AP Comp Gov - Russia Short Answer

Russia Short Answer

2010 AP Exam

Three changes made during Putin’s presidency that are evidence that the Russian political system became more authoritarian.

• Presidential appointment of regional governors instead of direct election
• Creation of seven federal districts with appointment of super governor or presidential envoys
• Putin keeps an eye on all areas of Russia
• Concentration of power
• Change to selecting half of the federation council by presidential appointment
• Limits on electoral competition
• Concentration of power
• Creation of a dominant party (United Russia)
• Limits on parties
• Limits on electoral competition
• Increased state control of media
• Limits on media
• Appointing himself prime minister
• Concentration of power
• Arrests and convictions of opposition candidates and economically powerful individuals on limited evidence
• Limits on opposition
• Reduction of civil rights

2009 AP Exam

1. Describe Russia’s electoral system before the 2007 Duma elections. Explain how the electoral system shaped the pre-2007 Russian party system.

• A split electoral system, with one-half “first past the post” and one-half proportional representation
• A 5% threshold for parties to be included in the PR. Allowed for multiple parties to develop.

2. Describe a specific change to the Russian electoral system that was designed for the 2007 Duma elections and explain its impact on party competition

• The system became on proportional, no FPTP
• The party threshold was increased from 5 to 7%
• It decreased the diversity of political parties in the Duma and strengthened United Russia/other parties that supported Putin

3. Describe Mexico’s current electoral system

• System of both FPTP and PR in both chambers

4. Describe one electoral reform made in Mexico in the 1990s and explain how that reform affected Mexico’s party system

• Creation of an electoral commission to regulate campaigns and elections
• Limited the PR’s power

2008 AP Exam

Define political socialization

• The process by which people form their ideas about politics and acquire their ideas about government

Identify one agent of political socialization in Russia and explain how that agent you have identified promotes political socialization.

• The media
• Propaganda, false information, etc.

2008 AP Exam

1. Define economic liberalization and political liberalization

• Economic: Less government regulation of the economy and greater participation of private entities. Reducing government intervention in the economy.
• Political: increasing citizen rights and liberties, minimizing government supervision of society.

2. Describe one economic liberalization policy pursued in Mexico since 1985 and one economic liberalization policy pursued in Russia since 1991

• Mexico: approval of NAFTA, privatization of banks, joining WTO
• Russia: shock therapy (changing a centrally planned economy to a market economy almost overnight).

3. Describe one political liberalization policy undertaken in Mexico and one in Russia

• Mexico: Electoral reforms to reduce corruption
• Russia: 1993 Constitution guaranteed civil liberties

4. Compare one consequence of economic liberalization on social class in Mexico with one consequence of economic liberalization on social class in Russia.

• Mexico: farmers suffered economically
• Russia: incredibly rich oligarchs prospered
• Growing gap between the rich and poor.

2007 AP Exam

1. Define bicameralism

• Legislature with two houses

2. Identify which countries studied have a bicameral national legislature

• UK, Russia, Mexico

3. Explain why a federal democracy is likely to have a bicameral national legislature.

• To ensure that both regions/territories and individuals have representation.

4. Describe two implications of federalism for the policy-making process

• Slower lawmaking
• Broader representation
• Greater legitimacy

2007 AP Exam

1. Define referendum and describe one advantage for a government of holding a referendum.

• National vote by the electorate on an issue referred by the government
• Advantage: more democratic, legitimacy

2. Identify the official who has the power to call a referendum in Russia/GB. Describe one example of the use of one specific national referendum in Russia/GB.

• Russia: President. Example: ratification of the Russian Constitution.
• GB: Prime Minister. Example: single currency

2007 AP Exam

1. Define a unitary system of government. Define a federal system of government.

• Unitary: There is only that national government—no state or local government
• Federal: separation of power between the national government and state or local government

2. Describe one advantage of each.

• Unitary: uniform laws throughout the country—no conflicting laws in different areas.
• Federal: federal government has less power so the people have more say in government.

3. Describe how federal or unitary systems are reflected in the national legislatures in Britain and Russia.

• Britain: unitary system in that all laws are handled by the PM and his cabinet/House of Commons
• Russia: federal system—laws and movements are sent through separate institutions to be approved.

4. Describe how, since the late 1990s, Britain has become more federal and Russia has become more unitary.

• Britain: Britain’s government has devolved power to Northern Ireland and Scotland, who now have their own parliaments and can elect their own representatives.
• Russia: Putin has stripped local government of their power, placing more power in the central government.

2006 AP Exam

Identify two features of the Russian political system that make it a mixed presidential/parliamentary system of government.

• Presidential: direct election of the president, fixed election cycle
• Parliamentary system: irregular election cycle for the duma, PM is accountable to the Duma
• Mixed system: President can dissolve the DUma