BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science Bachelor of Social Science Political Science 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which concept describes the phenomenon where elected officials act in their own interest rather than the interests of their constituents?
- Principal-agent problem (Correct answer)
- Collective action problem
- Prisoner's dilemma
- Arrow's impossibility theorem
Correct answer: Principal-agent problem
The principal-agent problem occurs when an agent (elected official) has incentives that diverge from those of the principal (voters) who delegated authority to them.
Question 2: What term describes a system where power is distributed between a central government and regional governments, each sovereign in their own sphere?
- Unitary system
- Confederation
- Federalism (Correct answer)
- Parliamentary supremacy
Correct answer: Federalism
Federalism divides governmental authority between national and subnational units, each constitutionally sovereign within their designated domains.
Question 3: Which electoral system is most likely to produce a two-party system, according to Duverger's Law?
- Proportional representation
- Single transferable vote
- Single-member plurality (Correct answer)
- Party list system
Correct answer: Single-member plurality
Duverger's Law posits that single-member plurality (first-past-the-post) systems tend to produce two dominant parties due to strategic voting and wasted votes.
Question 4: What is the primary function of judicial review in the American political system?
- To advise the president on legal matters
- To determine the constitutionality of legislation and executive action (Correct answer)
- To review all laws before they take effect
- To mediate disputes between the executive and legislative branches
Correct answer: To determine the constitutionality of legislation and executive action
Judicial review, established by Marbury v. Madison (1803), empowers courts to strike down laws or government actions that violate the Constitution.
Question 5: Which theory of international relations emphasizes that states are rational actors pursuing national interest defined in terms of power?
- Liberalism
- Constructivism
- Realism (Correct answer)
- Marxism
Correct answer: Realism
Realism holds that states are the primary actors in an anarchic international system and that national interest and power are the chief drivers of state behavior.
Question 6: What is 'political socialization'?
- Government programs promoting social equality
- The process by which individuals acquire political beliefs and values (Correct answer)
- The spread of democratic governance worldwide
- A method of polling public opinion
Correct answer: The process by which individuals acquire political beliefs and values
Political socialization is the lifelong process through which individuals develop their political values, beliefs, and orientations via agents such as family, schools, and media.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes 'soft power' in international relations?
- Military alliance networks
- Economic sanctions and trade restrictions
- The ability to attract and co-opt rather than coerce (Correct answer)
- Covert intelligence operations
Correct answer: The ability to attract and co-opt rather than coerce
Soft power, coined by Joseph Nye, refers to a state's ability to shape the preferences of others through appeal and attraction rather than military or economic coercion.
BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science Bachelor of Social Science Political Science 2
Which concept describes the phenomenon where elected officials act in their own interest rather than the interests of their constituents?