Political Science Short Quiz: Most Important Political Science Short Quiz

1. What is the main principle of democracy?

   Answer: Rule by the people

2. Which political ideology emphasizes limited government intervention and individual liberties?

   Answer: Liberalism

3. Who is considered the “Father of Classical Liberalism” and authored the book “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations”?

   Answer: Adam Smith

4. What is the name of the process by which individuals develop their political beliefs and values?

   Answer: Political socialization

5. The idea of “one person, one vote” refers to which principle of democratic governance?

   Answer: Political equality

6. Which U.S. document outlines the fundamental principles and sets the framework for the American government?

   Answer: The Constitution of the United States

7. In which type of electoral system is the candidate who receives the most votes declared the winner, regardless of whether they receive a majority?

   Answer: First-past-the-post (FPTP)

8. Which term refers to the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to favor one political party over another?

   Answer: Gerrymandering

9. Who is the head of government in a parliamentary system?

   Answer: Prime Minister

10. Which branch of government is responsible for interpreting laws and ensuring they align with the constitution?

    Answer: Judicial branch

11. In the United States, what is the role of the Vice President?

    Answer: Presides over the Senate and serves as the President’s successor if necessary

12. Which political theory advocates for the abolition of all forms of government and the establishment of a stateless society?

    Answer: Anarchism

13. What is the term for a system of government in which power is concentrated in the hands of a single ruler or authority figure?

    Answer: Autocracy

14. The principle of “separation of powers” refers to the division of powers among which branches of government?

    Answer: Executive, legislative, and judicial branches

15. What is the name of the treaty that serves as the foundation for international law and diplomacy?

    Answer: Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties

16. Who was the first woman to become the Prime Minister of a country?

    Answer: Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Sri Lanka) in 1960

17. Which international organization is responsible for maintaining international peace and security?

    Answer: United Nations (UN)

18. In the U.S. Congress, which chamber has two representatives per state, regardless of population?

    Answer: Senate

19. What is the term for a system of government in which power is shared between a central authority and subnational entities?

    Answer: Federalism

20. The principle that government authority is derived from the consent of the governed is known as what?

    Answer: Popular sovereignty

21. What is the term for the process by which a citizen acquires citizenship in a country other than their birth country?

    Answer: Naturalization

22. In which type of economic system does the government control the means of production and distribution of goods and services?

    Answer: Socialism

23. The theory that individuals form governments to protect their natural rights and can overthrow it if it fails to do so is associated with which philosopher?

    Answer: John Locke

24. Which U.S. constitutional amendment guarantees the right to freedom of speech, press, and religion?

    Answer: First Amendment

25. What is the primary role of the United Nations Security Council?

    Answer: Maintaining international peace and security

26. What is the term for a political system in which power is concentrated in the hands of a few individuals or a small group?

    Answer: Oligarchy

27. What is the process by which citizens can propose a new law or constitutional amendment through a petition and subsequent vote?

    Answer: Initiative

28. What is the name of the international organization that oversees global monetary and financial stability?

    Answer: International Monetary Fund (IMF)

29. What is the term for a system of government in which a monarch is the head of state with limited powers, and political decisions are made by elected officials?

    Answer: Constitutional monarchy

30. Which U.S. Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review, giving the Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional?

    Answer: Marbury v. Madison

31. The principle of “checks and balances” in the U.S. government refers to what?

    Answer: Each branch of government can limit the powers of the other branches

32. Who has the power to impeach the President of the United States?

    Answer: The House of Representatives

33. The “invisible hand” is a concept associated with which economist, suggesting that self-interested individuals unintentionally benefit society through economic actions?

    Answer: Adam Smith

34. The idea that a government should only govern with the consent of the governed is attributed to which Enlightenment philosopher?

    Answer: John Locke

35. What is the term for an agreement among countries to suspend hostilities during a conflict?

    Answer: Ceasefire

36. The doctrine of “containment” was a U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War aimed at countering the spread of communism, particularly in which region?

    Answer: Eastern Europe

37. The “Bicameralism” principle refers to what in the context of government?

    Answer: The division of a legislative body into two chambers or houses

38. Which U.S. constitutional amendment guarantees the right to bear arms?

    Answer: Second Amendment

39. What is the term for a political system where the government controls all aspects of public and private life, and individual freedoms are restricted?

    Answer: Totalitarianism

40. Which international organization is responsible for regulating global trade and resolving trade disputes between countries?

    Answer: World Trade Organization (WTO)

41. The concept of “collective security” suggests that nations should cooperate to prevent aggression and maintain peace. What organization was established with this principle in mind after World War II?

    Answer: United Nations (UN)

42. What is the primary function of a political party in a democratic system?

    Answer: To represent the interests of its members and seek public office

43. The term “soft power” refers to a country’s ability to influence others through what means?

    Answer: Cultural, economic, and diplomatic influence rather than military force

44. Which political philosophy argues that the government should actively promote economic equality and redistribute wealth to address social disparities?

    Answer: Socialism

45. Which international organization is responsible for overseeing global health issues and coordinating responses to pandemics?

    Answer: World Health Organization (WHO)

46. What is the term for a formal agreement between two or more countries that requires approval from their respective legislatures?

    Answer: Treaty

47. In the United States, the President serves a maximum of how many terms in office?

    Answer: Two terms

48. Which term refers to a government system in which a single individual holds unlimited political power?

    Answer: Absolute monarchy

49. What is the term for a system of government in which a king or queen exercises ceremonial powers, while the real political power lies with an elected legislature?

    Answer: Parliamentary monarchy

50. Which U.S. Supreme Court case established the principle of “separate but equal,” allowing for racial segregation?

    Answer: Plessy v. Ferguson

51. What is the term for an economic system in which businesses and industries are privately owned and operated for profit, with limited government intervention?

    Answer: Capitalism

52. The “War on Terror” was initiated by the United States in response to which event?

    Answer: The 9/11 terrorist attacks

53. Which U.S. constitutional amendment grants citizenship to all individuals born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves?

    Answer: Fourteenth Amendment

54. The concept of “civil rights” refers to what?

    Answer: Protections and freedoms granted to individuals by law and the Constitution

55. Which term refers to a process in which citizens can vote to remove an elected official from office before their term is up?

    Answer: Recall

56. The “North Atlantic Treaty Organization” (NATO) is a military alliance primarily composed of countries from which region?

    Answer: North America and Europe

57. Which political philosophy advocates for strong centralized government authority and often includes dictatorial rule?

    Answer: Authoritarianism

58. What is the name of the highest court in the United States?

    Answer: Supreme Court

59. The “Filibuster” is a tactic used in which legislative body to delay or prevent a vote on a bill?

    Answer: Senate

60. In the United Kingdom, what is the name of the national legislature?

    Answer: Parliament

61. The “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in which year?

    Answer: 1948

62. Which political philosopher is known for his work “The Leviathan,” which argued for a powerful central authority to maintain social order?

    Answer: Thomas Hobbes

63. What is the term for a government system in which power is held by the central government, and subnational entities have limited autonomy?

    Answer: Unitary system

64. The “European Union” (EU) is an economic and political union of how many member countries?

    Answer: 27 member countries

65. The “Stalinist” political system was associated with which country during the mid-20th century?

    Answer: Soviet Union

66. The “Monroe Doctrine” was a U.S. foreign policy warning European nations against doing what in the Americas?

    Answer: Further colonization or interference

67. What is the term for a system of government in which power is concentrated in the hands of a single ruler with absolute authority?

    Answer: Dictatorship

68. Which international organization is responsible for addressing issues related to climate change and environmental sustainability?

    Answer: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

69. The “International Criminal Court” (ICC) is responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of committing what type of crimes?

    Answer: War crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide

70. What is the term for an economic system in which the government owns and controls the means of production and distribution of goods and services?

    Answer: Communism

71. The concept of “separation of church and state” is associated with which clause in the U.S. Constitution?

    Answer: Establishment Clause of the First Amendment

72. What is the term for the process by which an elected official is removed from office through a formal legal process?

    Answer: Impeachment

73. The “Marshall Plan” was a U.S. initiative that aimed to provide financial assistance to which region after World War II?

    Answer: Western Europe

74. Which international organization is responsible for addressing issues related to labor standards, worker rights, and social protection?

    Answer: International Labour Organization (ILO)

75. The term “hegemony” refers to what in the context of international relations?

    Answer: Dominance or influence of one country or group over others

76. What is the term for a political system in which power is concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy individuals or groups?

    Answer: Plutocracy

77. Which U.S. constitutional amendment guarantees the right to due process and protection against self-incrimination?

    Answer: Fifth Amendment

78. The “Preamble” to the U.S. Constitution begins with what famous phrase?

    Answer: “We the People”

79. Which political ideology advocates for the abolition of all forms of government and the establishment of a stateless society?

    Answer: Anarchism

80. What is the name of the international organization that oversees global monetary and financial stability?

    Answer: International Monetary Fund (IMF)

81. Which U.S. constitutional amendment guarantees the right to freedom of speech, press, and religion?

    Answer: First Amendment

82. What is the primary role of the United Nations Security Council?

    Answer: Maintaining international peace and security

83. What is the term for a political system where the government controls all aspects of public and private life, and individual freedoms are restricted?

    Answer: Totalitarianism

84. What is the term for a system of government in which a monarch is the head of state with limited powers, and political decisions are made by elected officials?

    Answer: Constitutional monarchy

85. Which U.S. Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review, giving the Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional?

    Answer: Marbury v. Madison

86. The principle of “checks and balances” in the U.S. government refers to what?

    Answer: Each branch of government can limit the powers of the other branches

87. The term “soft power” refers to a country’s ability to influence others through what means?

    Answer: Cultural, economic, and diplomatic influence rather than military force

88. Which political philosophy argues that the government should actively promote economic equality and redistribute wealth to address social disparities?

    Answer: Socialism

89. Which international organization is responsible for overseeing global health issues and coordinating responses to pandemics?

    Answer: World Health Organization (WHO)

90. What is the term for a formal agreement between two or more countries that requires approval from their respective legislatures?

    Answer: Treaty

91. In the United States, the President serves a maximum of how many terms in office?

    Answer: Two terms

92. Which term refers to a government system in which a single individual holds unlimited political power?

    Answer: Absolute monarchy

93. What is the term for a system of government in which a king or queen exercises ceremonial powers, while the real political power lies with an elected legislature?

    Answer: Parliamentary monarchy

94. Which U.S. Supreme Court case established the principle of “separate but equal,” allowing for racial segregation?

    Answer: Plessy v. Ferguson

95. What is the term for an agreement among countries to suspend hostilities during a conflict?

    Answer: Ceasefire

96. The doctrine of “containment” was a U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War aimed at countering the spread of communism, particularly in which region?

    Answer: Eastern Europe

97. The “Bicameralism” principle refers to what in the context of government?

    Answer: The division of a legislative body into two chambers or houses

98. Which U.S. constitutional amendment guarantees the right to bear arms?

    Answer: Second Amendment

99. What is the term for a political system where the government controls all aspects of public and private life, and individual freedoms are restricted?

    Answer: Totalitarianism

100. Which international organization is responsible for regulating global trade and resolving trade disputes between countries?

    Answer: World Trade Organization (WTO)

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