Chapter 5: Government

Which of the statements below describes a transfer of government authority that has the strongest claim to rational-legal legitimacy?

An opposition party wins in a competitive election with a popular majority.

What do liberal and illiberal democracies have in common?

Both respect the principles of popular sovereignty.

Which of these observations would best support an institutional explanation of the persistence of China's one-party regime?

China has a long tradition of weak civil society where most strong organizations have been tied to the state.

Which statement best describes how representative democracy relates to direct democracy?

In a representative democracy, a smaller group of people makes decisions on behalf of others.

Which statement best explains how an illiberal democracy differs from a liberal democracy?

In an illiberal democracy, elections exist but rights are much more restricted than in a liberal democracy.

A fascist is most likely to make which of these criticisms of a liberal democratic nation?

The collective good of the nation, not individual gain, should be the aim of all politics.

Which of these could occur in an illiberal democracy, but would be highly unlikely to occur in a liberal democracy?

The ruling party manipulates electoral procedures to prevent the opposition from being able to gain power.

Which of these outcomes would the leader of an illiberal democracy value most highly?

a doubling of the per capita gross domestic product in two years

A liberal-democratic regime is more likely than an illiberal regime to have __________.

a visible diversity of participation

The leader of an illiberal democracy is most likely to push for policies that __________.

aim for stable economic growth and a rising standard of living

Universal suffrage benefits a representative democracy by __________.

allowing a broader base of society to choose their representatives in government

Which of these people is likely to have the most difficulty operating freely in an illiberal democracy?

an activist who wants to start a new opposition political party

Suppose that Marshall X is the leader of an outlawed political party who has been jailed as an enemy of the state. Despite his jailing, he is a widely popular figure in the country. After a successful coup, Marshall X is released from jail, and the group that performed the coup makes him the new president. Marshall X will most likely exercise _____ legitimacy.

charismatic

In a country where candidates for public office come from a single party, the democratic principle of __________ is violated.

contestation

Suppose that the self-proclaimed president of Country J dies. After a power struggle among the former president's advisors, the former foreign minister becomes the new ruler. Country J is a __________.

dictatorship

A dictator who develops a cult of personality is attempting to __________.

generate popular support without having to provide widespread benefits to the people

A theocracy is less likely than a one-party regime to __________.

promise supporters that their regime will bring them tangible benefits

In an illiberal democracy, a leader is most likely to push for __________.

promoting sustained economic growth

Suppose that Pablo Quinto is the founder of a dissident political party who has been jailed by the one-party regime because of alleged terrorist activities. After a successful coup by a group of Quinto's followers, he is released from jail. He is elected president through the country's first free and open elections in fifty years. This is an example of which two forms of legitimacy?

rational-legal and charismatic

The U.S. Constitution relies on which of the following?

rational-legal legitimacy

In the early decades of the American republic, voting in most states was limited to property-owning white men. During this period, the democratic principle of __________ was weak.

suffrage

Which of these is stronger in China than in the United States?

the delivery of consistent economic growth as a means of legitimacy

Which of these is strong in both theocratic countries and one-party regimes?

the government's recourse to strict ideology

The leader of a monarchy is more likely than other authoritarian leaders to claim __________.

the right to rule based on hereditary right

Imagine that the Queen of England reasserts the right to make legislation. The Queen would be relying on which type of legitimacy to justify the exercise of this power?

traditional

Which of these facts best supports a rational-materialist explanation of the persistence of China's one-party regime?

China's economy and standard of living have both steadily risen in recent decades.

Which of these criticisms of liberal-democracy is most likely to come from an individual with modern liberal values?

Economic elites have too much power over electoral outcomes and legislation.

Which of the following is an ideational explanation of the continued ability of the Chinese government to maintain one-party control?

It represents a political viewpoint that is compelling to many of its citizens.

During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, American colonists did not have the same political rights as residents of England. Which statement best explains why this undermined the legitimacy of the British government in the eyes of the American colonists?

It weakened the connection between citizens and their representatives.

A socialist is most likely to make which of these criticisms of a liberal-democratic government?

Its emphasis on property rights perpetuates severe forms of economic inequality.

Suppose that Country X undergoes a civil war that removes the old government from power and brings in a new government that claims to be democratic. Which of these actions would do the most to legitimize its authority?

The new government quickly holds elections and wins with a popular mandate.

A greater percentage of the population of the United States than that of any other country on earth is in jail. This demonstrates that the U.S. government __________.

builds force into its rational-legal form of legitimacy

Suppose that polls show that Venezuela's government has widespread support among the population because of the way the regime has used the country's oil wealth to reduce poverty. This shows that the Venezuelan regime sustains its basis of support through __________.

effectiveness

Which of the following scenarios would be more likely under an illiberal democracy than under a liberal democracy?

forcibly nationalizing key industries for the good of the nation

Suppose a political scientist argued that there was a widespread internal acceptance of the communist ideology among Chinese citizens. This would be a(n) __________ explanation for the persistence of the Chinese Communist Party.

ideational

Suppose that the ruling party in Nigeria limits the amount of election campaign airtime given to members of rival political parties in an effort to weaken political opposition. The Nigerian regime is doing which of the following?

maintaining its power through force

Suppose that the king of Country M dies and is replaced as the head of state by his son. Country M is most likely to be ruled through a __________.

monarchy

A cross-case study attempting to explain the persistence of China's one-party regime could look at __________.

other nations with a level of economic development similar to China's

Leaders in liberal and illiberal societies disagree most strongly about the value of __________.

personal liberties

Which of these concepts was missing from the ancient Athenian form of government?

political equality of all people

The American Founders moved from revolution against Great Britain to establishing regular democratic procedures throughout the nation. This is an example of which of the following in action?

rational-legal legitimacy

A totalitarian government differs from an authoritarian government in which of these ways?

the increased level of control it exercises over its population

Many social conservatives in the United States would criticize liberal democracy for the same reasons as, but in a less extreme manner than, the leader of a __________.

theocracy

A direct democracy is a political system in which citizens __________.

vote directly on policy decisions

The legitimacy of a representative democracy relies on __________.

voters having choices and selecting representatives that they prefer