Question 1

A country's executive may include

Accepted Answer

A)  the president. 
B)  the prime minister. 
C)  the cabinet. 
D)  a religious supreme leader. 
E)  all of these.

Question 2

One thing highlighted in relation to the countries studied in this text is _____________, which are important historical moments when political actors make decisions that shape institutions and future outcomes.

Accepted Answer

A)  precipitating events 
B)  critical junctures 
C)  catastrophic moments 
D)  crucial points 
E)  critical crossroads

Question 3

The Social Progress Index is

Accepted Answer

A)  calculated by adding a country's Gross National Product and its Freedom House ranking. 
B)  a composite index that takes into account measures for meeting basic needs, environmental sustainability, freedom, and tolerance. 
C)  calculated by adding a country's Gross National Product and its Corruption Perception Index. 
D)  a composite index developed by the United Nations. 
E)  a measurement of how technologically advanced a country is.

Question 4

Explain several ways in which comparative politics is limited as a scientific approach.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain several ways in which comparative politics...

Question 5

2014 can be considered a critical juncture because

Accepted Answer

A)  there was a spike in terrorist incidents targeting the United States. 
B)  China supplanted the United States as the country with the highest Gross National Product. 
C)  Russia annexed Crimea and threatened Ukrainian sovereignty. 
D)  the United States held congressional elections. 
E)  a number of European regional governments held referendums calling for independence.

Question 6

The spread of democracy has

Accepted Answer

A)  consistently increased over the years. 
B)  consistently decreased over the years. 
C)  been consistently static over the years. 
D)  achieved the status of being taken as generally right. 
E)  been most affected by the shift of Russia from "partly free" to "free."

Question 7

Political legitimacy exists

Accepted Answer

A)  when the broad citizenry believes that the state exercises rightful authority. 
B)  when the United Nations recognizes a state. 
C)  only in democratic political systems. 
D)  only in consolidated democracies. 
E)  when voter turnout is particularly high.

Question 8

The difference between comparative politics and international relations can BEST be described as

Accepted Answer

A)  the study of comparative politics involves comparing political parties between countries, whereas the study of international relations involves the examination of why wars occur. 
B)  the study of comparative politics refers only to domestic politics, whereas the study of international relations refers to globalization. 
C)  the study of comparative politics involves comparing domestic political institutions, processes, and politics in different countries; whereas the study of international relations involves examining the foreign policy of and interactions among different countries. 
D)  the study of comparative politics involves comparing nations, whereas the study of international relations involves examining international organizations, such as the United Nations or the International Monetary Fund. 
E)  There is no difference between the two.

Question 9

Classifying states according to their level of democracy is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  a typology. 
B)  a causal theory. 
C)  a model. 
D)  levels of analysis. 
E)  a hypothesis.

Question 10

Authoritarian regimes are characterized by all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  power (or authority) is highly concentrated in a single individual, small group of people, single party, or institution. 
B)  they do not include any democratic values and practices within their governing systems. 
C)  those in power claim an exclusive right to govern and use various means, including force, to impose their will on their citizens. 
D)  they have few institutional procedures for holding political leaders accountable. 
E)  political and personal freedoms are limited in such regimes.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about GDP per capita is CORRECT?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a good measure for determining which countries are rich (developed) and which are poor (developing). 
B)  It is the same as GDP according to purchasing power parity. 
C)  It is the best way to determine the overall size of a country's economy relative to other countries. 
D)  It is not a factor taken into account in determining the Human Development Index. 
E)  It is a good measure for determining how environmentally sustainable a country's economy is.

Question 12

Institutional design refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  arrangements that define relationships between the various parts of government and between different levels of government. 
B)  how states are formed. 
C)  arrangements that define relationships between states and international organizations. 
D)  different conceptualizations of states used by comparativists. 
E)  the relationship between markets and the state.

Question 13

Describe some ways in which economic development can be measured.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe some ways in which economic development...

Question 14

List and evaluate the conditions that the authors argue must be present for a country to be considered democratic. Why do they contend these conditions are important? Do you agree with the authors on each of these?

Accepted Answer

The answer of List and evaluate the conditions that the...

Question 15

Globalization

Accepted Answer

A)  blurs the line between the subfields of American politics and comparative politics. 
B)  is of concern only to those who study international relations. 
C)  is of no concern to comparativists. 
D)  makes it easy to distinguish between domestic and international politics. 
E)  blurs the line between comparative politics and international relations.

Exam 1: Introducing Comparative Politics