UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — A new political balance in Washington

Q1. With reference to midterm elections in the United States, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. They are held halfway through the President's four-year term and do not decide who holds the presidency.
  2. Their results can change the party balance in both houses of Congress at the same election.
  3. Because senators are elected on a staggered basis, the composition of the Senate is not affected by midterm elections.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only

Q2. Consider the following facts about the US federal system. Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms, and every seat is contested in each even-numbered year. Senators serve six-year terms, staggered so that about one-third of the seats are contested every two years. The President is elected for a four-year term. Consider the following inferences: Which of the inferences given above can validly be drawn from these facts?

  1. In each presidential term, the entire House faces the electorate at least once in an election where the presidency is not on the ballot.
  2. A senator elected in the same year as a President can remain in office after that President's term ends without having faced re-election.
  3. The House is more directly exposed than the Senate to a short-term swing in voter mood.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q3. With reference to the terms 'lame duck' and 'divided government' as used in US politics, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A President serving a final term that cannot be renewed can be called a lame duck even while the President's own party controls both houses of Congress.
  2. The two terms describe the same situation, because each arises only when the President's party loses control of Congress.
  3. Divided government can exist from the very start of a presidential term if voters elect a President of one party and a House majority of another.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q4. Consider the following statements in the context of the India–US framework for an interim trade agreement: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Under an interim trade agreement leading to a free-trade area, two WTO members may give each other tariff concessions that they do not extend to other WTO members.
  2. The WTO's Most-Favoured-Nation principle applies only to multilateral agreements and does not bind members in their bilateral trade arrangements.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q5. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Unlike a US President, an Indian Prime Minister cannot remain in office for the rest of the Lok Sabha's term after the Lok Sabha has expressed a lack of confidence in the Council of Ministers.
  2. The Council of Ministers in India is collectively responsible to the House of the People.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q6. Consider the following assertion: 'A House of Representatives controlled by the opposition can constrain a President's unilateral policies even though it cannot remove the President from office on its own.' Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above support the assertion?

  1. The President holds office only as long as the President retains the confidence of a majority in the House.
  2. Every federal law, including those funding executive programmes, needs the approval of the House.
  3. The House can dissolve itself and seek a fresh mandate to strengthen its hand against the President.
  4. House committees can scrutinise executive actions through oversight hearings.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Q7. Suppose a party holds a simple majority in the US House of Representatives but well under two-thirds of the seats in either house, while the President belongs to a rival party. Consider the following inferences about what this party can do: Which of the inferences given above can validly be drawn?

  1. It can initiate impeachment proceedings against the President.
  2. It can enact its own legislative agenda even over the President's veto.
  3. It cannot, by itself, secure the President's removal from office.
  4. It can ensure that no new revenue-raising law is enacted without the consent of the chamber it controls.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q8. With reference to an 'interim agreement' leading to a free-trade area under Article XXIV of GATT, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Once notified to the WTO, such an agreement may be kept in force indefinitely even if the parties never complete the free-trade area.
  2. It is expected to include a plan and schedule for completing the free-trade area within a reasonable length of time.
  3. On its institution, the duties applied by the parties to trade with non-members should not, on the whole, be higher or more restrictive than before.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 2 only