Which of the following statements best characterizes the relevance of personality to understanding differences in political behavior?

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