Question No. 11 (31 March 2009)

I'll post a sample FRQ here about comparative government and politics almost every week day until May 1. They're for practice, since that one of the best ways of preparing for the exam.

You can subscribe to these questions using the RSS feed (the little orange icon in the address bar), and you'll see them in your news reader when I post them.

You can submit an answer using the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site. (Look in the lower, right-hand section of that page.)

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll post your answer (without your name) and a critique here a week after the question was posted. It will be in the "Comments" section for that question.

No prizes this year. But, I'll add your school's web address to the list of "Worthwhile Links" on the left side of the blog, IF you send it to me.

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Here's Question No. 11:

What is a major reason the legislature in the Mexican regime holds little political power? (1 point)

What is a major reason the legislature in the Chinese regime holds little political power? (1 point)

In which regime are the limitations on legislative power more effective? Why? (2 points)

(See pages 87 and 129 in What You Need to Know.)

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Question No. 10 (30 March 2009)

I'll post a sample FRQ here about comparative government and politics almost every week day until May 1. They're for practice, since that one of the best ways of preparing for the exam.

You can subscribe to these questions using the RSS feed (the little orange icon in the address bar), and you'll see them in your news reader when I post them.

You can submit an answer using the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site. (Look in the lower, right-hand section of that page.)

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll post your answer (without your name) and a critique here a week after the question was posted. It will be in the "Comments" section for that question.

No prizes this year. But, I'll add your school's web address to the list of "Worthwhile Links" on the left side of the blog, IF you send it to me.

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Here's Question No. 10:

What position does the head of government hold in the United Kingdom? (1 point)

What position does the head of government hold in Nigeria? (1 point)

Describe one difference and one similarity between the heads of governments' relationship with his respective legislatures? (2 points)

(See pages 54 and 110-11 in What You Need to Know.)

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Question No. 9 (27 March 2009)

I'll post a sample FRQ here about comparative government and politics almost every week day until May 1. They're for practice, since that one of the best ways of preparing for the exam.

You can subscribe to these questions using the RSS feed (the little orange icon in the address bar), and you'll see them in your news reader when I post them.

You can submit an answer using the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site. (Look in the lower, right-hand section of that page.)

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll post your answer (without your name) and a critique here a week after the question was posted. It will be in the "Comments" section for that question.

No prizes this year. But, I'll add your school's web address to the list of "Worthwhile Links" on the left side of the blog, IF you send it to me.

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Here's Question No. 9:

A. Is the role of ideology more important in the Chinese or Iranian political system? (1 point)
B. What are two reasons for the greater importance of ideology in the country you indicated? (2 points)

This question is not asking for illustrations of the power of ideology. It is asking why ideology is more powerful in one of the political systems.

(See pages 93-97 and 143-145 in What You Need to Know.)

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Question No. 8 (26 March 2009)

I'll post a sample FRQ here about comparative government and politics almost every week day until May 1. They're for practice, since that one of the best ways of preparing for the exam.

You can subscribe to these questions using the RSS feed (the little orange icon in the address bar), and you'll see them in your news reader when I post them.

You can submit an answer using the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site. (Look in the lower, right-hand section of that page.)

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll post your answer (without your name) and a critique here a week after the question was posted. It will be in the "Comments" section for that question.

No prizes this year. But, I'll add your school's web address to the list of "Worthwhile Links" on the left side of the blog, IF you send it to me.

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Here's Question No. 8:

A. What is an advantage the long history of the British regime gives to elected leaders in the government of the UK? (1 point)
B. What is an advantage the short history of the Nigerian regime gives to the elected leaders in the government of Nigeria? (1 point)
C. Which of the advantages you identified offers more political power to the elected leaders? Why? (2 points)

(See pages 51-53 and 107-109 in What You Need to Know.)

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Question No. 7 (26 March 2009)

I'll post a sample FRQ here about comparative government and politics almost every week day until May 1. They're for practice, since that one of the best ways of preparing for the exam.

You can subscribe to these questions using the RSS feed (the little orange icon in the address bar), and you'll see them in your news reader when I post them.

You can submit an answer using the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site. (Look in the lower, right-hand section of that page.)

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll post your answer (without your name) and a critique here a week after the question was posted. It will be in the "Comments" section for that question.

No prizes this year. But, I'll add your school's web address to the list of "Worthwhile Links" on the left side of the blog, IF you send it to me.

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Here's Question No. 7:

Revolutions are important in the Mexican and Iranian political cultures.
A. What is a similarity in how the idea of revolution is important in Mexican and Iranian political cultures? (2 points)
B. What is a difference in how the idea of revolution is important in Mexican and Iranian political cultures? (2 points)
C. In which political culture (Mexican or Iranian) is the importance of the idea of revolution most like the importance of the idea in Chinese political culture? Why? (3 points)

(See pages 96-97, 125-127, and 149-150 in What You Need to Know.)

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Question No. 6 (20 March 2009)

I'll post a sample FRQ here about comparative government and politics almost every week day until May 1. They're for practice, since that one of the best ways of preparing for the exam.

You can subscribe to these questions using the RSS feed (the little orange icon in the address bar), and you'll see them in your news reader when I post them.

You can submit an answer using the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site. (Look in the lower, right-hand section of that page.)

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll post your answer (without your name) and a critique here a week after the question was posted. It will be in the "Comments" section for that question.

No prizes this year. But, I'll add your school's web address to the list of "Worthwhile Links" on the left side of the blog, IF you send it to me.

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Here's Question No. 6:

A. What is meant by "soft power?" (2 points)
B. What is an example of the use of soft power by China? (1 point)
C. What is an example of the use of soft power by Russia? (1 point)

(See pages 41-42, 79, and 98-99 in What You Need to Know.)

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Question No. 5 (19 March 2009)

I'll post a sample FRQ here about comparative government and politics almost every week day until May 1. They're for practice, since that one of the best ways of preparing for the exam.

You can subscribe to these questions using the RSS feed (the little orange icon in the address bar), and you'll see them in your news reader when I post them.

You can submit an answer using the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site. (Look in the lower, right-hand section of that page.)

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll post your answer (without your name) and a critique here a week after the question was posted. It will be in the "Comments" section for that question.

No prizes this year. But, I'll add your school's web address to the list of "Worthwhile Links" on the left side of the blog, IF you send it to me.

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Here's Question No. 5:

Political scientists distinguish between power and authority.
A. What is the distinction they make? (2 points)
B. Describe an example of that distinction from the politics or government in the United Kingdom. (2 points)
C. Describe an example of that distinction from the politics or government in Iran. (2 points)

(See pages 35 and 40 in What You Need to Know.)

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Question No. 4 (18 March 2009)

I'll post a sample FRQ here about comparative government and politics almost every week day until May 1. They're for practice, since that one of the best ways of preparing for the exam.

You can subscribe to these questions using the RSS feed (the little orange icon in the address bar), and you'll see them in your news reader when I post them.

You can submit an answer using the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site. (Look in the lower, right-hand section of that page.)

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll post your answer (without your name) and a critique here a week after the question was posted. It will be in the "Comments" section for that question.

No prizes this year. But, I'll add your school's web address to the list of "Worthwhile Links" on the left side of the blog, IF you send it to me.

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Here's Question No. 4:

A. Political scientists want to compare rule of law in Iran with rule of law in China. What are two (2) Iranian political institutions and two (2) Chinese political institutions that would be appropriate for the comparison? (4 points)

B. Why would each of the four institutions you identified be appropriate for such a comparison? (4 points)

(See pages 145-147 and 84-92 in What You Need to Know.)

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Question No. 3 (17 March 2009)

I'll post a sample FRQ here about comparative government and politics almost every week day until May 1. They're for practice, since that one of the best ways of preparing for the exam.

You can subscribe to these questions using the RSS feed (the little broadcast icon in the address bar), and you'll see them in your news reader when I post them.

You can submit an answer using the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site. (Look in the lower, right-hand section of that page.)

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll post your answer (without your name) and a critique here a week after the question was posted. It will be in the "Comments" section for that question.

No prizes this year. But, I'll add your school's web address to the list of "Worthwhile Links" on the left side of the blog, IF you send it to me.

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Here's Question No. 3:



Russia and Nigeria are major oil producers. What are two (2) reasons the Russian government is more capable than the Nigerian government of expressing its sovereignty through policies and actions based on energy production? (2 points)

Is the Mexican government more like the Russian or Nigerian government in this regard? Why? (2 points)

(See pages 79 and 122-123 in What You Need to Know.)

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Question No. 2 (16 March 2009)

I'll post a sample FRQ here about comparative government and politics almost every week day until May 1. They're for practice, since that one of the best ways of preparing for the exam.

You can subscribe to these questions using the RSS feed (the little orange icon in the address bar), and you'll see them in your news reader when I post them.

You can submit an answer using the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site. (Look in the lower, right-hand section of that page.)

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll post your answer (without your name) and a critique here a week after the question was posted. It will be in the "Comments" section for that question.

No prizes this year. But, I'll add your school's web address to the list of "Worthwhile Links" on the left side of the blog, IF you send it to me.

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Here's Question No. 2:

A. Describe two (2) ways that treaties like the EU agreements or NAFTA affect the capacity of states that sign the treaties. (2 points)

B. How do those effects relate to calls for rejection of the EU's Lisbon Treaty or for revisions to NAFTA? (2 points)

(See pages 46, 136, and 154-156 in What You Need to Know.)

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Question No. 1 (13 March 2009)

I'll post a sample FRQ here about comparative government and politics almost every week day until May 1. They're for practice, since that one of the best ways of preparing for the exam.

You can subscribe to these questions using the RSS feed (the little orange icon in the address bar), and you'll see them in your news reader when I post them.

You can submit an answer using the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site. (Look in the lower, right-hand section of that page.)

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll post your answer (without your name) and a critique here a week after the question was posted. It will be in the "Comments" section for that question.

No prizes this year. But, I'll add your school's web address to the list of "Worthwhile Links" on the left side of the blog, IF you send it to me.

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Here's Question No. 1:

Is the Chinese state more powerful or weaker than the Nigerian state? Explain two (2) reasons for the differences in power between the two states. (3 points)

(See pages 83-84 and 107-109 in What You Need to Know.)

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Coming Attractions 2009

Beginning March 13, I'll post a sample FRQ here about comparative government and politics each week day until May 1.

You can submit an answer using the "Questions" e-mail link at the What You Need to Know web site. (Look in the lower, right-hand section of that page.)

If you submit the earliest best answer, I'll post your answer (without your name) here a week after the question was posted.

No prizes this year (I gave away so few last year). But, I'll add your school's web address to the list of "Worthwhile Links" on the left side of the blog, IF you send it to me.