Civics Polity

Political Systems and Government

1,786 Questions

Political systems and government frameworks determine how power is distributed and exercised within a society. This topic covers concepts like democracies, republics, meritocracies, and the separation of powers. It is a vital part of the polity syllabus for various competitive examinations.

Types of governmentSeparation of powersPolitical legitimacyDelegation of authorityDecision making structures

Political Systems and Government Questions

Multiple choice

Which one of the following statements best suggests that 'State' is more powerful than the 'Govemment'?

  1. Government governs the State

  2. Government executes the will of the State

  3. Government exists for the good of the State

  4. Government cannot exist without the State
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The State is a permanent entity, while the government is its temporary agent. The government exists to serve the interests of the State, implying the State's superior purpose.

Multiple choice

In which of the following situations will the sovereignty of a state as a whole be affected?

  1. Conquest of one country by an other state

  2. Division of country into provinces

  3. Agreed transfer of some territory of one country to another

  4. Change in the party in power in the country
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Sovereignty refers to the supreme authority of a state. When one country is conquered by another, the original state loses its independent control and authority, thereby destroying its sovereignty.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following is not an essential element of the state?

  1. Population

  2. Administration

  3. Sovereignty

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

According to the Montevideo Convention, the four essential elements of a state are population, territory (area), government, and sovereignty. Administration is a function of the government, not a primary element of the state itself.

Multiple choice

Which of the following can be said about core identity?

Directions: Read the following passage and then answer the question that follows:

Centralisation of power and the structures and procedures flowing out of such an overbearing arrangement have proved to be not only damaging to any work culture that may exist in government departments but have also led to an oppressive network of sycophancy and nepotism. While the focus of decentralization so far has been on the development of local bodies and panchayati raj institutions, little attention has been paid to the need to devolve administrative authority from the national capital.

  1. It is the concept of extended identity.

  2. It generates credibility.

  3. It brings about a sense of reality.

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

Civics does not concern with the duties towards the

  1. state

  2. society

  3. god

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

Civics is the study of the rights and duties of citizens in relation to the state, society, and themselves. Duties towards God are considered a matter of personal faith or religion, not a subject of civics.

Multiple choice

Local self-government institutions help in

  1. the national or union matters only

  2. the state matters only

  3. the local matters only

  4. all of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Local self-government institutions, such as Panchayats and Municipalities, are designed to manage local affairs and address the specific needs of their local communities.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is correct about majoritarianism?

  1. It is based on the belief that the party with the majority of votes should govern the nation.

  2. It is based on the belief that the religion with the majority of followers should be the state religion.

  3. It is based on the belief that the majority community should be able to rule the country.

  4. The constitution of a majoritarian state is based on the religious text of the majority religion.

  5. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as majoritarianism is based on the belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country. It also disregards the minority communities.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is correct about the political model of Belgium?

  1. Only bilingual political party members in Belgium are eligible to take up a seat in the Central Government in Brussels.

  2. No political party member of the Parliament in Belgium can follow a religion.

  3. Constitution of Belgium prescribes that the number of Dutch and German-speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government.

  4. The State Governments in Belgium are not subordinate to the Central Government.

  5. Instead of State and Central Governments, Belgium has a type of Community Government that rules the State.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. The State Governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is correct about the political model of Lebanon?

  1. Lebanon's Prime Minister must belong to the Maronite sect of Catholic Christians.

  2. Lebanon's President must belong to the Orthodox Christian sect.

  3. Lebanon's Deputy Prime Minister must be from the Sunni Muslim community.

  4. Lebanon's Speaker must belong to the Shi’a Muslim sect.

  5. The Christians in Lebanon have agreed not to seek unification with Syria.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Which of the following systems of governing is/are considered as system(s) of checks and balances?

a. Community government b. Federal government c. Coalition government

  1. a and b

  2. a and c

  3. b and c

  4. All of the above

  5. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is correct as the horizontal system of government is a system of checks and balance as the executive, legislative and judiciary have equal powers and keep an eye on each other. Thus, providing each other with checks and balances.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/are the example(s) of power sharing in a government?

a. A court order by the State High Court to the government to build infrastructure in a locality b. Two political parties deciding to form a coalition to fight against a third party in the local assembly elections c. A new law making one language the common language of instruction in schools all over the country

  1. a, b and c

  2. a and b

  3. a and c

  4. b and c

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

These are examples of power sharing as power sharing arrangements between two parties and the system of checks and balances in the horizontal government where judiciary can keep an eye on the functioning of the executive and the legislature come under power sharing.

Multiple choice

Which of the following share the power in horizontal power sharing?

  1. General government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level

  2. Different social groups based on religion or linguistic ability

  3. Different political parties form the Central Government and share in the decision making process

  4. Different organs of government

  5. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is correct. In horizontal power sharing, the different organs of the government such as the legislature, the judiciary and the executive share power.

Multiple choice

In a country, the Government is headed by a single religious group. This religion is the one followed by almost all the citizens of the country. They have different posts within the government which are filled by people belonging to different regions and many women are also a part of the government. Which of the following is/are correct about this type of government?

  1. It is a democratic government as many women are also a part of the government.

  2. It is a federal government structure as people from many regions are a part of the government.

  3. It is a community government as the government is headed by a single community.

  4. All of the above

  5. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is correct as this Government is a majoritarian government which is headed by a group belonging to the religion followed by the majority of the people. It is not federal as there is no mention of different levels of government. It is not community government as not all communities are represented. There is no mention that this government was chosen by the process of voting from the citizens.