Question 1: Because they were often at war, ambitious European monarchs desperately needed revenues. Some of them started calling assemblies of notables to levy taxes. In return for their "power of the purse," these assemblies received a modest input into royal policies. Such were the beginnings of the _____.

American Congress

French Estates General

British Parliament

Swedish Riksdag

Question 2: Countries with limits on government have usually had feudal pasts, which suggests what about the dispersion of power?

Equal distribution of power is the only effective political structure.

Power must be distributed by the working class.

Power should be concentrated among the lower classes.

Dispersion of power is good and concentration of power is bad.

Question 3: In Europe, a cabinet is equivalent to a U.S. _____.

administration

Congress

President

legislature

Question 4: Voters receive the most direct representation in which system?

Parliamentary

Presidential

Electoral

Coalition

Question 5: The head of ministry is equivalent to the _____ in the United States.

chief of government

head of state

departmental secretary

premier

Question 6: The only political system that could guarantee the cooperation between the legislative and executive branches is _____.

a monarchy

a dictatorship

a democracy

an oligarchy

Question 7: Which of the following issues is a civil concern?

Extortion

Theft

Divorce

Trafficking

Question 8: International law consists of _____ and established customs recognized by most nations.

treaties

ratification

amendments

cease-fires

Question 9: Describe the primary jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court.

It makes initial rulings on all federal cases, civil and criminal.

It rules on high penalty cases, including those with life sentences and the death penalty.

Its jurisdiction is almost entirely appellate, from lower federal or state supreme courts.

Its jurisdiction is broad, ranging from appellate rulings to original rulings in federal crimes.

Question 10: Which of the following best articulates the stance of judicial restraint advocates?

Judicial review is the best and only true method of checking legislative power.

The court should practice restraint in cases in which legislative acts are presented for interpretation.

Only the executive branch can restrain the court, keeping the power of judicial review in balance with the other governing branches.

Only Congress should make public policy and, unless a legislative act clearly violates the Constitution, the law should stand.