Question No. 43 (30 April)

For the next couple days, I'll post questions about comparative government and politics to help you prepare for the AP exam.

---

Here's Question No. 43:
When discussing the "power ministries" in Russia, what are political scientists referring to?

What are two responsibilities or characteristics that guarantee those ministries political power?

---

Question No. 42 (29 April)

For the next few days, I'll post questions about comparative government and politics to help you prepare for the AP exam.

---

Here's Question No. 42:
What is the purpose of the nomenklatura system in China?

Who maintains the system?

How does this photograph illustrate nomenklatura?

---

Question No. 41 (28 April)

Each day through Friday, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

---

Here's Question No. 41:
What are two political purposes for increasing the number of Nigerian states from 3 (in 1960) to 36 (today)?

---

Question No. 40 (25 April)

Monday through Friday next week, I'll post questions about comparative government and politics.

You submit answers to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here before the AP exam.

And you'll win at least two What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

---

Here's Question No. 40:
What's one political advantage of the large and active news media in Nigeria?

What is one characteristic of the Nigerian news media that limits its influence?

---

Question No. 39 (24 April)

For six more weekdays, I'll post questions about comparative government and politics.

You submit answers to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win a couple of What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

---

Here's Question No. 39:
What is a major reason that President Calderón is considering using the Mexican army to combat the drug trade?

What is a major reason he is reluctant to use the army to combat the drug trade?

---

Question No. 38 (23 April)

For the next seven week days, I'll post questions about comparative government and politics.

You submit answers to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win at least two What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

Los Rudos Y Los Technicos (photo)

---

Here's Question No. 38:
Who are the technicós in Mexican politics and government? (Hint: It's not that guy on the right in the photo.)

What kinds of political policies do they generally advocate?

---

Question No. 37 (22 April)

For the next 8 weekdays, I'll post questions about comparative government and politics.

You submit answers to the "Questions" e-mail address at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win a pair of What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 37:
What do political scientists mean when they label Iran's economy as "rent seeking?"

What is one major political ramification of a rent seeking economy?

---

Question No. 36 (21 April)

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the new "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win more than one What You Need to Know number two pencil to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and another will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 36:
What Iranian precedent exists for Khomeini's insistence in velayat-e faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist) for representing the will of the people?

---

Question No. 35 (18 April)

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win two What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 35:
What are two ways in which the European Union limits the sovereignty of member nations?

---

Question No. 34 (17 April)

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win a pair of What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 34:

What are two major differences between the political culture of the elite and the political culture of the majority in Nigeria?

What is one factor that bridges the gap between the elite and mass political cultures?

---

Question No. 33 (16 April)

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site. (FYI: the e-mail address there changed recently.)

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win a pair of What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 33:

Interest groups attempt to influence government policy making.

Where, in the political system do British interest groups (like British Hydro) concentrate their efforts? Why?

Where, in the political system do Mexican interest groups concentrate their efforts? Why?

---

Question 32 (15 April)

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site. (That e-mail address has changed recently.)

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win two What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 32:
The British civil service is usually held up as the epitome of a government bureaucracy. What are two characteristics of the British civil service that help it earn that reputation?

What is one reason why one of those characteristics is considered desirable?


Whitehall Street in London. Many government ministries have offices on this street near Westminster which you can see in this photo.

---

Question No. 31 (14 April)

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win a pair of What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 31:
The revolt in the Mexican state of Chiapas has been going on for more than a decade. Why has this rebellion against the authority of the government not caused major disruption of governance?

---

Question No. 30 (11 April)

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win a pair of What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 30:
How can Iran's regime be described as a theocratic republic?

---

Question 29 (10 April)

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win at least two What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 29:
What is one major effect of guanxi on Chinese politics?

What is one way in which that effect is similar to or different from the effects of prebendalism on Nigerian politics?

---

Question No. 28 (9 April)

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win a pair of What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 28:
Politically, why has Putin's government made such great efforts to control civil society groups within the country?

What are two ways that rationale is similar to or different from the efforts in China to control civil society groups?

---

Question No. 27 (8 April)

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win a whole pair of What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 27:
In which country you've studied is the rule of law least reliable? Why?

---

Question 26 (7 April)

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win a pair of What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 26:
In which country you've studied is the rule of law most reliable? Why?

---

Answer No. 20

Here's the first best answer I received for Question #20:

Question No. 20 was:
What was Putin's primary public explanation for favoring the elimination of single member districts in Duma elections?

What did Putin's opponents suggest was the actual motivation for the electoral law reform?

The response:

The elimination of single member districts in the Duma was proposed to be replaced with proportion. Proportion would be determined by the number of votes each party won on the national scale.

Putin's primary public explanation in favoring the change was that minority parties and small populated regions would be given more importance. He also claimed that public unity in the war on terror would be strengthened.

Putin's opponents, however, suggest that the true motivation was to eliminate the minor party and minority people elected in the districts that were the only ones to stand up against the government. Critics see the change as a method eliminate all opposition and to consolidate the country under United Russia, the dominate party.

---

This is a two-point question.

There are three acceptable answers for the first part of the item (one point). Putin argued that eliminating single member districts would
• make parties more responsible for selecting candidates and improve the quality of legislators
• make parties more accountable for their actions in the Duma
• reduce the number of often-corrupt local political bosses in the Duma

There are three acceptable answers for the second part of the FRQ (one point). Putin's opponents charged that
• the changes would only guarantee United Russia's dominance of the legislature, since it and the (much less popular) descendant of the Communist party were the only two nationally-organized parties
• the changes would reduce the independence of legislators who would be responsible to party bosses
• would eliminate the representative nature of the Duma, since constituencies would have no voice in choosing legislators

---

The definition in the first paragraph of this answer is not necessary, but it probably helped the author get started. However, "proportion" is not an accurate label for the concept. In the context of the question and the pressures of test taking, it's understandable. But in a more crucial part of the answer, it might create enough ambiguity to reduce the score of the answer. "Proportional elections" or "proportional representation" are more accurate labels for this idea.

The explanations offered in the second paragraph illustrate the dangers of applying textbook generalizations to specific cases. Proportional elections do, in some cases, offer greater representation to minority parties. That would certainly be the case in the UK, where the Liberal Democrats would have several times as many MPs than they do now if Parliamentary elections were proportional. However, that was not an argument used by Putin. Remember, that before the reforms, half the Duma was elected proportionally.

Eliminating single member districts would not give "more importance" to "small populated regions." In fact, areas of low population might well lose representation without single member constituencies.

The argument that the changes would strengthen "public unity in the war on terror" might have been made, but I don't recall that it was. (If there's documentation for that claim being made by Putin, I'll change my evaluation here.

The opponents' arguments described in the third paragraph fit perfectly into the first of the three responses identified in the rubric.

So, this answer earns one point (and a pair of pencils).

---

Question No. 25 (4 April)

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win two What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 25:
What is a factor in Nigeria's political culture that encourages corruption?

What is a factor that discourages it?

---

Question No. 24 (3 April)

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win a pair of What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 24:
How did the government of Iran obtain its sovereignty?

What is one way that is similar to the way Mexico established its sovereignty?

What is one way that is different from the way Mexico established its sovereignty?

---

Question No. 23 (2 April)

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win a pair What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 23:
What are two ways a regime may earn legitimacy?

Identify a country that relies on each of those methods and explain briefly how it relies on that source of legitimacy (i.e. name two countries, one for each method).

---

Question No. 22 [1 April (no foolin')]

Each weekday between now and May 1, I'll post a question about comparative government and politics.

You submit an answer to the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site.

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll publish your answer here a week after the question was posted.

And you'll win more than one (but fewer than three) What You Need to Know number two pencils to help you fill in the exam's multiple choice answer sheet. One of the pencils will have all the multiple choice answers on it and the other will display King Arthur's memorable line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "You don't vote for kings!"

(You can also win a pair of WYNTK pencils by posing a question that gets used here.)

---

Here's Question No. 22:
Which is the weaker state, Mexico or Iran? Explain briefly two reasons why the state you chose is weaker. (In spite of the photo, this is not a football question.)

---