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AP Comparative Government and Politics Practice Quiz: Electoral Systems and Rules

Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026

Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 9 questions to check your progress.

Question 1 of 9

Which of the following best describes a key difference between the electoral systems for the lower houses of the United Kingdom and Mexico?

All Questions (9)

Which of the following best describes a key difference between the electoral systems for the lower houses of the United Kingdom and Mexico?

A) The UK uses a proportional representation system, while Mexico uses a single-member district system.

B) Mexico uses a mixed system of single-member districts and proportional representation, while the UK uses only single-member districts.

C) Both countries use a first-past-the-post system, but Mexico incorporates gender quotas.

D) The UK selects members indirectly through regional elections, while Mexico uses direct elections.

Correct Answer: B

The provided text states that the UK's House of Commons members are elected under 'single member district, first-past-the-post rules.' In contrast, Mexico's Chamber of Deputies has 300 members from single-member districts and 200 members elected by proportional representation, which is a mixed system.

Based on the information provided, which country's electoral system for its national legislature is structured to be the least competitive in terms of candidate selection?

A) Nigeria, where two major parties alternate control.

B) Iran, where candidates are vetted by the Guardian Council before they can run.

C) Russia, which uses a proportional representation system with a threshold.

D) China, where members are selected indirectly through a series of local elections.

Correct Answer: B

The text states that in Iran, candidates for the Majles are 'vetted by the Guardian Council.' This vetting process acts as a significant barrier to entry for potential candidates, limiting the competitiveness of the election by pre-selecting who is allowed to run, which is a more direct constraint on competition than the other options describe.

According to the text, all of the following countries use some form of direct election for their national legislature EXCEPT:

A) China

B) Iran

C) Nigeria

D) United Kingdom

Correct Answer: A

The text explicitly states that 'The National People’s Congress of China selects members indirectly through a series of local and regional elections.' The other countries listed (Iran, Nigeria, UK) are all described as having members directly elected to their respective legislative bodies.

The description of Russia's State Duma elections best illustrates which concept from the provided text?

A) Proportional representation promotes multiparty systems.

B) Electoral rules can be changed to advance different political interests.

C) Gender quotas can increase female representation in the legislature.

D) Reserved seats can be used to ensure minority representation.

Correct Answer: B

The text states that 'Changes to state Duma elections in Russia have returned it to a system...' This reference to 'Changes' directly supports the introductory idea that 'in other regimes rules are frequently changed to advance different political interests.'

Which two countries described in the text both utilize a mixed electoral system that combines single-member districts with proportional representation for at least one chamber of their national legislature?

A) United Kingdom and Nigeria

B) Iran and China

C) Mexico and Russia

D) Nigeria and Iran

Correct Answer: C

The text describes Mexico's Chamber of Deputies and Senate as using a mix of single-member districts and proportional representation. It also states that Russia's State Duma uses a system where 'half of the representatives are directly elected from single-member districts and the other half are chosen through elections that use proportional representation.'

According to the passage, the use of gender quotas within the party list system in Mexico has had which of the following effects?

A) It has led to a two-party dominant system.

B) It has required a second round of voting in most elections.

C) It has helped increase female representation in the legislature.

D) It has been replaced by a first-past-the-post system.

Correct Answer: C

The text makes a direct causal link, stating that in Mexico, 'gender quotas in the party list system have helped increase female representation in the legislature.'

Based on the principle that 'proportional representation relies on multimember districts that promote multiparty systems,' which country's electoral system is most likely to result in a multiparty legislature?

A) United Kingdom, with its first-past-the-post rules.

B) Nigeria, where two major parties have alternated control in single-member districts.

C) Mexico, which elects a significant portion of both legislative chambers via proportional representation.

D) Iran, which lacks formal political party structures.

Correct Answer: C

The text states that proportional representation promotes multiparty systems. Mexico's system is described as having 200 members of the Chamber of Deputies and 32 members of the Senate elected by proportional representation, a significant portion that would encourage the development and success of multiple parties more than the purely single-member district systems of the UK and Nigeria.

How is representation in Nigeria's bicameral legislature determined?

A) Both the House and Senate have representation based on population size.

B) The House has representation based on population, while the Senate has equal representation for each state.

C) Both chambers use a proportional representation party-list system.

D) The House has equal representation for each state, while the Senate's representation is based on population.

Correct Answer: B

The text specifies that for Nigeria's House of Representatives, 'the number of representatives elected from each state is based on population size,' whereas the Senate 'has three members directly elected from each of Nigeria’s 36 states,' indicating equal representation per state.

A unique feature of Iran's Majles, as described in the text, is the

A) use of a mixed proportional and single-member district system.

B) indirect selection of its members through regional councils.

C) alternation of control between two major, formalized political parties.

D) reservation of seats for specific non-Muslim religious minorities.

Correct Answer: D

The text specifically mentions that in Iran's Majles, 'a small number of the 290 seats in the Majles are reserved for non-Muslim minorities, such as Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians.' This is a distinctive feature not mentioned for the other course countries.