Question 1

Which of the following statements about the Russian policy-making process is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Whereas during the Yeltsin era, oligarchs were able to exert considerable influence, this has been reduced during the Putin-Medvedev era. 
B)  Whereas during the Yeltsin era, conflict between the president and the executive made policy-making contentious, under both Putin and Medvedev, the legislature has generally followed the executive's lead. 
C)  A persistent problem has involved the inefficacy of policy implementation. 
D)  Policy-making has largely been under the guidance of executive bodies with little input from societal groups or political parties. 
E)  All of the above statements are true. 
A)  Whereas during the Yeltsin era, oligarchs were able to exert considerable influence, this has been reduced during the Putin-Medvedev era. 
B)  Whereas during the Yeltsin era, conflict between the president and the executive made policy-making contentious, under both Putin and Medvedev, the legislature has generally followed the executive's lead. 
C)  A persistent problem has involved the inefficacy of policy implementation. 
D)  Policy-making has largely been under the guidance of executive bodies with little input from societal groups or political parties. 
E)  All of the above statements are true.

Question 2

The Presidium is

Accepted Answer

A)  the formal name of the Russian prime minister's cabinet. 
B)  a small body that acts as the executive committee of the larger cabinet. 
C)  the name given to the collection of various deputy prime ministers. 
D)  the name of the upper chamber of the Russian legislature. 
E)  the name given to the body of unelected advisors surrounding the president. 
A)  the formal name of the Russian prime minister's cabinet. 
B)  a small body that acts as the executive committee of the larger cabinet. 
C)  the name given to the collection of various deputy prime ministers. 
D)  the name of the upper chamber of the Russian legislature. 
E)  the name given to the body of unelected advisors surrounding the president.

Question 3

The Federation Council is comprised of

Accepted Answer

A)  Two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics with one being appointed by the region's/republic's executive and the other by the region's/republic's legislature. 
B)  Members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, with the number from each being proportional to the region's or republic's population. 
C)  Two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, both of whom are elected through regional elections. 
D)  Two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, with one being chosen through regional elections and one being appointed by the region's/republic's government. 
E)  Two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, appointed by the Russian president. 
A)  Two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics with one being appointed by the region's/republic's executive and the other by the region's/republic's legislature. 
B)  Members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, with the number from each being proportional to the region's or republic's population. 
C)  Two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, both of whom are elected through regional elections. 
D)  Two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, with one being chosen through regional elections and one being appointed by the region's/republic's government. 
E)  Two members from each of Russia's federal regions and republics, appointed by the Russian president.

Question 4

Yeltsin's market reform policies involved

Accepted Answer

A)  lifting price controls. 
B)  encouraging small business and entrepreneurship. 
C)  privatizing many state industries. 
D)  opening the economy to global influences. 
E)  all of the above. 
A)  lifting price controls. 
B)  encouraging small business and entrepreneurship. 
C)  privatizing many state industries. 
D)  opening the economy to global influences. 
E)  all of the above.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Attitudes towards gender roles in Russia generally reflect traditional values. 
B)  An illustration of a conflict between traditional values and reform can be seen in the advertising that represents women as sex objects. 
C)  Since 1991, a number of organizations have sprung up to represent women's issues. 
D)  Women are severely underrepresented in the Duma, which is reflective of the traditional patriarchal values of the country. 
E)  All of the above statements are true. 
A)  Attitudes towards gender roles in Russia generally reflect traditional values. 
B)  An illustration of a conflict between traditional values and reform can be seen in the advertising that represents women as sex objects. 
C)  Since 1991, a number of organizations have sprung up to represent women's issues. 
D)  Women are severely underrepresented in the Duma, which is reflective of the traditional patriarchal values of the country. 
E)  All of the above statements are true.

Question 6

The term patrimonial state refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  the great overrepresentation of males in state leadership positions. 
B)  the tradition of authoritarianism which characterized Russian politics until the early 1980s. 
C)  the personalistic nature of politics during the Soviet era in which one leader was elevated to a top position. 
D)  the system of government in which the rule treats the state as his personal property. 
E)  none of the above. 
A)  the great overrepresentation of males in state leadership positions. 
B)  the tradition of authoritarianism which characterized Russian politics until the early 1980s. 
C)  the personalistic nature of politics during the Soviet era in which one leader was elevated to a top position. 
D)  the system of government in which the rule treats the state as his personal property. 
E)  none of the above.

Question 7

Russia has sought to re-establish itself as a respected regional leader by

Accepted Answer

A)  actively interfering in the internal politics of its neighbors. 
B)  establishing regional organizations to strengthen the relations between Russia and other former Soviet republics. 
C)  increasing trade with its neighboring former Soviet republics. 
D)  adopting stances at the United Nations which correspond to the interests of its neighbors. 
E)  Russian has sought to re-establish itself as a respected regional leader by doing all of the above. 
A)  actively interfering in the internal politics of its neighbors. 
B)  establishing regional organizations to strengthen the relations between Russia and other former Soviet republics. 
C)  increasing trade with its neighboring former Soviet republics. 
D)  adopting stances at the United Nations which correspond to the interests of its neighbors. 
E)  Russian has sought to re-establish itself as a respected regional leader by doing all of the above.

Question 8

The Russian prime minister can be removed from office

Accepted Answer

A)  by a single vote of no confidence. 
B)  by three repeat votes of no confidence within a three-month period. 
C)  by two repeat votes of no confidence within a three-month period. 
D)  only through new legislative elections. 
E)  by a complex process involving the parliament, the president, and the Supreme Court. 
A)  by a single vote of no confidence. 
B)  by three repeat votes of no confidence within a three-month period. 
C)  by two repeat votes of no confidence within a three-month period. 
D)  only through new legislative elections. 
E)  by a complex process involving the parliament, the president, and the Supreme Court.

Question 9

The Russian president has the power to

Accepted Answer

A)  issue decrees. 
B)  call a state of emergency. 
C)  grant pardons. 
D)  call referenda. 
E)  The Russian president has the power to do all of the above. 
A)  issue decrees. 
B)  call a state of emergency. 
C)  grant pardons. 
D)  call referenda. 
E)  The Russian president has the power to do all of the above.

Question 10

The term state capture refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  the Russian state's continued control and ownership of many major firms, particularly in the energy sector. 
B)  a form of corruption in which firms systemically turn regulations to their advantage through paying off state officials. 
C)  the ability of the state to capture a large amount of revenue through privatization of state firms. 
D)  the influence of foreign investors in Russian politics. 
E)  the ability of state bureaucrats to influence state policy. 
A)  the Russian state's continued control and ownership of many major firms, particularly in the energy sector. 
B)  a form of corruption in which firms systemically turn regulations to their advantage through paying off state officials. 
C)  the ability of the state to capture a large amount of revenue through privatization of state firms. 
D)  the influence of foreign investors in Russian politics. 
E)  the ability of state bureaucrats to influence state policy.

Question 11

Most Russians attribute terrorist attacks in Russia to

Accepted Answer

A)  Al Qaeda. 
B)  Chechen separatist forces. 
C)  Right-wing Russian nationalists. 
D)  Western-sponsored groups. 
E)  Afghan rebel groups. 
A)  Al Qaeda. 
B)  Chechen separatist forces. 
C)  Right-wing Russian nationalists. 
D)  Western-sponsored groups. 
E)  Afghan rebel groups.

Question 12

A Just Russia is best described as a

Accepted Answer

A)  centrist party that was formed from above to help undermine opposition parties that might threaten United Russia. 
B)  nationalist party that was formed to counter the Liberal Democratic Party. 
C)  liberal/reform party that supports assertive Western-style market reform and political norms. 
D)  traditional left party that is highly critical of market reform. 
E)  a unique party whose platform combines support for Western-style political norms and a criticism of the costs of economic reform. 
A)  centrist party that was formed from above to help undermine opposition parties that might threaten United Russia. 
B)  nationalist party that was formed to counter the Liberal Democratic Party. 
C)  liberal/reform party that supports assertive Western-style market reform and political norms. 
D)  traditional left party that is highly critical of market reform. 
E)  a unique party whose platform combines support for Western-style political norms and a criticism of the costs of economic reform.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT true of Russia's semi-presidential system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Generally speaking, the president oversees foreign policy relations with the regions and the organs of state security while the prime minister oversees economic issues. 
B)  Until 2008, the president was clearly the dominant part of the executive. 
C)  The prime minister has always been the leader of the dominant party or coalition in the legislature. 
D)  If the president dies or becomes incapacitated, the prime minister serves as the acting president until presidential elections can be held. 
E)  The president is directly elected while the prime minister is appointed. 
A)  Generally speaking, the president oversees foreign policy relations with the regions and the organs of state security while the prime minister oversees economic issues. 
B)  Until 2008, the president was clearly the dominant part of the executive. 
C)  The prime minister has always been the leader of the dominant party or coalition in the legislature. 
D)  If the president dies or becomes incapacitated, the prime minister serves as the acting president until presidential elections can be held. 
E)  The president is directly elected while the prime minister is appointed.

Question 14

The command economy under the Soviet system

Accepted Answer

A)  failed to reduce economic inequality. 
B)  achieved rapid industrialization. 
C)  involved state-directed economic planning but not state controls on pricing. 
D)  opened the country to foreign investment. 
E)  All of the above statements are true. 
A)  failed to reduce economic inequality. 
B)  achieved rapid industrialization. 
C)  involved state-directed economic planning but not state controls on pricing. 
D)  opened the country to foreign investment. 
E)  All of the above statements are true.

Question 15

Sovereign democracy refers to the idea that

Accepted Answer

A)  political sovereignty ultimately rests with the Russian people. 
B)  Russia is a sovereign and independent state. 
C)  democracy in Russia should be adapted to Russian traditions. 
D)  the sovereignty of the Russian people is best expressed through democratic means. 
E)  political power in Russia should be vested in a single sovereign at the national level. 
A)  political sovereignty ultimately rests with the Russian people. 
B)  Russia is a sovereign and independent state. 
C)  democracy in Russia should be adapted to Russian traditions. 
D)  the sovereignty of the Russian people is best expressed through democratic means. 
E)  political power in Russia should be vested in a single sovereign at the national level.

Question 16

Discuss the factors that have inhibited the development of strong competing political parties in post-communist Russia. Do you consider the development of strong parties to be important or not? How does the rise of United Russia to its current position as the dominant party affect your argument?

Accepted Answer

The development of strong competing poli

Which of the following statements about the Russian policy-making process is TRUE?

The Presidium is

The Federation Council is comprised of

Yeltsin's market reform policies involved

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

The term patrimonial state refers to

Russia has sought to re-establish itself as a respected regional leader by

The Russian prime minister can be removed from office

The Russian president has the power to

The term state capture refers to

Most Russians attribute terrorist attacks in Russia to

A Just Russia is best described as a

Which of the following is NOT true of Russia's semi-presidential system?

The command economy under the Soviet system

Sovereign democracy refers to the idea that

Discuss the factors that have inhibited the development of strong competing political parties in post-communist Russia. Do you consider the development of strong parties to be important or not? How does the rise of United Russia to its current position as the dominant party affect your argument?

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Exam 8: Russia

Which of the following statements about the Russian policy-making process is TRUE?

The Presidium is

The Federation Council is comprised of

Yeltsin's market reform policies involved

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

The term patrimonial state refers to

Russia has sought to re-establish itself as a respected regional leader by

The Russian prime minister can be removed from office

The Russian president has the power to

The term state capture refers to

Most Russians attribute terrorist attacks in Russia to

A Just Russia is best described as a

Which of the following is NOT true of Russia's semi-presidential system?

The command economy under the Soviet system

Sovereign democracy refers to the idea that

Discuss the factors that have inhibited the development of strong competing political parties in post-communist Russia. Do you consider the development of strong parties to be important or not? How does the rise of United Russia to its current position as the dominant party affect your argument?

Introducing Comparative Politics

Britain

France

Germany

Japan

India

The United States

Brazil

Mexico

South Africa

Nigeria

Iran

China

Filters