POLS 105 - Comparative Politics Exam
2 UC Actual Questions and Answers
2026
Functions of Elections -
correct answer ✅Direct control of policy making, Recruitment,
Communication (to influence policy), Regime legitimation
Types of direct control -
correct answer ✅Referendum (can be influenced by timing,
tyranny and can be in opposition to MP's (problem)), Initiative (vote
on decision you want your legislature to consider)
Elections in Totalitarian Systems -
correct answer ✅Copycat theory, Legitimate those elections, serve
as socialisation process, legitimate the regime
Assumed logic of elections in democracy -
correct answer ✅non-violent participation leads legitimacy.
However, can fail (e.g., Capitol Riots Donald Trump)
Comparing Electoral Systems -
correct answer ✅nature of the role (choice) imposed on voters,
Magnitude of the electoral districts, Formula for winning
,POLS 105 - Comparative Politics Exam
2 UC Actual Questions and Answers
2026
Role of Voter -
correct answer ✅Categorical (1 Party or Candidate over all others),
Equivocal (rank parties or candidates)
Magnitude of Electoral District -
correct answer ✅Magnitude + 1 NZ has 3 1local + 1National + 1 =
3 (2+1=3)
General Rules of How Electoral rules affect representation -
correct answer ✅Plurality/majority discriminates against smaller
parties | PR encourages them, PR results in coalitions and
government instability, hard to hold a particular party responsible
in PR
Unsophisticated Citizen model -
correct answer ✅Uninformed, uneducated citizen = democracy for
the elite
Cognitive mobilisation -
correct answer ✅Higher levels of education, development of mass
media, politicisation of society (government making laws about
societal issues) - e.g. smoking
, POLS 105 - Comparative Politics Exam
2 UC Actual Questions and Answers
2026
Forms of participation -
correct answer ✅communal activities (campaign activities,
protests, join civic and interest groups, express to representative
through writing letters
Why did political participation increase following WWII -
correct answer ✅post-materialistic rather than economically
focused
Depravation Approach -
correct answer ✅Protests based on frustration - relative
deprivation -where you should be v where you are
What came before parties -
correct answer ✅groups, factions and clubs
Difference between clubs, factions and groups and parties -
correct answer ✅aggregation of interest, prone to local/regional
bias, corruption, generally had one goal
2 UC Actual Questions and Answers
2026
Functions of Elections -
correct answer ✅Direct control of policy making, Recruitment,
Communication (to influence policy), Regime legitimation
Types of direct control -
correct answer ✅Referendum (can be influenced by timing,
tyranny and can be in opposition to MP's (problem)), Initiative (vote
on decision you want your legislature to consider)
Elections in Totalitarian Systems -
correct answer ✅Copycat theory, Legitimate those elections, serve
as socialisation process, legitimate the regime
Assumed logic of elections in democracy -
correct answer ✅non-violent participation leads legitimacy.
However, can fail (e.g., Capitol Riots Donald Trump)
Comparing Electoral Systems -
correct answer ✅nature of the role (choice) imposed on voters,
Magnitude of the electoral districts, Formula for winning
,POLS 105 - Comparative Politics Exam
2 UC Actual Questions and Answers
2026
Role of Voter -
correct answer ✅Categorical (1 Party or Candidate over all others),
Equivocal (rank parties or candidates)
Magnitude of Electoral District -
correct answer ✅Magnitude + 1 NZ has 3 1local + 1National + 1 =
3 (2+1=3)
General Rules of How Electoral rules affect representation -
correct answer ✅Plurality/majority discriminates against smaller
parties | PR encourages them, PR results in coalitions and
government instability, hard to hold a particular party responsible
in PR
Unsophisticated Citizen model -
correct answer ✅Uninformed, uneducated citizen = democracy for
the elite
Cognitive mobilisation -
correct answer ✅Higher levels of education, development of mass
media, politicisation of society (government making laws about
societal issues) - e.g. smoking
, POLS 105 - Comparative Politics Exam
2 UC Actual Questions and Answers
2026
Forms of participation -
correct answer ✅communal activities (campaign activities,
protests, join civic and interest groups, express to representative
through writing letters
Why did political participation increase following WWII -
correct answer ✅post-materialistic rather than economically
focused
Depravation Approach -
correct answer ✅Protests based on frustration - relative
deprivation -where you should be v where you are
What came before parties -
correct answer ✅groups, factions and clubs
Difference between clubs, factions and groups and parties -
correct answer ✅aggregation of interest, prone to local/regional
bias, corruption, generally had one goal
