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 is correct about a federation?

  1. Federation is domination of the centre on the states.

  2. Federation is dependence of the centre on the states.

  3. The centre and the states interfere in the matters of each other.

  4. Federation is an association of states that forms a new one and all the units and centre derive power from the constitution.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A federation is an association of states that come together to form a new political entity where both the central government and the states derive their power from a common constitution. Neither dominates the other - each has its own sphere of authority. Options A, B, and C incorrectly describe dominance, dependence, or interference rather than constitutional division of power.

Multiple choice

A coalition government in a country is generally formed where there is

  1. two party system

  2. one party system

  3. multi party system

  4. no party system
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Coalition governments typically emerge in multi-party systems where no single party secures a majority. Multiple parties with similar ideological positions form alliances to collectively attain the majority required to form a government. This is common in parliamentary democracies with proportional representation or diverse political landscapes. Two-party systems rarely produce coalitions, and one-party systems by definition have no coalitions.

Multiple choice

Local self-government institutions help in

  1. national matters in some cases

  2. local matters only

  3. state matters in some cases

  4. all of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Local bodies are restricted only to the related/confined areas (e.g. panchayati Raj Institutions).

Multiple choice

The DPSPs are

  1. justiciable & fundamental in governance

  2. non-justiciable but fundamental in governance

  3. justiciable but not fundamental in governance

  4. neither justiciable nor fundamental in goovernance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Directive Principles are non-justiciable, which means that we can not go to the court if these rights are infringed or violated. But, the DPSPs are fundamental in governance as they are the aims that the government needs to achieve.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the demerit of a federation?

  1. It encourages regionalism.

  2. It creates unity in diversity.

  3. It gives considerable measure of autonomy to the states.

  4. It prevents the central government from being despotic in behaviour.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A key criticism of federalism is that it can promote regional identities and separate interests over national unity. By giving states autonomy, federal structures may encourage parochialism or secessionist tendencies. The other options list MERITS - federalism promotes unity in diversity, provides autonomy, and prevents central despotism.

Multiple choice

In a Presidential type of government, we find that

  1. the Chief Executive is always elected

  2. the term of the Chief Executive is fixed for certain period

  3. the Secretaries are fully subordinate to the President

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

In presidential systems, the chief executive (President) is elected (directly or indirectly), serves a fixed term, and appoints secretaries who are fully subordinate (not responsible to legislature like ministers). All three features are true of presidential systems. This contrasts with parliamentary systems where the executive is indirectly elected, terms can vary, and ministers are drawn from the legislature.

Multiple choice

An interim government of Romalia' seeks control ever certain funds belonging to the Republic of Romalia. Romalia is in a state o civil war. An application s tiled before a UK Court by the interim Goernmei.i. The evidence before the court is that -the UK Government has no dealings with the interim Government. The court comes to the conclusion that there is no effective government of Romalia. The court:

  1. will accept the application because the applicant is an interim government

  2. will not accept the application because the government has not been recognized by U.K.

  3. will not accept the application because it has no jurisdiction

  4. will not accept the application because the interim government is not in is determination-a sovereign government
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. The three estates of the French society sent their representatives to the Parliament. b. The three estates consisted of the clergy (first estate), the nobility (second estate) and peasants, businessmen, lawyers, etc. (third estate). c. The monarch in the Old Regime did not have the power to impose taxes according to his will alone.

  1. a, b and c

  2. a and b

  3. a and c

  4. b and c

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

The monarch in the Old Regime did not have the power to impose taxes according to his will alone. He had to call a meeting of the Estates General, which would then pass his proposals for new taxes. The three estates consisted of the clergy (first estate), the nobility (second estate) and peasants, businessmen, lawyers, etc. (third estate).

Multiple choice

The Directory that ruled France was an executive made up of five members. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the reign of the Directory?

a. It abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic. b. Under the reign of the Directory, all men aged 21 years and above got the right to vote. c. The Directory was meant as a safeguard against the concentration of power in a single leader.

  1. a only

  2. b only

  3. c only

  4. a and b

  5. a, b and c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. The Directory was meant as a safeguard against the concentration of power in a one-man executive as under the Jacobins.

Multiple choice

Public authority means a/an

  1. authority established by the Government

  2. authority established by law

  3. non-Government organisation

  4. authority or body or institution of self government established by Constitution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

An authority or body or institution of self government established or constituted by or under the Constitution, by any other law made by Parliament, by any other law made by State Legislature, by notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government.