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Comparative politics examines why some countries have democratic regimes while others experience authoritarianism.
Comparative politics examines why some countries have democratic regimes while others experience authoritarianism.
True
States always refer to the same concept as countries.
States always refer to the same concept as countries.
False
Traditional legitimacy is identified with the appeal of a leader or movement.
Traditional legitimacy is identified with the appeal of a leader or movement.
False
Germany's state was unified after long periods of division.
Germany's state was unified after long periods of division.
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Rational-legal legitimacy is mainly derived from charismatic leaders.
Rational-legal legitimacy is mainly derived from charismatic leaders.
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Strong states are unable to defend their borders from external attacks.
Strong states are unable to defend their borders from external attacks.
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Political scientists distinguish between the state and the government.
Political scientists distinguish between the state and the government.
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The USA is one of the countries analyzed in the study of comparative politics in this course.
The USA is one of the countries analyzed in the study of comparative politics in this course.
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The United Kingdom consists of four nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
The United Kingdom consists of four nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
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About five of six residents of the United Kingdom live in Scotland.
About five of six residents of the United Kingdom live in Scotland.
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The Magna Carta was signed in 1215 as a royal promise to uphold feudal customs and the rights of England's barons.
The Magna Carta was signed in 1215 as a royal promise to uphold feudal customs and the rights of England's barons.
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The United Kingdom's legal system is based on formal legal codes rather than local customs.
The United Kingdom's legal system is based on formal legal codes rather than local customs.
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By the 1870s, the United Kingdom controlled approximately half of all world trade.
By the 1870s, the United Kingdom controlled approximately half of all world trade.
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The United Kingdom was one of the last nations to develop democratic control among its European neighbors.
The United Kingdom was one of the last nations to develop democratic control among its European neighbors.
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The United Kingdom began its overseas expansion in the seventeenth century.
The United Kingdom began its overseas expansion in the seventeenth century.
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The United Kingdom's navy played a significant role in opening new overseas markets for its domestic industry.
The United Kingdom's navy played a significant role in opening new overseas markets for its domestic industry.
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The British Empire directly governed one-quarter of the world’s population in the nineteenth century.
The British Empire directly governed one-quarter of the world’s population in the nineteenth century.
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The United Kingdom's political regime has extensive checks on the majority party in Parliament.
The United Kingdom's political regime has extensive checks on the majority party in Parliament.
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The United Kingdom has a single written constitution that outlines political rules.
The United Kingdom has a single written constitution that outlines political rules.
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The Magna Carta established limits on the powers of the monarchy in the UK.
The Magna Carta established limits on the powers of the monarchy in the UK.
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The UK Parliament cannot amend any aspect of the constitution without a supermajority vote.
The UK Parliament cannot amend any aspect of the constitution without a supermajority vote.
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There is a constitutional court in the United Kingdom that oversees the legality of parliamentary decisions.
There is a constitutional court in the United Kingdom that oversees the legality of parliamentary decisions.
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Political decisions in the UK are made by non-elected leaders.
Political decisions in the UK are made by non-elected leaders.
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The monarchy in the United Kingdom is politically neutral and acts only on the advice of elected officials.
The monarchy in the United Kingdom is politically neutral and acts only on the advice of elected officials.
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The Senate is generally more decentralized compared to the House.
The Senate is generally more decentralized compared to the House.
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Senators serve longer terms and are more specialized than House representatives.
Senators serve longer terms and are more specialized than House representatives.
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The U.S. judiciary was well-defined by the Constitution from its inception.
The U.S. judiciary was well-defined by the Constitution from its inception.
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The Supreme Court serves as the court of last resort in interpreting the U.S. Constitution.
The Supreme Court serves as the court of last resort in interpreting the U.S. Constitution.
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Federal judges are appointed for a fixed term to ensure they remain accountable to political pressures.
Federal judges are appointed for a fixed term to ensure they remain accountable to political pressures.
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Congress first created the federal court system in 1789, granting it authority to resolve conflicts between state laws and federal laws.
Congress first created the federal court system in 1789, granting it authority to resolve conflicts between state laws and federal laws.
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The Supreme Court's power is solely independent and not influenced by any other branches of government.
The Supreme Court's power is solely independent and not influenced by any other branches of government.
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The federal courts have played a significant role in important policy outcomes since the early twentieth century.
The federal courts have played a significant role in important policy outcomes since the early twentieth century.
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The Republican Party first contested elections in 1860.
The Republican Party first contested elections in 1860.
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The Great Depression marked the end of the Republican Party's dominance in national politics.
The Great Depression marked the end of the Republican Party's dominance in national politics.
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The Republican Party has historically drawn more support from urban dwellers than rural dwellers.
The Republican Party has historically drawn more support from urban dwellers than rural dwellers.
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The coalition of the Republican Party includes economic conservatives as well as those who favor greater state involvement in social issues.
The coalition of the Republican Party includes economic conservatives as well as those who favor greater state involvement in social issues.
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The U.S. judiciary was initially quite strong and well-defined by the Constitution.
The U.S. judiciary was initially quite strong and well-defined by the Constitution.
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The current French political system dates back to the 18th century.
The current French political system dates back to the 18th century.
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The Supreme Court has the final authority on interpreting the U.S. Constitution.
The Supreme Court has the final authority on interpreting the U.S. Constitution.
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Charles de Gaulle took power during a political crisis over France's war in Vietnam.
Charles de Gaulle took power during a political crisis over France's war in Vietnam.
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The First Republic in France was established after the French Revolution of 1789.
The First Republic in France was established after the French Revolution of 1789.
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Federal judges serve fixed terms to promote accountability.
Federal judges serve fixed terms to promote accountability.
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France shares borders with six countries.
France shares borders with six countries.
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The federal court system was established by Congress in 1789.
The federal court system was established by Congress in 1789.
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The single-member district plurality system encourages the survival of multiple small parties.
The single-member district plurality system encourages the survival of multiple small parties.
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The process of adjusting voting districts in the U.S. occurs every 5 years.
The process of adjusting voting districts in the U.S. occurs every 5 years.
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The federal courts have played a less influential role in policy outcomes in recent decades.
The federal courts have played a less influential role in policy outcomes in recent decades.
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The dominant party in a state legislature can control the redistricting process.
The dominant party in a state legislature can control the redistricting process.
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Study Notes
Comparative Politics Introduction
- Comparative politics is the study and comparison of politics across countries
- This approach examines major questions in political science, such as:
- Why do some countries have democratic regimes while others experience authoritarianism?
- How and why do regimes change?
- Why do some countries experience growth and prosperity, while others face poverty and decline?
Focus of the Course
- The course focuses on the political systems of four countries: the USA, UK, France, and Germany, analyzing
- Major geographic and demographic features
- The origins and development of the state
- The political regimes
- Patterns of political conflict and competition
Comparing States
- States are organizations that maintain a monopoly on the use of violence within a territory.
- The concept of state is narrower than that of country.
- Political scientists distinguish between the state and the government. The government is the leadership or elite that administers the state.
- States differ in their origin, historical development, and level of organization, effectiveness, and stability. Some countries have long histories, while others experienced unification later.
Legitimacy of States
- States' power depends partly on their legitimacy:
- Traditional legitimacy: obedience based on long tradition (e.g., the British monarchy).
- Charismatic legitimacy: identification with a leader's appeal.
- Rational-legal legitimacy: based on established laws and procedures. Most modern states derive legitimacy from rational-legal sources.
Strong vs. Weak States
- Strong states effectively defend borders, maintain order, and control internal rivals
- Weak states struggle with internal violence, poor infrastructure, and tax collection, sometimes becoming failed states with complete loss of legitimacy
Comparing Regimes
- Political regimes refer to the norms and rules concerning individual freedoms, equality, and the exercise of power.
- Democratic regimes emphasize public participation, basic rights, and accountability in governance.
- Authoritarian regimes limit public role, deny rights, and restrict freedoms.
- All regimes establish political institutions (executive, legislative, judiciary)
Powers of Institutions
- The relationships and powers of political institutions vary across regimes (e.g., parliamentary vs. presidential systems).
United Kingdom Focus
- The UK is the world's oldest democracy whose transition to democracy was gradual.
- It lacks a codified constitution.
- Its system relies on traditional legitimacy and a unique political culture (e.g., the Westminster system).
- Major geographic and demographic features of the UK were discussed.
- The historical development of the UK state, especially the Magna Carta, was detailed.
- The UK's political regime, including its majoritarian features parliamentary system, was analyzed.
- Political institutions (constitutional arrangements, executive branch, legislative branch) were outlined.
- the party system, including the Labour Party and historical context, was discussed.
United States Focus
- oldest written constitution.
- A highly legitimate political regime.
- Widespread adherence to the rule of law.
- A major military and economic power.
- Large role of religion in politics.
- A relatively weak state.
- The system of checks and balances, federalism, and the Bill of Rights were discussed.
- The executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government were examined in detail. The current US presidency and how it works were evaluated in this section as well.
- The US party system is significantly bifurcated.
- The US political institutions were highlighted from the constitution to the electoral system.
- The role of the judiciary in the US and the power of Supreme Court's judicial review.
France Focus
- The French political system is much more recent.
- The Fifth Republic was established in response to crises in the previous republics (Third and Fourth Republic).
- Political Institutions, including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches were presented.
- Key characteristics and comparison with the American system.
- The semi-presidential system, combining elements of parliamentary and presidential models.
- The role of the President and Prime Minister, and their respective powers and limitations in government.
- The structure of the French Parliament, including the National Assembly and the Senate.
- The legal system, emphasizing how law is derived primarily from written statutes.
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Description
Explore the fundamental concepts of comparative politics, including democratic regimes, authoritarianism, and the distinction between states and governments. This quiz examines key historical milestones and current political structures in countries like Germany, the USA, and the United Kingdom.
