Political Science Concepts Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What defines a state in relation to violence?

  • A state has the ability to use violence in international conflicts.
  • A state can delegate the use of violence to private entities.
  • A state claims the monopoly of legitimate violence within a specific territory. (correct)
  • A state allows violent acts to occur freely within its borders.

Which of the following methods helps foster loyalty among inhabitants to a state?

  • Limiting education to only historical content about neighboring states.
  • Utilizing a variety of invented traditions and a uniform language. (correct)
  • Encouraging regional autonomy and independence movements.
  • Promoting the idea that all citizens should be non-partisan.

In the context of federalism, what is meant by 'self-rule and shared rule'?

  • Sovereignty is shared between two autonomous levels of government with defined competences. (correct)
  • The total authority of a central government over all local administrations.
  • A system where local governments operate independently without any oversight.
  • The absence of any legal regulations for governance.

What primarily distinguishes federal states from unitary states?

<p>Federal states share power while unitary states centralize it. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What criteria are generally used to determine citizenship?

<p>Birthplace, descent, and residence. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the form of democracy characterized by both democratic and aristocratic elements?

<p>Politeia (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key component of R. Dahl's definition of polyarchy?

<p>Contestation and inclusion (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'illiberal democracy'?

<p>Elections without civil liberties (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is NOT typically associated with how democracies are organized?

<p>Public officials' popularity (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Aristotle's classification, which form of government serves the good of the rulers?

<p>Tyranny (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'democratic backsliding' primarily refer to?

<p>Declining popular involvement in democracy (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a recognized measure of democracy according to its definitions?

<p>Procedural or substantive indicators (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best reflects Joseph Schumpeter's view of democracy?

<p>It involves power gained through competitive elections. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of an independent judiciary in preventing democratic backsliding?

<p>It checks the actions of leaders and maintains accountability. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the basic types of electoral systems?

<p>Monarchic systems (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of civil society groups in safeguarding democracy?

<p>To demand accountability and raise awareness. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which majoritarian electoral system does a second round of voting occur if no candidate wins a majority in the first round?

<p>Two-round system (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of electoral formulas in electoral systems?

<p>To define how votes translate into seats or offices. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the legal threshold affect electoral outcomes?

<p>It sets the minimum number of votes needed to gain a seat in the legislature. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes a characteristic of proportional electoral systems?

<p>They allocate seats based on the total votes received by a party. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of elections is crucial for providing popular legitimacy?

<p>Elections facilitate the selection of representatives who reflect public desires and interests. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a parliamentary system, how is the prime minister typically chosen?

<p>Selected from the majority party in the legislature (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of a presidential system regarding the separation of powers?

<p>Strict separation of powers allows the president to operate independently (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a majoritarian democracy, how is power generally distributed?

<p>Concentrated in the hands of a majority party or coalition (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the timing of elections generally differ between parliamentary and presidential systems?

<p>Both systems have fixed intervals for elections (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a consensus democracy, how is decision-making typically characterized?

<p>Involves negotiation and compromise among multiple parties or groups (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following roles are distinct in a parliamentary system?

<p>The prime minister and head of state are separate roles (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of populist movements?

<p>They often represent a narrow interpretation of the people (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In terms of government structure, majoritarian systems typically feature

<p>Power concentrated in a majority party or coalition (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the primary objective of political parties?

<p>To gain control over governmental power (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What function does conducting electoral campaigns serve in political parties?

<p>To select candidates and structure competition (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of political party is characterized by a large homogeneous membership and representation of a social group's interests?

<p>Mass parties (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of votes does MLP need to win an election in France?

<p>50% plus 1 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a dominant-party system, what is the typical political landscape?

<p>One large party holds an absolute majority of votes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines a bipolar party system?

<p>Two large pre-electoral coalitions capturing 40-50% of the votes each (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What overarching agenda is currently gaining traction in France?

<p>Nativist agenda (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of cartel parties?

<p>Erosion of party loyalty and membership (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which political cleavages are overshadowed by the new socio-cultural conflict?

<p>Labour-capital and urban-rural (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the freezing hypothesis, what remained stable throughout the 20th century?

<p>Social cleavages established during revolutions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which option accurately describes nativism as a political ideology?

<p>Posits that only nation members should live within state borders (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is authoritarianism characterized in terms of social order?

<p>Believes society needs to be ordered hierarchically (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which parties are associated with the centre-periphery cleavage?

<p>Regional, ethnic, or nationalist parties (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What cleavage is associated with agricultural interests versus urban industrial interests?

<p>Rural-urban cleavage (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of political party primarily focuses on representing corporate interests and has minimal organization?

<p>Business-firm parties (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What trend has been observed regarding the validity of the freezing hypothesis in the 21st century?

<p>Its validity has declined (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which political family is associated with the class cleavage?

<p>Socialist, social democratic, and communist parties (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Monopoly of Violence

The exclusive right of a state to use force within its territory. It means the state is the sole legitimate authority allowed to use violence to maintain order and enforce laws.

Nation

A political community where individuals share a sense of belonging based on common values, history, or culture. It's the idea of being part of a nation.

Federalism

A system where power is divided between two levels of government: a national level and regional levels, each with their own distinct powers. Examples include the United States, Canada, and Germany.

Unitary State

A system where power is concentrated at the national level. The central government has overall authority, and regional governments are subordinate. Examples include France and Japan.

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Citizenship

Full membership in a political community with rights, obligations, and participation. It defines the relationship between individuals and the state.

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Ancient Greek Democracy

A system of government where citizens directly participate in decision-making, often through assembly, lot, rotation or elections.

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Aristotle's Classification

A classification of political systems based on the number of rulers and their focus on the public good or their own interests.

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Polyarchy

A state where power is held by the many, with competitive elections and significant citizen participation.

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Majoritarian Democracy

A system of government where decisions are made based on the will of the majority, often through majority voting.

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Consensus Democracy

A system of government characterized by consensus-building and broad participatory processes.

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Democratic Backsliding

A political shift where a democratic state gradually loses democratic features and reverts to semi-authoritarian practices.

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Illiberal Democracy

A political system that holds free and fair elections but lacks strong protections for civil liberties and the rule of law.

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Authoritarianism

A type of government characterized by a strong central authority, suppression of dissent, and limited political freedoms.

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Parliamentary System

A form of democracy where the legislature is elected by the public and the prime minister is typically chosen from the majority party in the legislature.

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Presidential System

A form of democracy where the legislature and the head of government (president) are elected separately. The president is directly elected by the public.

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Populism

A situation where citizens feel alienated from the political elite and believe that their interests are not being represented.

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Right-Wing Populism

A type of populism that uses rhetoric and strategies to appeal to the fears and anxieties of certain groups, often promoting exclusionary and discriminatory policies.

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High-Quality Democracy

A type of democracy that emphasizes high levels of civic engagement, political participation, and accountability. It aims to achieve greater equality and inclusion.

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Anti-Establishment Populism

A political movement that challenges traditional norms and institutions, often using direct action and social media to mobilize support.

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Political Party

A group of people united to gain control over government through nominating candidates, participating in elections, and organizing government.

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Cadre/Elite Parties

Parties that emerged in the 19th century, focused on coordinating within parliament, and claiming to represent the national interest. They had a smaller and looser organization with limited membership.

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Mass Parties

Parties that emerged in the late 19th century, heavily reliant on party activists, and representing specific social groups. They had a more elaborate structure with larger, homogeneous membership.

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Catch-all Parties

Parties that evolved from previous types, focusing on attracting supporters rather than members. They prioritize professionalization and have a reduced emphasis on ideology.

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Cartel Parties

Parties that emerged in the 1980s, characterized by a decline in party loyalty and membership. They emphasize professionalization, limit the role of party activists, and prioritize governing.

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Anti-Cartel Parties

Parties that emerged in the 1990s, driven by frustration and committed membership. Their main focus is on ideas rather than coherent ideology.

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Party System

The interactions between political parties, encompassing both competition and cooperation, with the goal of gaining and exercising power in government.

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Dominant-Party System

A political system where one large party dominates, winning a majority of votes and seats, and forming a single-party government without significant power change.

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Two-Party System

A political system where two large parties alternate power through elections. They typically hold around 80% of the votes and seats.

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Multi-Party System

A political system with several parties where no one party can achieve a majority, leading to coalition governments. Different coalitions can form and change power through elections.

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Electoral Systems

A system where elections are held and the outcome of elections matters for distributing power and public policy.

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Majoritarian System: First Past the Post

A system where the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they don't get over 50%.

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Proportional Systems

A system where parties get seats in proportion to the votes they receive. It's all about representing the overall will of the people.

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Majoritarian system: Alternative Vote

A system where voters can rank their preferences for candidates. If no one gets a majority, the lowest ranked candidate is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed until someone has a majority.

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Proportional Systems: Party List

A system where voters can choose multiple candidates, and the chosen candidates get the seats. This is designed to ensure different groups are represented in the government.

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Majoritarian System: Two Round System

A system where the candidate with the most votes wins, but they need to get over 50% of the total votes to win. If no candidate gets over 50% in the first round, a second round is held with the top two candidates.

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Electoral Districts

These are the geographical areas where votes are counted and seats are allocated in elections. The number of districts and the number of seats in each district affect the fairness of the electoral system.

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Electoral Threshold

A minimum number of votes needed for a political party to get a seat in the legislature. It's designed to prevent small, extremist fringe parties from gaining significant power.

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Nativism in Politics

A political situation where the governing elite (establishment) is challenged by rising nationalist, anti-immigrant sentiments.

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Freezing Hypothesis

The idea that political divisions that formed during historical periods like the national and industrial revolutions continue to shape party systems in the present.

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Centre-Periphery Cleavage

The division between the central government and regional, ethnic, or local identities. This is associated with regional, ethnic, or nationalist parties.

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State-Church Cleavage

The division between secular and religious authorities. This is associated with Christian democratic and conservative parties.

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Rural-Urban Cleavage

The division between agricultural and urban industrial interests. This is associated with agrarian parties.

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Class Cleavage

The division between capital and labor. This is associated with socialist, social democratic, and communist parties.

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Political Competition

A situation where different political movements compete for power, presenting voters with distinct choices.

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Personnel Selection and Recruitment

The process where parties select and nominate candidates for elections and appoint government officials.

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Study Notes

Summary of Political Systems

  • States successfully claim a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence within a defined territory.
  • States require citizen cooperation and loyalty through national identity, culture, education, and media.
  • Nations are political communities with a common culture, history, or shared values.
  • Federal states have self-rule and shared rule between autonomous levels of government.
  • Unitary states have a central government.
  • Citizenship involves rights, obligations, and participation within a political community using criteria like birthplace or descent.
  • Democracy in ancient Greece involved direct citizen participation and decision-making.
  • Aristotle classified political regimes based on the number of rulers (one, few, many).
  • Modern democracies are categorized as parliamentary, presidential, or semi-presidential systems.
  • Majoritarian democracies prioritize a majority's power.
  • Consensus democracies involve shared power.
  • Democracy can be measured using various indicators, including procedural and substantive criteria.
  • Democratic backsliding is the destabilization and return to semi-authoritarian practices associated with declining popular involvement.
  • Key issues for backsliding include concerns about elections, political systems, and leadership's actions.
  • Elections allocate power for representative governments.
  • Electoral systems (e.g., majoritarian, proportional, mixed) determine how votes translate into political power.
  • Electoral systems significantly influence proportionality and minority representation.
  • Representative governments use different methods for organizing power, notably majoritarian or consensus approaches.
  • Political participation is impacted by conditions, such as funding, and availability of organized groups.
  • Interest groups influence political decisions.
  • Social movements aim to achieve fundamental change in society and politics.
  • Parties have different structures and functions within various political systems.
  • Key party system types include dominant, two-party, multi-party, and bipolar systems.
  • Party system dynamics are affected by various factors like globalization.
  • Cleavages influence party competition, particularly in the context of national and industrial revolutions.

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Test your knowledge on key concepts in political science, including definitions of state, federalism, and democracy. This quiz explores theories from notable scholars and examines the characteristics that define various forms of government. Gain a deeper understanding of complex political ideas and their implications.

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