BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science Bachelor of Social Science Political Science 5 â Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the concept of 'civil society' refer to in political science?
- Government agencies that serve civilians
- The realm of voluntary associations, NGOs, and citizen groups operating between state and market (Correct answer)
- The body of civil law governing private disputes
- Non-partisan government employees
Correct answer: The realm of voluntary associations, NGOs, and citizen groups operating between state and market
Civil society refers to the sphere of organized social lifeâvoluntary associations, NGOs, unions, religious groupsâdistinct from the state and the market, which serves as a check on government power.
Question 2: Which term describes a government controlled by a small group of elites who rule for their own benefit rather than the public good?
- Technocracy
- Oligarchy (Correct answer)
- Meritocracy
- Theocracy
Correct answer: Oligarchy
An oligarchy is a form of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a small, privileged group who typically use it to advance their own interests.
Question 3: What is 'agenda-setting' in the context of media and politics?
- Government regulation of press freedom
- The media's ability to influence what issues the public considers most important (Correct answer)
- Political parties setting their legislative priorities
- The president's constitutional power to propose legislation
Correct answer: The media's ability to influence what issues the public considers most important
Agenda-setting theory, developed by McCombs and Shaw, holds that media don't tell people what to think but do influence what issues people think about.
Question 4: Which constitutional mechanism allows the U.S. Congress to remove a president from office?
- Vote of no confidence
- Recall election
- Impeachment and Senate conviction (Correct answer)
- Constitutional amendment
Correct answer: Impeachment and Senate conviction
Impeachment by the House followed by trial and conviction by two-thirds of the Senate is the constitutional process for removing a U.S. president from office.
Question 5: What distinguishes 'authoritarian' regimes from 'totalitarian' regimes in comparative politics?
- Authoritarian regimes hold no elections while totalitarian regimes do
- Totalitarian regimes seek to control all aspects of public and private life; authoritarian regimes primarily suppress political opposition (Correct answer)
- Authoritarian regimes are military-led while totalitarian regimes are civilian-led
- There is no meaningful distinction between the two
Correct answer: Totalitarian regimes seek to control all aspects of public and private life; authoritarian regimes primarily suppress political opposition
Totalitarian regimes, like Nazi Germany or Stalinist USSR, seek total control over society including private life and ideology, while authoritarian regimes mainly suppress political competition but tolerate more private autonomy.
Question 6: Which concept from Robert Putnam's research describes the networks, norms, and trust that facilitate cooperation for mutual benefit in a community?
- Political capital
- Social capital (Correct answer)
- Human capital
- Cultural capital
Correct answer: Social capital
Social capital refers to the features of social organizationânetworks, norms of reciprocity, and trustâthat enable individuals to act collectively more effectively.
Question 7: What is the significance of the 'Westphalian system' in international relations?
- It established the first global free trade agreements
- It created the principle of state sovereignty and non-interference in domestic affairs (Correct answer)
- It formed the first military alliance against colonial powers
- It set international human rights standards for the modern era
Correct answer: It created the principle of state sovereignty and non-interference in domestic affairs
The Peace of Westphalia (1648) is considered the foundation of the modern state system, establishing the principles of territorial sovereignty and non-interference in other states' internal affairs.
BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science Bachelor of Social Science Political Science 5
What does the concept of 'civil society' refer to in political science?