Free Practice Quiz Question List

Foundations of Comparative Government and Politics Online Quiz Questions

Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review Foundations of Comparative Government and Politics, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.

20 questions

True or false

1 point

True or false: Authority is the recognized and legitimate right to exercise power.

A
True
B
False

Choose one

1 point

Which example best illustrates institutional power?

A
A social movement persuades citizens through a public campaign
B
A legislature uses its formal budgetary authority to allocate funds
C
A business offers a discount to attract customers
D
A religious group encourages members to volunteer

Fill in the blank

1 point

Complete the definition: A state is a political organization with a , a , a government, and sovereignty or a claim to supreme authority.

Choose one

1 point

Which institutional arrangement best describes a parliamentary system?

A
The executive usually depends on legislative confidence
B
The president and legislature are elected independently
C
Regional governments possess constitutionally divided authority
D
A directly elected president shares executive power with a legislature-responsible prime minister

Written response

1 point

Which political institution administers programs, collects information, and carries out policies?

True or false

1 point

True or false: Globalization eliminates the state as a central political actor.

A
True
B
False

Fill in the blank

1 point

Complete the policy process: After adoption comes , followed by of the policy's results and effects.

Choose all

1 point

Select all of the following that are identified as common sources of political legitimacy.

A
Constitutions, laws, procedures, and elections
B
Long-standing customs, dynasties, or inherited practices
C
Personal loyalty to an extraordinary leader
D
Security, economic growth, public services, or social order
E
A political doctrine, religion, or national mission
F
Military superiority by itself
G
Geographic size by itself

Written response

1 point

What term describes a state whose territorial boundaries and national identity substantially overlap?

Choose one

1 point

A country holds a competitive election, and a new group of leaders takes office while the existing political rules remain in place. What has most likely changed?

A
It necessarily changes the regime because any leadership change alters the political system
B
It changes neither the government nor the regime
C
It may change the government without changing the regime
D
It changes the regime but leaves the government unchanged

Choose all

1 point

Select all of the following that are dimensions of state capacity.

A
Administrative capacity
B
Extractive capacity
C
Coercive capacity
D
Legal capacity
E
Implementation capacity
F
Personal popularity of the head of government
G
Cultural uniformity of the population

True or false

1 point

True or false: A constitutional democracy requires more than simple majority rule.

A
True
B
False

Choose one

1 point

Which statement best distinguishes legal sovereignty from effective sovereignty?

A
Legal sovereignty concerns only domestic authority, while effective sovereignty concerns only foreign relations
B
Legal sovereignty is the ability to implement every policy without constraints
C
Legal sovereignty is formal independence, while effective sovereignty is practical capacity to control affairs
D
Legal sovereignty belongs to governments, while effective sovereignty belongs only to international organizations

Open ended

1 point

Compare presidential and parliamentary systems. Explain how each structures the relationship between the executive and legislature, and analyze one way this difference can affect political outcomes.

Choose one

1 point

Which example best illustrates authority rather than power alone?

A
A private individual threatens a neighbor without legal authorization.
B
A legislature passes a law under powers granted by a constitution.
C
A business uses its market share to raise prices.
D
A political movement persuades citizens to change their opinions.

Choose one

1 point

A country’s cabinet must retain the support of the legislature to remain in office. Which institutional arrangement does this most directly describe?

A
The executive and legislature are elected independently and cannot affect one another’s continuation in office.
B
Regional governments possess constitutionally protected powers that the national government cannot normally remove.
C
The executive usually depends on maintaining the confidence of the legislature.
D
A directly elected president shares executive authority with a prime minister responsible to the legislature.

Choose one

1 point

A government begins treating severe urban air pollution as an issue requiring public action, before deciding which solution to adopt. Which stage of the policy process is this?

A
Agenda setting
B
Policy formulation
C
Adoption
D
Evaluation

Written response

1 point

What term describes a population whose members identify with a shared community based on characteristics such as history, language, culture, or political ideals?

Choose one

1 point

A state is legally independent, but international creditors and trade agreements sharply limit the economic policies it can pursue. Which concept best describes this situation?

A
Traditional legitimacy
B
Administrative capacity
C
Charismatic legitimacy
D
Effective sovereignty

Written response

1 point

A government gains international support because other countries admire its culture, trust its diplomacy, and view its public policies as attractive. What term describes this type of power?