Question No. 17 (8 April 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.

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Here's Question No. 17:

When Putin's presidential terms were over and he became prime minister, he was in a less powerful position than he had been in.

a. What are two formal authorities the president of Russia has that enhance the power of that office? (2 points)

b. What is an informal aspect of Russian politics that enhances the authority Prime Minister Putin has in practice and how does that aspect enlarge the power of Putin? (2 points)

(See p. 70 in What You Need to Know and Russian Election in the Updates section of the book's web site.)

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