Download Unit 1 – Introduction to Comparative Politics – Test Multiple Choice

Unit1–IntroductiontoComparativePolitics–Test
MultipleChoice–2ptseach
1. WhichofthefollowingisNOTconsideredtobeanaspectofglobalization?
A. Increasedspeedandmagnitudeofcross-bordertrade
B. Thespreadofdemocracy
C. Increasedculturaldiffusion
D. Increasedmigrationofpeoples
E. Increasedspeedandmagnitudeofcross-bordercommunication
2. Incomparativepolitics,theterm“state”refersto
A. thegovernmentinpowerinacountry
B. agroupofpeoplewithacommonidentity.
C. thetotalareaofacountry
D. thekeypoliticalinstitutionsinacountry.
E. subnationalunitsofgovernmentlikeMissouri
3. Democratictransitionsdescribeaprocessinwhich
A. twocountriesresolveaconflictthroughpeacefulmeansratherthanmilitaryforce.
B. authoritariangovernmentsdevelopintomoreparticipatoryanddemocraticregimes.
C. thereareelectionsthatinvolvethepeacefultransferofpowerbetweenadministrations.
D. thepresidentofacountryresignsandisreplacedbythevicepresident.
E. ademocraticcountrybecomesadictatorship.
4. Forabout500years,___________________havebeentheprimaryactionsontheworldstage.
A. politicalparties
B. states
C. transnationalcorporations
D. socialmovements
E. internationalorganizations
5. Theterm“politicaleconomy”refersto
A. theglobaleconomicsystem.
B. howstatesandpoliticalprocessesaffecttheeconomyandhowtheeconomyinturnaffectsacountry’s
politicalprocesses.
C. whetheracountrypracticescommandeconomyorafree-marketsystem.
D. howmuchacountryspendsonelections.
E. theratioofGDPcomparedtopercentageofvotingcitizens.
6. Classifyingcountriesaccordingtotheirlevelofdemocracyisanexampleofa
A. typology
B. hypothesis
C. model
D. causalmodel
E. variable
7. Ascomparedtoconsolidateddemocraciesandauthoritarianregimes,transitionaldemocraciesarecharacterizedby
A. fewerlegalprotectionsthatineitherconsolidateddemocraciesorauthoritarianregimes.
B. fewerlegalprotectionsforcitizenrightsandlibertiesthanconsolidateddemocraciesbutmorethan
authoritarianregimes.
C. morelegalprotectionforcivillibertiesthaneitherconsolidateddemocraciesorauthoritarianregimes.
D. morelegalprotectionthanconsolidateddemocraciesbutlessthaninauthoritarianregimes.
E. morelegalprotectionforeconomicandsocialrightsbutlessforpoliticalrights.
8. TheHumandevelopmentIndex,theGlobalGenderGap,theEnvironmentalPerformanceIndex,andtheCorruption
PerceptionsIndexareallexamplesof
A. comparativemeasuresdevelopedbytheUnitedStates
B. comparativemeasuresdevelopedbyInternationalnon-stateorganizationslikeFreedomHouseand
Greenpeace.
C. rankingsandratingsofdataforcomparativeanalysisthatarewidelyused.
D. rankingsandratingsthatmaybeusedtostudythelevelofdemocracyinvariouscountries.
E. measuresfortheeconomicperformanceofstates.
9. Theterm“criticaljuncture”refersto
A. whentheleadershipofacountrychanges.
B. theborderbetweentwohistoricallyhostilecountries
C. animportanthistoricalmomentthatshapesinstitutionsandfutureoutcomes.
D. aperiodofeconomicinstability.
E. aneventthattriggersawaroninternationalcrisis.
10. Whenstateboundariesandnationalidentitycoincide,theresultingformationiscalleda
A. country.
B. confederation.
C. nation-state.
D. nation.
E. state.
11. WhichofthefollowingstatementsaboutcollectiveidentityisTRUE?
A. Non-classidentitieshaveassumedgrowingsignificanceeveninlong-establisheddemocracies.
B. Allofthesearetruestatements.
C. Collectiveidentitiesinvolvingethnicityandreligionhavebeenimportantfactorsthathaveledtoconflict.
D. Politicalleadersoftenmanipulateorappealtocollectiveidentities.
E. Althoughlesssothaninthepast,classbasedcollectiveidentitiesremainimportantinmanylong-established
democracies.
12. WhichofthefollowingBESTillustratesthedifferencebetweenthefieldofcomparativepoliticsandthefieldof
internationalrelations?
A. Thefieldofcomparativepoliticsinvolvescomparingnationswhereasthefieldofinternationalrelations
involvesexamininginternationalorganizations.
B. Thefieldofcomparativepoliticsinvolvescomparingdifferentpoliticalinstitutions,processes,andpoliticsin
differentcountrieswhereasthefieldofinternationalrelationsinvolvesstudyingtheforeignpolicyofand
interactionsamongdifferentcountries.
C. Thereisnodifferencebetweenthetwofields.
D. Thefieldofcomparativepoliticsinvolvesonlydomesticpoliticswhereasthefieldofinternationalrelations
refersonlytoglobalization.
E. Thefieldofcomparativepoliticsinvolvescomparingwhyandhowdifferentstatesactintheinternational
arenawhereasthefieldofinternationalpoliticsismoreconcernedwiththeimpactofnonstateactorsinthe
internationalarena.
13. Whichofthefollowingisanormativestatement?
A. ThepresidentsofMexicoandRussiaarebothdirectlyelectedbythepeople.
B. TheheadofgovernmentinIranisthepresident.
C. TheChinesejudicialsystemwouldservethecountrybetterifitweremoreindependent.
D. TheEuropeanUnionexpandedrapidlyduringthefirstfewyearsofthe21stcentury.
E. Britian’supperhouseofthelegislatureconsistsofnon-electedofficials.
“Nigeria’spolicyofrevenuesharinghasnotfunctionedwellprimarilybecausethegovernmentlackslegitimacy.”
14. Inthestatementabove,Nigeria’spolicyofrevenuesharingmaybeidentifiedasa(n)
A. independentvariable
B. correlation
C. causation
D. dependentvariable
E. hypothesis
15. Whichofthefollowingisthemostaccuratedefinitionofastate?
A. theabilitytocarryoutactionsorpolicieswithinbordersindependentlyfrominterference
B. anorganizationthatincludesinstitutionsandmaintainsamonopolyofviolenceoveraterritory
C. agroupofpeoplethatareboundtogetherbyacommonpoliticalidentity
D. therulesthataresetandfollowedinexertingpower
E. agovernmentwiththreebranches:legislative,executive,andjudicial
16. Whichofthefollowingismostlikelytobeacentrifugalforcethatnegativelyaffectsanation-state?
A. useofsymbolstocreatecohesiveness
B. strongreligiousvalues
C. extensivetransportationsystems
D. strongseparatistmovements
E. schoolsthatinstillthesociety’sbeliefs
17. Integrationisaprocessthatallowsstatetogainpolitical,economic,andsocialcloutbypoolingtheir
A. territory
B. sovereignty
C. frontiers
D. coreareas
E. colonies
18. Whatisa“mixedeconomy”?
A. Onethatishealthyinsomeareasbutnotinothers
B. Onethatisindividualisticandantigovernment
C. Onethatisbasedprimarilyonstateownershipofthemeansofproduction
D. Onethatdependsbothondomesticproductionandimportofgoodsfromothercountries
E. Onethatmixescharacteristicsofacommandeconomywiththoseofamarketeconomy.
19. Atypeofstatethatspreadspoweramongmanysub-unitsandhasaweakcentralgovernmentiscalleda
A. confederalsystem
B. unitarysystem
C. federalsystem
D. devolutionarysystem
E. separatistsystem
20. Whichofthefollowingcanbeconsideredafundamentalfeatureofauthoritariangovernment?
A. Theheadofgovernmentisalsotheheadofstate.
B. Decisionsaremadebypoliticaleliteswithoutmuchinputfromcitizens.
C. Theregimetypeisbasedoncommunism.
D. Thelegitimacyoftheheadofstateisbasedonheredity.
E. Authoritariangovernmentsalwaysuseviolenceasatechniquefordestroyingobstaclestotheirgovernance.
21. Whichofthefollowingisanaccuratedescriptionofdemocraticcorporatism?
A. Responsibilitiesandobligationsarebasedonahierarchybetweenelitesandcitizens.
B. Theformationofinterestgroupswithinthesystemisspontaneous.
C. Interestgroupsinteractwiththestateandremainautonomous.
D. Interestrepresentationisinstitutionalizedthroughrecognitionbythestate.
E. Themilitaryjoinsforceswiththestatebureaucracytoformanauthoritarianregime.
22. In2012,theInternationalMonetaryFundestimatedChina’sGDPpercapitatobe$6,076,andin2013,theCIAWorld
FactBookestimatedChina’sPPPtobe$9,100.Whichofthefollowingisthebestexplanationforthedifference
betweenthetwoestimates?
A. China’seconomygrewrapidlybetween2012and2013.
B. TheIMFdidnotincludeincomefromChinesecitizenslivingabroad;theCIAWorldFactBookdid.
C. TheIMFdidnottakeintoconsiderationadultliteracyandincomelevels;theCIAWorldFactBookdid.
D. TheIMFdidnotfactorinincomefromillegalsources;theCIAWorldFactBookdid.
E. GDPpercapitamerelymakesthetotalvalueofacountry’sGDPanddividesitbythecountry’spopulation;
PPPpercapitaattemptstoestimatethebuyingpowerofincomeineachcountry.
23. IfacountryhasalowGinicoefficient,itmeansthatthecountryhas
A. alowstandardofliving
B. seriousrestrictionsonindividualliberties
C. moreequalincomeorwealthdistribution
D. agovernmentthatoperateswithlittleornotransparency
E. littleornopoliticalefficacy
24. Anationalballot,calledbythegovernmentonapolicyissueiscalleda(n)
A. initiative
B. reform
C. sovereignact
D. referendum
E. decree
25. Incontrasttoapluralityelectoralsystem,anelectoralsystembasedonproportionalrepresentationismorelikelyto
resultin
A. anineffectivelegislature
B. morerun-offelections
C. aweakenedpartysystem
D. lowerratesofvoterparticipation
E. amulti-partysystem
26. Whichofthefollowingisalinkageinstitution?
A. themilitary
B. thelegislature
C. thebureaucracy
D. thejudiciary
E. apoliticalparty
27. Themechanismthatallowscourtstodecidetheconstitutionalityofalaworexecutiveactioniscalled
A. judicialreview
B. codelaw
C. civillaw
D. parliamentarysovereignty
E. judicialactivism
28. Inmostcountrieswithbicamerallegislature,seatsintheupperhouseusually
A. aredeterminedbypopulation
B. representregionalgovernmentsandlocalinterests
C. arehereditaryorappointed
D. aremoresoughtafterthanseatsinthelowerhouse
E. aremorenumerousthanthoseinthelowerhouse
29. Incontrasttobureaucratsinanauthoritarianregime,bureaucratsinademocraticregimeusually
A. areelected
B. resigntheirjobswhentheirchiefexecutiveleaves
C. arepartofapatronagesystem
D. havemorediscretionarypower
E. areappointedbythechiefexecutive
30. Acabinetcoalitionismorelikelytoformincountriesthathave
A. littleculturalheterogeneity
B. apresident
C. amulti-partysystem
D. strongbureaucracies
E. bothaheadofstateandaheadofgovernment
31. WhichofthefollowingisNOTacommontypeofpoliticalinstitution?
A. legislature
B. judiciary
C. bureaucracy
D. cross-cuttingcleavage
E. politicalparty
32. Accordingtosocialcapitaltheory,societieswithhighamountsofsocialcapitalsaremorelikelytobe
A. democratic
B. stable
C. authoritarian
D. consensual
E. conflictual
33. Whichofthefollowingisthebestdescriptionofsocialismasapoliticalideology?
A. Socialismrejectsthevalueofequality,andacceptstheideathatpeopleandgroupsexistindegreesof
inferiorityandsuperiority.
B. Socialismrejectstheprincipleofseparationofchurchandstate.
C. Socialismacceptsprivateownershipsandfreemarketprinciples,butbelievesthatthestatehasastrongrole
toplayinregulatingtheeconomyandensuringsomemeasureofequality.
D. Socialismseekstomaximizefreedomforallpeople,includingfreespeech,freedomofreligion,andfreedom
ofassociation.
E. Socialismrejectstheideathatpersonalfreedomwillensureprosperityforallandholdsthataninevitable
resultofcompetitionforscarceresourcesisthatasmallgroupwillgaincontrol.
34. Whichofthefollowingisanattitudetowardchangethatismostsupportiveofreformandgradualchange?
A. radicalism
B. liberalism
C. communism
D. conservatism
E. reactionarybeliefs
35. Competitiveelections,civilliberties,ruleoflaw,neutralityofthejudiciary,andopencivilsocietyareall
characteristicsof
A. proceduraldemocracies
B. free-marketeconomies
C. presidentialsystems
D. authoritariansystems
E. liberaldemocracies
36. Theprocessthatcreatesapoliticalsystemthatissupportedbyallpartsofthesocietyiscalled
A. transparency
B. integration
C. democraticconsolidation
D. privatization
E. democraticcorporatism
37. Economicliberalizationleadsacountrytoward
A. afree-marketeconomy
B. acommandeconomy
C. democratization
D. federalism
E. authoritarianrule
38. Whichofthefollowingmostdirectlydiscouragesthemoderntrendtowardglobalization?
A. integration
B. democratization
C. nationalism
D. conservatism
E. communism
39. Incontrasttocoincidingcleavages,cross-cuttingcleavagesaremorelikelyto
A. tearasocietyapart
B. emphasizeethnicdifferences
C. emphasizeregionaldifferences
D. emphasizereligiousdifferences
E. keepsocialconflicttomoremoderatelevels
40. Voluntaryorganizationsoutsideofthestatethathelppeopledefineandadvancetheirowninterestscompose
A. thecivilsociety
B. socialcapital
C. socialboundaries
D. subjectactivities
E. aproceduraldemocracy
ConceptualAnalysisQuestions:
5ptsforeachpart-
Bureaucraciesareimportantinstitutionsinbothauthoritariananddemocraticregimes.
(a)Describetwocharacteristicsofbureaucraciesthatarecommoninbothauthoritariananddemocraticregimes.
(b)Describeonereasonwhybureaucraciesareoftenanimportantsourceofstrengthinademocracy.
(c)Explaintwodifferencesbetweenthewaythatbureaucraciesfunctioninademocracyandanauthoritarianregime.