CH-7-12 Political Parties – Politics, Power and the Common Good: An Introduction to Political Science : Exam Guide

This Document Contains Chapters 7 to 12 Chapter 07: Political Parties Chapter 07 Multiple Choice Questions 1. According to the text, before he ran as a Democratic candidate for President, Barack Obama criticized this view. a. democracy is unsustainable b. winning is all that matters c. parties are ineffective d. voting rates are declining Answer: b. winning is all that matters 2. Cadre parties generally originated as ________. a. factions within legislative bodies b. groups of political scientists c. intellectual communists d. regionally-based groups Answer: a. factions within legislative bodies 3. A generalization that claims that all organizations, even those that appear democratic, inevitably become dominated by a small group of leaders, is termed the ________. a. organizational change view b. dominance perspective c. hierarchy rule d. iron law of oligarchy Answer: d. iron law of oligarchy 4. Which of the following has no intention of seeking votes outside their segment of society? a. the Bloc Québécois b. the New Democratic c. the Green Party d. the Liberal party Answer: a. the Bloc Québécois 5. The Conservative party originated in the 19th century as a/an ________ party. a. mass b. cadre c. personalistic d. electoral-professional Answer: b. cadre 6. Canada's first organized political party was the ________. a. Cooperative Commonwealth Federation b. New Democratic Party c. Canadian Alliance d. Conservative Party Answer: d. Conservative Party 7. Regional tensions of the 1980s resulted in many Western Canadians switching to the ________. a. Reform Party b. Canadian Alliance Party c. Co-operative Commonwealth Federation d. New Conservative Party Answer: a. Reform Party 8. The New Democratic Party of Canada has its roots in the ________. a. Reform Party b. Canadian Alliance Party c. Co-operative Commonwealth Federation d. Liberal Party Answer: c. Co-operative Commonwealth Federation 9. The ideology of the New Democratic Party is basically ________. a. communist b. neo-conservative c. conservative d. democratic socialist or social democratic Answer: d. democratic socialist or social democratic 10. This Party reached an agreement with the Liberal Party in the 2008 election campaign such that each party would not run a candidate to oppose the other party's leader. a. the Green Party b. the Rhinoceros Party c. the New Democratic Party d. the Bloc Québécois Answer: a. the Green Party 11. In An Economic Theory of Democracy, Anthony Downs argued that in a two-party system, the parties will tend to ________. a. reduce the size of their memberships b. prioritize clear objectives in their platforms c. form more extreme programmes d. converge in the ideological centre Answer: d. converge in the ideological centre 12. The Republican Party, starting with Ronald Reagan in the United States, has come under the influence of ________. a. reform liberalism b. feminism c. the New Right d. the New Left Answer: c. the New Right 13. Which one of the following can best be described as having a multiparty system? a. Japan b. the United States c. Israel d. Alberta Answer: c. Israel 14. In 2006, Stéphane Dion was chosen as leader of the Liberal party by ________. a. a vote of Liberal members of Parliament b. Prime Minister Paul Martin c. a direct membership vote d. delegates at a party convention Answer: d. delegates at a party convention 15. Primary elections are held to choose the candidates in ________. a. Canada b. the United States c. the United Kingdom d. Germany Answer: b. the United States 16. A party caucus is a meeting of a party's ________. a. executive b. parliamentary members c. candidates in an election d. delegates to a party convention Answer: b. parliamentary members 17. Which campaign finance reform advocate said "You're never too old to raise a little hell"? a. Granny D b. Paul Martin c. Barack Obama d. Joe Volpe Answer: a. Granny D 18. What country are the following statements describing? "Today, it has a multi-party system." "It has a single-member plurality electoral system." "The two leading parties are known as 'brokerage parties'." a. the United States b. Jamaica c. Canada d. Alberta Answer: c. Canada 19. The New Democratic Party and the former Reform Party of Canada are both ________ parties. a. programmatic b. minor c. right-wing d. postmaterialist Answer: a. programmatic 20. Among the following, the party ________ influence(s) the party's election platform the most. a. cadre b. members c. leader d. caucus Answer: c. leader Chapter 07 True/False Questions 1. Most major political parties today can be described as electoral–professional parties. a. True b. False Answer: a. True 2. Canada's party system is presently a one-party dominant system. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 3. In Canada, there exist legally-established quotas for female candidates for election. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 4. In Canada, contributions to political campaigns from businesses and trade unions have been banned. a. True b. False Answer: a. True 5. Membership in political parties has generally been increasing in recent decades. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 6. The Conservative party of Canada was formed from a merger of the Progressive Conservative party with the Canadian Alliance. a. True b. False Answer: a. True 7. Multiparty systems typically involve coalition governments. a. True b. False Answer: a. True Chapter 07 Short Answer Questions 1. Briefly describe two major turning cleavages that emerged in the historical development of party systems in Western countries. Answer: The development of the modern state created a centre-periphery cleavage, and then a class cleavage. 2. Briefly describe the difference between a brokerage party and a programmatic party. Answer: Brokerage parties, unlike programmatic parties, tend to be non-ideological and try to appeal to a wide variety of interests. 3. Identify the three main types of party systems that analysts use to classify parties in liberal democracies. Answer: The three main types of party systems are: the two-party, multi-party and one party dominant systems. 4. What are electoral-professional parties? Answer: Electoral-professional parties are electoral in that their dominant concern is winning elections, with ideology and principles of much less important, and professional in their reliance on professional experts to market their party. 5. What are primary elections? Answer: These are elections held in the United States to choose the candidates for a political party. Chapter 07 Short Essay Questions 1. How does a cadre party differ from a mass party? Answer: A cadre party is a party that emerged from factions within legislative bodies, and therefore cadre parties are concerned primarily with electing members of the party to legislative bodies, rather than with building a strong, centralized, member-ship-based organization outside of the legislature. A mass party is concerned with the task of building a strong base of regular dues-paying members. It is therefore more likely than a cadre party to have a strong, centralized extra parliamentary organization and to have a stronger link between citizens and political leaders than a cadre party. 2. Describe the policy positions of the 5 major political parties in Canada. Answer: The 5 major parties in Canada are the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party, the New Democratic Party, the Bloc Québécois, and the Greens. The Conservative party generally favours smaller government, lower taxes, freer markets, closer relations with the United States, and increased provincial government power. It also supports traditional social values and tougher sentences for criminal offences. The Liberal Party generally supports the welfare state, a strong national government, and is known for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The NDP supports welfare state measures and greater social and economic equality. As well, it tends to favour government regulation of business activities, including stronger environmental regulations. It also generally opposes greater military involvement with the United States and favours nationalist measures to limit American economic and cultural influences. The Bloc is a voice for Quebec nationalism and is primarily concerned with representing Quebec's interests in the Canadian House of Commons. Like the NDP, it tends to favour social democratic policies and stronger environmental measures. The Green Party is distinctive for its environmental stance, but is also close to the NDP on health care, poverty, and foreign policy issues. 3. Why are parties declining in importance as instruments for citizen involvement? Answer: The public often has a negative view of parties because most major parties are focused on gaining and maintaining political power, they may compromise their principles in order to gain support from voters or from their financial backers. Instead of stimulating policy discussion among their members, parties are often concerned with their image and that of their leader, along with discrediting their opponents. Parties are often criticized for being elitist and too reliant on business and corporate interests. Chapter 08: Elections, Electoral Systems, and Voting Behaviour Chapter 08 Multiple Choice Questions 1. In the close race of the 2000 Presidential election between Al Gore and George W. Bush, the Supreme Court decided that ________. a. George W. Bush could only become President after the Electoral College finished counting the votes from Florida b. there were voting irregularities and inconsistencies in Florida's presidential election c. they would reject Al Gore's request for a recount of Florida's electoral College votes d. Florida's electoral college votes had been mistakenly granted to George W. Bush declining Answer: c. they would reject Al Gore's request for a recount of Florida's electoral College votes 2. Democratic elections are based on the principle of ________. a. party solidarity b. one person, one vote c. voter registration d. legal representation Answer: b. one person, one vote 3. What is gerrymander? a. the tendency to vote along party lines b. the ability of an electoral commission to oversee voting c. the manipulation of electoral districts so as to benefit a particular party d. a process by which votes are counted using a prescribe formula Answer: c. the manipulation of electoral districts so as to benefit a particular party 4. Which of the following is not among the basic principles of democratic elections? a. Gerrymandering b. Universal suffrage c. Independent commission d. A regular vote Answer: a. Gerrymandering 5. The Single Member Plurality System (SMP) is also known as the ________ system. a. first past the post b. plural voting c. universal ballot d. run-off Answer: a. first past the post 6. What type of electoral system is used in Canada? a. runoff b. single-member plurality c. single transferable vote d. proportional representation Answer: b. single-member plurality 7. In the SMP electoral the winning candidate in a constituency is the one who _______________. a. is most recognizable b. lives in the constituency c. has the most money d. gets more votes than any other candidate Answer: d. gets more votes than any other candidate 8. Which among the following has benefitted from the tendency of the SMP electoral system to favour parties with a strong geographical concentration of support? a. the Alliance Party b. the Green Party c. the NDP d. the Bloc Québécois Answer: d. the Bloc Québécois 9. Which of the following countries uses runoff elections? a. Canada b. the United States c. Britain d. France Answer: d. France 10. Which type of electoral system is most likely to result in an accurate translation of the voters' party preferences into party legislative representation? a. single-member plurality b. preferential voting c. run-off elections d. proportional representation Answer: d. proportional representation 11. A proportional representation electoral system _____________. a. encourages coalition governments and numerous smaller parties b. distorts the result of voter preferences c. is more likely than SMP to produce majority governments d. involves only one representative per district Answer: a. encourages coalition governments and numerous smaller parties 12. Under a proportional representation electoral system, the number of members elected by each party is roughly equal to ____________. a. the number of seats in the legislature b. its share of the popular vote c. the total number of votes cast in the election d. its percentage of the country's total population Answer: b. its share of the popular vote 13. In Canada, this person has the constitutional authority to decide when an election will be held. a. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court b. The Speaker of the House c. The Governor General d. The Leader of the Senate Answer: c. The Governor General 14. Which of the following countries uses a Single Transferable Vote electoral system? a. Germany b. Canada c. Japan d. Ireland Answer: d. Ireland 15. Which among the following is considered part of a 'pre-modern' electoral campaign? a. using the Internet to appeal to groups of voters b. dropping leaflets and volunteers canvassing neighbourhoods c. using public opinion polling to determine campaign strategy d. national campaigns that focus on the leader rather than party affiliation Answer: b. dropping leaflets and volunteers canvassing neighbourhoods 16. In the 2008 election campaign, this party campaigned on a 'green shift' platform that included a carbon tax on the wholesale sale of fossil fuels. a. the Conservative Party b. the Rhinoceros Party c. the Liberal Party d. the Bloc Québécois Answer: c. the Liberal Party 17. A valence issue is one with a high degree of ________. a. consensus b. controversy c. divisiveness d. ideology Answer: a. consensus 18. Which among the following is considered to be a short-term influence on voting decisions? a. candidates b. class c. party identification d. gender Answer: a. candidates 19. Voting for different parties in Quebec in recent Canadian elections has been particularly affected by views concerning ________. a. the free enterprise system b. Quebec sovereignty. c. traditional moral values d. class positions Answer: b. Quebec sovereignty. 20. Incumbent parties tend to do better in elections when ________. a. class is an issue b. they make vague promises c. they use negative advertising d. the economy is doing well Answer: d. the economy is doing well Chapter 08 True/False Questions 1. Canada has fixed dates for elections to be held every five years. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 2. Plurality and majoritarian systems often result in a party gaining a majority of legislative seats even if that party did not win a majority of votes. a. True b. False Answer: a. True 3. In a preferential voting system, voters can rank candidates rather than just mark and X. a. True b. False Answer: a. True 4. In 2006 the Conservative party did not win any seats in Canada's three largest cities. a. True b. False Answer: a. True 5. Researchers have found that negative attack ads increase voting turnout. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 6. In recent Canadian elections, women (particularly younger women) have been more likely than men to vote for the NDP a. True b. False Answer: a. True 7. The proportion of people with strong party identification has been increasing in many countries in recent years. a. True b. False Answer: b. False Chapter 08 Short Answer Questions 1. What is 'universal suffrage'? Answer: Universal suffrage is the right of all adult citizens to vote regardless of such characteristics as gender, ethnicity, wealth or education. 2. What are the three major types of electoral systems used to elect members to legislative bodies? Answer: The three major types of electoral systems are: Plurality/majoritarian Proportional representation Mixed member proportional 3. Pippa Norris (2002) distinguishes between three basic types of campaigns. What are these three types? Answer: The three types of electoral campaigns that Pippa Norris identifies are: Premodern campaigns Modern campaigns Postmodern campaigns 4. What are two key categories of factors that affect how people vote in elections? Answer: The two categories are: 1. long-term predispositions of voters based on their interests, social characteristics, values, and sense of identification with a particular political party 2. short-term factors related to the circumstances of a particular election such as the leaders, candidates, and campaign issues 5. Describe at least four major long-term social characteristics affecting voting. Answer: The text describes five major long-term social characteristics affecting voting: class, ethnicity and race, gender, region and religion. Age and rural or urban settings could also be acceptable answers, as these are grouped under 'Other'. Chapter 08 Short Essay Questions 1. What are the features of a fair, democratic election? Answer: Voters are able to choose freely without intimidation; all citizens have the right to run and all parties have the right to nominate and campaign; each adult citizen has a vote of the same value; voters are able to obtain useful information with the media providing fair and extensive coverage and parties and candidates able to get their message out to voters; independent bodies oversee the process of the election and the drawing of constituency boundaries; and losing candidates and parties have the right to request a recount and appeal to an independent body if election rules have not been followed. 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Canada's single-member plurality electoral system? Answer: Among the advantages are its simplicity, the direct link it creates between voters and their single representative, its ability to frequently create a majority government which can potentially enhance the accountability of government to the people and ensure stable governing, and its ability to create a simple party system by excluding small (and often extreme or narrowly focused) parties from representation in the legislature. Among the disadvantages are its distorting effects in the translation of a party's votes into representation. This can potentially result in a party that is unpopular among the majority of voters becoming the governing party and can make the opposition to the governing party ineffective. It can regionalize the party system particularly by rewarding parties with concentrated support and by depriving national parties of representation from all regions. It can limit or prevent the representation of significant minority viewpoints in the legislature, if parties representing those viewpoints do not have geographically concentrated support. SMP systems also may hinder the representation of women and minorities as compared to proportional representation systems. 3. Which is a more important set of factors determining why people vote the way they do: short-term or long-term factors? Answer: Long-term factors like social factors, race, class, religion, region, ethnicity, values, and party identification may be considered important because they are consistent over time. On the other hand, short-term factors like leaders, candidates, issues, governmental accountability, economic conditions, or even negative advertising are increasing in importance in the last few years, as many people make up their minds during the campaign. Chapter 09: Political Influence Chapter 09 Multiple Choice Questions 1. What issue inspired Lois Gibbs to organize the citizens of Love Canal New York, in 1978? a. welfare reform b. chemical pollution c. womens' equality d. voting rights Answer: b. chemical pollution 2. While public interest groups are primarily concerned with promoting a cause that they believe in, self interest groups are concerned with ________. a. maintaining unity b. increasing freedom for society as a whole c. ensuring direct access to government d. gaining benefits for their members Answer: d. gaining benefits for their members 3. Which of the following is not a feature of institutionalized interest groups? a. well established membership base b. paid professional staff c. spontaneous organization d. permanent offices Answer: c. spontaneous organization 4. Which question did Mancur Olsen ask when studying the membership of interest groups? a. Are interest groups broad-based or narrowly-based? b. What kinds of interest groups exist? c. What is meant by the 'public interest'? d. Under what conditions is it rational for individuals to join groups? Answer: d. Under what conditions is it rational for individuals to join groups? 5. The free rider problem occurs when individuals ________. a. ride public transit without paying the appropriate fares b. enjoy the benefits of a group without contributing c. are able to profit from direct access to politicians d. belong to groups that they don't really believe it Answer: b. enjoy the benefits of a group without contributing 6. A selective incentive is a benefit that ________. a. rewards volunteers in an interest group who raise a lot of money for the group b. is selected as being the most valued by an interest group c. is given to a group member who is selected at random d. is offered to members of an interest group but not to the public Answer: d. is offered to members of an interest group but not to the public 7. Outside strategies are, by definition, strategies ________. a. in which interest groups use experts from outside their groups to interact with decision-makers b. that are less likely than inside strategies to stimulate opposition and criticism c. in which interest groups develop close contacts with decision-makers and the public service in order to influence public policy d. in which interest groups appeal to the public for support to put pressure on decision-makers Answer: d. in which interest groups appeal to the public for support to put pressure on decision-makers 8. The Fraser Institute is a ________. a. labour union b. professional organization c. think tank d. students group Answer: c. think tank 9. Which among the following is an example of an outside strategy that might be pursued by an interest group? a. approaching members of Parliament as they leave the chamber b. encouraging members to email their elected representatives c. receiving government funding and state sponsorship d. hiring a professional lobbyist Answer: b. encouraging members to email their elected representatives 10. The term 'lobbying' is derived from the old practice of _____________. a. throwing projectiles at the House of Commons b. posing questions to MPs during Question Period c. utilizing the airwaves for public information campaigns d. approaching MPs in the lobby of the British House of Commons Answer: d. approaching MPs in the lobby of the British House of Commons 11. The St. John's Harbour ACAP was successful in ________. a. convincing cruise ships to visit St. John's b. ending the killing of seals in the harbour c. stopping oil drilling in the harbour d. convincing governments to finance a sewage treatment plant Answer: d. convincing governments to finance a sewage treatment plant 12. The Canadian government's Court Challenges program was established to ________. a. help those seeking to challenge the excessive power of the courts b. assist those accused of a crime who could not afford a lawyer c. assist equality-seeking groups in challenging discriminatory laws and policies d. assist the medical profession in fighting malpractice lawsuits Answer: c. assist equality-seeking groups in challenging discriminatory laws and policies 13. According to the text, what could be considered one of the chief causes of the deregulation of financial markets that contributed to the recession of 2007-2009? a. lobbying by American financial institutions b. government overspending and debt c. a lack of spending and too much belt-tightening d. the inability of Congress to reduce financial regulations Answer: a. lobbying by American financial institutions 14. Which among the following is considered an example of an old social movement? a. the environmental movement of the 1960s b. the anti-war movement of the 1960s c. the anti-slavery movement in the 1830s d. the Tea Party movement of 2009 Answer: c. the anti-slavery movement in the 1830s 15. The "tea party" movement that developed in the United States in 2009 is often described as a ________. a. right-wing populist movement b. left-wing labour movement c. women’s' movement d. non-violent pacifist movement Answer: a. right-wing populist movement 16. The idea that ensuring that the media are free from government control allows the development of a free marketplace of ideas can be termed the ________. a. dominant ideology perspective b. social responsibility perspective c. libertarian perspective d. propaganda model Answer: c. libertarian perspective 17. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was established as a(n) ________. a. privately-owned radio and television network b. non-profit, non-government corporation c. instrument to promote the views of the governing political party d. countermeasure to fears that American broadcast networks would move into Canada Answer: d. countermeasure to fears that American broadcast networks would move into Canada 18. Which among the following is said to have a clear ideological bias? a. Fox News b. CBS c. the Internet d. watchdogs Answer: a. Fox News 19. Selecting and highlighting some facets of events or issues to promote a particular interpretation, evaluation, or solution in a news story is best described as ________. a. priming b. framing c. investigative journalism d. infotainment Answer: b. framing 20. The tendency of news and public affairs programming to treat news as infotainment is a result of ________. a. the urge to attract large audiences in order to be profitable b. government regulation of the media c. state ownership of the media d. news management by the government Answer: a. the urge to attract large audiences in order to be profitable Chapter 09 True/False Questions 1. Interest groups, by definition, exist exclusively or primarily for political purposes. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 2. In calculating their taxes, businesses in Canada can deduct contributions to interest groups and other expenses while individuals cannot. a. True b. False Answer: a. True 3. Public interest groups exist to seek exclusive and specific benefits for their members. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 4. Inside strategies are more likely to stimulate opposition and criticism than outside strategies. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 5. All social movements are associated with various forms of progressive (leftist) and human rights–oriented politics a. True b. False Answer: b. False 6. In liberal democracies, media are instruments of propaganda that are used to promote the ideological perspectives of those in control of the government. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 7. The social responsibility perspective argues that a system of free media does not necessarily result in the public interest being served. a. True b. False Answer: a. True Chapter 09 Short Answer Questions 1. How does the free rider problem affect interest groups? Answer: An individual can often enjoy the benefits of the successes of an interest group whether or not that individual is a member of a financial supporter. This can make it difficult to develop an interest group. 2. What is lobbying? Answer: Lobbying is an effort to persuade legislators, executives or public officials to adopt and implement policies or decisions favoured by an individual, business or group. 3. What is the difference between a social movement and an interest group? Answer: Both social movements and interest groups seek to change various laws and policies. However social movements also have broader goals. Social movements are often based on, or seek to develop, a sense of collective identity among a substantial segment of society and seek to inspire collective such as challenging and transforming the values, power relationships, and institutions of society and politics action by this segment of society. 4. What are some of the pitfalls of a concentration of corporate ownership in the media? Answer: the text mentions several pitfalls of a concentration of corporate media ownership: 1. reduced diversity 2. less likely to report on problems with other branches of the corporation 3. may promote interests of corporate owners 4. bias favourable to big business and the values of the capitalist system 5. conservative ideology oriented to dominant interest 5. What is meant by 'framing'? Answer: Framing in the news media refers to a process of selecting and highlighting some facets of events or issues, and making connections among them so as to promote a particular interpretation, evaluation, and/or solution. Chapter 09 Short Essay Questions 1. What are the pros and cons of an inside strategy when it comes to influencing government? Discuss using an example. Answer: An inside strategy can compromise efforts to convince the public of the importance of an issues, while an outside strategy that appeals directly to the public can create an antagonistic relationships with the government. However, interest groups leaders may become influenced by and associated with the policy concerns and direction of the government. Thus they may hinder the building of a strong membership-based organization. An example of both the strengths and weaknesses is the case of the Atlantic Canada Action Program, a group sponsored by the government to lobby for cleanup of the St. John's Harbour. This group struggled for years using both strategies to convince government to fund a primary sewage treatment plant for the harbor. 2. Describe at least 5 factors that contribute to the influence of an interest group. Answer: The text describes nine: 1. Size and cohesiveness 2. Ability to mobilize and establish coalitions 3. Financial resources 4. Ability to develop close ties with key government officials 5. Being seen by government and the public as having expertise and credibility 6. Groups whose ideas and proposals are not controversial 7. Ability to make credible threats 8. Groups that do not face competing interest groups in a particular policy area. 9. groups seeking to maintain the status quo 3. Discuss the organizational differences between old social movements and new social movements that are mentioned in the text. Answer: New social movements were different from old social movements because they were critical of the hierarchy and power politics of conventional political organizations and sought to create informal unstructured organizations or networks based on grassroots participation. Likewise, direct action by participants (such as demonstrations, sit-ins, and blockades) is seen as more effective in bringing about substantial change than working through existing political parties and interest groups. 4. What is the problem with infotainment? Answer: Infotainment is the merging of information and entertainment in news and public affairs programming of the mass media, particularly television. It encourages television newscasts to focus on stories that can be portrayed with dramatic images, conflict and controversy. Generally, it may reduce the ability of the media to provide the political needed for people to understand politics and participate meaningfully in political life. Chapter 10: Unconventional and Highly Conflictive Politics: From Protest to Revolution Chapter 10 Multiple Choice Questions 1. In protests against the military government in Thailand, who did the 'Red Shirts' represent? a. civil servants b. immigrants c. the poor d. the middle class Answer: c. the poor 2. Political protest refers to ________. a. what happens in Parliament b. a type of oppositional action c. lobbying efforts d. a cabinet revolt Answer: b. a type of oppositional action 3. According to the text, which among the following could be considered a political protest? a. a court case against the government b. a boycott of a product or service c. lobbying a member of the legislature d. forming an interest group Answer: b. a boycott of a product or service 4. Protest is sometimes called the 'tool of the ________'. a. marginalized b. majority c. government d. angry Answer: a. marginalized 5. Among the common forms of violent political protest are _________. a. assassinations b. demonstrations c. building occupations d. civil disobedience Answer: a. assassinations 6. The continuum of protest ________. a. lists actions that have occurred b. indicates how decisions to protest are made c. refers to protest groups that coordinate their actions d. suggests the range of actions protesters use Answer: d. suggests the range of actions protesters use 7. Which among the following is a characteristic of all forms of political protest? a. uses violence b. uses non-violence c. works outside formal channels d. seeks publicity Answer: c. works outside formal channels 8. Political protest works outside formal channels because ________. a. working within channels has failed b. protesters reject democratic rules c. it is easier to work outside channels d. protesters are impatient Answer: a. working within channels has failed 9. Institutional deficiencies ________. a. keep movements from forming b. often spark movements c. often guarantee the success of movements d. keep movements from being successful Answer: b. often spark movements 10. The American Civil Rights Movement aimed at ending ________. a. segregation b. secession c. marginalization d. globalization Answer: a. segregation 11. The largest global public demonstrations to date were protests against the ________. a. WTO in Seattle b. austerity measures in Greece c. American invasion of Iraq d. G8 and G20 in Toronto, Ontario Answer: c. American invasion of Iraq 12. Governments' use of violence systematically as a regular instrument to repress dissent and maintain order is called ________. a. political violence b. systemic violence c. police brutality d. regime violence Answer: d. regime violence 13. Which among the following was one of the most commonly-used strategies of the American civil rights movement of the 1950's and 1960s? a. sit-ins b. insurgency c. voting d. hunger strikes Answer: a. sit-ins 14. Which among the following is an example of a transnational political protest? a. secessionist movement in Quebec b. the anti-globalization movement c. the civil rights movement d. the farmers' movement Answer: b. the anti-globalization movement 15. _________ is defined as the use of physical force with a political objective. a. Coercion b. Political violence c. Political demonstration d. Criminal violence Answer: b. Political violence 16. Which among the following was a successful use of political violence? a. global protests against the US invasion of Iraq b. the 1997 protest against the APEC summit c. the use of violence by the FLQ in 1970 d. the Red River rebellion Answer: d. the Red River rebellion 17. Which of the following is not a common trait of guerilla insurgencies? a. ends quickly b. highly mobile c. operates in familiar terrain d. has local support Answer: a. ends quickly 18. Suicide terrorism had claimed the greatest number of victims in ________. a. Sri Lanka b. China c. Ireland d. the Basque province of Spain Answer: a. Sri Lanka 19. Which among the following was a nearly non-violent revolution? a. the French Revolution of 1789 b. the Iranian Revolution of 1979 c. the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia in 1989 d. the FLQ crisis of 1970 in Canada Answer: c. the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia in 1989 20. What is the difference between a political and a social revolution? a. a political revolution takes much longer than a social revolution b. a social revolution is non-violent while a political revolution involves violence c. a political revolution involves guerrilla warfare rather than insurgency d. a social revolution involves the remaking of society and not just the rulers Answer: d. a social revolution involves the remaking of society and not just the rulers Chapter 10 True/False Questions 1. Guerrilla warfare was the strategy chosen by Ghandi in India from the 1920s to the 1940s. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 2. Protest is a means to seek power. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 3. Canada's peace movement is an example of protest failing to achieve desired outcomes. a. True b. False Answer: a. True 4. Ordinary democracy may not work for those who can never become a majority. a. True b. False Answer: a. True 5. Terrorism is a form of political violence used only by non-governmental groups. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 6. Guerrilla warfare has only existed in the 20th century. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 7. Democracies never resort to regime violence. a. True b. False Answer: b. False Chapter 10 Short Answer Questions 1. What are three traits of political protest? Answer: The term political protest is usually reserved for activities that have the following characteristics: 1. Actions take place outside of formal channels. 2. They are usually carried out by individuals or groups that are not ordinarily important political actors. 3. Protest politics generally aims to have government make significant changes in the policies it pursues. 2. What are 'political opportunity structures'? Answer: These are the openings that political institutions and processes offer to or withhold from movements. 3. What are the pros and cons of using email and the world wide web to organize political protests? Answer: One of the benefits of using communications technologies to organize and that there is no need for a complex permanent structure. A drawback is that virtually any movement, even those that may be counterproductive, can be incorporated into a protest. 4. What are 5 features of guerrilla warfare? Answer: All guerrilla insurgencies share five traits: 1. First, the guerrillas are highly mobile and use hit-and-run tactics rather than set-piece battles. 2. Second, they are fewer in number and less well armed than their adversaries. 3. Third, guerrillas operate in familiar terrain 4. Fourth, the guerrillas know their locale and often have local support, 5. Finally, guerrilla war is protracted war; if it ends quickly, the guerrillas have probably lost. 5. What are three main types of political violence? Answer: The three main types of political violence discussed in the text are: guerrilla warfare (also called guerrilla insurgency), terrorism and revolution. Chapter 10 Short Essay Questions 1. Briefly describe the frustration-repression hypothesis. What does this theory not explain? Answer: Gurr's frustration-repression hypothesis seeks to explain what triggers violent protests. He argues that long-lasting levels of frustration with the political system and a series of failures make violent protest more likely. It does not explain why people choose violence over other forms of political action, nor does it address regime violence. 2. What are three ways in which violence can enter politics? Answer: Violence can enter politics in three different ways: 1. it can be a tactic chosen by an organization, be it a protest movement or a guerrilla army, to advance its aims. 2. Governments can also use violence against their citizens. 3. Finally, violence can be an unplanned and undesired side effect of an otherwise peaceful political action, such as a protest march. 3. What are two reasons discussed in the text why revolutionaries turn to guerrilla warfare? Answer: One reason is that revolutionary groups are persecuted by governments, and so need a strategy to survive and win adherents. Guerrilla warfare allows them to do both; by operating clandestinely, they mix with the ordinary people for whom they are claiming to fight, and militarily guerrilla warfare allows groups to use their smaller capabilities to tactical advantage. Chapter 11: Democratic and Non-Democratic Government Chapter 11 Multiple Choice Questions 1. What event precipitated a series of protests in Iran against the ruling government in 2009? a. invasion b. presidential election c. coup d'etat d. economic collapse Answer: b. presidential election 2. Who was awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for his "long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights"? a. Liu Xiaobo b. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad c. Manuel Zelaya d. Martin Luther King Answer: a. Liu Xiaobo 3. Which of the following is considered to be a defining feature of liberal democracies? a. collective decisions are made by referenda b. collective decisions prioritize unity c. the powers of government are limited by law d. the economy includes public ownership of firms Answer: c. the powers of government are limited by law 4. Which one of the following could be considered a democratic political system? a. absolute monarchies b. polyarchies c. party dictatorships d. theocracies Answer: b. polyarchies 5. Which among the following is not a form of liberal democratic government? a. presidential systems b. executive systems c. semi-presidential systems d. parliamentary systems Answer: b. executive systems 6. Authoritarianism refers to governments that ________. a. are legally authorized to rule b. act decisively c. rely exclusively on force d. are not democratic Answer: d. are not democratic 7. Which of the following is not a kind of dictatorship mentioned in the book? a. party b. personal c. military d. traditional Answer: d. traditional 8. Which among the following is one of the traits identified with totalitarian systems? a. rule of the many b. communications monopoly c. rapid economic growth d. instability Answer: b. communications monopoly 9. According to the text, authoritarian systems differ from democracies because they are able to ________. a. ignore the law b. use coercive powers c. go to war d. hold elections Answer: a. ignore the law 10. Which of the following is not one of Friederich and Brzezinski's characteristics of totalitarianism? a. an official ideology b. a police state c. obligatory military service d. a single mass party Answer: c. obligatory military service 11. Absolute monarchies ________. a. often ban political parties and other political activity b. are common in the Third World c. have long existed in sub-Saharan Africa d. last existed in the 19th century Answer: a. often ban political parties and other political activity 12. Which among the following is an example of an absolute monarchy? a. North Korea b. Saudi Arabia c. Mussolini's Italy d. China Answer: b. Saudi Arabia 13. Which among the following is an example of a theocratic dictatorship? a. Russia b. Equatorial Guinea c. Italy d. Iran Answer: d. Iran 14. What do the following all have in common: North Korea, the former Soviet Union, and Hitler's Germany? a. they are all communist systems b. they are all empires c. they are all considered totalitarian states d. they are all theocratic dictatorships Answer: c. they are all considered totalitarian states 15. Non-democratic systems are often grouped under a single label. This label is: ________. a. theocratic systems b. totalitarian systems c. military dictatorships d. authoritarian systems Answer: d. authoritarian systems 16. Party dictatorships _________. a. are exceptionally violent b. were only ever found in Communist countries c. were fairly common in post-independence Africa d. generally take power in coups Answer: c. were fairly common in post-independence Africa 17. Military dictatorships ________. a. take power only through violence b. are always extremely violent c. generally form their own political party d. can be removed only by violence Answer: a. take power only through violence 18. Who holds the ultimate authority in Iran? a. the Supreme Leader b. the Shah c. the Taliban d. the military Answer: a. the Supreme Leader 19. In 1989 Francis Fukuyama argued that democracy would ________. a. soon be universally accepted b. never be universally accepted c. have to change to be universally accepted d. not work in some countries Answer: a. soon be universally accepted 20. Democratic consolidation is ________. a. any process strengthening democracy b. especially relevant to the judiciary c. especially relevant to citizen movements d. when democracy has persisted for some time Answer: d. when democracy has persisted for some time Chapter 11 True/False Questions 1. Historically, most people have been ruled by monarchs. a. True b. False Answer: a. True 2. States are often forced to follow democratic procedures. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 3. Authoritarian states, even wealthy ones, do not take care of the material needs of citizens. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 4. Only the Islamic religion has produced theocratic dictatorships. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 5. Iran's authoritarian, theocratic state holds regular elections. a. True b. False Answer: a. True 6. Dictatorships run by pathological tyrants emerged only in the 20th century. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 7. Popular participation is an essential feature of democratic systems. a. True b. False Answer: a. True Chapter 11 Short Answer Questions 1. What are three arguments that have often been used to defend non-democratic government? Answer: The text discusses three main arguments used to defend non-democratic government: 1. that only a select few are fit to have any say in governing 2. ordinary people will persecute the wealthy 3. democracy is impractical 2. What are three essential features of liberal democratic systems? Answer: Liberal democracy is a political system based on the ideas that: 1. the power and scope of government should be limited, 2. that government should observe the rule of law, and 3. that the rights of the people should be protected. 3. What are three conditions necessary for the rule of law to exist? Answer: The rule of law is said to exist when: 1. there is one law and it is known, or at least knowable to all. 2. in principle, the law applies equally to all. 3. even the government that makes the law can be made to obey the law. 4. What is the difference between vertical and horizontal forms of accountability? Answer: Vertical accountability is when the government renders an account of its performance to the people, while horizontal accountability sees government as restraining itself. 5. What are three main forms of liberal democratic government? Answer: There are three main forms discussed in the text: parliamentary systems, presidential systems, and semi-presidential systems. Chapter 11 Short Essay Questions 1. What is meant by political pluralism? Answer: Pluralism refers to a system in which there are centres of power that are independent of government. These can be businesses, unions, educational institutions, interest groups, political parties, social movements, the media, and civil society, to name the most obvious. Some of these seek to govern, and others seek to influence government, but for a democracy to function, some amount of pluralism is necessary. 2. What are the characteristics of a totalitarian system? Answer: A totalitarian system is one seeking to control all aspects of life within a country. This involves an official ideology; a single mass party usually led by a single dictator; a police state that uses terror to control the population; a nearly complete monopoly by the party over all means of mass communications; a party monopoly over all means of armed combat; and an economy planned and controlled by the party. 3. Why are authoritarian governments more likely to use coercion than democratic governments? Answer: They are more likely to use coercion because they do not fear the judgment of their citizens. Therefore, it does not need to convince them that a particular action is good for the country; it is enough to declare it so and punish those who object. In a democracy, persuasion and consultation are government's best and most useful tools. In an authoritarian state, although a government can try to persuade its people, coercion is easier and more effective, at least in the short term. Chapter 12: The Constitution, Rights and Freedoms, and the Rule of Law Chapter 12 Multiple Choice Questions 1. The premier of which province threatened to use the "notwithstanding" clause to prevent the legalization of same-sex marriages? a. Nova Scotia b. Quebec c. Ontario d. Alberta Answer: d. Alberta 2. Constitutional government is, by definition, one that ________. a. prescribes in great detail the exact workings of each government institution b. consistently acts in accordance with fundamental rules and principles c. is consistently recognized by other countries as being democratic d. has a codified and written constitutional document Answer: b. consistently acts in accordance with fundamental rules and principles 3. Which one of the following countries is considered the first country to adopt a constitutional government? a. The United Kingdom b. The United States c. France d. Japan Answer: a. The United Kingdom 4. Which one of the following is the core element of the Canadian constitution? a. the Constitution Act b. the Clarity Act c. the Meech Lake Accord d. the Act of Union Answer: a. the Constitution Act 5. A constitutional ________ is a fundamental principle that is consistently followed even though it is not contained in a legal document and is not generally enforceable in the courts. a. belief b. change c. convention d. amendment Answer: c. convention 6. Which among the following is included among the rights protected by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights? a. freedom to travel b. freedom of speech c. physical and mental health d. right to vote Answer: c. physical and mental health 7. Which among the following is not permitted even when freedom of speech is protected? a. calling for the overthrow of the government during peacetime b. inciting a country to go to war c. yelling 'fire' in a crowded theatre when there is no fire d. deliberately lying during an election campaign Answer: c. yelling 'fire' in a crowded theatre when there is no fire 8. A referendum was held concerning which one of the following? a. the Constitution Act, 1867 b. the Constitution Act, 1982 c. the Meech Lake Accord d. the Charlottetown Accord Answer: d. the Charlottetown Accord 9. Which provincial government objected to the Constitution Act, 1982? a. Ontario b. Quebec c. Newfoundland d. Alberta Answer: b. Quebec 10. The Meech Lake Accord was passed by Parliament and all provincial legislatures except ________. a. Newfoundland and Manitoba b. Ontario and BC c. Quebec and Alberta d. Alberta Answer: a. Newfoundland and Manitoba 11. In Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the right to vote is this type of right. a. freedom of expression b. democratic right c. social right d. equality right Answer: b. democratic right 12. Equality rights guarantee freedom from discrimination on the basis of, for example: race, religion, gender, age and ________. a. education b. seniority c. ethnicity d. wealth Answer: c. ethnicity 13. Canada's anti-terrorism legislation adopted in 2001 permits ________. a. interception of private international communications by the security forces b. lawyers to charge exorbitant fees to non-citizens c. suspected terrorists to be held without charge at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba d. non-citizens to be subjected to torture if there is a clear danger of terrorist attacks Answer: a. interception of private international communications by the security forces 14. Section 1 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms declares that the government may limit rights when it is 'demonstrably justified'. This clause is termed the ________ clause. a. economic rights b. rights protection c. federalism d. reasonable limits Answer: d. reasonable limits 15. Which of the following rights are not included in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms? a. the rights of Aboriginal peoples b. equality rights c. the right to education d. language rights Answer: c. the right to education 16. The notwithstanding clause in Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms ________. a. has been used frequently b. gives the courts the final responsibility for controversial decisions c. covers all aspects of the Charter d. can only be applied to legislation for five years, unless the declaration is renewed Answer: d. can only be applied to legislation for five years, unless the declaration is renewed 17. Supreme Court of Canada judges are appointed ________. a. on the recommendation of Parliament b. by an agreement between the Prime Minister and Premiers c. on the recommendation of the Prime Minister d. by the Canadian Judicial Council Answer: c. on the recommendation of the Prime Minister 18. In the United States, Supreme Court judges are ________. a. elected by voters b. chosen by the Electoral College c. elected by the Senate and confirmed by the President d. chosen by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate Answer: d. chosen by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate 19. Common law is, by definition, a system of laws that is ________. a. more understandable b. based on court judgments c. codified into a unified law d. focused only on private matters Answer: b. based on court judgments 20. Unlike common law, codified law ________. a. is based on legal principles applied to particular cases b. is enforced by a unified court system c. involves a much greater degree of judicial review d. requires greater interpretation of legal precedents Answer: a. is based on legal principles applied to particular cases Chapter 12 True/False Questions 1. The original Canadian constitution, the Constitution Act, 1867, did not explicitly protect traditional rights and freedoms. a. True b. False Answer: a. True 2. Rights and freedoms in Canada are absolute. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 3. Parliamentary committees in Canada have the power to reject or accept nominees for the federal Supreme Court. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 4. Many judges in the United States are elected rather than appointed. a. True b. False Answer: a. True 5. Although most countries have some form of constitution, many do not have a constitutional government. a. True b. False Answer: a. True 6. Parliamentary sovereignty has been the basic principle of the American system of governing. a. True b. False Answer: b. False 7. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows the courts to invalidate legislation that violates the Charter. a. True b. False Answer: a. True Chapter 12 Short Answer Questions 1. What are three important changes brought about by Canada's constitution Act of 1982? Answer: The Constitution Act, 1982 made the constitution a fully Canadian document, it also added the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to the formal constitution and established procedures for amending the constitution. 2. What are three main functions of a constitution? Answer: The three main functions of a constitution are: 1. To establish the fundamental rules and principles by which a state is governed. 2. to determine which institutions have the authority to make laws and governing decisions 3. to lay out the basic relationship between government and the people 3. What is the constitutional formula for changing most of the Constitution Act? Answer: Parliament plus at least two-thirds of the provincial legislatures, provided those legislatures represent provinces containing at least one-half of the population of all the provinces. 4. What are the two major clauses limiting the rights and freedoms established by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms? Answer: The reasonable limits clause and the notwithstanding clause. 5. What is meant by judicial activism? Answer: Judicial activism is the term used when the courts are active in invalidating legislation and government actions that are inconsistent with the constitution. In other words, the courts do not hesitate in applying judicial review. Chapter 12 Short Essay Questions 1. What are four basic elements by which we can analyse a constitution? Answer: A constitution can be analysed according to its constituent parts: 1. a preamble 2. provisions concerning the institutions of government 3. provisions establishing the rights and freedoms of the population 4. procedures for amending (changing) the constitution 2. Discuss at least 2 arguments in support of judicial activism, and 2 against it. Answer: Some argue that judicial activism has made Canadian courts too powerful, and that unelected judges should not make important decisions about social issues that are properly made by parliament. Neither criticism is that courts are not able to monitor the consequences of their decisions. Others argue, in support of judicial activism, that the courts have helped to protect the rights of minorities, and judicial independence is needed to limit the power of government. Arguments in Support of Judicial Activism: 1. Protection of Rights: Judicial activism can protect minority rights and uphold constitutional principles when legislative or executive branches fail to act. Courts can address injustices and safeguard fundamental rights that might be overlooked or ignored by elected officials. 2. Adaptation to Change: Courts can adapt the interpretation of laws and the Constitution to contemporary issues and societal changes. This flexibility allows the judiciary to address emerging problems and apply principles in a way that reflects current values and conditions. Arguments Against Judicial Activism: 1. Undermining Democratic Processes: Critics argue that judicial activism can undermine democratic processes by allowing unelected judges to make decisions on policy issues that should be determined by elected representatives. This can lead to a lack of accountability and transparency in decision-making. 2. Inconsistent Interpretation: Judicial activism can lead to inconsistent and unpredictable interpretations of the law, which may create legal uncertainty and undermine the stability of legal precedents. This unpredictability can affect individuals' and businesses' ability to plan and make decisions based on established laws. 3. Have governments gone too far in taking strong measures to deal with terrorism? Answer: The answer should discuss the measures taken to deal with terrorism, noting that some long-established legal principles, like the rule of law and individual rights and freedoms, have been violated. The answer could also discuss whether Canada's Anti-Terrorism Act constitutes a 'reasonable limit' on Charter freedoms under section 1, where such limits are 'demonstrably justifiable' in a free and democratic society. The answer should go on to discuss whether extraordinary measures are needed to defend democracy against those who would destroy it, or whether violating the rule of law and human rights brings democracy down to the level of the terrorists. The balance between security and civil liberties is a contentious issue. Some argue that strong measures are necessary to protect against terrorism and ensure public safety, while others believe that such measures may infringe on individual freedoms and privacy. The extent to which governments have gone too far depends on one's perspective on the trade-off between security and civil liberties. Test Bank for Politics, Power and the Common Good: An Introduction to Political Science Eric Mintz, Osvaldo Croci, David Close 9780131384774, 9780134286884