UCSP QUIZ

1. 1. In band societies, political decisions are often made through informal mechanisms. Which of the following best describes the nature of leadership in bands?

• a) Charismatic authority with coercive power

• b) Situational leadership without fixed authority

• c) Hereditary leadership passed down within families

• d ) Elected officials who hold long-term power

2. 2. Tribes are usually described as "segmentary" societies. What does this term imply about their social and political structure?

• a) They are divided into highly unequal social classes.

• b) They consist of independent but related subgroups, often linked by kinship.

• c) They are organized into rigid, centralized hierarchies.

• • d) They rely on formal institutions for law enforcement.

3. 3. Which of the following best describes the role of the "Big Man" in Melanesian tribal societies?

• a) A hereditary leader with permanent authority

• b) A figure who gains influence through personal achievements and redistributive generosity

• c) A religious leader responsible for ritual ceremonies

• • d) An elected official responsible for mediating tribal disputes

4. In chiefdoms, the political economy is often based on redistribution. Which of the following explains the redistributive system?

• a) Chiefs collect resources and redistribute them equally to all members of the society.

• b) Chiefs accumulate wealth for themselves and exclude commoners from economic gains.

• c) Wealth is privately owned, and there is little redistribution.

• d) Resources are exchanged through a market system independent of the chief’s authority.

5. 5. Which of the following differentiates chiefdoms from tribes?

• a) Chiefdoms rely on kin-based leadership, while tribes have centralized political authority.

• b) Chiefdoms are egalitarian, while tribes have stratified hierarchies.

• c) Chiefdoms have a permanent and hereditary leadership, while tribal leadership is more situational or temporary.

• d) Chiefdoms lack social stratification, while tribes have defined upper and lower classes.

6. 6. In state-level societies, one of the key functions of the bureaucracy is to:

• a) Enforce the will of the chief across different regions.

• b) Manage the redistribution of wealth between elite and commoners.

• c) Create laws and enforce them through a standardized legal code.

• d) Mediate interpersonal conflicts based solely on kinship ties.

7. 7. In tribal societies, conflict resolution typically involves which of the following?

• a) A legal system with formal courts and judges.

• b) Warfare as the primary means of resolving disputes.

• c) Mediation by elders or influential figures within the community.

• d) Punitive imprisonment for serious offenses.

8. 8. One of the main features that distinguishes states from other forms of political organization is:

• a) The centralization of authority under a single individual.

• b) The ability to enforce laws over a defined territory through the use of coercion.

• c) The focus on kinship as the basis for political organization.

• d) The absence of formal legal institutions.

9. 9. Which of the following political forms is most associated with the development of monumental architecture and complex administrative systems?

• a) Bands

• b) Tribes

• c) Chiefdoms

• d) States

10. 10. In many early societies, what role did religion play in legitimizing political power?

• a) Religion was separate from political authority and had little influence on governance.

• b) Leaders were often seen as divine or appointed by gods, thus justifying their rule.

• c) Religious authority was used primarily for conflict resolution without political influence.

• d) The religious leaders held equal political power to kings or rulers.