Free Practice Quiz Question List

4 Constitutions and Political Institutions Online Quiz Questions

Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 4 Constitutions and Political Institutions, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.

20 questions

True or false

1 point

True or false: A constitution may draw on statutes, court decisions, conventions, and other laws instead of being contained in one written document.

A
True
B
False

Fill in the blank

1 point

A legislature with chamber is called unicameral.

Choose one

1 point

Which is a responsibility of a legislature described in the material?

A
Directing the day-to-day administration of government
B
Approving public spending
C
Putting laws into effect
D
Deciding every legal dispute

Choose one

1 point

A country’s president is popularly elected for a fixed term, and the legislature cannot ordinarily remove the president through a routine confidence vote. Which system does this best describe?

A
Presidential system
B
Parliamentary system
C
Semi-presidential system

Choose all

1 point

Select all functions of a legislature described in the material.

A
Representing the public
B
Debating and passing laws
C
Scrutinizing the executive
D
Approving public spending
E
Directing government administration

Written response

1 point

What term describes a legislature with two chambers?

True or false

1 point

True or false: Decentralization can occur in both unitary and federal states.

A
True
B
False

Fill in the blank

1 point

Federalism combines within constituent units with at the national level.

Choose one

1 point

Which arrangement describes a semi-presidential system?

A
A president is both head of state and head of government and serves a fixed term.
B
A prime minister and cabinet depend on legislative support, with a separate largely ceremonial head of state.
C
A directly elected president shares executive authority with a prime minister and cabinet that depend on legislative support.

Written response

1 point

What is the term for courts assessing whether government action or legislation complies with the constitution?

Choose all

1 point

Which measures can support judicial independence? Select all that apply.

A
Rules for judicial appointments
B
Secure tenure for judges
C
Exemption of judges from all accountability
D
Procedures for removal

Choose one

1 point

Which statement best distinguishes federalism from decentralization?

A
Both terms name fixed constitutional categories, and both require constitutionally protected regional powers.
B
Federalism divides authority constitutionally, while decentralization describes a process or degree of shifting power.
C
Decentralization applies only to federal states, while federalism describes any transfer of local responsibilities.

Open ended

1 point

A country gives regional governments substantial responsibility for public services. Explain why that fact alone does not establish whether the country is unitary or federal. In your answer, distinguish the two constitutional arrangements and identify two questions that would help compare the actual distribution of power.

Written response

1 point

In a country, one official formally represents the country while a prime minister leads its political administration. What is the constitutional role of the representative official?

Choose one

1 point

A country has no single document called its constitution, but its statutes, court decisions, conventions, and other laws establish rules for government. Which conclusion is supported?

A
It can still have constitutional rules drawn from statutes, court decisions, conventions, and other laws.
B
It cannot have constitutional rules because every constitution must be one written document.
C
It must be a federal system because its rules come from several sources.
D
Its government has no limits on public power.

Choose one

1 point

A constitution creates a second chamber in which constituent regions have representation. Which is a possible purpose of that arrangement?

A
It guarantees that the national government cannot pass laws.
B
It may give regions or states representation in national lawmaking.
C
It automatically gives courts the power to remove legislators.
D
It makes the legislature independent of elections.

Choose one

1 point

A prime minister and cabinet can remain in office only while they retain the legislature’s support. If they lose a confidence vote, they can be removed. Which executive system does this describe?

A
The government is parliamentary because it depends on legislative support and may lose office after a confidence vote.
B
The government is presidential because its leader must be both head of state and head of government.
C
The government is federal because the legislature can dismiss the cabinet.
D
The government is unitary because its executive depends on the legislature.

Choose one

1 point

A legislature has formal authority to scrutinize the executive, but opposition members are prevented from questioning officials or investigating policy. What is the best conclusion?

A
The legislature necessarily has no formal oversight powers.
B
The executive is automatically accountable through a routine confidence vote.
C
Formal powers alone may not ensure meaningful scrutiny if opposition members cannot participate effectively.
D
The legislature must have two chambers.

True or false

1 point

Judicial independence means judges are exempt from accountability mechanisms for misconduct.

A
True
B
False

Written response

1 point

A national government transfers responsibilities, decision-making authority, or resources to subnational governments. What term describes this process?