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Political science
Contributed by: Burrows
  • 1. What is political science?
A) The study of history
B) The study of politics and government
C) The study of literature
D) The art of negotiation
  • 2. Which ancient Greek philosopher is considered the father of political science?
A) Homer
B) Aristotle
C) Plato
D) Socrates
  • 3. What is the purpose of a constitution?
A) To regulate the economy
B) To enforce moral values
C) To establish the framework for government
D) To elect political leaders
  • 4. What is a democracy?
A) A system of government where power is held by the military
B) A system of government where power is held by a small group
C) A system of government where power is held by the people
D) A system of government where power is held by a single leader
  • 5. Who is often credited with developing the concept of the social contract in political theory?
A) John Locke
B) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
C) Karl Marx
D) Thomas Hobbes
  • 6. What is the main function of a legislature?
A) To make laws
B) To enforce laws
C) To interpret laws
D) To appoint judges
  • 7. What is the role of a lobbyist in the political process?
A) To oversee elections
B) To advocate for specific interests or policies
C) To enforce laws
D) To interpret laws
  • 8. What is a referendum?
A) An international agreement
B) A direct vote by the electorate on a specific issue
C) A decision made by the supreme court
D) An election to choose a president
  • 9. What is political economy?
A) The study of the interaction between politics and economics
B) The study of literature in a political context
C) The study of ancient political systems
D) The study of military strategies
  • 10. What is the main purpose of a constitution?
A) To regulate the stock market
B) To control the military
C) To appoint government officials
D) To establish the basic principles and laws of a nation
  • 11. What is a totalitarian regime?
A) A form of government with total control over all aspects of life
B) A government elected by the people
C) A government with limited powers
D) A government with no control over its citizens
  • 12. What is the purpose of a constitution in a federal system?
A) To establish a state religion
B) To control the media
C) To define the powers and responsibilities of the different levels of government
D) To create a national identity
  • 13. What is the role of a civil servant?
A) To implement government policies and programs
B) To control the economy
C) To lead political campaigns
D) To interpret laws
  • 14. What is the main function of the executive branch in a government?
A) To enforce and implement laws
B) To make laws
C) To review laws
D) To interpret laws
  • 15. What is a coalition government?
A) A government formed by multiple political parties
B) A government controlled by the military
C) A government without a constitution
D) A government with only one political party
  • 16. What is political socialization?
A) The process by which individuals acquire political beliefs and values
B) The process of enforcing political laws
C) The process of deciding foreign policy
D) The process of choosing political leaders
  • 17. What is a political revolution?
A) A fundamental and rapid change in the form of government
B) A diplomatic agreement
C) A change in the leadership of a government
D) A minor adjustment in political policy
  • 18. What is the main function of a political journalist?
A) To enforce international treaties
B) To report on political events and analyze government policies
C) To fund political campaigns
D) To appoint government officials
  • 19. What is a filibuster in a legislative context?
A) A process to debate and amend a bill
B) A vote to override a presidential veto
C) A unanimous decision to pass a bill
D) A tactic to delay or prevent a vote on a bill
  • 20. Which document outlines the fundamental laws and principles of a nation?
A) Constitution
B) Bill of Rights
C) Declaration of Independence
D) Magnacarta
  • 21. What type of government is ruled by a king or queen?
A) Monarchy
B) Democracy
C) Oligarchy
D) Republic
  • 22. What is the term for an economic system where the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit?
A) Communism
B) Socialism
C) Feudalism
D) Capitalism
  • 23. Who is often referred to as the 'Father of Modern Political Science'?
A) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
B) John Locke
C) Niccolò Machiavelli
D) Karl Marx
  • 24. What do we call the period of time before written records?
A) Prehistory
B) Antiquity
C) Renaissance
D) Middle Ages
  • 25. Who is responsible for appointing Supreme Court justices in the United States?
A) The President
B) The Vice President
C) The Senate
D) The Chief Justice
  • 26. What is the term for a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units?
A) Autocracy
B) Federalism
C) Unitary system
D) Confederation
  • 27. Which political ideology advocates for the abolition of private property and a classless society?
A) Communism
B) Fascism
C) Capitalism
D) Libertarianism
  • 28. What is the term for a system of government in which a small group holds power?
A) Aristocracy
B) Plutocracy
C) Oligarchy
D) Theocracy
  • 29. Which Greek philosopher wrote 'The Republic' and discussed the ideal state?
A) Aristotle
B) Homer
C) Socrates
D) Plato
  • 30. What is the term for the process of drawing electoral district boundaries to benefit a political party?
A) Gerrymandering
B) Redistricting
C) Ballot stuffing
D) Referendum
  • 31. What is the head of the executive branch in a parliamentary system?
A) Monarch
B) President
C) Prime Minister
D) Dictator
  • 32. Which branch of government is responsible for interpreting laws in the United States?
A) Military
B) Legislative
C) Executive
D) Judicial
  • 33. Which war led to the formal recognition of the United States as an independent nation?
A) Vietnam War
B) World War I
C) Civil War
D) American Revolutionary War
  • 34. Who is often called the 'Father of Liberalism'?
A) John Locke
B) Karl Marx
C) Adam Smith
D) Thomas Hobbes
  • 35. In political science, what is the term for a system of government in which all eligible citizens participate equally either directly or through elected representatives?
A) Oligarchy
B) Autocracy
C) Democracy
D) Monarchy
  • 36. What is the term for a form of government in which power is held by the nobility?
A) Kleptocracy
B) Plutocracy
C) Kakistocracy
D) Aristocracy
  • 37. What is a form of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a single individual?
A) Theocracy
B) Autocracy
C) Oligarchy
D) Democracy
  • 38. Which political system is characterized by government ownership of the means of production?
A) Socialism
B) Capitalism
C) Feudalism
D) Fascism
  • 39. Who has the power to declare war in the United States?
A) The President
B) Joint Chiefs of Staff
C) Congress
D) Supreme Court
  • 40. Who wrote the influential book 'The Social Contract'?
A) Adam Smith
B) Plato
C) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
D) Karl Marx
  • 41. Which branch of the government is responsible for enforcing laws in the United States?
A) Judicial
B) Executive
C) Legislative
D) Administrative
  • 42. What is the term used to describe a form of government where a religious figure is considered the supreme leader?
A) Democracy
B) Autocracy
C) Plutocracy
D) Theocracy
  • 43. Which political ideology advocates for minimal government intervention in the economy?
A) Fascism
B) Libertarianism
C) Socialism
D) Communism
  • 44. Which term refers to the act of a country extending its influence over other countries through diplomacy or military force?
A) Neutrality
B) Unionism
C) Separatism
D) Imperialism
  • 45. Which type of power distribution involves a strong central government and weaker regional governments?
A) Unitary
B) Autonomous
C) Federal
D) Confederal
  • 46. Which term refers to the right to vote in political elections?
A) Sanction
B) Suffrage
C) Trademark
D) Censorship
  • 47. What is the term for a sudden acquisition of territory by a country?
A) Sovereignty
B) Annexation
C) Secession
D) Emancipation
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