BGS, BSGS Bachelor of General Studies BSGS Political Science 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which concept describes a situation where one country's security increase causes another country to feel less secure, leading to an arms buildup cycle?
- Balance of power
- Security dilemma (Correct answer)
- Collective security
- Deterrence theory
Correct answer: Security dilemma
The security dilemma occurs when one state's efforts to increase its own security inadvertently threaten others, triggering a cycle of mutual arms buildups.
Question 2: In the United States, which constitutional principle divides authority between the federal government and state governments?
- Separation of powers
- Judicial review
- Federalism (Correct answer)
- Bicameralism
Correct answer: Federalism
Federalism is the constitutional division of authority between national and subnational (state) governments, each with distinct powers.
Question 3: Which political theorist argued in 'The Prince' that rulers should prioritize effective governance over moral virtue?
- John Locke
- Thomas Hobbes
- Niccolò Machiavelli (Correct answer)
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Correct answer: Niccolò Machiavelli
Machiavelli's 'The Prince' (1532) famously counseled rulers to use pragmatic, even ruthless, means to maintain power rather than adhering strictly to moral ideals.
Question 4: What term refers to the exclusive legal authority a state exercises over a defined territory and population?
- Sovereignty (Correct answer)
- Legitimacy
- Hegemony
- Nationalism
Correct answer: Sovereignty
Sovereignty denotes the supreme, legally recognized authority a state holds within its territorial boundaries, free from external interference.
Question 5: Which branch of government does the U.S. Senate belong to?
- Executive
- Judicial
- Legislative (Correct answer)
- Administrative
Correct answer: Legislative
The U.S. Senate is part of the legislative branch, specifically the upper chamber of the bicameral Congress established by Article I of the Constitution.
Question 6: Which international organization was established after World War II primarily to maintain international peace and security?
- World Trade Organization
- International Monetary Fund
- United Nations (Correct answer)
- NATO
Correct answer: United Nations
The United Nations was founded in 1945, replacing the League of Nations, with the primary mission of preventing future wars and promoting international cooperation.
Question 7: What is the term for a political system in which a single party or leader holds absolute power with no meaningful electoral competition?
- Oligarchy
- Authoritarianism (Correct answer)
- Theocracy
- Plutocracy
Correct answer: Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism refers to governance characterized by concentrated power, limited political freedoms, and suppression of opposition, often without ideological justification.
BGS, BSGS Bachelor of General Studies BSGS Political Science 2
Which concept describes a situation where one country's security increase causes another country to feel less secure, leading to an arms buildup cycle?