POLS 102 MIDTERM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT | NEW
UPDATE 2025
Modern State - ANSWER An administrative apparatus that develops and
administers laws. It generates and implements public policies in a specific
territory. I.e. Congress
Regime - ANSWER The rules that order state power. Determines "who rules."
I.e. liberal democracy
Government - ANSWER Those people who run the state, i.e. "the
administration"
The Executive - ANSWER An essential part of all modern states. Chief political
power of the state. Implements the law. Usually controls the military and police.
Represents the state internationally.
Democratic Regimes - ANSWER Executive accountability (vertical and
horizontal). The two types are majoritarian and consensus.
Horizontal Accountability - ANSWER Ways for other government institutions to
hold the executive accountable. Can be measured according to the relationship
between the executive, legislative, and judicial branch, the Federal vs Unitary
government, and how easy it is to change the constitution
, Vertical Accountability - ANSWER Ways for citizens to hold the executive
accountable. I.e. voting. Separation of powers. Majoritarian: concentrate power in
the hands of the majority--electoral systems that encourage fewer parties.
Consensus: disperse power, encouraging compromise--electoral systems that
encourage many fragmented parties.
Majoritarian Democracy Pros and Cons - ANSWER -Concentrate power in one
office
-Executive dominates over legislature
-One legislative branch
-Constitutions that are easily changed
Consensus Democracy Pros and Cons - ANSWER -Multi-party executives (i.e.
"coalition government")
-The Executive and legislative branches are balanced
-Two legislative houses, i.e. "bicameral legislature"
-Not easy to change constitution
Parliamentary Democracy - ANSWER Extreme version of majoritarian
democracy. Citizens vote for their representatives in the legislature and then
those representatives elect a prime minister. Thus, parliamentary is defined by a
fusion of legislative and executive authority. Main example: Britain. Often split the
function of the executive and have a "nonexecutive head of state" as a ceremonial
role (i.e. Queen in Britain or "Presidents" in Germany or Israel. In all cases, the
Prime Minister has most of the power
Presidential Democracy - ANSWER Extreme version of consensus democracy.
Defined by a separation of powers. There is no fusion between executive and
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT | NEW
UPDATE 2025
Modern State - ANSWER An administrative apparatus that develops and
administers laws. It generates and implements public policies in a specific
territory. I.e. Congress
Regime - ANSWER The rules that order state power. Determines "who rules."
I.e. liberal democracy
Government - ANSWER Those people who run the state, i.e. "the
administration"
The Executive - ANSWER An essential part of all modern states. Chief political
power of the state. Implements the law. Usually controls the military and police.
Represents the state internationally.
Democratic Regimes - ANSWER Executive accountability (vertical and
horizontal). The two types are majoritarian and consensus.
Horizontal Accountability - ANSWER Ways for other government institutions to
hold the executive accountable. Can be measured according to the relationship
between the executive, legislative, and judicial branch, the Federal vs Unitary
government, and how easy it is to change the constitution
, Vertical Accountability - ANSWER Ways for citizens to hold the executive
accountable. I.e. voting. Separation of powers. Majoritarian: concentrate power in
the hands of the majority--electoral systems that encourage fewer parties.
Consensus: disperse power, encouraging compromise--electoral systems that
encourage many fragmented parties.
Majoritarian Democracy Pros and Cons - ANSWER -Concentrate power in one
office
-Executive dominates over legislature
-One legislative branch
-Constitutions that are easily changed
Consensus Democracy Pros and Cons - ANSWER -Multi-party executives (i.e.
"coalition government")
-The Executive and legislative branches are balanced
-Two legislative houses, i.e. "bicameral legislature"
-Not easy to change constitution
Parliamentary Democracy - ANSWER Extreme version of majoritarian
democracy. Citizens vote for their representatives in the legislature and then
those representatives elect a prime minister. Thus, parliamentary is defined by a
fusion of legislative and executive authority. Main example: Britain. Often split the
function of the executive and have a "nonexecutive head of state" as a ceremonial
role (i.e. Queen in Britain or "Presidents" in Germany or Israel. In all cases, the
Prime Minister has most of the power
Presidential Democracy - ANSWER Extreme version of consensus democracy.
Defined by a separation of powers. There is no fusion between executive and
