Civics Polity

Political Systems and Governance

1,767 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

Directions: Choose the correct option to fill in the blank.

The whole point of democracy is to give people a way to place the system of governance where it can do the least ________.

  1. benefit

  2. utility

  3. impact

  4. damage

  5. impression
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence cynically observes that the system of governance should be placed where it can do the 'least' damage. The usage of the word 'least' implies that only a negative quality is fitting for the blank.

Multiple choice

A democratic government does not try to secure

  1. social equality

  2. political equality

  3. economic equality

  4. equality of work
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A democratic government does not try to secure equality of work. Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Democracy allows people to participate equally either directly or through elected representatives in the proposal, development and creation of laws.

Multiple choice

The case for local self-government rests on the premise that

  1. it facilitates a non-partisan approach

  2. it makes for better administration

  3. it reduces corruption

  4. it is a training ground for democracy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The case for local self-government rests on the premise that it is a training ground for democracy. In 1935 Phoebe Cusden wrote “ The greatest contribution of the nursery school is that it is a training ground for democratic citizens - citizens who will have learned not what to think - but how to think . . . (The) exercise in self-reliance, unselfishness and willing co-operation, which are also features of the nursery school, will go far towards producing the kind of citizen so vitally necessary if democracy is to be capable of the tasks that devolve upon it - or even to survive.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an essential attribute of the State?

  1. Democracy

  2. Socialism

  3. Nationalism

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

Sovereignty is the essential attribute of a state - the supreme authority to govern within its territory without external interference. Democracy, socialism, and nationalism are ideologies or attributes that specific states may adopt, but a state can exist without them. The state requires a defined territory, population, government, and sovereignty.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is wrong about Parliamentary Democracy?

  1. It does not adjust easily according to the changed circumstances.

  2. Ministers get more opportunities to show their abilities under this system of government.

  3. The President gives impartial advice.

  4. There is close co-operation between the executive and the legislature.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Parliamentary democracy is criticized for being rigid - it cannot easily adapt to new circumstances because constitutional amendments require special majorities. The other options describe ADVANTAGES: ministers get experience, the head of state is impartial (President), and executive-legislature cooperation enables efficient governance. Option A is the correct demerit.

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill blank (2) with the appropriate word from the given choices.

Direct democracy is the oldest form of democracy. Athens was a direct democracy because with only 50,000 citizens, it had (1) diversity and was manageably small. But even there, since it was not practical for all citizens to vote every day, a few voted on a given day. These few were elected and picked (2) by lot. Socrates and Plato, on the other hand, (3) direct democracy and had no faith in the mob's wisdom. They thought that direct democracy is (4) to demagoguery and the (5) of the mob.

  1. haphazardly

  2. randomly

  3. prudently

  4. casually

  5. impetuously
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; as the representatives were chosen by lot, so there was no question of making the decision consciously.

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill blank (1) with the appropriate word from the given choices.

Direct democracy is the oldest form of democracy. Athens was a direct democracy because with only 50,000 citizens, it had (1) diversity and was manageably small. But even there, since it was not practical for all citizens to vote every day, a few voted on a given day. These few were elected and picked (2) by lot. Socrates and Plato, on the other hand, (3) direct democracy and had no faith in the mob's wisdom. They thought that direct democracy is (4) to demagoguery and the (5) of the mob.

  1. great

  2. lesser

  3. little

  4. few

  5. huge
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; the population being very small, there was practically no diversity.

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill blank (3) with the appropriate word from the given choices.

Direct democracy is the oldest form of democracy. Athens was a direct democracy because with only 50,000 citizens, it had (1) diversity and was manageably small. But even there, since it was not practical for all citizens to vote every day, a few voted on a given day. These few were elected and picked (2) by lot. Socrates and Plato, on the other hand, (3) direct democracy and had no faith in the mob's wisdom. They thought that direct democracy is (4) to demagoguery and the (5) of the mob.

  1. favoured

  2. condemned

  3. repudiate

  4. detested

  5. derided
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; the two philosophers did not like democracy because they did not have faith in the wisdom of the mob.

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill blank (4) with the appropriate word from the given choices.

Direct democracy is the oldest form of democracy. Athens was a direct democracy because with only 50,000 citizens, it had (1) diversity and was manageably small. But even there, since it was not practical for all citizens to vote every day, a few voted on a given day. These few were elected and picked (2) by lot. Socrates and Plato, on the other hand, (3) direct democracy and had no faith in the mob's wisdom. They thought that direct democracy is (4) to demagoguery and the (5) of the mob.

  1. susceptible

  2. resistant

  3. oblivious

  4. responsible

  5. impervious
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; this word suggests that in direct democracy, people are easily influenced by those leaders who appeal to their popular desires and prejudices.

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill blank (5) with the appropriate word from the given choices.

Direct democracy is the oldest form of democracy. Athens was a direct democracy because with only 50,000 citizens, it had (1) diversity and was manageably small. But even there, since it was not practical for all citizens to vote every day, a few voted on a given day. These few were elected and picked (2) by lot. Socrates and Plato, on the other hand, (3) direct democracy and had no faith in the mob's wisdom. They thought that direct democracy is (4) to demagoguery and the (5) of the mob.

  1. wisdom

  2. outrage

  3. passion

  4. sagacity

  5. reason
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; the democracy is influenced by the passion and feelings of the mob which can be easily aroused by an eloquent speaker.

Multiple choice

Directions: The statement below is followed by five others. Select the one which most complements the idea contained in the given statement.

If the society is organised as a political entity, elections and other political processes will tend to exacerbate conflict;

  1. but this will happen only when we indulge in politics of division

  2. social and cultural divisions get sharpened under tutelage of the political masters

  3. that is perhaps an inadvertent price we have to pay for democracy

  4. properly directed they could be used to reduce it

  5. that is perhaps why autocracies have better conflict management
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Note that the given part of the sentence ends with a semicolon. This means that the missing part should restate or illustrate the argument or present an opposite view. (3) and (5) need to begin as new sentences. (1) needs only a comma. (2) is irrelevant.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is incorrect?

  1. DPSPs aim to establish social democracy.

  2. DPSPs aim to establish political democracy.

  3. DPSPs aim to establish economic democracy.

  4. All of these statements are correct.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

DPSPs aim to create social and economic conditions under which the citizens can lead a good life. They also aim to establish social and economic democracy through a welfare state. Fundamental Rights aim to establish political democracy.