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2.E: Exercises

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    183404

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    Multiple Choice and True/False Questions

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    In Democracy in Brief, democracy and freedom are explained to be the same thing.

    a. True

    b. False

    Answer

    B, False, page 3. Democracy and freedom are not synonymous. However, freedom is more likely to take place in a democratic state.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Democracies are categorized as direct or representative.

    a. True

    b. False

    Answer

    A, True, page 5. Democracies are described as being direct (where all the people participate) or representative (where the people elect others to represent them to the government).

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    Direct democracy refers to the ability to interact directly with politicians on a daily basis.

    a. True

    b. False

    Answer

    B, False, pages 5-6. Direct democracy refers to the ability of people to engage in democracy directly and is typically done with a small number of people in a meeting.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    Inalienable rights are rights that

    a. Cannot be denied by the government

    b. Are better than alienable rights

    c. Are protected in Russia

    d. Are related to email servers in Canada

    Answer

    A, pages 10-11. In a democracy, people automatically have inalienable rights that the government must protect.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    Democracy provides freedoms and protections to people.

    a. Yes, but only if they voted in support of freedoms and protection

    b. Yes, but only for citizens living in the country

    c. Yes, democratic rights are protected for all citizens in a democracy

    d. Yes, an illiberal democracy is important to protects rights

    Answer

    C, pages 11-12. A democratic government protects the rights of its citizens. Fundamental rights are protected in a healthy democracy.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{6}\)

    In the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson noted that people are born with inalienable rights that governments must protect.

    a. True

    b. False

    Answer

    A, true, page 11. From the Declaration, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (sic) are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights…"

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{7}\)

    An educated populace is important to a democracy because

    a. The people need to feel supported

    b. Citizens have responsibilities

    c. Toleration is an important part of democracy

    d. The government should not mandate a religion, but support education

    e. All of the above

    Answer

    E, all of the above, pages 13-15 and 56-57. In a healthy democracy, the people will have opportunity to participate in the democracy and also have their rights protected.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{8}\)

    Democracy requires the commitment of the people and government. Democracy is not easy thanks to

    a. Ideology

    b. Partisanship

    c. People often have very different points of view

    d. All of the above

    Answer

    D, all of the above, as evidenced throughout Democracy in Brief. Democracy is complicated and by protecting democratic rights, people have options. They can chose what political parties to support, and they have the right to think differently and practice different ideologies and religions.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{9}\)

    Political parties are important to a democracy

    a. False

    b. True

    Answer

    B, True, pages 47-48. Political parties help recruit, nominate, and campaign to elect candidates. Elections are an integral part of democracy—thus having political parties with different ideological views is important.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{10}\)

    Interest groups help citizens follow interest rates

    a. False

    b. True

    Answer

    A, False, pages 49-50. Interest groups represent citizens’ views, and then attempt to influence policy. Interest groups are advocates for their members.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{11}\)

    The culture of democracy includes

    a. Understanding conflict and consensus

    b. Education

    c. People

    d. All of the above

    Answer

    D, pages 55-60. People want freedoms, but tempered with equality. The culture of democracy is meant to have checks and balances with the institutions and different levels of government.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{12}\)

    Media informs and educates the people and

    a. Advocates for some positions, as well as serves as a watchdog of the government

    b. Advocates for all policies

    c. Is only concerned with clicks on websites

    d. Serves as a watchdog of popular culture

    Answer

    A, pages 43-45. An important part of any democracy is a media with competing points of view. The media will inform, educate, advocate, and serve as a watchdog for all forms of the government.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{13}\)

    The judiciary needs independence, as it serves as a check on the other two branches of government, and judges need to

    a. Make judgments based on flipping coin

    b. Make judgments on lawful decisions

    c. Make sure that they watch and learn from Judge Judy

    d. Support the prime minister

    Answer

    B, page 40. The judiciary works as an important check on the other branches of government. Judges need to provide sound judgments on lawful decision without facing elections once they are on the bench.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{14}\)

    The legislative branch makes the laws based on deliberation and working with one another. Which of the following statements is true?

    a. The legislature is not a check on the other branches of government

    b. Legislators serve for the duration of their lifetime

    c. Need to support the general welfare of the people

    d. Must support their political views

    Answer

    C, pages 38-39. The legislature serves as a check on the executive and judiciary branches, and legislators do not have lifelong positions. However, they must represent the people and support their general welfare.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{15}\)

    Executive authority refers to the way that the prime minister or president is the leader of the free world.

    a. False

    b. True

    Answer

    B, False, pages 34-38. Democracy in Brief explains the ways in which the executive is a check on the legislature and judiciary.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{16}\)

    Presidential and parliamentary systems are different. Which of the following statements is true?

    a. Parliamentary systems are more common

    b. Presidential systems have regular elections and the president is elected separately from legislative representatives

    c. The prime minister is the leader of the majority party

    d. All of the above

    Answer

    D, pages 34-38. Democracy in Brief explains the differences between parliamentary and presidential systems.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{17}\)

    The rule of law means

    a. Some people stand above the law

    b. People are created equal under the law

    c. People need to obey the laws

    d. A song by Sza

    e. B and C

    Answer

    E, pages 26-27. The rule of law means that no one stands above the law and that all people are created equally under the law and need to abide by the rule of law.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{18}\)

    Civil-military relations walk a fine balance in a democracy. Which of the following statements is true?

    a. Military leaders offer advice to elected officials

    b. Military leaders need to run democracies

    c. The military protects the people and the nation-states’ interests

    d. Military states are the strongest democracies

    e. A and C

    Answer

    E, pages 53-54. The nation-state relies on the military to protect the nation, but the military works for the government. Typically, the prime minister or president is the leader of the country, and the military reports to them.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{19}\)

    What is a constitution?

    a. A founding document for a democracy

    b. A document establishing the authority of the nation

    c. A living and breathing document that adjusts with the government and the people

    d. All of the above

    Answer

    D, pages 30-33. Constitutions provide accountability for the government and are typically drafted in a way that makes amending the document tedious.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{20}\)

    What is the direct connection between education and democratic values?

    a. Thomas Jefferson noted that there is a connection.

    b. There is a passive acceptance between the two.

    c. Education supports habits of democratic governance.

    d. Political arrangements are unnecessary.

    Answer

    C, pages 56-57. Democracy takes practice and part of the practice is supporting an educated people.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{21}\)

    Why are the separations of powers not neat?

    a. The powers are often overlapping, and the three branches of government need to work together to support democratic rights.

    b. Democracy is messy and complicated.

    c. Regulation and rule-making is a process, which in some instances will require judicial review

    d. All of the above

    Answer

    D, page 34. The three pillars of government have their set roles; however, this will require that they work together in support of democratic governance and practices.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{22}\)

    Due process is a common part of constitutional democracies as it protects the people’s rights. Which of the following statements is true?

    a. Police must have a warrant (court order) in order to search a home. People cannot be arrested without being charged. People have the right to a speedy and public trial. People will not be subjected to double jeopardy. Cruel and unusual punishments are illegal.

    b. Cruel and unusual punishments are against the law. Double jeopardy is illegal. Police do not need a warrant to search a home.

    c. The state does not have the means to enforce the laws.

    Answer

    A, pages 27-29. Due process ensures that the state is not arbitrary with the enforcement of the law.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{23}\)

    Democratic elections are competitive and are

    a. Periodic and inclusive.

    b. Inclusive, and held when the prime minister calls an election every other year.

    c. Expensive and part of the periodic table

    d. All of the above

    Answer

    A, pages 19-24. Democratic elections must be free, frequent, and transparent. The elections must be held periodically, and be inclusive of all the parties. The results of an election need to be viewed as legitimate.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{24}\)

    The winner-takes-all system is also referred to as the first past the post. Which of the following statements is true of a first-past-the-post system?

    a. Winners always win

    b. The person who wins the majority, wins the election.

    c. First past the post is about newspapers

    d. All of the above

    Answer

    B, page 25. Electoral systems vary. Winner takes all or first past the post is one type of electoral system. Some have argued that it is not as fair as proportional representation, where a percentage of the seats are allocated based on the election results.

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{25}\)

    Citizens have a number of responsibilities. What do these responsibilities include?

    a. Passive participation, a lack of free speech, and a state-mandated religion.

    b. High rates of involvement on social media, a lack of following the news, and passive participation.

    c. Participation in society, exercise rights to vote, free speech, religion, and educating themselves about policies, and serve on juries.

    d. Serve on juries for criminal trials every four years

    Answer

    C, pages 16-19. The rights of citizenship include these responsibilities. Citizens can vote, have speech and religious protections, and the opportunities to participate in civil society.


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