 27.� The "New Right" movement's most visible advocates are
a. | minorities |
b. | fundamentalist Christians |
c. | women |
d. | moderates |
e. | liberals |
____��������� 28.� In a first-past-the-post electoral system, seats in the legislature are allocated
a. | to whichever candidate gets the most votes in a given district |
b. | to parties in proportion to the percentage of votes they get |
c. | to whichever candidate spends the most money |
d. | by parties which determine which of their candidates get the seats they win |
e. | by whichever party gets its voters to the polls first |
____��������� 29.� Laissez-faire refers to
a. | the philosophy that says people can do whatever they want |
b. | the French concept of democracy |
c. | a policy of eliminating government intervention in the economic market place |
d. | a planned capitalist economy like that in France |
e. | government regulation to ensure that every economic actor has a chance to succeed |
____��������� 30.� People who turn their attention to issues of quality of life, self-actualization, and international human rights are sometimes described as
a. | post-materialists |
b. | post-communists |
c. | post-partisans |
d. | postal workers |
e. | individualists |
____��������� 31.� Which of the following describes the concept of bureaucracy formulated by Max Weber?
a. | efficient |
b. | scientific |
c. | non-political |
d. | objective |
e. | all of the above |
____��������� 32.� The political theorist who believed that a large and powerful state was necessary to save people from anarchy was
a. | Ren� Decartes |
b. | John Locke |
c. | Margaret Thatcher |
d. | Thomas Hobbes |
e. | Thomas Jefferson |
____��������� 33.� The definition of liberal democracies does not include the following:
a. | strong military |
b. | affluence |
c. | basic freedoms |
d. | competitive elections |
e. | rule of law |
____��������� 34.� Political protest in contemporary industrialized democracies usually
a. | involves elite groups seeking power |
b. | involves people who are least represented |
c. | questions the legitimacy of regimes |
d. | originates from the right end of the political spectrum |
e. | are nationwide in scale |
____��������� 35.� The gender gap in politics refers to
a. | ways women have succeeded in reducing the differences between their power and that of �men |
b. | the fact that women have always been more liberal than men |
c. | differences between the political behavior of men and women |
d. | the absence of women in positions of political power |
e. | men's large-scale support of women candidates |
____��������� 36.� Which of the following is not deemed important for the success of a democratic regime?
a. | the citizenry's acceptance of a regime's legitimacy |
b. | cultural norms and values promoting a sense of community |
c. | a regime's success in implementing policy |
d. | a sense of political efficacy on the part of most people |
e. | laissez-faire economic policies |
____��������� 37.� Political parties in industrialized democracies have become less distinct from one another in the past two decades because of the all the following EXCEPT
a. | the dissolution of the Soviet Union |
b. | growing acceptance of welfare states |
c. | sustained economic growth |
d. | the growing importance of short television commercials |
e. | fears of mutually assured destruction during the Cold War |
____��������� 38.� Voters who most value things such as alternative energy, preserving the environment, protecting endangered species, and reducing the use of nuclear power are likely to support
a. | Christian democratic parties |
b. | nationalist parties |
c. | Green parties |
d. | labor parties |
e. | social democratic parties |
____��������� 39.� Hauss argues that the nations with "the most integrated elite" have been "among the most successful economically since the end of World War II." What he refers to is
a. | the practice of including ethnic and racial minorities in cabinets |
b. | the encouragement of personal friendships among leading politicians of all parties |
c. | close cooperation between politicians, bureaucratic experts, interest groups, and �business executives in the process of policy making |
d. | technically illegal, but tolerated in most industrialized democracies |
e. | the election of political and economic leadership common in industrialized democracies |
____��������� 40.� The prime minister who succeeded Margaret Thatcher and John Major in 1997 was
a. | Neil Kinnock |
b. | Michael Heseltine |
c. | Denis Thatcher |
d. | John Redwood |
e. | Tony Blair |
____��������� 41.� A term used to accurately describe the development of the British state is
a. | tumultuous |
b. | socialistic |
c. | divided |
d. | gradual |
e. | erratic |
____��������� 42.� The more powerful house of the British Parliament is the
a. | House of Commons |
b. | House of Lords |
c. | Senate |
d. | Chamber of Deputies |
e. | Privy Council |
____��������� 43.� The right to vote was expanded with the Great Reform Acts in the
a. | 16th Century |
b. | 17th Century |
c. | 18th Century |
d. | 19th Century |
e. | 20th Century |
____��������� 44.� Which of the following best describes the British working class?
a. | most are Marxists |
b. | most support the Conservative Party |
c. | most are apolitical |
d. | most are fairly moderate in their political beliefs |
e. | most are xenophobic |
____��������� 45.� The party which was in power the longest in the 20th century was
a. | Conservative |
b. | Labour |
c. | Liberal Democrat |
d. | Nationalist |
e. | Christian Democrat |
____��������� 46.� The broad agreement on social policy during the 1950s and 1960s was known as
a. | socialism |
b. | capitalism |
c. | the collectivist consensus |
d. | individualistic consensus |
e. | a united front |
____��������� 47.� Which party was in power from 1945 to 1951 when much of the British welfare state was created?
a. | Conservatives |
b. | Labour |
c. | Social Democrats |
d. | Liberals |
e. | Christian Democrats |
____��������� 48.� Which of the following best describes the National Health Service?
a. | It provides quality health care to everyone for free. |
b. | It leaves most of health care in the private sector. |
c. | Its doctors are among the highest paid in the world. |
d. | It is universal. |
e. | It is underfunded. |
____��������� 49.� Margaret Thatcher was part of a generation of conservative politicians who
a. | supported the welfare state |
b. | wanted Britain to become part of a United States of Europe |
c. | advocated a more progressive income tax |
d. | believed the market should play a dominant role in economic policy |
e. | resisted increases in military spending |
____��������� 50.� Which of the following best describes changes in the British party system since 1970?
a. | Major parties have become ideologically more distinctive. |
b. | The major parties grew more moderate, but have become more extreme in recent years. |
c. | The major parties grew more extreme, but have become more moderate in recent years. |
d. | New parties have replaced Labour and the Conservatives as the most popular parties. |
e. | A coalition centrist party lost strength in the 1990s. |
____��������� 51.� The new party which was formed in the early 1980s is now known as the
a. | Labour Party |
b. | Conservatives |
c. | Liberal Democrats |
d. | Social Democrats |
e. | Christian Democrats |
____��������� 52.� The term "loony left" was used to describe Labour in the 1980s because
a. | so many of its leaders had received psychological treatment |
b. | it supported the provision of psychiatric care for free |
c. | its policies were so radical |
d. | its campaigns were so inept that it seemed to be committing electoral suicide |
e. | it was out of power |
____��������� 53.� Which of the following best describes the British bureaucracy?
a. | It cooperates regularly with key interest groups in policy making. |
b. | Most of its members become political leaders after retiring. |
c. | Most of its members become business leaders after retiring. |
d. | It cooperates with liberal interest groups. |
e. | It does not cooperate very often with key interest groups in policy making. |
____��������� 54.� The British drought of 1995 became politically controversial because
a. | the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher privatized utilities such as water suppliers |
b. | services became more expensive after privatization |
c. | water company executives were paid high salaries |
d. | water companies made insensitive statements concerning the public's need for water |
e. | all of the above |
____��������� 55.� An important parliamentary vote is signified by
a. | an announcement in Norman French |
b. | a three-line whip |
c. | an advertisement in the Times of London |
d. | a proclamation by the Queen |
e. | a proclamation of the speaker of the House of Commons |
____��������� 56.� The founder of the FifthRepublic was
a. | Marshall P�tain |
b. | Charles de Gaulle |
c. | Fran�ois Mitterand |
d. | Dominique Platini |
e. | Michel Debr� |
____��������� 57.� Charles de Gaulle often said he wanted France to gain ____________.
a. | grandeur |
b. | living room |
c. | national pride |
d. | market share |
e. | humility |
____��������� 58.� The third president of the FifthRepublic, who helped shape the modern political parties, was
a. | Charles de Gaulle |
b. | Georges Pompidou |
c. | Val�ry Giscard d'Estaing |
d. | Fran�ois Mitterand |
e. | Jacques Chirac |
____��������� 59.� The fifth president of the FifthRepublic, and former mayor of Paris, was
a. | Charles de Gaulle |
b. | Georges Pompidou |
c. | Val�ry Giscard d'Estaing |
d. | Fran�ois Mitterand |
e. | Jacques Chirac |
____��������� 60.� Among the industrialized democracies, France is among the most
a. | congested |
b. | socialistic |
c. | liberal |
d. | centralized |
e. | democratic |
____��������� 61.� France has had roughly how many different regimes since 1789?
a. | 1 |
b. | 4 |
c. | 6 |
d. | 11 |
e. | 32 |
____��������� 62.� The less powerful house of the French parliament in the FifthRepublic is the:
a. | House of Commons |
b. | National Assembly |
c. | Senate |
d. | Diet |
e. | Chamber of Deputies |
____��������� 63.� One of the most important policies enacted in the first years of the Mitterrand presidency was:
a. | privatizing industry |
b. | economic planning |
c. | introducing family allocations |
d. | autogestion [decentralization] |
e. | pantouflage |
____��������� 64.� The "events of May 1968" were
a. | a major scandal involving real estate speculators |
b. | the revolt which brought the FourthRepublic down |
c. | the assassination attempt on de Gaulle's life |
d. | responsible for ending French aid to Indochina |
e. | a massive protest movement by students, workers, and others |
____��������� 65.� The electoral system used in most FifthRepublic elections is unusual because it
a. | is a first-past-the-post system |
b. | uses proportional representation |
c. | has two ballots |
d. | has multi-member constituencies |
e. | selects winners with less than a majority of votes cast |
____��������� 66.� Which of the following is NOT usually considered a reason why the French presidency has been less "imperial" in the past two decades?
a. | cohabitation |
b. | a lack of crises to deal with |
c. | the personalities of recent presidents |
d. | the development of catch-all parties |
e. | the growth of global forces |
____��������� 67.� The practice of French public officials holding multiple offices simultaneously means [among other things] that
a. | political opportunities are greater for newcomers |
b. | local elected officials have more independence than they otherwise would |
c. | political leadership is limited to fewer people |
d. | elected officials have greater control of bureaucrats than in other industrial democracies |
e. | the roles played by prefects in local affairs have become greater than in the past |
____��������� 68.� The Prime Minister during the cohabitation from 1997 to 2002 was
a. | Charles de Gaulle |
b. | Lionel Jospin |
c. | Alain Juppe |
d. | Fran�ois Mitterrand |
e. | Jean-Marie LePen |
____��������� 69.� High French unemployment rates
a. | have rarely been seen in recent years |
b. | encourage more women to enter the job market |
c. | have become the rule rather than the exception in the last 25 years |
d. | have been drastically reduced by the policies of economic liberalization |
e. | have encouraged many immigrants to leave the country |
____��������� 70.� In French politics, the iron triangle of policy making is facilitated by
a. | the ENA |
b. | personal friendships between politicians, bureaucrats, and business leaders |
c. | regular job offers to bureaucrats from large businesses |
d. | the frequent inclusion of bureaucrats in governments |
e. | all of the above |
____��������� 71.� Cohabitation posed a threat to the FifthRepublic because
a. | it offered a repeat of the paralysis of earlier regimes |
b. | scandal threatens the legitimacy of regimes |
c. | Americans couldn't understand that type of divided government |
d. | it would reduce the power of the Prime Minister |
e. | French unions would protest such a government |
____��������� 72.� Germany was reunited in
a. | 1933 |
b. | 1945 |
c. | 1949 |
d. | 1990 |
e. | 1997 |
____��������� 73.� A historical legacy of the Reformation is that Germany has
a. | very few Catholics |
b. | a large Jewish population |
c. | a mix of Catholics and Protestants |
d. | a tiny population of foreigners |
e. | a strong state church |
____��������� 74.� Prime Minister Tony Blair recently admitted that
a. | the British detainees in Guantanamo prison had no rights |
b. | weapons of mass destruction might never be found in Iraq |
c. | he would soon step down because of criticism from his own Labour party |
d. | the Liberal Democrats were right in opposing the Iraq war |
e. | he agreed with the Conservatives on stopping European integration |
____��������� 75.� The regime that governed Germany from 1933 until 1945 was called the
a. | Second Reich |
b. | WeimarRepublic |
c. | Third Reich |
d. | Holy Roman Empire |
e. | FederalKingdom of Germany |
____��������� 76.� Which one of the following statements about Slobodan Milosevic is not true? He
a. | led the transition of Serbia to democracy |
b. | is accused of having committed crimes against humanity and genocide |
c. | was first a Communist and the a Nationalist |
d. | was president of former Yugoslavia |
e. | was assassinated by a former member of the Serb security services |
____��������� 77.� The more powerful house of the German parliament today is the
a. | Reichstag [Imperial Diet] |
b. | Reichsrat [Imperial Council] |
c. | Bundesrat [Federal Council] |
d. | Bundestag [Federal Diet] |
e. | Volkskammer [People�s Chamber] |
____��������� 78.� In terms of its territorial distribution of political power, Germany is a
a. | unitary state |
b. | confederation |
c. | federal state |
d. | empire |
e. | all of the above |
____��������� 79.� British Prime Minister Tony Blair recently conceded that
a. | he was wrong in going to war against Iraq |
b. | there existed institutionalized racism in the British police |
c. | the House of Lords deserved more power |
d. | the Monarchy should be abolished |
e. | there never was a Magna Carta |
____��������� 80.� The latest contested issue between Israelis and Palestinians is
a. | who owns Jerusalem |
b. | the right of return for Palestinian refugees |
c. | the breakdown of the Oslo peace agreement |
d. | the PLO�s support of suicide bombers |
e. | the building of a fence by Israel to separate Israelis from Palestinians |
Part II: Essay Question:
Write your answer in the space below the question and on back page [20 points].
What are the main differences between the British parliamentary system and the mixed presidential parliamentary system of government of the French 5th Republic? Describe the major political institutions [i.e. the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government] and the main political offices [e.g. head of state, head of government] in Great Britain and France. Explain the functions of the British and French political structures and actors and compare their power.
Good luck!
Answer Section
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1.�������� D | 21.������ D | 41.������ D | 61.������ D |
2.�������� C | 22.������ D | 42.������ A | 62.������ C |
3.�������� C | 23.������ D | 43.������ D | 63.������ D |
4.�������� A | 24.������ D | 44.������ D | 64.������ E |
5.�������� C | 25.������ C | 45.������ A | 65.������ C |
6.�������� A | 26.������ E | 46.������ C | 66.������ B |
7.�������� E | 27.������ B | 47.������ B | 67.������ C |
8.�������� C | 28.������ A | 48.������ E | 68.������ B |
9.�������� D | 29.������ C | 49.������ D | 69.������ C |
10.������ B | 30.������ A | 50.������ C | 70.������ E |
11.������ C | 31.������ E | 51.������ C | 71.������ A |
12.������ E | 32.������ D | 52.������ C | 72.������ D |
13.������ B | 33.������ A | 53.������ E | 73.������ C |
14.������ B | 34.������ B | 54.������ E | 74.������ B |
15.������ C | 35.������ C | 55.������ B | 75.������ C |
16.������ A | 36.������ E | 56.������ B | 76.������ E |
17.������ B | 37.������ A | 57.������ A | 77.������ D |
18.������ A | 38.������ C | 58.������ C | 78.������ D |
19.������ C | 39.������ C | 59.������ E | 79.������ B |
20.������ B | 40.������ E | 60.������ D | 80.������� D. |
ESSAY
Britain | France | |
parliamentary system | mixed presidential-parliamentary system | |
Executive: | PM is chief political executive | President is chief political executive |
head of government | head of state | |
monarch is head of state, but has no real power | President is head of state, more powerful than PM; but shares power, especially during times of cohabitation | |
PM appoints cabinet from majority party; must appeal to factions within his own party and co-opt rivals | President has extraordinary powers, e.g. emergency powers [Art. 16], can declare and end state of emergency after consulting with PM and leaders of NA and Senate | |
cabinet government: PM is first-among-equals in cabinet; dominance of cabinet and policy depends on PM�s leadership skills and personality | President can call referendum on important issues and circumvent PM and parliament | |
PM is leader of the majority party in House of Commons; must enforce party discipline | Pres. can dissolve N.A. and call for new elections, but only after one-year waiting period after previous elections | |
Legislature: | PM elected by parliament and responsible to parliament | Pres. not selected by and responsible to National Assembly [NA], but needs support in parliament to govern; must appoint PM that has support in NA; |
vote-of-no-confidence forces PM�s resignation | President can only be removed by impeachment; PM can be ousted by vote of censure | |
can ignore House of Lords, or stack it with friendly majority by appointing peers | Pres. has to work with Prime Minister , NA and Senate; | |
parliamentary system | mixed presidential-parliamentary system, semi-presidential system | |
PM most powerful office in UK | President most powerful office in France |