Deck 3: France

Question 1

The Edict of Nantes was

A) the agreement that united various principalities into the country of France.
B) a decree issued by Henry IV that granted Protestants limited religious toleration.
C) a law passed by Charlemagne that divided France among his sons.
D) a 1645 treaty that established peace between France and Germany until the outbreak of World War I.
E) the founding document of the ancien r é gime.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Since 1983, France has generally pursued a neoliberal economic strategies including

A) sharply cutting social spending and erecting trade barriers to protect domestic industries.
B) privatization and deregulation.
C) liberalization and nationalization.
D) inviting greater foreign capital investment but also erecting trade barriers.
E) privatization and sharp cuts in social spending.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

France experienced a slow decline following Napoleon's defeat until World War II because of all of the following EXCEPT

A) political instability.
B) protectionist trade policies.
C) an underdeveloped entrepreneurial spirit.
D) rapid population growth.
E) a powerful parliament and a weak executive.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The Fourth Republic

A) was dominated by a strong executive.
B) is another name for the Vichy Regime.
C) fell because of its inability to resolve a crisis in Algeria.
D) fell because of its inability to resolve a crisis in Vietnam.
E) was dominated by the communist party.

Question 5

Indicative planning refers to

A) the state establishing a national plan identifying desirable priorities for economic and social development.
B) the state selecting particular, or "indicated," industrial and financial firms that were privately owned to take over in an attempt to pursue economic modernization.
C) the practice of the French president indicating his economic preferences in an annual speech to the parliament so that it might plan its activity accordingly.
D) a particular kind of neoliberal economic strategy.
E) the common practice of governments indicating their preferences before an international summit.

Question 6

The socialist policies of Mitterrand included all of the following EXCEPT

A) elimination of private property.
B) sharp increases in social benefits.
C) state assistance to develop cutting-edge technologies.
D) nationalization of many firms in the industrial and financial sectors.
E) the creation of public sector employment.

Question 7

Industrial policy refers to

A) the use of state resources to promote the development of certain economic sectors.
B) the state setting goals for particular industries.
C) the state purchasing stock in particular industries.
D) the regulation of industrial practices.
E) regulating competition between large industrial firms.

Question 8

Which characteristic is shared by both the ancien regime and the regimes that followed the French Revolution?

A) France was ruled by a king.
B) The state was powerful.
C) The state championed the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
D) The Catholic Church was a strong supporter of the regime.
E) France was ruled by a parliament.

Question 9

All of the following are TRUE of Charles de Gaulle EXCEPT he

A) was the first president of the Fifth Republic.
B) resigned after the strike in 1968.
C) collaborated with the German occupiers during World War II.
D) proposed a republic based on a strong executive.
E) was an army general.

Question 10

When observers say that there was another French Revolution in the post - World War II period, they are referring to

A) the creation of the Fifth Republic.
B) economic and social modernization that has upset the moral foundations and social equilibrium of the country.
C) the development of a practice of judicial review in the country.
D) the rise of small fringe political parties.
E) the country's increasing integration with the European Union.

Question 11

Which statement most accurately describes France?

A) It is about the size of New Jersey.
B) It is very populous but has a low population density.
C) It is very populous and has a high population density.
D) It borders the Black Sea.
E) Its capital is not its largest city.

Question 12

Which of the following accurately characterizes the relationship of the Fourth and Fifth Republics?

A) In comparison to the Fifth Republic, the Fourth Republic's political institutions were more effective in facilitating strong executive leadership.
B) In comparison to the Fourth Republic, the Fifth Republic's political institutions were more effective in facilitating strong executive leadership.
C) Fewer political parties were represented in the parliament of the Fourth Republic than that of the Fifth Republic.
D) The Fourth Republic was more durable than the Fifth Republic.
E) The legislature is much stronger in the Fifth Republic than in the Fourth Republic.

Question 13

The year 2005 marked an important step in the relationship between France and the European Union because

A) French voters rejected a treaty to establish a constitution for the European Union.
B) France adopted the common currency, the Euro.
C) French citizens voted to withdraw from the European Union.
D) it was the first time that a French citizen became the president of the European Union.
E) France announced it would no longer accept the rulings of the European Court of Justice.

Question 14

What was the ancien r é gime?

A) The established monarchy that existed before the current governmental system
B) A system created by Louis XIV that consisted of an absolutist state, the Catholic Church, and a system of taxes and feudal princes that burdened peasants, urban workers, and the middle class
C) The Catholic Church before the Reformation
D) The military in premodern times
E) A system created by Charlemagne that consisted of an absolutist state, the Catholic Church, and a system of taxes and feudal princes that burdened peasants, urban workers, and the middle class.

Question 15

Proportional representation is a system

A) in which most of the seats in the legislature are distributed to the party that receives the majority of votes.
B) in which seats in the legislature are distributed in proportion to the number of votes that a party receives.
C) in which all parties participating in an election are guaranteed a certain number of seats.
D) that tends to have only two major parties.
E) that is inherently unfair because it hinders minor parties.

Question 16

Key components of the notion of French exceptionalism include

A)  a strong role for the state and extensive ideological polarization.
B) a strong role for the state and the idea that the country's values of liberty and secularism have universal value.
C) extensive ideological polarization and the idea that citizens should identify as individuals rather than members of a particular ethnic or religious group.
D) a strong role for the state and the idea that citizens should identify as individuals rather than members of a particular ethnic or religious group.
E) all of these.

Question 17

Which of the following does NOT explain why France is consistently ranked low in terms of its economic competitiveness?

A) It devotes less resources to technological innovation than other advanced economies.
B) It has a high level of public debt.
C) It has high taxes.
D) Elements of statism persist.
E) Its economy is mainly inward looking as the percentage of its GDP that comes from imports and exports is very low.

Question 18

France's statist economic approach

A) began with the formation of the Fifth Republic and lasted until the 1980s.
B) was opposed by conservative politicians.
C) began under a communist government.
D) helped to bring about rapid economic growth and an increase in incomes.
E) began under the Fourth Republic but was abandoned under the Fifth Republic.

Question 19

The Vichy Regime

A) was actively resisted by most French.
B) was the only political regime in Western Europe not directly under Germany occupation to actively support the Nazi regime, sending 76,000 French and foreign Jews to German death and labor camps.
C) developed a strong economy that became a model for postwar France.
D) was an authoritarian puppet regime based in northern France.
E) was led by Charles De Gaulle.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT correct about the French Revolution?

A) It can be described as a liberal and democratic revolution.
B) It inspired national uprisings elsewhere in Europe.
C) It replaced the monarchy with a republic.
D) Although a national revolution, it had international impacts.
E) It was bloodless.

Question 21

_____________ was the only president since De Gaulle to expand the power of the presidency.

A) Frances Mitterrand
B) Jacques Chirac
C) Georges Pompidou
D) Valery Giscard d'Estaing
E) Nicolas Sarkozy

Question 22

What is the main purpose of the State Council?

A) To settle disputes between France's central and subnational governments
B) To supervise the actions of the French executive
C) To mediate disputes between French public employees and the French government
D) To forward names to the president and the legislature for open judicial positions including those on the Constitutional Council
E) To advise the French president on national security matters

Question 23

Cohabitation is the

A) practice of the president and prime minister both taking up residence at Elysee Palace.
B) mingling of French and Muslim citizens.
C) fusion of executive and legislative branches.
D) merging of French and European Union law.
E) situation where the president's coalition is different from the coalition in control of the parliament.

Question 24

Why is the French president less powerful during periods of cohabitation?

A) He has lower standings in public opinion polls.
B) The constitution mandates that the president must resign if parliament votes a motion of censure.
C) The prime minister commands a parliamentary majority hostile to the president.
D) The president loses the ability to dissolve the National Assembly.
E) The prime minister is granted powers normally reserved to the president.

Question 25

Members of the Constitutional Council

A) are appointed for life.
B) have always been lower court justices prior to their appointment.
C) continue to play only a marginal role when compared to the legislature and executive.
D) are typically male.
E) perform the role of proactive judicial review in that they review bills before they are voted upon in the National Assembly.

Question 26

Why are the grand corps so powerful?

A) The Constitution delegates them important policy-making powers.
B) They can veto the government's policy proposals.
C) They control the nominating process for the president.
D) They fill top executive positions in the private sector and often go on to elected positions in the National Assembly and even the presidency.
E) They control funding to all French universities.

Question 27

Social programs in France include all of the following EXCEPT

A) guaranteed income levels for all French citizens.
B) universal health coverage.
C) extensive educational benefits from preschool through university.
D) extensive job benefits including good pensions, job retraining and unemployment benefits.
E) free prenatal care for pregnant women.

Question 28

The governmental system used in France today is called a

A) semiparliamentarian system.
B) presidential system.
C) parliamentarian system.
D) hybrid system.
E) semipresidential system.

Question 29

The powers of the president include all of the following EXCEPT

A) naming the prime minister and other high level government officials.
B) directing the armed forces and controlling the country's nuclear forces.
C) conducting foreign affairs.
D) dissolving the National Assembly and calling for new elections.
E) appointing the nine members of the Constitutional Council.

Question 30

All of the following are TRUE of the status of women in France EXCEPT

A) they are entitled to generous maternity leaves.
B) they find it easier to work due to the government-funded high-quality child care.
C) the proportion of female managers in France is among the lowest in industrial countries.
D) the wage gap between men and women is 20 percent.
E) All of the statements are true.

Question 31

One result of France's extensive social programs is

A) that citizens are immigrating to other countries in order to avoid intrusive government interference in their private lives.
B) increased public support for the European Union.
C) immigration to France is strictly limited in order to avoid a large influx of persons wanting to take advantage of such programs.
D) that social expenditures account for one-third of France's GDP.
E) increased worker productivity.

Question 32

Most of France's international trade is with

A) its former colonies in Africa and Asia.
B) other member-states of the European Union.
C) the United States.
D) Japan.
E) China.

Question 33

The roles of the prime minister during unified control include all of the following EXCEPT

A) supervising the state bureaucracy.
B) providing the president with parliamentary support for government policies.
C) assuring the execution of laws.
D) being responsible for national defense.
E) assuming direct responsibility for policy-making and policy implementation.

Question 34

In France, the impeachment procedure

A) has been used quite often during the Fourth and Fifth Republic.
B) is the duplicate to that of the United States.
C) does not exist. Only a vote of no confidence can be used to remove the executive.
D) exists but has never been used.
E) if successful, triggers new parliamentary and presidential elections.

Question 35

The two-ballot system used in presidential elections means that

A) citizens vote for the president and prime minister on separate ballots.
B) only two candidates can run for president.
C) if no candidate wins a majority on the first ballot, a run-off election is held two weeks later between the top two candidates.
D) citizens vote for the president and the National Assembly on separate ballots.
E) citizens vote for the individual on one ballot and the party on another.

Question 36

The last experience of cohabitation (1997 - 2002) produced what reform?

A) Run-off elections would be held until the same coalition holds both the presidency and the National Assembly.
B) The president's term was reduced to five years, and elections for the president and National Assembly would be held at the same time.
C) The National Assembly would be dissolved, and new elections called in the event of cohabitation.
D) The National Assembly gained the power to appoint the president.
E) The president was permitted to reject the initial nominee for prime minister in the event of cohabitation but would have to accept the subsequent choice.

Question 37

Which one of the following features is found in the French semipresidential system but not in a classic presidential system like the United States?

A) There is a dual executive.
B) Parliament can force the president to resign.
C) The president is elected by the entire country by universal suffrage.
D) The legislature can defeat legislation proposed by the government.
E) The president can be impeached by the prime minister.

Question 38

The decline in the French executive's power in recent years can be explained by all of the following factors EXCEPT

A) a constitutional amendment that proclaims the organization of the French state to be decentralized.
B) the reduced role of the state in economic affairs.
C) judicial review.
D) the transfer of power to subnational governments.
E) the passage of laws that have resulted in stronger committees in the French parliament.

Question 39

Which of the following statements is TRUE about judicial review in France?

A) The power of judicial review is limited to the State Council.
B) The power of judicial review in France rests with the Senate.
C) Within the French judicial system, the Constitutional Council has the exclusive power of judicial review, meaning that it alone can rule on the legality of a law.
D) The Constitutional Council only has one month to review a law for its constitutionality after that law is passed.
E) A constitutional amendment has ceded the power of judicial review to the European Court of Justice.

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT correct about employment in France?

A) The unemployment rate for those with an immigrant background is double that of other French citizens.
B) Younger people are more likely to be unemployed than older people in France.
C) France has never had a significant unemployment problem because the state has historically provided at least part-time employment opportunities to those over 16.
D) The proportion of women managers in France is among the lowest of all industrial countries.
E) About 10 percent of French employees are union members.

Question 41

Which of the following statements about the French Senate is INCORRECT?

A) It is called the upper chamber because it is the more powerful chamber of parliament.
B) It usually has a conservative political orientation.
C) Its approval is needed for constitutional amendments.
D) Its members are elected by an electoral college.
E) It is comprised of 348 members.

Question 42

Recently, France has suffered from numerous incidents of terrorist violence from

A) groups opposed to globalization.
B) communist cell groups.
C) environmental groups opposed to genetically modified crops.
D) students, workers, and immigrants.
E) Al-Qaeda and affiliated groups.

Question 43

Which of the following statements about the Socialist Party (PS) is INCORRECT?

A) It first came to power with François Mitterrand in 1981.
B) It is a center-left party.
C) It was formerly known as the Communist Party of France but changed its name in the late 1970s.
D) It put forward the first female presidential candidate.
E) It draws support from civil servants, low-income groups, and educated professionals.

Question 44

What has been the most important effect of the two-ballot single-district procedure used to elect delegates to the National Assembly?

A) Fragmentation of the party system
B) Emergence of small fringe parties
C) Decline in voter turnout
D) Political corruption
E) Polarization of the party system

Question 45

Which of the following is a major difference in the law-making process used in France and that used in the United States?

A) In both countries, most bills are introduced by the executive; therefore, there is no major difference.
B) In the United States, after a bill is introduced, it is reviewed by legislative committees; no such process exists in France.
C) In both countries, bills must be passed in identical forms by both chambers of the legislature; therefore, there is no difference.
D) In France, a bill must be scrutinized by the State Council to determine its impact on subnational governments; such a process does not exist in the United States.
E) In France, it is possible that a bill, once passed, can be submitted to the Constitutional Council for judicial review; such a process is not possible in the United States.

Question 46

Globalization opponent José Bové is best known for

A) attacking a McDonald's construction site.
B) coming in second in the 2005 presidential election.
C) advocating closer integration with the European Union.
D) starting the World Social Forum, an annual assembly of anti-globalization activists.
E) instigating the riots in Muslim neighborhoods.

Question 47

The civil solidarity pact

A) expands the right of citizens to participate in demonstrations.
B) grants the legal rights and benefits to unmarried and gay couples that had previously been available to only married couples.
C) outlaws "groups dangerous to French national solidarity."
D) creates jobs for young people.
E) bans the wearing of conspicuous religious symbols.

Question 48

All of the following are powers the executive has over the parliament EXCEPT the

A) executive can issue legally binding decrees in areas outside of parliament control.
B) government has control over the legislature's agenda.
C) president can appoint deputies to the parliament.
D) government can call for a single vote on all or a portion of a bill.
E) government can request parliament to delegate authority to the government to issue regulations that have the force of law.

Question 49

Which statement about the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) is INCORRECT?

A) The party's base is composed of the elderly, business executives, shopkeepers, professionals, farmers, the wealthy, and the highly educated.
B) It is a center-left party.
C) It dominated the Fifth Republic until the 1980s.
D) It was created to support de Gaulle's personal leadership.
E) When it was created, it incorporated many smaller existing parties.

Question 50

France's trade union movement

A) has always been strong given the influence of the Socialist and Communist Parties in the countries.
B) has traditionally been weak due to de Gaulle's suppression of unions after the May 1968 protests.
C) has become weaker with the breakdown of social class and ideology in the country.
D) is generally weak, although representatives of the unions serve on boards of public agencies.
E) has little support among the French public.

Question 51

The 2004 law banning the wearing  of the hidjab (headscarf) in public schools

A) was a rare example of a bill not sponsored by the government becoming law.
B) was a response to a terrorist attack.
C) was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Council.
D) could be seen as illustrative of the exclusionary aspects of the republican model of French national identity.
E) was a concession to the Front National.

Question 52

A crisis of political representation and France's party system is indicated by all of the following EXCEPT

A) increasingly unstable voting patterns.
B) challenge of fringe parties like the Front National to mainstream parties.
C) declining voter turnout.
D) the rise of independent candidates for president.
E) scandals involving prominent politicians.

Question 53

When the National Assembly votes on a motion of no confidence or censure of the government, what happens?

A) The government must publicly apologize.
B) The government must call new legislative elections.
C) The government must introduce new legislation along the lines demanded by parliament.
D) The government must resign.
E) The Senate then begins impeachment proceedings.

Question 54

Which of the following statements about the French tradition of direct protest is NOT true?

A) The tradition stems from the lack of adequate institutional channels of representation.
B) The tradition is centuries old.
C) Direct protest is a tactic utilized only by the young and the poor.
D) This tradition is exemplified by 2010 demonstrations against pension reform.
E) France has one of the highest proportions of citizens who participate in demonstrations in Europe.

Question 55

The relationship between interest groups and the French government

A) is close. The French executive never acts on its own without consulting interest groups.
B) is contentious. Interest groups are never consulted and thus can only protest to influence policy.
C) used to be close but has become more distant.
D) is distant. The French executive often acts on its own without consulting interest groups.
E) is only close when speaking of the relationship between members of parliament and interest groups. This is due to the influence of political action committees (PACs) in French elections.

Question 56

Which of the following accurately describes the dominant French approach to national identity?

A) National identity is based on the value of multiculturalism in which the diverse cultures of immigrant groups enrich French culture.
B) French national identity embodies universally valid, secular, and republican values.
C) French national identity is primarily a result of the country's Catholic heritage.
D) National identity is rooted in the shared ethnic ties of most French citizens.
E) The government is attempting to dilute French national identity in favor of a European identity.

Question 57

Which of the following statements about the Front National is INCORRECT?

A) It has consistently been hostile to Muslims.
B) It is currently led by Marine Le Pen.
C) Its members have been invited to join the cabinet in conservative UMP-led governments.
D) It has become popular in part because of the convergence of center-right and center-left parties.
E) In recent years, it has downplayed its anti-Semite and homophobic themes in an attempt to attract younger voters.

Question 58

What has been the most important impact of the gender parity law?

A) A backlash against female politicians resulting in a decline in the number of female deputies
B) The election of a female prime minister
C) The nomination of a female candidate for president
D) An increase of 50 percent in the number of females in the National Assembly
E) An increase in women's representation in subnational governments

Question 59

Which of the following statements about the National Assembly is INCORRECT?

A) Its members are elected through a two-ballot single-district procedure.
B) It is the stronger chamber of parliament.
C) It can censure the government.
D) It is called the upper house because it is the stronger chamber of parliament.
E) It can pass a law opposed by the Senate.

Question 60

One of the causes of the 2005 urban riots in France was

A) government attempts to expel Muslims from France.
B) a law banning the wearing of conspicuous religious symbols.
C) strict government quotas on additional immigrants.
D) persistently high rates of unemployment among Muslim youths.
E) crimes against Muslims.

Question 61

Discuss the role of women within French politics. What efforts has the French state made to better integrate this group? Assess the relative success of such efforts.

Question 62

Discuss the charge that the French legislature does not adequately represent the French citizenry and hold the government accountable. Describe two reforms that have been implemented to strengthen the role of the parliament. In light of these, does this charge still hold true?

Question 63

It is often said that the French semipresidentialist system combines both the advantages and disadvantages of presidentialism and parliamentarianism. First, describe the major features of the French system. Second, assess its relative strengths and weaknesses, paying particular attention to issues such as the balance of power (both within the executive and between the executive and legislature), representation, accountability, and effectiveness. Finally, assess recent political reforms that affect this system and how these may impact on it.

Question 64

How has France's concepts of its culture and identity been expressed in the country's foreign policy?

Question 65

France was one of the founding members of the European Union (then called the European Community). First, assess the impact that its membership in the European Union has had upon France. Second, discuss how recent events may suggest that French support for European integration may be declining.

Question 66

What factors have contributed to the political rise of the Front National? What does this suggest about French society and politics?

Question 67

How and why is the French state's style of economic management changing? To what extent are such changes a reflection of the impact of the European Union? To what extent are they reflective of other factors? How have these changes affected the society and economy of France?

Question 68

What do you consider the single-most challenge confronting French politics in the present era and why? To what extent are French political institutions well equipped to deal with this challenge?

Question 69

What factors help to explain why interest groups are so weak in France?  How does this weakness help contribute to the country's tradition of protest politics?

Question 70

Assess the charge that there is a crisis of political representation in the party system of France. What developments have occurred that lead some to make this charge? How fundamentally important are these developments? What are their consequences?