AP Gopo Legislative Branch

All of the following are powers of the British House of Commons EXCEPT:

• debating and refining potential legislation

• serving as a source of all current and future ministers

• initiating policy and legislation

• keeping communication lines open between voters and ministers

The British parliamentary system is most fundamentally characterized by

• Clear separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches

• a strong judicial branch with powers of judicial review

• very little separation of powers between the cabinet and parliament

• a bureaucracy that strictly follows orders from the cabinet

Which of the following is a consequence of the United Kingdom's single-member district plurality electoral system?

• Third parties without specific regional support are often underrepresented in Parliament.

• British elections are not particularly free, fair, or competitive across the country.

• Ethnoreligious minorities have a very large representation in Parliament and the executive cabinet.

• Local governing authorities are appointed and have almost no political power.

Which of the following is the best description of Great Britain’s Fixed-Term Parliaments Act of 2011 ?

• It establishes a maximum three-term limit for members of the House of Commons.

• It mandates that parliamentary elections must occur every five years starting in 2015.

• It prohibits the prime minister from serving more than two consecutive terms.

• It requires that Cabinet members resign their seats as sitting members of the House of Commons.

Which of the following best explains why, between general elections, the British prime minister is more likely than the president of Mexico to be replaced between general elections?

• British civil society typically protests more than Mexican civil society and often demands the resignation of the prime minister.

• The Mexican president can only be removed by a confidence vote, so the Mexican president tends to stay in power longer, as those votes are infrequent in Mexico.

• The British government is more prone to corruption than the Mexican government, so British prime ministers are more often removed from office for criminal activity.

• The British prime minister can be removed by members of Parliament (MPs), while the Mexican president can be removed only by the impeachment process.

In comparing the legislatures of the United Kingdom and Mexico, which of the following statements is true?

• In both countries, the lower house is popularly elected.

• The upper house in each legislature has greater power than the lower house.

• Women are more likely to be elected to the British legislature than the Mexican legislature.

• Both legislatures select the head of government.

Which political body is most clearly the center of policymaking power in British government

• the cabinet

• the House of Commons

• the High Court

• the bureaucracy

Which of the following is a unique power of the U.S. House of Representatives in the legislative process?

• A) Ratifying treaties

• B) Initiating revenue bills

• C) Confirming presidential appointments

• D) Conducting impeachment trials

What is the primary function of the legislative branch in the United States government?

• A) Enforcing laws

• B) Interpreting laws

• C) Making laws

• D) Adjudicating disputes

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'bicameralism' in the context of the U.S. Congress?

• A) A single legislative chamber

• B) Two legislative chambers

• C) A legislative chamber with two leaders

• D) A legislative chamber with two voting systems