Comparing Governments Through Powers & Practice — Practice · Grade 12 Social Studies

Chapter: Foundations of Government & Public Reasoning

What this practice covers

By the end of Comparing Governments Through Powers & Practice you should be able to:

8 questions, written answer, each with a worked explanation.

Vocabulary used: presidential system, parliamentary confidence, unitary system, federal system, judicial independence.

Problem 1

What must be specified before explaining how an executive can be removed?
Answer and explanation

Identify selection, tenure, the relevant removal or confidence rule, and the institution authorized to use it. Parliamentary confidence and a presidential removal process are different mechanisms; disagreement alone does not establish that either executive automatically leaves office.

Problem 2

Why does a local council not by itself establish a federal system?
Answer and explanation

A council can exercise delegated responsibilities in a unitary system. Federalism concerns the constitutional distribution of authority, not simply local administration. Compare the legal basis, protections, and amendment rules governing the powers.

Problem 3

What can a discrepancy between rights text and enforcement establish?
Answer and explanation

It can support a bounded claim that the particular protection did not operate as the text alone might suggest in the supplied case. Broader conclusions need further records about scope, institutions, and other cases. Separate official action from residents’ views.

Problem 4

Why can two accurate numbers still form an invalid comparison?
Answer and explanation

They may use different definitions, populations, periods, or processes. Accuracy within each measure does not make them comparable. Match the indicator and scope, or explain the difference and narrow the conclusion instead of creating a misleading ranking.

Problem 5

System A separately elects a president and assembly; System B selects an executive who must retain assembly confidence. Both have local councils and written rights provisions. No enforcement records are supplied. Identify what can and cannot be concluded.
Answer and explanation

The packet supports a comparison of executive–legislative relationships: separate mandates in A and a confidence relationship in B. Local councils do not establish whether either system is federal, and written rights do not prove enforcement or judicial independence. Further constitutional and practical records are needed. The description does not justify ranking all decisions or generalizing about residents’ political preferences.

Compare selection and confidence rules.

Keep territorial authority separate.

Distinguish rights text from enforcement.

Response criteria

  • Explain the relevant institution or economic concept accurately; show correct calculations where needed.
  • Connect supplied evidence and stated assumptions to an explained conclusion.
  • Compare feasible options and their effects on different people without stereotypes.
  • Identify a limitation, tradeoff, uncertainty, or condition that qualifies the conclusion.

Problem 6

Does a government’s official democratic label establish competitive elections?
Answer and explanation

No. Investigate eligibility, meaningful alternatives, freedom to organize, counting, review, and transfers of authority in a specified period. The label is a claim or description to test against institutional practice.

Response criteria

  • Explain the relevant institution or economic concept accurately; show correct calculations where needed.
  • Connect supplied evidence and stated assumptions to an explained conclusion.
  • Compare feasible options and their effects on different people without stereotypes.
  • Identify a limitation, tradeoff, uncertainty, or condition that qualifies the conclusion.

Problem 7

Fictional System C has a local road council whose powers can be changed by central statute. Does the council establish federalism?
Answer and explanation

No. Local administration can exist in a unitary arrangement. Federalism concerns the constitutional distribution of authority. The statutory delegation shows a local role but does not establish independently protected regional powers.

Response criteria

  • Explain the relevant institution or economic concept accurately; show correct calculations where needed.
  • Connect supplied evidence and stated assumptions to an explained conclusion.
  • Compare feasible options and their effects on different people without stereotypes.
  • Identify a limitation, tradeoff, uncertainty, or condition that qualifies the conclusion.

Problem 8

One comparison uses court access in Country A and voter turnout in Country B. Explain why an overall accountability ranking does not follow.
Answer and explanation

The indicators concern different processes and may use different periods or populations. Accurate individual measures are not automatically comparable. Match criteria and definitions, or narrow the conclusion and state the missing evidence.

Response criteria

  • Explain the relevant institution or economic concept accurately; show correct calculations where needed.
  • Connect supplied evidence and stated assumptions to an explained conclusion.
  • Compare feasible options and their effects on different people without stereotypes.
  • Identify a limitation, tradeoff, uncertainty, or condition that qualifies the conclusion.

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