Chapter 10 Multiple choice questions

. Which of these statements is FALSE?

In a parliamentary system, the parliament can express a vote of no confidence in the government.

In a parliamentary system, a government forms following parliamentary elections, and is not voted on by voters directly.

In a presidential system, the head of government is elected directly.

In a presidential system, the head of government can dissolve parliament.

. Which of these institutions form the executive of the European Union?

The European Commission and the European Parliament

The European Council

The European Commission, the Council, and the European Council

The European Parliament

. Which of these statements about the institutional structure of the European Union is correct?

Voters in Europe can only influence EU politics through electing members of the European parliament.

The heads of government from EU member states meet regularly in the Council of the European Union to vote on legislation.

The president of the European Commission is proposed by the European Council and elected by the European Parliament.

Only members of the European Parliament can propose new EU laws.

. How would a party that is purely office-seeking act during government formation?

It would agree to a coalition even with an ideologically distant party if it receives ministerial portfolios in return.

It would only agree to a coalition with parties that are ideologically close to it.

It would try to form a surplus coalition in order to ensure the stability of the coalition.

It would only agree to a coalition with other parties if these parties agree to its entire policy platform.

. Imagine a party A that formed a minority government after winning 40% of the seats in parliament. There are two other parties B and C holding 30% of the seats each. Which of the following statement about the situation in parliament is FALSE?

Party A is able to govern more effectively if it holds the median position in parliament

If they wished to, parties B and C could form a government without the involvement of party A.

By not forming a majority coalition with party A, party B acted in an office-seeking manner.

Party A will need to secure the support of at least some members of Parties B or C in order to pass policy.

. Consider the following election outcome:
The bar graph plots seat share percent from 0 to 40, versus general left-right. A, 20 percent; B, 40 percent; C, 20 percent; D, 20 percent.

The bar graph plots seat share percent from 0 to 40, versus general left-right. A, 20 percent; B, 40 percent; C, 20 percent; D, 20 percent.

Which majority coalition would you expect to form if the parties were purely office-seeking?

Party A, Party B and Party C.

Party A and Party D.

Party E, Party D and Party C

Party A and Party E

. Consider the following election outcome:
The bar graph plots seat share percent from 0 to 40, versus general left-right. A, 20 percent; B, 40 percent; C, 20 percent; D, 20 percent.

Which majority coalition would you expect to form if the parties were purely policy-seeking?

Party A, Party B and Party C.

Party A and Party D.

Party E, Party D and Party B

Party A and Party E

. Consider the following election outcome:
The bar graph plots seat share percent from 0 to 40, versus general left-right. A, 20 percent; B, 40 percent; C, 20 percent; D, 20 percent.

The constitution of the country calls for the president to appoint a formateur. The formateur subsequently has agenda-setting power and is the only one able to make a proposal regarding the composition of government. Which statement is true if you assume that all parties are office-seeking?

Party D would form a coalition with parties C no matter who is announced as formateur.

If party B is announced as formateur, it would be unable to form a government.

If party C is announced as formateur, it would form a coalition with parties B and E

The president is most likely to choose Party E to serve as the formateur.

. What relationship in politics is described as "Gamson's Law"?

Parties receive cabinet ministries roughly in proportion to the number of parliamentary seats that they bring to the government.

Each party entering a government will receive roughly the same amount of cabinet ministries.

The largest party in a government will receive a majority of cabinet ministries independent of the number of parties in the coalition.

The largest party in government always implements its policy programme unchallenged.

. Which of the following statements about the selection of the Commission President is correct?

The Commission President only needs a majority of members of the European Parliament to take office, but not of member state governments.

European parties nominate lead candidates to run in European elections.

The Commission President must be a member of the European Parliament.

The Commission President is directly elected.

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