A multiple choice exercise

 

Choose the correct answer for each question based on a comparison of the British and Italian systems of government.

1. Who is the Head of State in the United Kingdom?

• a) The Prime Minister

• b) The President

• c) The Monarch

• d) The Speaker of the House of Commons

2. Who is the Head of State in Italy?

• a) The Prime Minister

• b) The President

• c) The King

• d) The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies

3. Which of the following best describes the UK’s form of government?

• a) Parliamentary Republic

• b) Presidential Republic

• c) Constitutional Monarchy

• d) Direct Democracy

4. Which of the following best describes Italy's form of government?

• a) Parliamentary Monarchy

• b) Parliamentary Republic

• c) Absolute Monarchy

• d) Federal Republic

5. How is the UK Parliament structured?

• a) One house, the House of Lords

• b) One house, the House of Commons

• c) Two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords

• d) Two houses: the House of Deputies and the Senate

6. How is the Italian Parliament structured?

• a) One house, the House of Commons

• b) Two houses: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate

• c) One house, the Senate

• d) One house, the Chamber of Deputies

7. How are members of the UK House of Commons elected?

• a) By a proportional representation system

• b) By a single transferable vote

• c) By a first-past-the-post system in individual constituencies

• d) By a regional list system

8. How are members of the Italian Chamber of Deputies elected?

• a) By a first-past-the-post system

• b) By a proportional representation system with a mixed-member system

• c) By a single transferable vote

• d) By regional elections

9. What is the role of the Prime Minister in the UK?

• a) The head of the government, with executive powers

• b) The ceremonial leader with no real political power

• c) The head of the state

• d) The leader of the opposition party

10. What is the role of the Prime Minister in Italy?

• a) The head of the state

• b) The head of the government, but with less power than in the UK

• c) The ceremonial leader with no real political power

• d) The leader of the opposition party

11. Which country has a written constitution?

• a) The United Kingdom

• b) Italy

• c) Both the United Kingdom and Italy

• d) Neither the United Kingdom nor Italy

12. How is the judiciary in the UK structured?

• a) A strong, independent judiciary with no interference from the government

• b) Part of the executive branch of government

• c) The judiciary is subordinate to the monarch

• d) The judiciary is part of the legislative branch

13. How is the judiciary in Italy structured?

• a) A strong, independent judiciary with no interference from the government

• b) The judiciary is appointed by the Prime Minister

• c) The judiciary is subordinate to the President

• d) The judiciary is part of the legislative branch

14. Which of the following is true about the UK’s relationship with the European Union?

• a) The UK has never been a member of the European Union

• b) The UK left the European Union in 2020, following the Brexit referendum

• c) The UK has been part of the EU since 1957

• d) The UK is currently in a customs union with the EU

15. Which of the following is true about Italy’s relationship with the European Union?

• a) Italy is not a member of the European Union

• b) Italy was a founding member of the European Union

• c) Italy left the European Union in 2020, following the Brexit referendum

• d) Italy is in a customs union with the UK

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Answer Key:

1. c) The Monarch

2. b) The President

3. c) Constitutional Monarchy

4. b) Parliamentary Republic

5. c) Two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords

6. b) Two houses: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate

7. c) By a first-past-the-post system in individual constituencies

8. b) By a proportional representation system with a mixed-member system

9. a) The head of the government, with executive powers

10. b) The head of the government, but with less power than in the UK

11. b) Italy

12. a) A strong, independent judiciary with no interference from the government

13. a) A strong, independent judiciary with no interference from the government

14. b) The UK left the European Union in 2020, following the Brexit referendum

15. b) Italy was a founding member of the European Union