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Political science - Quiz
Contributed by: Burrows
  • 1. What is political science?
A) The art of negotiation
B) The study of literature
C) The study of history
D) The study of politics and government
  • 2. Which ancient Greek philosopher is considered the father of political science?
A) Aristotle
B) Plato
C) Socrates
D) Homer
  • 3. What is the purpose of a constitution?
A) To elect political leaders
B) To enforce moral values
C) To establish the framework for government
D) To regulate the economy
  • 4. What is a democracy?
A) A system of government where power is held by the people
B) A system of government where power is held by the military
C) A system of government where power is held by a single leader
D) A system of government where power is held by a small group
  • 5. Who is often credited with developing the concept of the social contract in political theory?
A) Karl Marx
B) Thomas Hobbes
C) John Locke
D) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
  • 6. What is the main function of a legislature?
A) To enforce laws
B) To make laws
C) To interpret laws
D) To appoint judges
  • 7. What is the role of a lobbyist in the political process?
A) To interpret laws
B) To enforce laws
C) To advocate for specific interests or policies
D) To oversee elections
  • 8. What is a referendum?
A) A direct vote by the electorate on a specific issue
B) An election to choose a president
C) An international agreement
D) A decision made by the supreme court
  • 9. What is political economy?
A) The study of literature in a political context
B) The study of ancient political systems
C) The study of the interaction between politics and economics
D) The study of military strategies
  • 10. What is the main purpose of a constitution?
A) To appoint government officials
B) To regulate the stock market
C) To establish the basic principles and laws of a nation
D) To control the military
  • 11. What is a totalitarian regime?
A) A government with no control over its citizens
B) A government elected by the people
C) A form of government with total control over all aspects of life
D) A government with limited powers
  • 12. What is the purpose of a constitution in a federal system?
A) To control the media
B) To define the powers and responsibilities of the different levels of government
C) To create a national identity
D) To establish a state religion
  • 13. What is the role of a civil servant?
A) To implement government policies and programs
B) To control the economy
C) To interpret laws
D) To lead political campaigns
  • 14. What is the main function of the executive branch in a government?
A) To review laws
B) To enforce and implement laws
C) To interpret laws
D) To make 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 of choosing political leaders
B) The process of enforcing political laws
C) The process by which individuals acquire political beliefs and values
D) The process of deciding foreign policy
  • 17. What is a political revolution?
A) A fundamental and rapid change in the form of government
B) A minor adjustment in political policy
C) A change in the leadership of a government
D) A diplomatic agreement
  • 18. What is the main function of a political journalist?
A) To report on political events and analyze government policies
B) To appoint government officials
C) To enforce international treaties
D) To fund political campaigns
  • 19. What is the term for an economic system where the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit?
A) Capitalism
B) Communism
C) Socialism
D) Feudalism
  • 20. Who is responsible for appointing Supreme Court justices in the United States?
A) The Vice President
B) The Senate
C) The President
D) The Chief Justice
  • 21. Which branch of the government is responsible for enforcing laws in the United States?
A) Administrative
B) Executive
C) Legislative
D) Judicial
  • 22. Which branch of government is responsible for interpreting laws in the United States?
A) Legislative
B) Executive
C) Military
D) Judicial
  • 23. Which political ideology advocates for the abolition of private property and a classless society?
A) Capitalism
B) Communism
C) Libertarianism
D) Fascism
  • 24. Who has the power to declare war in the United States?
A) Congress
B) The President
C) Joint Chiefs of Staff
D) Supreme Court
  • 25. Which document outlines the fundamental laws and principles of a nation?
A) Constitution
B) Declaration of Independence
C) Bill of Rights
D) Magnacarta
  • 26. What is the term for a sudden acquisition of territory by a country?
A) Annexation
B) Sovereignty
C) Secession
D) Emancipation
  • 27. 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) Monarchy
C) Autocracy
D) Democracy
  • 28. Which term refers to the right to vote in political elections?
A) Trademark
B) Censorship
C) Suffrage
D) Sanction
  • 29. What do we call the period of time before written records?
A) Prehistory
B) Renaissance
C) Middle Ages
D) Antiquity
  • 30. What is the term for the process of drawing electoral district boundaries to benefit a political party?
A) Referendum
B) Gerrymandering
C) Ballot stuffing
D) Redistricting
  • 31. Who wrote the influential book 'The Social Contract'?
A) Plato
B) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
C) Adam Smith
D) Karl Marx
  • 32. What is the term for a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units?
A) Confederation
B) Autocracy
C) Federalism
D) Unitary system
  • 33. What type of government is ruled by a king or queen?
A) Monarchy
B) Republic
C) Democracy
D) Oligarchy
  • 34. Which political ideology advocates for minimal government intervention in the economy?
A) Libertarianism
B) Communism
C) Socialism
D) Fascism
  • 35. Who is often called the 'Father of Liberalism'?
A) Karl Marx
B) John Locke
C) Adam Smith
D) Thomas Hobbes
  • 36. Who is often referred to as the 'Father of Modern Political Science'?
A) John Locke
B) Niccolò Machiavelli
C) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
D) Karl Marx
  • 37. Which term refers to the act of a country extending its influence over other countries through diplomacy or military force?
A) Unionism
B) Separatism
C) Neutrality
D) Imperialism
  • 38. What is the term used to describe a form of government where a religious figure is considered the supreme leader?
A) Plutocracy
B) Theocracy
C) Democracy
D) Autocracy
  • 39. What is the term for a form of government in which power is held by the nobility?
A) Kleptocracy
B) Aristocracy
C) Kakistocracy
D) Plutocracy
  • 40. What is a form of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a single individual?
A) Democracy
B) Autocracy
C) Theocracy
D) Oligarchy
  • 41. Which political system is characterized by government ownership of the means of production?
A) Fascism
B) Capitalism
C) Feudalism
D) Socialism
  • 42. What is the term for a system of government in which a small group holds power?
A) Aristocracy
B) Plutocracy
C) Theocracy
D) Oligarchy
  • 43. What is the head of the executive branch in a parliamentary system?
A) Prime Minister
B) Monarch
C) Dictator
D) President
  • 44. Which Greek philosopher wrote 'The Republic' and discussed the ideal state?
A) Socrates
B) Aristotle
C) Homer
D) Plato
  • 45. Which type of power distribution involves a strong central government and weaker regional governments?
A) Autonomous
B) Federal
C) Unitary
D) Confederal
  • 46. Which war led to the formal recognition of the United States as an independent nation?
A) Vietnam War
B) Civil War
C) World War I
D) American Revolutionary War
  • 47. What is a filibuster in a legislative context?
A) A vote to override a presidential veto
B) A unanimous decision to pass a bill
C) A process to debate and amend a bill
D) A tactic to delay or prevent a vote on a bill
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