Civics Polity ยท History

Political History and Events

1,839 Questions

Study political history through questions covering major political events, party conventions, alliances, and historical scandals. This material helps candidates preparing for civil services and polity examinations. Assess your knowledge of global political systems and historical campaigns with these practice questions.

Political parties and systemsPresidential electionsHistorical political scandalsParty conventions and caucusesPolitical alliancesGovernment policies

Political History and Events Questions

Multiple choice general knowledge

Japan in the last 53 years was ruled by a single party.But this year's election brought an end to this. Name the new party that came into power and the Prime Minister of Japan?

  1. Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), Taro Aso

  2. Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), Yukio Hatoyama

  3. Liberal Democrat Party (LDP), Yukio Hatoyama

  4. Liberal Democrat Party (LDP), Taro aso
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ruled Japan continuously from 1955 to 2009. In the historic 2009 election, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) defeated the LDP, ending their 53-year rule, and Yukio Hatoyama became the new Prime Minister.

Multiple choice general knowledge

Stafford Cripps was a member of the

  1. Conservative Party

  2. Liberal Party

  3. Labour Party

  4. National Party
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Stafford Cripps was a prominent Labour Party politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and led the Cripps Mission to India in 1942. He was never a member of the Conservative or Liberal parties, and the "National Party" option is not a major UK party.

Multiple choice general knowledge

Arnold served as a governer of which state in US ?

  1. Florida

  2. Texas

  3. Philedelphia

  4. California
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Arnold Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 to 2011. He was elected in a historic recall election and served two full terms. The nickname 'The Governator' came from this California governorship, combining 'governor' with 'Terminator'.

Multiple choice general knowledge

Australia

  1. Australian Labor Party

  2. Liberal Party of Australia

  3. National Party of Australia

  4. Australian Greens
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Australian Labor Party (ALP) is one of the two major political parties in Australia and has formed government at various times, most recently from 2007-2013 and 2022-present. The Liberal Party is the other major party, while the National Party typically coalition-governs with the Liberals.

Multiple choice general knowledge

Canada

  1. Liberal Party of Canada

  2. Conservative Party of Canada

  3. New Democratic Party

  4. Progressive Canadian Party
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Conservative Party of Canada was the ruling party from 2006-2015 under Prime Minister Stephen Harper. This question is time-sensitive as the Liberal Party has held power since 2015 under Justin Trudeau.

Multiple choice general knowledge

China

  1. United People's Party of China

  2. China Zhi Gong Party

  3. Communist Party of China

  4. China Democratic League
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Communist Party of China (CPC) has been the sole ruling party of the People's Republic of China since 1949. It is China's dominant political force.

Multiple choice general knowledge

Japan

  1. People's New Party

  2. Japanese Communist Party

  3. Liberal Democratic Party

  4. Democratic Party of Japan
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) was the ruling party from 2009-2012, ending decades of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) dominance. The LDP returned to power in 2012.

Multiple choice general knowledge

France

  1. Union for a Popular Movement

  2. National Front

  3. Independent Workers' Party

  4. Liberal Democratic Party
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) was France's ruling party under President Nicolas Sarkozy from 2007-2012. It later became The Republicans party.

Multiple choice general knowledge

United Kingdom

  1. Labour Party

  2. Conservative Party

  3. Democratic Unionist Party

  4. Social Democratic and Labour Party
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Labour Party was the UK's ruling party from 1997-2010 under Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. The Conservatives returned to power in 2010.

Multiple choice general knowledge

United States

  1. Republican Party

  2. Libertarian Party

  3. Unity Party of America

  4. Democratic Party
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Democratic Party has been the ruling party in the US during two recent periods: 2009-2017 under Barack Obama and 2021-present under Joe Biden. This question is time-sensitive.

Multiple choice general knowledge

What are the two major parties in the USA?

  1. The Republicans and the Democrats

  2. The Republics and the Socialists

  3. The Democrats and the Labour Party

  4. The Conservationists and the Democrats
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The United States has two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. These parties dominate the American political system, with the Democrats generally associated with liberal/progressive policies and Republicans with conservative policies. The other options list fictional or incorrect party combinations.

Multiple choice general knowledge sports

What unexpected step did Sarah Palin take on July 3?

  1. She decided not to run for reelection as Alaska's governor.

  2. She announced a future bid for the president of the United States.

  3. She announced her resignation as governor of Alaska.

  4. She decided to run for the Prime Minister post
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Sarah Palin shocked the political world on July 3, 2009, by announcing she would resign as Governor of Alaska before her term ended. This was unexpected as she had been the Republican vice-presidential candidate just months earlier in 2008.

Multiple choice general knowledge

Misleading political leader...

  1. Pedagogue

  2. Demagogue

  3. Agogogue

  4. Menogogue
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A demagogue is a political leader who gains power by appealing to people's emotions and prejudices rather than rational argument. A pedagogue is a teacher or educator, while 'agogogue' and 'menogogue' are not standard English words.

Multiple choice general knowledge history

Expand NAZI

  1. Non American Zosialiste party

  2. National Socialist German Workers Party

  3. National Anti Socialist Party

  4. National Army for Zwei Independence
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

NAZI is derived from the German pronunciation of 'Nationalsozialist' - the first two syllables of 'Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei' which translates to 'National Socialist German Workers Party.' The party was originally called the German Workers' Party (DAP) before Hitler renamed it in 1920. Option A, C, and D are incorrect expansions.