* not completed

. A key function of legislatures is ________.

a) to provide a check on the power of the executive correct incorrect

b) to see that the law is properly enforced correct incorrect

c) to ensure that all social groups are equally represented in decision-making correct incorrect

d) to make sure that the interests of the bourgeoisie always prevail correct incorrect

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. A major problem for many legislatures today is that ________.

a) they are not adequately representative of the electorate, particularly in respect of the proportion of women correct incorrect

b) on many key issues they do not provide a reliable check on the power of the executive correct incorrect

c) they lack legitimacy because electoral turnout is relatively low nowadays correct incorrect

d) all of the above correct incorrect

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. According to Edmund Burke, the proper role of a representative is ________.

a) to express the views of his constituency, regardless of his views on the matter correct incorrect

b) to match the demographic characteristics of the majority of his constituents correct incorrect

c) to exercise his own judgment with regards to legislation correct incorrect

d) to operate with impunity while in office correct incorrect

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. In the US, members of the Senate represent ________.

a) constituencies of roughly equal size correct incorrect

b) the interests of big business, ignoring ordinary voters correct incorrect

c) the interests of the poor, as opposed to the well-off correct incorrect

d) constituencies of very different sizes correct incorrect

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. In a parliamentary system, ________.

a) governments are formed or fall on the basis of parliamentary arithmetic correct incorrect

b) the Prime Minister is always subordinate to an elected President correct incorrect

c) the nominal head of state is always a hereditary monarch correct incorrect

d) general elections are held at fixed intervals correct incorrect

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. In the US, the President has exceptional prestige because ________.

a) the US can do whatever it wants in the sphere of foreign policy correct incorrect

b) he or she is the only official elected by the whole country correct incorrect

c) he or she enjoys the unanimous backing of the legislature correct incorrect

d) he or she usually has a distinguished record in the armed forces correct incorrect

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. One advantage of parliamentary regimes over presidential ones is that ________.

a) they discourage people with big egos from going into politics correct incorrect

b) they ensure that the will of the majority always prevails correct incorrect

c) they make better decisions on the key issues correct incorrect

d) they tend to promote strong, decisive government because they encourage more disciplined parties in the legislature correct incorrect

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. Horizontal accountability" refers to ________."

a) non-governmental organizations like the media hold governments to account correct incorrect

b) ministers who sleep too much are always forced to resign correct incorrect

c) executive decisions can be monitored, and if necessary overturned, by other executive agencies correct incorrect

d) only governmental institutions can hold the executive to account correct incorrect

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. On Mezey's classification, a marginal legislature is one which ________.

a) does occasionally play a significant political role, but can be ignored by the executive in certain circumstances correct incorrect

b) holds its sessions in remote regions in order to play down the influence of opinion-shapers in the capital city correct incorrect

c) is completely powerless and is always ignored by the executive correct incorrect

d) defines the margins of the politically-possible, and can always check the executive when it exceeds its power correct incorrect

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. The term "political class" has been used to designate ________.

a) the ability of some unusual people to exercise authority over voters by sheer force of personality correct incorrect

b) a group of self-seeking office-holders and their allies who have not had much experience of life outside politics correct incorrect

c) an assortment of self-appointed commentators who try to contribute to political debate through Internet blogs correct incorrect

d) the bourgeoisie: the class which dominates politics under the capitalist system correct incorrect

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. Legislatures are crucial to democracies because ________.

a) there are more than 260 parliamentary chambers across the globe correct incorrect

b) they are a check to the executive branch, the judicial branch, are open to public scrutiny, and they develop policy correct incorrect

c) they represent the government correct incorrect

d) none of the above correct incorrect

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. Substantive conception is the belief that ________.

a) more feminists are needed in formal politics to promote policies that value women correct incorrect

b) women of substance need to be elected to formal politics correct incorrect

c) more women need to run for elective office correct incorrect

d) all of the above correct incorrect

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. The parliamentary system ________.

a) allows parliament to have the final decision in the choice of the head of government, and the Prime Minister is normally the party leader correct incorrect

b) is more common across the globe correct incorrect

c) encourages more cooperation between the parties in parliament correct incorrect

d) all of the above correct incorrect

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. The US-style presidential system ________.

a) allows the president to be elected by voters, and the executive and legislative branches are separate correct incorrect

b) is a hybrid system without regular elections correct incorrect

c) allows the president to be elected by the courts correct incorrect

d) is a hybrid system with regular elections correct incorrect

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. Mezey's proposed classification for legislatures includes ________.

a) full legislature, weak legislature, marginal legislature, reactive legislature and maximum legislature correct incorrect

b) active legislature, reactive legislature, vulnerable legislature, marginal legislature, and minimal legislature correct incorrect

c) marginalization, vulnerable laws, and minimalism correct incorrect

d) all of the above correct incorrect