Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Quinnell Group 3 & 4
Quinnell Group 3 & 4
110
Political Studies
Undergraduate 2
03/30/2012

Additional Political Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What is the largest country in the world (in terms of land)? What rank is the U.S.?
Definition
Russia, 3rd
Term
What is the smallest country in the world?
Definition
Vatican City
Term
What is the richest country in the world (measured in GDP)? What rank is the U.S.?
Definition
Qatar, not in the top 10
Term
What is the poorest country in the world (measured in GDP)?
Definition
Burundi, Congo
Term
What country has the highest standard of living in the world? What rank is the U.S.?
Definition
Iceland, 12th
Term
What country has the least corrupt government in the world? What rank is the U.S.?
Definition
New Zealand, not in the top 20
Term
What is the most populous country in the world? What rank is the U.S.?
Definition
China, 3rd
Term
What is the largest city in the world? What is the highest ranked U.S. city and what rank is it?
Definition
Shanghai, China, New York City, 19th
Term
What is the infant mortality rate in the U.S.? Name one country with a better rate.
Definition
6.2, Isle of Man (among many others)
Term
What is the life expectancy of U.S. citizens? Which country has the worst rate?
Definition
78, Angola
Term
What country has the highest divorce rate in the world? What rank is the U.S.?
Definition
Sweden, 7th
Term
How many abortions are performed in the U.S. each year? Name one country that has more and one country that has less each year.
Definition
1.3 million, Sweden, Russia
Term
How many countries used the death penalty to execute their own citizens in the most recent year listed?
Definition
23
Term
How big is the U.S. military budget and what rank is this worldwide?
Definition
$689 billion, 1st
Term
How many countries have nuclear weapons capability (acknowledged or unacknowledged)?
Definition
9
Term
As of the latest statistics, how many terrorist organizations were recognized by the U.S. State Department?
Definition
44
Term
How many countries in the world still have absolute monarchies?
Definition
3
Term
What country is the leading arms dealer to developing nations?
Definition
United States
Term
How many countries use torture according to the latest reports?
Definition
16
Term
What country spends the most, per capita, on health care?
Definition
United States
Term
How many countries are recognized by the United Nations?
Definition
193
Term
How many countries were in the United Nations at its founding in 1945?
Definition
51
Term
Name five international unions of allied countries.
Definition
Arab League, ASEAN, African Union, European Union, Turkic Council (among many others)
Term
What is used to regulate international trade?
Definition
Treaties
Term
What is the current functioning global government with jurisdiction and sovereignty over the entire planet?
Definition
None
Term
What is the current functioning global government with jurisdiction and sovereignty over the entire planet?
Definition
Globalization
Term
What is the longest current ongoing military conflict in the world?
Definition
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Term
Other than Iraq, what is the deadliest ongoing conflict in the world?
Definition
Korean conflict
Term
What is the name for the deliberate and systematic destruction of an ethnic, racial, religious or national group called?
Definition
Genocide
Term
Effectively how many people, worldwide, are effectively slaves?
Definition
12-27 million
Term
How many countries are still considered to be communist?
Definition
5
Term
What countries are listed by the U.S. as state sponsors of terrorism?
Definition
Cuba, Iran, Syria, Sudan, North Korea
Term
What is the trend in freedom, worldwide, since the 1970s?
Definition
Greatly increasing
Term
What are the top three causes of mortality worldwide?
Definition
cancer, heart disease, cerebralvascular disease
Term
How many colonies or territories are owned by other countries?
Definition
61
Term
What is the approximate population of the world?
Definition
7 billion
Term
Since 1990, how many people have died in civil wars or ethnic conflicts?
Definition
3.6 million
Term
In post-cold war conflicts, what percentage of casualties were civilian?
Definition
90 percent
Term
How many UN peacekeeping missions are currently ongoing?
Definition
16
Term
Who are the permanent members of the UN Security Council?
Definition
China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States
Term
What is the name for someone who is in office and is seeking re-election?
Definition
Incumbent
Term
Name three reasons why candidates seeking re-election in the U.S. usually win.
Definition
Higher name recognition, more PAC money, free news coverage (among others)
Term
What do we call an election to determine each party's nominee for the general election in the U.S.?
Definition
Primary
Term
What do we call face-to-face meetings held to determine who the party's nominee is in the general election in the U.S.?
Definition
Caucus
Term
How many electoral votes does it take to be elected the U.S. president?
Definition
270
Term
How does voter turnout in the U.S. compare to other similar countries?
Definition
We are last
Term
Name three functions of Congress.
Definition
Lawmaking, oversight, representation
Term
Name three roles of the U.S. president.
Definition
Party chief, chief executive, chief diplomat
Term
Name three functions of the U.S. bureaucracy.
Definition
Revenue collection, national defense, research
Term
Name three functions of the U.S. judicial branch.
Definition
Law enforcement, dispute settlement, judicial review
Term
What are the two houses of the British parliament called?
Definition
House of Commons, House of Lords
Term
Which house of the British parliament has more power?
Definition
House of Commons
Term
What percentage of bills proposed by the British prime minister pass?
Definition
Over 90 percent
Term
Generally, what happens if 50 percent or more of the British House of Commons votes against a key bill the prime minister supports?
Definition
They can be removed from office
Term
Does the British monarch (currently the queen) have significant power in government?
Definition
No
Term
What is the highest judicial authority in the United Kingdom?
Definition
Parliament
Term
What are the three major political parties in the United Kingdom?
Definition
The Labour Party, the Conservative and Unionist Party, the Liberal Democrats
Term
When are British elections held?
Definition
At least every 5 years
Term
The average member of the British parliament spends about how much (in U.S. dollars) to win election?
Definition
Less the $10,000
Term
Does everyone have the right to vote in the United Kingdom?
Definition
No
Term
Who is the president of France?
Definition
Nicolas Sarkozy
Term
Who is the prime minister of France?
Definition
François Fillon
Term
What are the two houses of the French parliament?
Definition
The National Assembly, Senate
Term
Which house of the French parliament is more powerful?
Definition
The National Assembly
Term
Which branch of the French government is more powerful?
Definition
Executive
Term
Which of the dual executives in France is the ceremonial one with no power?
Definition
The president
Term
What part of the French government has a limited form of judicial review?
Definition
Constitutional Council
Term
What are the two major political parties in France?
Definition
The right, the left
Term
How does the conservative party in France compare to parties in the U.S.?
Definition
It is much more socialistic
Term
What is it called in France when the president is of one party and the prime minister represents an opposing party?
Definition
Cohabitation
Term
Who is the chancellor of Germany?
Definition
Angela Merkel
Term
Does Germany have a unitary or federalist system?
Definition
federalist
Term
What is the most powerful house of the German parliament?
Definition
the Bundesrat
Term
Does the upper house in the German parliament have any power?
Definition
yes
Term
Who is the head of government in Germany and is this separate from the head of state?
Definition
the chancellor, yes
Term
Does anyone have judicial review in Germany, and if so, who?
Definition
yes, the Federal Constitutional Court
Term
What is the largest party coalition in Germany?
Definition
the combined Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union
Term
How many parties have 10 percent or more of the seats in the German parliament?
Definition
5 (needs review)
Term
What form of electoral system does Germany have?
Definition
a mixed-member proportional
Term
How does the cost of German elections compare to that of the United States?
Definition
It is less than 1/20th the cost
Term
Who is the prime minister of Japan?
Definition
Yoshihiko Noda
Term
What is the name for the Japanese parliament?
Definition
the diet
Term
What are the two houses of the Japanese parliament?
Definition
House of Councillors, House of Representatives
Term
Is one of the houses of the Japanese parliament more powerful than the other and if so, how?
Definition
House of Representatives, they pass law even if it’s rejected by the other house (needs review)
Term
Does the Japanese emporer have any real power?
Definition
no
Term
Does the Japanese Supreme Court have the power of judicial review?
Definition
yes
Term
What party has dominated post-World War II politics in Japan and where does it stand on the ideological spectrum?
Definition
The Liberal Democratic Party, conservative
Term
What are the three major parties in Japanese politics?
Definition
The Liberal Democratic Party, the Japan Socialist Party, the Democratic Party of Japan
Term
Who chooses the prime minister of Japan?
Definition
the House of Representatives
Term
Are issues important in Japanese elections?
Definition
no
Term
Who runs the Communist Party in China?
Definition
Hu Jintao
Term
Who is the prime minister of China?
Definition
Wen Jiabao
Term
How does China's economy compare to the rest of the world?
Definition
4th in the world
Term
What form of legislative branch does China appear to have?
Definition
Parliamentary
Term
What is the name for China's legislative branch?
Definition
The National People’s Congress
Term
What is the weakest of the national government institutions in China?
Definition
The legislative
Term
What party dominates Chinese politics?
Definition
The Chinese Communist Party
Term
Does China allow independent political organizations?
Definition
no
Term
Does China allow independent elections for national office?
Definition
no
Term
Who pre-approves all government officials in China?
Definition
The Politburo
Term
Who is the president of Mexico?
Definition
Felipe Calderon
Term
What are the two houses of the Mexican Congress?
Definition
Senate, Chamber of Deputies
Term
Is there much of a check on the power of the Mexican president?
Definition
no
Term
What are the three major political parties in Mexico?
Definition
Institutional Revolutionary Party, Democratic Revolutionary Party, National Action Party
Term
What political party has dominated Mexican politics for most of the time since independence?
Definition
Institutional Revolutionary Party
Term
Who is the prime minister of India?
Definition
Pratibha Patil
Term
What are the two houses of the Indian parliament?
Definition
People’s Assembly, Council of States
Term
Is it required that the Indian prime minister be a member of parliament?
Definition
no
Term
What are the two major political parties in India?
Definition
Indian National Congress, Indian People’s Party
Term
Approximately how many parties have at least one seat in the elected house of the Indian parliament?
Definition
More than 30
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