AP Comparative Government & Politics Unit 1 Prog Check
Which of the following pairs of countries have nationalized oil resources but have recently allowed private companies to invest in oil extraction to increase production?
(B) Russia and Iran
Which of the following is a correct comparison of authoritarian and democratic regimes?
(B) Russia has more arbitrary rules by the leadership, while Mexico has a defined rule of law.
Delivering our promise of a Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly has strengthened the [United Kingdom] not weakened it, and now, having defeated the force of conservatism in granting devolution, let us continue to defeat the separatism, which is just the forces of conservatism by another name. And don't let the forces of conservatism stop devolution in Northern Ireland too. Those who are addicted to violence. Those who confuse any progress with selling out. They shouldn't determine Northern Ireland's future. Walk through Belfast. No armed soldiers. Drive through it. No road blocks. Source: Prime Minister Tony Blair's speech to the Labour Party Conference, September 28, 1999. Which of the following can be inferred from Tony Blair's statements?
(B) The decentralization of the national government's power is a political move that would allow the government to be differentiated from the main opposition party.
t.ly/mrXVj [Table of "Seat Distribution in Duma"] Which of the following best describes the trend in the data in the table?
(B) There was a decline in the number of parties in the Russian parliament between 1993 and 2016 and a shift to a dominant party.
A nation-state is best characterized as
(B) a politically defined territory in which the state and national identity coincide
Divided government is possible in Mexico because it is a
(B) presidential system
Which of the following is an accurate statement about the treatment of ethnic minorities in China?
(C) China officially protects the use of minority languages by approved minority groups.
After the adoption of the Russian constitution in 1993, which of the following institutions has had the most power in Russia?
The President
According to dependency theory, which of the following is one aspect of the relationship between developed and developing nations in the global economy?
The economic progress of developing nations is hampered by developed nations' dominance of foreign direct investment in developing nations.
Although Russia is no longer a communist state, one feature it shares with communist China is
government restrictions on the development of civil society
Which of the following is an implication of the data for Nigeria?(t.ly/yqXAb)
The government has curtailed corruption in many areas, but it still continues to be a major issue for policy makers.
An electoral system based on proportional representation is more likely than a system based on single member districts to encourage
the development of a multiparty system
Emphasizing values such as gender equality and environmental protection rather than concern with traditional economic priorities is known as
postmaterialism
Which of the following explain the effects of different party system between two countries studied in the AP Comparative Government and Politics course?
(A) In the United Kingdom, single-member plurality districts have created a two-party system, whereas in Iran formal political parties do not exist.
Which of the following is true of coalition government?
(A) It tends to result from a fragmented legislature and can be unstable.
Which of the following is a difference between the legislative electoral systems in Mexico and Britain?
(A) Members of the British House of Commons are elected in single-member districts, and members of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies are elected in single-member districts and through proportional representation.
t.ly/JLn58 [Graph of "Mexico Leading Economic Indicators, 1994-2011"] Which of the following best explains the decreased rate of inflation from 1998 to 2011 in Mexico?
(A) Neoliberal economic policies that removed barriers and restrictions on the economy led to a decreased inflation rate.
Which of the following statements about political socialization is true?
(A) Political socialization is a process that continues throughout an individual's life.
Which of the following describes democratic consolidation in Mexico
(A) The election of presidents from parties that opposed PRI dominance
[W]e distinguish two theories of what constitutes the goals of the Chinese regime as implemented in their censorship program, each reflecting a different perspective on what threatens the stability of the regime. First is a state critique theory, which posits that the goal of the Chinese leadership is to suppress dissent, and to prune human expression that finds fault with elements of the Chinese state, its policies, or its leaders. . . . Second is what we call the theory of collective action potential: the target of censorship is people who join together to express themselves collectively, stimulated by someone other than the government, and seem to have the potential to generate collective action. In this view, collective expressions—many people communicating on social media on the same subject—regarding actual collective actions, such as protests, as well as those about events that seem likely to generate collective actions but have not yet done so, are likely to be censored. . . . The evidence suggests that when the leadership allowed social media to flourish in the country, they also allowed the full range of expression of negative and positive comments about the state, its policies, and its leaders. As a result, government policies sometimes look as bad, and leaders can be as embarrassed, as is often the case with elected politicians in democratic countries, but, as they seem to recognize, looking bad does not threaten their hold on power so long as they manage to eliminate discussions associated with events that have collective action potential. . . . With respect to this type of speech, the Chinese people are individually free but collectively in chains. Source: Gary King, Jennifer Pan, and Margaret E. Roberts, "How Censorship in China Allows Government Criticism but Silences Collective Expression," American Political Science Review 107 (2): 326-43. According to the passage, which of the following best describes why China engages in censorship?
(A) To preserve control
Which of the following is an important cleavage common to both Mexico and China?
(A) Urban and rural populations
Compared with first-past-the-post, a proportional representation electoral system
(A) gives third parties a better chance at winning seats in a legislature
"Opposition parties joined in Parliament tonight to introduce a motion . . . that is believed likely to bring down the Labor Party government of Prime Minister James Callaghan and force a national election here by the beginning of May. Callaghan made a desperate attempt to win more time by proposing first to the House of Commons and then to the nation on television this evening that a crucial parliamentary vote on limited home rule for Scotland, which Callaghan was almost certain to lose, be postponed for several weeks to discuss alternatives. . . . Callaghan had been trying to delay the election until October, near the end of the Labor government's full five years in office, because union strife during the winter has left Labor well behind the Conservatives in public opinion polls... The prime minister, who has used a variety of delaying tactics and favors for some of the minority parties to stay in power this long, can count only on the 305 Labor members of Parliament plus a dwindling number of the contested Welsh and "Ulster votes". From The Washington Post. © 1979 The Washington Post. All rights reserved The types of motions discussed in the passage are most common only in countries with
(A) parliamentary systems
In the developed and developing worlds, respectively, the greatest demographic pressures on policy come from which of the following?
(B) Developed - Aging Developing - Overpopulation
Which of the following is true of cleavages in modern Nigeria and China?
(B) Both countries are experiencing deepening rural-urban divides.
In the United Kingdom, the government has maintained a free market system. In China, there has been a transition from a socialist model to a mixed system with elements of a free market model over the past few decades. Which of the following is the outcome of these policies?
(B) Increased competition has led to economic development in both countries, and the growth rates in China have been very high in recent decades.
Which of the following is an accurate description of a hybrid regime?
(B) It holds regular elections for public offices.
[W]e distinguish two theories of what constitutes the goals of the Chinese regime as implemented in their censorship program, each reflecting a different perspective on what threatens the stability of the regime. First is a state critique theory, which posits that the goal of the Chinese leadership is to suppress dissent, and to prune human expression that finds fault with elements of the Chinese state, its policies, or its leaders. . . . Second is what we call the theory of collective action potential: the target of censorship is people who join together to express themselves collectively, stimulated by someone other than the government, and seem to have the potential to generate collective action. In this view, collective expressions—many people communicating on social media on the same subject—regarding actual collective actions, such as protests, as well as those about events that seem likely to generate collective actions but have not yet done so, are likely to be censored. . . . The evidence suggests that when the leadership allowed social media to flourish in the country, they also allowed the full range of expression of negative and positive comments about the state, its policies, and its leaders. As a result, government policies sometimes look as bad, and leaders can be as embarrassed, as is often the case with elected politicians in democratic countries, but, as they seem to recognize, looking bad does not threaten their hold on power so long as they manage to eliminate discussions associated with events that have collective action potential. . . . With respect to this type of speech, the Chinese people are individually free but collectively in chains. Source: Gary King, Jennifer Pan, and Margaret E. Roberts, "How Censorship in China Allows Government Criticism but Silences Collective Expression," American Political Science Review 107 (2): 326-43. According to the passage, what is the theory of collective action potential?
(B) It suggests that censorship targets people who join together to express their grievances collectively.
Which of the following pairs of countries have a parliamentary bicameral system?
(B) Nigeria and Mexico
[W]e distinguish two theories of what constitutes the goals of the Chinese regime as implemented in their censorship program, each reflecting a different perspective on what threatens the stability of the regime. First is a state critique theory, which posits that the goal of the Chinese leadership is to suppress dissent, and to prune human expression that finds fault with elements of the Chinese state, its policies, or its leaders. . . . Second is what we call the theory of collective action potential: the target of censorship is people who join together to express themselves collectively, stimulated by someone other than the government, and seem to have the potential to generate collective action. In this view, collective expressions—many people communicating on social media on the same subject—regarding actual collective actions, such as protests, as well as those about events that seem likely to generate collective actions but have not yet done so, are likely to be censored. . . . The evidence suggests that when the leadership allowed social media to flourish in the country, they also allowed the full range of expression of negative and positive comments about the state, its policies, and its leaders. As a result, government policies sometimes look as bad, and leaders can be as embarrassed, as is often the case with elected politicians in democratic countries, but, as they seem to recognize, looking bad does not threaten their hold on power so long as they manage to eliminate discussions associated with events that have collective action potential. . . . With respect to this type of speech, the Chinese people are individually free but collectively in chains. Source: Gary King, Jennifer Pan, and Margaret E. Roberts, "How Censorship in China Allows Government Criticism but Silences Collective Expression," American Political Science Review 107 (2): 326-43. What is the authors' central claim in the passage?
(C) China's leaders use censorship to block efforts to organize ordinary people against the regime.
t.ly/yqXAb [Graph of "Corruption Perception Index, "2001-2016"] Source: Transparency International, 2016. NOTE: 0 = total corruption and 100 = no corruption. Which of the following is an implication of the data for regime type?
(C) Corruption is a problem in both democratic and authoritarian regimes.
Which of the following explains why Iran and Mexico changed voting rules for women?
(C) In response to domestic political pressure, Iran implemented gender equity policies for voting and Mexico introduced gender quotas.
Which of the following is a properly matched comparison of Iran and Russia?
(C) Iran is a theocracy, while Russia has been classified as an authoritarian regime.
t.ly/jrBAv [Table of "1997 General Election Results in Great Britain"] Based on the table above, which political party in Great Britain would gain the most seats from a change to proportional representation?
(C) Liberal Democrat
In which two countries were the following economic policies pursued to increase the power of the ruling party ?
(C) Nationalization of oil and gas in Russia and state ownership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Nigeria
Which of the following refers to the array of political parties operating in a particular country and the nature of the relationship between them?
(C) Party system
Which of the following is a difference between the parliamentary systems of China and the United Kingdom?
(C) The House of Commons features Question Time and gives members the chance to question the prime minister, which does not occur in the National People's Congress.
The IMF's basic view of the necessary economic reforms [in Russia in the 1990s] was that it was important to move as quickly as possible with all the key changes, especially macroeconomic stabilization, liberalization, and privatization. The IMF recognized that many reforms would take years to complete, especially the construction of the legal infrastructure for a market economy, privatization and restructuring of large enterprises, and the creation of a market system for banking and finance. But this was not seen as a reason for postponing the main stabilization and liberalization measures, with some specific exceptions, such as gradually rather than suddenly raising the prices of public utilities and housing rents and reducing export taxes on energy and other basic imports. Thus IMF views were similar to those of Russian reformers and many foreign observers. As a consequence, the IMF was often in the position of endorsing policies proposed by reformers [in the Duma and elsewhere] with little need to push for major changes in them. Source: https://www.imf.org. Which of the following best explains the response of the Russian government to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) requirements as argued in the passage?
(C) The Russian government aligned its views with the IMF, which made the economic liberalization process more expedient.
Which of the following statements about the 2011 Nigerian presidential election is most accurate?
(C) The election was relatively free and fair, according to most observers.
t.ly/yqXAb [Graph of "Corruption Perception Index, "2001-2016"] Source: Transparency International, 2016. NOTE: 0 = total corruption and 100 = no corruption. Which of the following is an implication of the data for Nigeria?
(C) The government has curtailed corruption in many areas, but it still continues to be a major issue for policy makers.
The institution in Iran that makes laws related to civil liberties is the
(D) Majles
Which of the following is a common criticism of first-past-the-post voting systems?
(D) Minority groups may be underrepresented.
China's rapid industrialization over the past 30 years has done which of the following?
(D) Produced greater environmental degradation and pollution
Delivering our promise of a Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly has strengthened the [United Kingdom] not weakened it, and now, having defeated the force of conservatism in granting devolution, let us continue to defeat the separatism, which is just the forces of conservatism by another name. And don't let the forces of conservatism stop devolution in Northern Ireland too. Those who are addicted to violence. Those who confuse any progress with selling out. They shouldn't determine Northern Ireland's future. Walk through Belfast. No armed soldiers. Drive through it. No road blocks. Source: Prime Minister Tony Blair's speech to the Labour Party Conference, September 28, 1999. Which of the following later became an example of Tony Blair's reference to "defeat the separatism" referenced in the passage?
(D) The 2014 referendum on independence for Scotland
Candidate screening was part of the revolutionary system from the start. However, in the late 1980s, in the aftermath of the eight-year war and the death of the revolution's charismatic founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Guardians' Council assumed a more stringent scrutiny over aspiring candidates for both the Assembly of Experts and the parliament, or Majlis. In his two terms as president, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani strongly supported this shift, in hopes of diminishing the influence of leftist members of parliament who had opposed his efforts to spearhead post-war reconstruction. As with many episodes of Iranian politics, Rafsanjani's gambit came back to haunt him, and he himself was disqualified by the Guardians' Council for the 2013 presidential race. The aggressive vetting of candidates on the basis of factional preferences has forced movements like Iran's reformist front to engage in creative tactics, such as expanding the pool of prospective candidates in hopes of overwhelming the review process and supporting a cross-factional list that includes candidates from Iran's moderate camp. This is one of the reasons for the steady increase in applicants to run for office. As the list of registered candidates grew late last year, some observers suggested that reformist forces were hoping to flood the system, assuming that the Guardians' Council would not disqualify all of their candidates. For the upcoming vote, applications for both ballots reached record highs—the pool of candidates for the Majlis elections more than doubled since 2012. At the same time, however, the percentage of those approved to run plummeted to record lows. Only 51.4 percent of Majlis candidates were approved (6,229 out of 12,123), the lowest rate of approval for these elections ever. The closest parallel was the 51.7 percent approval rate in the Islamic Republic's first Majlis election in 1980, when an open power struggle raged among the various groups within the revolutionary coalition. Source: Emma Borden and Suzanne Maloney, "Iran's Guardians' Council has approved a record-low percentage of candidates." www.brookings.edu, 2016. Which of the following expresses the role that the Guardian Council plays in Iran's electoral process, according to the passage?
(D) The Guardian Council vets all of the candidates seeking political office in Iran to make sure that all candidates have proper qualifications.
Which of the following is a consequence of the establishment of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in 2009 ?
(D) The doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty remains intact, which means the Supreme Court has limited powers and cannot overturn parliamentary legislation.
t.ly/DGPAg [Graph of "China's Foreign Trade since Joining the WTO in 2001"] *In 2010 United States dollars. Source: http://www.oecd.org Which of the following best describes the data in the line graph?
(D) The value of Chinese exports was almost equal to the value of its imports in 2001.
A political regime is considered to be legitimate when
(D) citizens accept the government's right to rule
Mexico and China both face challenges in policy making with respect to
(D) regional disparities and urban-rural cleavages
A successful vote of no confidence in a parliamentary system means that
(D) the government steps down and a new government must be formed
Which of the following statements best characterizes the varying geographic distribution of the electoral support received by the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) and the National Action Party (PAN) in Mexico since 2000
(E) The PAN receives significantly more support in northern Mexico than the PRD does.
The political systems of Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia all have
(E) bicameral legislatures based partly on regions and partly on population
Cleavages that split a society into different groups with regard to different issues are referred to as
(E) crosscutting
Chinese leaders today differ from those under Mao Zedong in terms of their professional and educational backgrounds as well as their ideology. Describe two differences between today's Chinese Communist Party leaders and those under Mao. Explain how one of the differences you described has influenced economic policy in China.
(need to mention two to get full points) Earlier leaders had lower levels of education, but now most leaders are university trained. Most leaders were once military but are now mostly technocrats (business, finance, engineering). Leaders once valued ideological purity but are now more pragmatic. Leaders were once more revolutionary but now have greater technical expertise. Leaders once valued ideological purity but are now more business oriented. Most leaders under Mao worked their way up through the military or party ranks, while today's leaders are groomed for leadership positions or promoted through family connections. (need to explain one to get one point) Led to the creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Influenced implementation of free market reforms Drove shift from central planning or five-year plans to economic liberalization Created a greater focus on international trade and foreign direct investment Fostered a more positive attitude toward globalization Promoted greater protection of private property
Which of the following statements best describes the trend in the graph between 2005 and 2009 ? (t.ly/1kbAl)
A) The GDP growth rate increased then sharply declined. The GDP growth rate increased between 2006 and 2007 then sharply declined until 2009.
Since 1998, which of the following is the most substantial cause of political legitimacy in Russia?
A)Charismatic leadership Putin's charismatic leadership is the primary source of his legitimacy in modern Russia.
According to the passage, which of the following is an outcome of the Iranian Revolution that is still felt today?
A)Increased access to education The passage describes the positive impact of the revolution on education in Iran.
Which of the following is a feature of democratic consolidation in the United Kingdom?
A)Protection of civil liberties The protection of civil liberties is a key component of democratic consolidation in the United Kingdom because the very definition of democratic consolidation is about protecting people's civil liberties.
The English Question described in the passage was a direct outcome of which of the following?
A)The devolution of powers to subnational units in 1997 The English Question emerged after Scotland and Wales were granted territorial parliaments, but England was not.
Which of the following statements about elections is accurate?
A)While the United Kingdom has free and fair legislative elections, legislative elections in Iran are not competitive and have candidates that have been vetted Elections in the United Kingdom are consistently deemed to be free and fair. In Iran, however, candidates for the Majles are vetted by the Guardian Council and not deemed very competitive.
6. Many scholars think that civil society is important for the development of democracy. (a) Define civil society. (b) Identify and explain one specific condition within a political system that would enable civil society to thrive. (c) Identify and explain another specific condition within a political system that would enable civil society to thrive.
A: Civil society is the formal and informal organizations that are not part of the state apparatus but operate in public. Civil society is composed of organizations that are voluntary and autonomous self-governing groups created to advance their own causes. Civil society is composed of groups that bring together people with common interests in social, charitable, religious, community or political concerns to articulate and advance their own causes. B: (2 pts)One point is earned for each correct identification of a condition that enables civil society to thrive, and 1 point is earned for each explanation of how that condition promotes civil society. Acceptable conditions may include: pluralist liberal multiple points of access democratic processes free/fair elections civil rights/civil liberties freedoms of speech, assembly, press rule of law efficacy political accountability political competition political freedom political equality political transparency C:One point is earned for each correct identification of a condition that enables civil society to thrive, and 1 point is earned for each explanation of how that condition promotes civil society. Acceptable conditions may include: pluralist liberal multiple points of access democratic processes free/fair elections civil rights/civil liberties freedoms of speech, assembly, press rule of law efficacy political accountability political competition political freedom political equality political transparency
Which of the following statements best describes the trend since 2010 in the graph? (t.ly/1kbAl)
B) The GDP growth rate in China has declined. The Chinese GDP growth rate has declined since 2010, from approximately 12 percent to approximately 7 percent.
Which of the following is most likely a consequence of factors such as policy effectiveness, institutionalized laws, and political tradition, as seen in the United Kingdom?
B) Political Legitimacy Policy effectiveness, institutionalized laws, and political tradition tend to foster legitimacy, especially in democracies like the United Kingdom.
Which of the following consequences of the 2018 Russian presidential election is represented by the data in the table?
B) Putin was re-elected with high voter turnout, which strengthens his legitimacy. Of the almost 68 percent of voters who voted, almost 77 percent of them voted for Putin. This strengthens Putin's mandate and political legitimacy.
Which of the following best explains the "elephant in the room" as expressed in the passage? "England predominates in the UK both economically and demographically. Its representatives have an overwhelming majority in the House of Commons. It could be argued that devolution is a way for the other nations in the UK to distinguish themselves from England. The 'English Question' encompasses a number of questions about England's governance. How, within the Union, should England be governed? Is there a way to allow England a separate voice within the UK without undermining the Union? Should power be devolved or decentralised, and if so how? The governance of England is becoming a key concern for those considering the territorial constitution. Witnesses noted the absence of consideration of England when politicians discussed devolution, one of them calling it the 'elephant in the room' . . . Professor [Sir] Jeffery [Jowell] noted the emergence of England as a theme in the 2015 general election. He argued: "[The English] feel short-changed by disparities in levels of public spending between the different parts of the UK; they feel this as a "fair share" argument, and that England is not getting its fair share. That transforms the debate about the Union.'" Source: House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution, 10th Report of Session 2015-16, HL Paper 149: "The Union and Devolution," 2016.
B) Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have been granted assemblies, whereas England has none. The passage is addressing the concern among many that England is the only territory not to have a territorial assembly.
Which of the following most accurately explains the performance of the Communist Party in the 2018 election?
B) The second-place finish of the Communist Party demonstrates the party's continued support from the people. Although it has not been strong enough to gain power, the second-place finish of the Communist Party demonstrates the party's continued support from the people.
Which of the following is true of the political violence in Nigeria as represented by the data in the graph? (t.ly/ZLnXB)
B)Nigeria suffers from religious divisions that sometimes result in overwhelming political violence. Nigerian religious divisions have led to conflict and even violence.
Which of the following is true of Russia and the United Kingdom with regard to power sharing as a means to promote stability?
B)Over the past two decades, Russia has consolidated power in the national government, while the United Kingdom has devolved some powers to subnational units. Russia has consolidated power in the Caucasus and other places, while the United Kingdom has devolved some powers to subnational governments, including those of Wales and Scotland.
Which of the following statements explains how sources of power and authority have affected two AP Comparative Government and Politics course countries?
B)The Mexican and Nigerian constitutions have helped the countries develop competitive party systems. Mexican and Nigerian constitutions have helped the countries develop competitive party systems over time. The 1999 Nigerian constitution outlined the rules for democracy, and the Mexican constitution has been amended over time to allow for democratic institutions. Since 2000, both Mexico and Nigeria have transitioned to multiparty republics with successful alterations of political power.
Which of the following statements about freedom of the press is correct?
B)While Mexico and Russia both have legal protections of press freedom, journalists often operate in fear of violence. Both Mexico and Russia promise freedom of the press, but neither countries deliver on their promise. Hundreds of journalists in both countries have been killed or threatened.
All of the following are accurate comparisons of Mexico and China in the latter half of the twentieth century EXCEPT:
Both outlawed all opposition parties from competing in elections.
Which of the following is a necessary aspect of a state?
C) Defined Territory A defined territory is a necessary aspect of a state. States, by necessity, have a defined territory.
Which of the following is a result of the actions represented by the data shown in the graph? (t.ly/ZLnXB)
C) The vast majority of Nigerians reject Boko Haram, which must fight violently to maintain power. Most Nigerians reject Boko Haram and fight to stop them as the data show.
A nation is best described as which of the following?
C)A historic community of peoples Nations are commonly described as historic communities of peoples, often with a common history, culture, or language.
Which of the following statements is true about the sources of political authority in Iran and the United Kingdom?
C)Both countries substantiate their political authority by relying on popular elections. The United Kingdom and Iran have elections that substantiate their political authority.
Which of the following best explains the point of view of the passage? "England predominates in the UK both economically and demographically. Its representatives have an overwhelming majority in the House of Commons. It could be argued that devolution is a way for the other nations in the UK to distinguish themselves from England. The 'English Question' encompasses a number of questions about England's governance. How, within the Union, should England be governed? Is there a way to allow England a separate voice within the UK without undermining the Union? Should power be devolved or decentralised, and if so how? The governance of England is becoming a key concern for those considering the territorial constitution. Witnesses noted the absence of consideration of England when politicians discussed devolution, one of them calling it the 'elephant in the room' . . . Professor [Sir] Jeffery [Jowell] noted the emergence of England as a theme in the 2015 general election. He argued: "[The English] feel short-changed by disparities in levels of public spending between the different parts of the UK; they feel this as a "fair share" argument, and that England is not getting its fair share. That transforms the debate about the Union.'" Source: House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution, 10th Report of Session 2015-16, HL Paper 149: "The Union and Devolution," 2016.
C)English citizens receive too little from Westminster. The passage demonstrates the concern that the English feel shortchanged by public spending disparities.
Which component of the Human Development Index is most likely to be affected by corruption in Mexico?
C)Per capita gross national income Corruption makes it harder to do business profitably in Mexico. As a result, the economy is less likely to grow because investors are less likely to take risks.
Which of the following statements about one of six countries studied in the AP Comparative Government and Politics course is true?
C)The British legislature regularly seeks to hold the executive accountable, while the Chinese legislature does not serve as a regular check on executive power. The British Parliament holds the prime minister accountable through Question Time and regular debate. The National People's Congress serves largely as a rubber stamp for the executive in China.
Which of the following statements best describes the trend in the graph? (t.ly/1kbAl)
C)The Chinese GDP has seen growth since 2003, with growth stronger some years than others. The Chinese GDP, despite some fluctuations and corrections, has been growing since 2003 by at least 2 percent a year.
Which of the following is true of the Nigerian government's responses to political violence as related by the data in the graph?(t.ly/ZLnXB)
C)The Nigerian government uses force where necessary to stop political violence. The Nigerian government is willing to use force to stop political violence and often does so against Boko Haram.
Which of the following statements is true concerning sources of legitimacy in China?
C)Whereas China used to rely more on charismatic leadership to bolster legitimacy, for the last several decades, China has relied more on economic growth than charismatic leadership. While charismatic leadership is a significant source of legitimacy in China, economic growth has been the primary source of legitimacy for decades.
Which of the following best describes the data in the line graph?(t.ly/DGPAg)
Chinese exports were worth over 1 trillion dollars in 2007.
A pluralist system is characterized by which of the following?
Competition among interest groups over public policy
Which of the following causes of the Iranian Revolution still persist today according to the passage? "To travel in contemporary Iran is to know that it remains . . . 'an uneasy country.' The Islamic Republic has in many ways accelerated the very trends that pulled at the seams of the monarchy. Today's Iran is still more modern, still more urban, still more demanding of civil rights and freedoms than the Iran of the 1970s. The postrevolutionary regime has dramatically expanded access to education, partly as a consequence of sex segregation and forced veiling, which have made university life less alienating for the most traditional families, and partly . . . because Iranian clerics esteem education as a universal good. The expansion of literacy, together with vast improvements in rural infrastructure and social services, has done much to promote social mobility in Iran. But Iran's expanding middle class exerts pressure on the state that nurtured it, and which has failed to make a stable space for it in an economy dependent on oil. The Islamic Republic has vacillated in its response to these and other pressures. The constitution itself sometimes seems to suggest two opposing answers to every question; passionately held contradictory ideas sustain the Iranian state in permanent tension. Tension has become a stability of sorts." Source: Laura Secor, "From Shah to Supreme Leader: What the Iranian Revolution Revealed," Foreign Affairs, January/February 2014.
D) Please for civil rights In the 1970s and beyond, Iranians demanded civil rights and freedoms.
Which of the following is true of a government?
D)A government consists of a set of institutions empowered to make binding decisions. A government consists of a set of institutions empowered to make binding decisions. Governments usually change after elections, while institutions remain constant.
Which of the following conclusions regarding voter turnout in a highly predictable election is represented by the data in the table?
D)A majority of those eligible to vote cast ballots for Putin, thus strengthening his hold on the Russian government. Putin received a large majority of the votes in the last presidential election, which strengthened his hold on the Russian government and his claims to legitimacy.
Which of the following is most likely to inhibit democratization in Nigeria?
D)Political corruption, which tends to undermine rule of law Political corruption tends to deteriorate democracy because it undermines institutions and rule of law.
Which of the following best describes a challenge for the Iranian regime according to the passage? "To travel in contemporary Iran is to know that it remains . . . 'an uneasy country.' The Islamic Republic has in many ways accelerated the very trends that pulled at the seams of the monarchy. Today's Iran is still more modern, still more urban, still more demanding of civil rights and freedoms than the Iran of the 1970s. The postrevolutionary regime has dramatically expanded access to education, partly as a consequence of sex segregation and forced veiling, which have made university life less alienating for the most traditional families, and partly . . . because Iranian clerics esteem education as a universal good. The expansion of literacy, together with vast improvements in rural infrastructure and social services, has done much to promote social mobility in Iran. But Iran's expanding middle class exerts pressure on the state that nurtured it, and which has failed to make a stable space for it in an economy dependent on oil. The Islamic Republic has vacillated in its response to these and other pressures. The constitution itself sometimes seems to suggest two opposing answers to every question; passionately held contradictory ideas sustain the Iranian state in permanent tension. Tension has become a stability of sorts." Source: Laura Secor, "From Shah to Supreme Leader: What the Iranian Revolution Revealed," Foreign Affairs, January/February 2014
D)The Iranian middle class confronts a divided political elite, who vacillate in their responses. The passage describes a tension that has become a stability of sorts in the Iranian middle class.
China's political leaders regard which of the following as integral parts of an eventually united Chinese state? I. Hong Kong II. North and South Korea III. Taiwan IV. Tibet
I, III, and IV only
Which of the following explain the effects of different party system between two countries studied in the AP Comparative Government and Politics course?
In the United Kingdom, single-member plurality districts have created a two-party system, whereas in Iran formal political parties do not exist.
Based on the table above, which political party in Great Britain would gain the most seats from a change to proportional representation?(t.ly/5y5gV)
Liberal Democrat
A political scientist investigating the relationship between birth rate and the number of women in Parliament compiles data into the bar graph shown above, which suggests that (t.ly/3dB5w)
Mexico, the United Kingdom and China have the highest percentage of women in Parliament
According to the Chinese constitution, formal power of governing rests with the
National People's Congress
Describe the role of the state in Great Britain's health-care system. Describe how the age structure is changing in Great Britain. Explain how the changing age structure is affecting Great Britain's health-care system.
One point is earned for a correct description of the role of the state in Great Britain's health care system. An acceptable description may include: Nationalized, state-provided universal health care system or single-payer health care system State directed, funded health care system British government created National Health Service (NHS) One point is earned for a correct description of how the age structure is changing in Great Britain. An acceptable description is: The age structure in Great Britain is getting older. NOTE: Description of aging must be connected to demographics and indicate a change. One point is earned for a correct explanation of one consequence of the changing age structure on Great Britain's health care system. Acceptable explanations include: Demands for care will increase. Costs for care will increase. Need for more health care providers. Less tax revenue coming in to pay for health care. Increased tax burden on working age population.
Political participation ranges from the most conventional forms of political activity, such as the ones listed in the table above, to the most extreme, such as violence being used as the primary means of political expression. a. Identify a difference between Nigeria and Great Britain in the level of conventional forms of participation from the table above. Explain why the difference in levels of participation exists. b. Identify a second difference between Nigeria and Great Britain in the level of conventional forms of participation from the table above. Explain why the difference in levels of participation exists. c. Describe one specific incident of violent political activity in Great Britain in the last fifteen years. Describe one specific incident of violent political activity in Nigeria in the last fifteen years. d. Explain why citizens in both countries might choose violent acts over more conventional forms of political participation.
a. (2 pts) More British turn out (61 percent) than do Nigerians (49 percent). More Nigerians (74 percent) discuss politics than do British (46 percent). More British sign a petition (81 percent) than do Nigerians (7 percent). Voter turnout rates Strong People's Democratic Party may lead to lack of competition. There are more barriers to participation in Nigeria. Election-day disturbances occur in Nigeria. Nigeria has remote polling places. There is a history of election fraud in Nigeria. Britain has a larger number of party identifiers. Britain has more democratic stability. British electoral and party stability encourages participation. British political culture encourages voting as a citizen's duty. Difference in rates of political discussions Personalist nature of Nigerian society leads to greater discussion of politics. Nigerian communal practices lead to more social interaction. The British are more likely to keep political views private. Class consciousness (haves versus have nots). Campaigns in Britain are shorter, so there is less opportunity to discuss politics. Difference in rates of political discussions Nigerians are apprehensive about signing documents for fear of retribution. The British are reluctant to protest; signing a petition is easier than other forms of protest. Higher literacy rates in Britain enable the British to engage in written forms of protest. The British believe they have efficacy and that petitioning can have an impact on policymakers. b. More British turn out (61 percent) than do Nigerians (49 percent). More Nigerians (74 percent) discuss politics than do British (46 percent). More British sign a petition (81 percent) than do Nigerians (7 percent). Voter turnout rates Strong People's Democratic Party may lead to lack of competition. There are more barriers to participation in Nigeria. Election-day disturbances occur in Nigeria. Nigeria has remote polling places. There is a history of election fraud in Nigeria. Britain has a larger number of party identifiers. Britain has more democratic stability. British electoral and party stability encourages participation. British political culture encourages voting as a citizen's duty. Difference in rates of political discussions Personalist nature of Nigerian society leads to greater discussion of politics. Nigerian communal practices lead to more social interaction. The British are more likely to keep political views private. Class consciousness (haves versus have nots). Campaigns in Britain are shorter, so there is less opportunity to discuss politics. Difference in rates of political discussions Nigerians are apprehensive about signing documents for fear of retribution. The British are reluctant to protest; signing a petition is easier than other forms of protest. Higher literacy rates in Britain enable the British to engage in written forms of protest. The British believe they have efficacy and that petitioning can have an impact on policymakers. c. One point is earned for describing a specific incident of violent activity in Great Britain in the last fifteen years. Acceptable incidents of violent activity in Great Britain may include: 2005 London bombings 2007 Scottish airport bombingNote: IRA activity does not earn a point unless it refers to a specific incident or is put in context. One point is earned for describing a specific incident of violent activity in Nigeria in the last fifteen years. Acceptable incidents of violent activity in Nigeria may include: kidnappings of engineers oil workers taking over platforms blowing up pipelines violence at the polls violent protests over elections d. Citizens do not feel the government is legitimate. Citizens' voices will not be heard through conventional participation. Lack of viable alternatives/forms of participation leads to frustration among citizens. There are norms of accepting political violence. Violence gains the attention of the press/government/international community.
A theocracy is best described as a political system based on
clerical authority
An illiberal democracy would typically be characterized by
elections coupled with restrictions on individual civil liberties
A corporatist political system is one in which
formal relationships exist between the government and recognized interest groups
A defining characteristic of all states is their power to
hold a monopoly over the legitimate means of coercion
A second round of voting is held in a Russian presidential election when
no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the first round
A unitary system is best defined as one that has
no constitutional division of powers between the central and regional governments
Bureaucrats are best described as
officials who are responsible for the implementation of public policy
Divided government is possible in Mexico because it is a
presidential system
Devolution in the United Kingdom has allowed
separatist parties to have roles in Scotland and Wales
All liberal democracies are characterized by
the possibility of alternation of parties in government
