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

The constitution of which of the following countries provides for direct democracy?

  1. UK

  2. Canada

  3. France

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

Switzerland is renowned for its system of direct democracy, where citizens frequently vote on policy issues through referendums and initiatives. The Swiss cantonal system allows citizens to challenge laws and propose constitutional amendments. The UK and Canada have parliamentary systems with representative democracy, while France has a semi-presidential representative system.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not correct about a democracy?

  1. Elections occur at regular intervals.

  2. All adult citizens have a right to vote.

  3. The country has citizens who follow different religions.

  4. The opposition party has organised demonstrations against the ruling party.

  5. Media has to get permission from the government to publish any news about government’s policies and protests.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This will not happen in a democracy. Thus, this is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Which of the following can be classified as a democracy?

  1. The parliament cannot pass a law about the army without the permission of the Chief of Army.

  2. Only people who accept the country’s official religion have a right to vote.

  3. One person has been appointed by the President for life.

  4. A country’s leader cannot deal with another country without taking permission from its neighbour country.

  5. The opposition party and press are free to criticise the government.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is an example of a democracy. There is a freedom of speech and there is accountability.

Multiple choice

Which of the following options is needed for success of democracy?

  1. Literacy

  2. Regionalism

  3. Unemployment

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

Literacy is essential for democracy because an educated citizenry can make informed decisions and participate meaningfully in democratic processes. Regionalism creates division rather than strengthening democracy, while unemployment is a socioeconomic challenge that can actually undermine democratic stability if widespread.

Multiple choice

What does the term “Political autonomy” suggests?

  1. The right to form a government

  2. The right to decide about the government

  3. The right to govern themselves

  4. The right of giving speech
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Political autonomy means the right of a group or region to govern itself independently rather than being ruled by an external authority. This is a key concept in nationalist movements and decolonization, distinct from simple voting rights or speech.

Multiple choice

What does the word 'Suffrage' mean?

  1. Illness among young girls

  2. A closely fitting bodice

  3. The right of vote

  4. Experiences of childhood
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Suffrage means the right to vote in political elections. The term comes from Latin 'suffragium' meaning voting tablet or ballot. The women's suffrage movement fought for voting rights for women. The word is unrelated to illness, clothing items, or childhood experiences - it specifically refers to voting rights.

Multiple choice

A new concept of administration based on the methodology of Logical positivism was proposed by

  1. W.F. Willoughby

  2. Herbert Simon

  3. L.D White

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

Herbert Simon proposed decision-making theory as a new concept based on logical positivism. In 'Administrative Behavior' (1947), Simon applied scientific and logical analysis to study how administrators actually make decisions, challenging classical principles.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the given question, four statements are provided between an opening statement 1 and a closing statement 6. The four statements are jumbled up and form a coherent paragraph when properly arranged. Select the alternative representing the proper and logical sequencing of these six taken together.

1 Democracy, though necessary, is by no means the only political condition required for taming of power.

A. In the period from 1885 to 1922, the government of UK was democratic.

B. It is possible in a democracy for the majority to exercise a brutal and wholly unnecessary tyranny over a minority.

C. But that did not prevent the oppression of Ireland at that time.

D. Not only a national but a religious or political minority may be persecuted.

6 The safeguarding of minorities so far is compatible with orderly government.

  1. ABDC

  2. BACD

  3. CBDA

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

In the opening sentence, speaker asserts democracy as not the only condition for taming power. But another statement is required which explains the assertion in statement 1. Of all the statements, B just fits our prediction by providing the reason for the possibility of oppression in democracy. 'That time' in statement C points to the time period of 1885 to 1922 in statement A. Thus, we have BACD link. Only option (2) has this link, hence it is the answer.

Multiple choice

A major obstacle to democracy is

  1. poverty of the people

  2. illiteracy

  3. bureaucracy

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

Corruption undermines democratic institutions by distorting fair representation, reducing public trust in government, and enabling the powerful to subvert democratic processes for personal gain. While poverty and illiteracy are also challenges, corruption directly attacks the integrity of democratic systems.

Multiple choice

In democracy

  1. all people are equal

  2. all people are equal politically

  3. all people are equal economically

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

Democracy ensures political equality - all citizens have equal voting rights and equal political voice. It does not guarantee economic equality, which would mean everyone has the same wealth. Option B correctly identifies political equality as the core democratic principle.

Multiple choice

The bureaucracy performs

  1. only administrative functions

  2. only judicial functions

  3. only legislative functions

  4. administrative as well as quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative functions
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 1. Bureaucracy plays an important role in formulation and implementation of policies. They work out the details of the bill keeping their administrative concinience in view.

  1. They also take decisions of quasi-judicial nature. Some of these decisions taken by these civil-servants in certain types of cases is final and can't be challenged in any court of law.
Multiple choice

Which one of the following structures mostly performs the functions of political socialization in a democracy?

  1. Pressure Groups

  2. Bureaucracy

  3. Government

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

Political parties are the primary vehicles for political socialization in democracies because they recruit and educate citizens, articulate competing ideologies, and create pathways for political participation. Pressure groups, bureaucracy, and government institutions play more specialized roles but lack the broad socialization function of parties.