Question 1

Which statement about politics is FALSE?
A) It is full of hypocrisy and deception.
B) It is ridden with conflict.
C) It is uniquely separate from and unrelated to social life.
D) It protects and serves people.

Accepted Answer

Politics is not separate from social life, as political decisions often have a direct impact on the lives of individuals and communities.

Question 2

Which of the following is true regarding the American political process?
A) The reality is quite different from the way the process is typically described in schools.
B) For most of American history, the majority of citizens were denied the right to vote.
C) Some critics argue that American schools' failure to teach critical thinking skills are harmful to the political process.
D) All these answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

All of the statements are true. The American political process is often taught in schools in an idealized way, presenting a simplified version that does not always reflect the complexities of reality. For most of American history, many groups, including women, African Americans, and other minority groups, were denied the right to vote, which had a significant impact on the political process. Some critics argue that the failure of schools to teach critical thinking skills can lead to voters being easily swayed by political propaganda and misinformation, which can harm the political process.

Question 3

The United Kingdom is an example of a(n)
A) autocratic system.
B) constitutional monarchy.
C) formal autocracy.
D) absolute monarchy.

Accepted Answer

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, which means that the monarch has limited powers and a constitution outlines the powers and responsibilities of the government and the monarch. While the monarch still plays a ceremonial role in government, the elected officials hold the real political power.

Question 4

The struggle over power in a society is called
A) the law.
B) politics.
C) corporate governance.
D) a social system.

Accepted Answer

Politics refers to the struggle over power in a society, including the activities, processes, and policies involved in governing a group or state. The law is a system of rules and principles intended to regulate behavior, corporate governance refers to how corporations are directed and controlled, and a social system is a framework of social structures, institutions, and patterns of interaction that guide behavior within a society.

Question 5

In which type of democracy do voters elect the head of state?
A) proportional system
B) presidential system
C) parliamentary system
D) representative system

Accepted Answer

In a presidential system, voters directly elect the head of state (the president), whereas in a parliamentary system, the head of state (the monarch or a ceremonial president) is usually not directly elected by the people but appointed by the parliament or elected indirectly through other means. Proportional system and representative system are electoral systems that determine how legislative seats are allocated, but they do not directly determine how the head of state is chosen.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the twenty-first-century Tea Party in the United States?
A) It is a loosely organized collection of activists, most of whom support conservative Republican ideas.
B) It is the first viable third party of the new century.
C) It is a social movement that has yet to really define its core theoretical underpinnings.
D) It is a coalition of activists that transcends party lines to unite those who support a flat-tax system.

Accepted Answer

The Tea Party movement in the United States is a loose collection of activists who support conservative Republican ideas, such as limited government and lower taxes. While there are some Tea Party-affiliated politicians who have run as third-party candidates, the movement itself is not a viable third party. Moreover, while the Tea Party has strong ideological commitments, it is not yet clear what its core theoretical underpinnings are beyond a general distrust of government and a desire for lower taxes. Finally, while the Tea Party does support a flat tax for some members, it is not the only issue that unites the movement, and there are plenty of Tea Party supporters who do not prioritize tax reform.

Question 7

Which type of voting system is used to elect members to the U.S. House and Senate?
A) plurality voting
B) direct voting
C) proportional representation
D) two-party

Accepted Answer

Plurality voting is the system used for most elections in the United States, including those for the U.S. House and Senate. This system allows each voter to cast one vote for their preferred candidate, and the candidate with the most votes (even if less than half) wins the election. Despite criticisms of plurality voting, such as the potential for vote splitting and the lack of representation for minority parties, it remains widely used in the U.S. political system.

Question 8

The prime minister is the head of state in which type of political system?
A) direct democracy
B) parliamentary democracy
C) "European" system
D) representative system

Accepted Answer

The prime minister is the head of state in a parliamentary system, where the executive branch is accountable to the legislative branch, typically with the prime minister being chosen by the majority party in the legislature.

Question 9

In which type of political system do citizens elect delegates who carry out the policymaking processes of government?
A) direct democracy
B) proportional system
C) representative democracy
D) delegate system

Accepted Answer

In a representative democracy, citizens elect representatives who make decisions on their behalf and carry out the policymaking processes of government. This system is also sometimes called an indirect democracy or a republican form of government. The other options, direct democracy and delegate system, do not involve electing representatives, and proportional systems are a method of allocating seats in legislatures rather than a type of political system.

Question 10

A government run by a central ruling party with a self-appointed leader is called a(n)
A) centralized government.
B) central government.
C) authoritarian government.
D) legal authority.

Accepted Answer

An authoritarian government is characterized by a central ruling party with a self-appointed leader. In this type of government, power is highly concentrated, individual liberties are limited, and opposition groups are suppressed. The other options (A, B, and D) do not accurately describe the specific features of an authoritarian government.

Question 11

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an example of a
A) charismatic autocracy.
B) constitutional autocracy.
C) constitutional monarchy.
D) traditional monarchy.

Accepted Answer

Saudi Arabia is considered a traditional monarchy, where the king's power is derived from family lineage and religious traditions, rather than a constitution or elected position.

Question 12

Literally translated, democracy means
A) a system dependent upon parties.
B) rule by the people.
C) rule based upon internal opposition.
D) All these answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

Democracy comes from the Greek words "demos" meaning "people" and "kratos" meaning "rule." Therefore, democracy is a system of government where the people have the power to elect representatives or make decisions themselves.

Question 13

Which of the following describes voter turnout in the United States as compared to that in other countries?
A) It is among the lowest in the Western industrialized democracies.
B) It is on par with other Western industrialized democracies.
C) It is among the highest in the Western industrialized democracies.
D) None of these answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

Voter turnout in the United States is consistently among the lowest in comparison to other Western industrialized democracies. According to the Pew Research Center, the U.S. ranked 26th out of 32 countries in voter turnout in the most recent national elections among OECD countries. Only about 56% of eligible voters cast a ballot in the 2016 presidential election.

Question 14

A voting system that focuses on the percentage of votes won by parties instead of individual candidates is what type of system?
A) proportional representation
B) direct representation
C) party system
D) plurality voting

Accepted Answer

A voting system that focuses on the percentage of votes won by parties is known as proportional representation. This means that the number of seats a party secures in the legislature is proportional to the percentage of votes it receives in the election. This system aims to ensure that each political party is fairly represented in the legislature based on the support it enjoys in the population. It is often used in countries with multiple political parties and aims to prevent the domination of one or two major parties.

Question 15

According to Max Weber, what type of power do governments represent?
A) legitimate power
B) traditional power
C) supreme power
D) democratic power

Accepted Answer

Max Weber believed that governments represent legitimate power, which is power that is recognized and accepted by society as rightful and just. Legitimate power is based on a belief in the authority of the person or institution holding the power, whereas traditional power is based on long-standing customs and practices, supreme power is unrestrained and unlimited power, and democratic power is power that is held and exercised by the people through the electoral process.

Question 16

A political system that relies on citizens' active political participation in decision making, such as in referendums, is called a(n)
A) direct democracy.
B) democratic engagement.
C) indirect democracy.
D) None of these answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

A direct democracy is a political system in which citizens directly participate in decision making, often through referendums or town hall meetings. Thus, it is the best choice for the scenario described in the question. Democratic engagement (B) is a vague term that could refer to any type of political participation, while an indirect democracy (C) is a representative democracy where citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf. Neither of these terms accurately describes the system in question.

Question 17

The two-party domination of the American political system can be attributed to
A) proportional representation.
B) the plurality voting system.
C) direct democracy.
D) limited political socialization.

Accepted Answer

The plurality voting system, in which the candidate with the most votes wins, tends to favor two major parties over third-party candidates who may split the vote. This leads to a domination of the political system by the two main parties, the Democrats and the Republicans. Proportional representation would allow for more parties to be represented, but this is not currently used in the United States. Direct democracy and limited political socialization are not direct causes of the two-party system.

Question 18

In which type of voting system does the candidate with the most votes win the office?
A) rational system
B) direct system
C) proportional representation
D) plurality voting

Accepted Answer

Plurality voting, also known as "first-past-the-post," is the voting system in which the candidate with the most votes in a race wins the office. This is the most common voting system used in the United States for elections at all levels of government.

Question 19

The North Korean government is run by a central ruling party that severely restricts the civil liberties of its citizens. Which type of government does North Korea represent?
A) an absolute state
B) an absolute monarchy
C) an authoritarian government
D) a centralized government

Accepted Answer

North Korea represents an authoritarian government, as it is ruled by a single party that suppresses individual rights and seeks to maintain strict control over the country's population. Although it has elements of a centralized government, an absolute state or an absolute monarchy would not accurately describe the nature of the North Korean regime.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) Citizens with minority opinions are more likely to find a "place" in a multiparty system than those in plurality voting systems.
B) Voter turnout is generally higher in multiparty systems than in plurality voting systems.
C) Fragmentation within government is less likely in multiparty systems than in plurality voting systems.
D) There is a higher probability that governments will be more unstable in multiparty systems than in plurality voting systems.

Accepted Answer

Fragmentation within government is more likely in multiparty systems as the number of parties competing for power increases. This can lead to difficulties in forming stable government coalitions and can result in political gridlock. Therefore, statement C is false.

Quiz 16: Politics and the Economy

Which statement about politics is FALSE?

Which of the following is true regarding the American political process?

The United Kingdom is an example of a(n)

The struggle over power in a society is called

In which type of democracy do voters elect the head of state?

Which of the following best describes the twenty-first-century Tea Party in the United States?

Which type of voting system is used to elect members to the U.S. House and Senate?

The prime minister is the head of state in which type of political system?

In which type of political system do citizens elect delegates who carry out the policymaking processes of government?

A government run by a central ruling party with a self-appointed leader is called a(n)

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an example of a

Literally translated, democracy means

Which of the following describes voter turnout in the United States as compared to that in other countries?

A voting system that focuses on the percentage of votes won by parties instead of individual candidates is what type of system?

According to Max Weber, what type of power do governments represent?

A political system that relies on citizens' active political participation in decision making, such as in referendums, is called a(n)

The two-party domination of the American political system can be attributed to

In which type of voting system does the candidate with the most votes win the office?

The North Korean government is run by a central ruling party that severely restricts the civil liberties of its citizens. Which type of government does North Korea represent?

Which of the following statements is FALSE?