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: The passage given below is followed by four alternative summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage. Key in the number of the option you choose as your answer.

In a world where social place was still determined largely by birth, the idea that political leadership and social pre-eminence should derive from an individual’s talents and virtues was in many ways revolutionary. Nevertheless, demands to create a thoroughly egalitarian society or democratic government, perhaps by eliminating private property or selecting rulers by law, were few. Instead, eighteenth century debate about civil society, and political governance focussed principally on balancing the claims of rights and privileges of merit, and thus, the competing pulls of equality and difference. It was this debate that pushed questions concerning the nature of virtues and talents to centre stage.

  1. The revolutionary ideas of the eighteenth century could gather but little appeal in face of a clear bias for inherited privileges.

  2. The eighteenth century was a significant evolving phase that led to a total disconnect of merit with privileges of birth.

  3. An egalitarian society can be said to have been founded in the eighteenth century in the backdrop of debates about balancing claims of rights and privileges of merit.

  4. Eighteen century was no less revolutionary in encouraging shift of focus on merit.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
  1. Not correct. The revolutionary ideas had few takers, however, there was no bias for inherited privileges.
    1. Not correct. Nowhere has it been said that there was a total disconnect. There was a balance instead.
    2. Not correct. An egalitarian society was not formed in the eighteenth century. This century was more of an evolutionary phase or a run up to such society.
    3. Correct. Eighteenth century did shift focus on merit, and it was no less revolutionary having done that.
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

Political freedom in Chile was restored in 1988 after a long military rule. This happened due to

  1. military coup

  2. democratic elections

  3. referendum

  4. political revolution

  5. death of the military ruler
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. Pinochet’s military dictatorship came to an end after he decided to hold a referendum in 1988. The Chilean citizens' vote was a decisive ‘no’ to Pinochet. This led to Pinochet losing first his political and then his military powers.

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

Directions: The sentences given in question, when properly sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. Each sentence is labeled with a number. Choose the most logical order of sentences from among the four given choices to construct a coherent paragraph.

  1. It also gives rise to a feeding of animosity among the different sections of society.
  2. In a democratic system, frequent use of power is never desirable, it on the part of government or the people.
  3. Therefore, citizens should never resort to violent ways and means in democracy, though they have the right to oppose the government.
  4. It destroys the stability and security in public life.

  1. 4213

  2. 2413

  3. 2431

  4. 4132
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The sequence introduces the concept (2: frequent use of power never desirable in democracy), describes one negative consequence (4: destroys stability and security), adds another consequence (1: gives rise to animosity), and concludes with the logical solution (3: citizens should never resort to violence). This moves from principle to consequences to conclusion.

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

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

The passage supports which of the following statements about government regulation of the Internet?

Directions: This question is based on the following reading passage. Choose the best answer to the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

With the proliferation of electronic technologies in the latter part of the twentieth century, many aspects of cultural practice have been redefined. The eradication of physical boundaries that limit discourse and information access has had profound effects upon the manner in which we conduct democracy. Yet, opinions strongly differ over whether or not the growth of electronic networks will result in expanded democracy. On one side of the debate are anti-utopians who fear that with the intrusion of the Internet into many facets of life, personal freedom will be impeded and the existing rift between the "haves" and "have-nots" in society will grow. On the other side, many 'cyber-utopians' believe that new technologies can eliminate the democracy of elected representatives with which so many people are dissatisfied. The Internet, they say, will allow for a true participatory democracy in which citizens can govern themselves without the interference of bureaucrats and legislators.
Neither of these theories by themselves can fully address the role of democracy in the age of information. As debates about censorship and encryption have shown, government regulation of the Internet can result in violations of the basic rights of speech set forth in the constitution of the United States. Yet, groups that preach ‘Big
Brother’ theories of paranoia tend to neglect the fact that new technologies can help balance the injustices of traditional power found in a centralized government. At the same time, the likelihood of doing away with the present system of democracy in favor of complete and pure self-governance seems impossible, and likely undesirable.
Both arguments about the future of the way in which discourse will occur highlight the inherent relationship between communication and democracy. Perhaps a more useful model for the study of this dynamic can be found in the model of the public sphere proposed by Jorgen Habermas. In this realm, free and diverse equals come together to deliberate and discuss pertinent issues without the impediment of external coercion. The ensuing dialogue transpires in a profoundly democratic forum. The dispensing of traditional hierarchies that occurs on the Internet appears to make possible the type of categories necessary for Habermas ‘ideal speech situation to occur.
However, postmodern critics indicate that the autonomous individual no longer exists in a world where our identities are constructed as much for us as by us. And indeed, much of the postmodern notion of self seems to fit closely with reconfigurations of the subject brought on by electronic technologies. The question that arises then is, how might the reconfiguration of communication enabled by the Internet work to create a new form of 'cyber-democracy’ that better represents citizens' interests?

 

  1. Government regulation of the Internet can result in infringements upon citizen's constitutional rights of free speech.

  2. Government regulation of the Internet can ensure against infringements upon citizen's constitutional rights of free speech.

  3. Government regulation of the Internet will make pure self-governance possible.

  4. Government regulation of the Internet will promote new technologies that can help balance the injustices of traditional power.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The best answer is (1). As stated in paragraph three, government regulation of the Internet can result in violations of the basic rights of speech set forth in the constitution.

Multiple choice

According to the passage, which of the following is considered by postmodern critics to be a threat to the notion of self?

Directions: This question is based on the following reading passage. Choose the best answer to the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

With the proliferation of electronic technologies in the latter part of the twentieth century, many aspects of cultural practice have been redefined. The eradication of physical boundaries that limit discourse and information access has had profound effects upon the manner in which we conduct democracy. Yet, opinions strongly differ over whether or not the growth of electronic networks will result in expanded democracy. On one side of the debate are anti-utopians who fear that with the intrusion of the Internet into many facets of life, personal freedom will be impeded and the existing rift between the "haves" and "have-nots" in society will grow. On the other side, many 'cyber-utopians' believe that new technologies can eliminate the democracy of elected representatives with which so many people are dissatisfied. The Internet, they say, will allow for a true participatory democracy in which citizens can govern themselves without the interference of bureaucrats and legislators.
Neither of these theories by themselves can fully address the role of democracy in the age of information. As debates about censorship and encryption have shown, government regulation of the Internet can result in violations of the basic rights of speech set forth in the constitution of the United States. Yet, groups that preach ‘Big
Brother’ theories of paranoia tend to neglect the fact that new technologies can help balance the injustices of traditional power found in a centralized government. At the same time, the likelihood of doing away with the present system of democracy in favor of complete and pure self-governance seems impossible, and likely undesirable.
Both arguments about the future of the way in which discourse will occur highlight the inherent relationship between communication and democracy. Perhaps a more useful model for the study of this dynamic can be found in the model of the public sphere proposed by Jorgen Habermas. In this realm, free and diverse equals come together to deliberate and discuss pertinent issues without the impediment of external coercion. The ensuing dialogue transpires in a profoundly democratic forum. The dispensing of traditional hierarchies that occurs on the Internet appears to make possible the type of categories necessary for Habermas ‘ideal speech situation to occur.
However, postmodern critics indicate that the autonomous individual no longer exists in a world where our identities are constructed as much for us as by us. And indeed, much of the postmodern notion of self seems to fit closely with reconfigurations of the subject brought on by electronic technologies. The question that arises then is, how might the reconfiguration of communication enabled by the Internet work to create a new form of 'cyber-democracy’ that better represents citizens' interests?

 

  1. The interference of bureaucrats and legislators.

  2. The proliferation of electronic technologies.

  3. Reconfigurations of the subject brought on by electronic technologies.

  4. Traditional hierarchies that occur on the Internet.

  5. The impediment of external coercion.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The best answer is (3). In the last paragraph, it says that much of the postmodern notion of self seems to fit closely with reconfigurations of the subject brought on by electronic technologies.