Civics Polity

Political Systems and Governance

1,972 Questions

This section provides practice questions on various political systems including democracies, authoritarian regimes, and oligarchies. Understanding political governance and theories is crucial for cracking civil services and state PSC examinations. Regular practice ensures a solid grasp of political concepts and frameworks.

Authoritarian regimesLiberal democracyPolitical legitimacyOligarchy and plutocracyTransitional democracies

Political Systems and Governance Questions

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of defection?

  1. Loyalty towards party

  2. Changing party allegiance

  3. Political parties

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Defection refers to a member of a political party leaving their party to join another, often for personal gain or political advantage.

Multiple choice

Which of these is the main component of political parties?

  1. Leaders

  2. Followers

  3. Active members

  4. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A political party is composed of three main components: the leaders, the active members, and the followers. All these groups work together to achieve the party's objectives.

Multiple choice political science india and the united nations the united nations (u.n.) united nation organisation (u.n.o) international institutions

Identify correct option that has led to the demand that UN becomes more democratic.

  1. Fifteen-member Council

  2. Security Council

  3. The veto power of the five permanent members

  4. General Assembly
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States are the five permanent members having veto powers with them. The veto means the power to stop any decision; which means they can take any international decision or can stop any decision.

This makes the UN undemocratic in nature because all member states do not have equal powers with respect to taking any decision. 

Multiple choice history greek, roman and american civilisations greek civilisation greek civilization the classical world

Here each individual is interested not only in his own affairs but in the affairs of the state as well. We do not say that a man who takes no interest in politics is a man who minds his own business; we say that he has no business here at all.


This excerpt from A Funeral Oration by Pericles emphasizes which aspect of Athenian democracy?

  1. All are equal under the law

  2. Active civic participation of all citizens

  3. The importance of human reason

  4. The right to trial by jury

  5. The use of rhetoric in the political process
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Pericles explicitly states that individuals who take no interest in politics are considered useless to the state, highlighting the strong Athenian expectation that citizens must actively participate in civic and political life.

Multiple choice history greek, roman and american civilisations greek civilisation greek civilization the classical world

Which of the following statements can be applied to both Athenian and Spartan democracies?

  1. All citizens voted on laws directly

  2. All citizens were encouraged to participate in civic life

  3. A small, wealthy group of citizens made political decisions

  4. An assembly of elected citizens made most decisions

  5. Executive power was distributed among the citizenry
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Multiple choice political science election and democracy elections in indian society methods or types of election election in indian democracy

Which one of the following is an appropriate reason that the government in China is not democratic? 

  1. Elections are not held

  2. Elections are held under Communist Party's approval.

  3. Members are free to contest

  4. People choose government
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
In China, elections are regularly held after every five years for electing the country’s parliament, called Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (National People’s Congress). The National People’s Congress has the power to appoint the President of the country. It has nearly 3,000 members elected from all over China. Some members are elected by the army. Before contesting elections, a candidate needs the approval of the Chinese Communist Party. Only those who are members of the Chinese Communist Party or eight smaller parties allied to it were allowed to contest elections held in 2002-03. The government is always formed by the Communist Party.
Multiple choice political science election and democracy elections in indian society methods or types of election election in indian democracy

The elections are considered essential for democracy because of _______________.

  1. Influence of political parties

  2. Role of independent candidates

  3. People's participation

  4. Dominance of malpractices
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Elections are the essence of democracy because they allow people to exercise their fundamental power of voting to elect their rulers. It is the active participation of the people that makes democracy a great success.

Multiple choice

The Dominant Party Model is most likely to occur in countries with:

  1. A strong party system

  2. A weak party system

  3. A multi-party system

  4. A two-party system
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Dominant Party Model is most likely to occur in countries with a strong party system, where one party is able to maintain a majority of seats in the legislature over a long period of time.

Multiple choice

The Grand Coalition Model is most likely to occur in countries with:

  1. A strong party system

  2. A weak party system

  3. A multi-party system

  4. A two-party system
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Grand Coalition Model is most likely to occur in countries with a multi-party system, where no single party is able to maintain a majority of seats in the legislature over a long period of time.

Multiple choice

You are a citizen, and you are concerned about the direction that your country is headed in. You want to make a difference, but you don't know what to do. What do you do?

  1. Vote in elections.

  2. Run for office.

  3. Join a political party.

  4. Volunteer for a cause you believe in.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Voting in elections is one of the most important ways that citizens can make a difference in their country.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a characteristic of civil society organizations?

  1. They are independent of the government

  2. They are non-profit

  3. They are membership-based

  4. They are profit-making
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Civil society organizations are typically non-profit and independent of the government. They are formed by individuals who share a common interest or goal and are not motivated by profit.

Multiple choice

What are the potential drawbacks of interest groups in a democracy?

  1. They can lead to special interests having too much influence over government.

  2. They can make it difficult for the government to make decisions that are in the best interests of the country as a whole.

  3. They can lead to corruption and cronyism.

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Interest groups can also have negative effects on a democracy, such as leading to special interests having too much influence over government, making it difficult for the government to make decisions that are in the best interests of the country as a whole, and leading to corruption and cronyism.

Multiple choice

According to rational choice theory, what is the primary motivation for political actors?

  1. To maximize their personal wealth

  2. To promote the public good

  3. To follow traditional values and norms

  4. To gain social status and recognition
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Rational choice theory is a theory in political science that assumes that political actors are rational and self-interested. It argues that individuals and groups make political decisions based on their own personal preferences and seek to maximize their benefits.

Multiple choice

What is the main argument of anarchism in political theory?

  1. The state is a necessary evil

  2. The state should be abolished

  3. The state should be strengthened to promote social welfare

  4. The state should be limited to protecting individual rights
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Anarchism is a political theory that advocates for the abolition of the state. Anarchists argue that the state is a coercive institution that oppresses individuals and violates their freedom. They believe that a stateless society based on voluntary cooperation and mutual aid is possible and desirable.