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WorksheetsWeek 2 Study Guide
Total questions: 79
Worksheet time: 42mins
Which statement best describes the President (Uachtarán na hÉireann) in Ireland’s political system?
Judicial head with final appellate authority
Ceremonial head with limited constitutional powers
Executive head directing government departments
Legislative leader controlling Dáil procedures
How is the Irish President chosen and for how long may they serve at most?
Appointed by Dáil for one five-year term
Chosen by Cabinet for renewable six-year terms
Elected by people for two seven-year terms
Elected by Seanad for three four-year terms
Which powers are associated with the Irish President’s office?
Referring bills to a referendum
Proposing money bills in the Dáil
Appointing judges
Signing bills into law
What is the Oireachtas in the Irish political system?
The national parliament with two houses
The collective judiciary of courts
The council of local authorities
The cabinet of senior ministers
Which chamber is the Dáil Éireann and what is its primary role?
Executive chamber and cabinet forum
Judicial chamber and final appellate court
Upper house and advisory review body
Lower house and main legislative body
How are members of Dáil Éireann (TDs) elected?
By appointment from local councils
By first-past-the-post in single seats
By party lists with national thresholds
By proportional representation using STV
Which responsibilities belong to the Dáil Éireann?
Scrutinising the executive
Issuing court judgments
Passing laws
Approving the budget
Which statement about Seanad Éireann is accurate?
Court attached to the judiciary
Non-partisan council of ministers
Lower house with one hundred members
Upper house with sixty members
How are Irish Senators selected?
Appointed by the Taoiseach
Selected by the Supreme Court
Elected by universities
Chosen by the Dáil
Nominated by local authorities
What best characterises the legislative role of the Seanad Éireann?
Advisory review that cannot ultimately block laws
Final veto power over all Dáil legislation
Judicial review of constitutional questions
Primary originator of money bills and budgets
Who leads the Irish Government (Executive) and how are they appointed?
Tánaiste elected directly by the people
President elected by Dáil and Seanad jointly
Taoiseach appointed by President with Dáil support
Chief Justice appointed by Cabinet vote
Which statements about the Judiciary in Ireland are correct?
Judges serve until the age of seventy
Independent of legislature and executive
Supreme Court interprets the Constitution
Judges appointed by President on Taoiseach’s advice
Which feature of Ireland’s electoral system most often leads to coalition governments in the Dáil?
Majoritarian runoff for constituency seats
Party-list system with national thresholds
Single transferable vote with proportional outcomes
First-past-the-post in single-member districts
Fianna Fáil is best described as which of the following?
Far-left focused on syndicalist policies
Centrist pro-neutrality only party
Right-wing eurosceptic agrarian movement
Center-right with Irish republican roots
Which party traditionally supports a more pro–European Union stance and often rivals Fianna Fáil?
Green Party
Labour Party
Sinn Féin
Fine Gael
Sinn Féin primarily advocates which combination of goals?
Fiscal conservatism and tax cuts
Irish unity and social democracy
Monarchism and free-market orthodoxy
Isolationism and military expansion
The Labour Party in Ireland has historically emphasized which themes?
Regionalism, decentralization, cultural revival
Workers’ rights, social justice, welfare state
Privatization, austerity, balanced budgets
Monetary policy, export-led growth only
The Green Party’s main policy focus is on
Environmental sustainability and social justice
Agricultural subsidies and rural estates
Nuclear energy buildout and coal plants
Heavy industry tariffs and shipbuilding
Which statement about smaller parties and independents in Ireland is most accurate?
They are legally barred from cabinet roles
They can wield significant influence in coalitions
They rarely hold seats or affect policy
They operate only at local council level
Which are core functions of the Oireachtas? (Select all that apply.)
Approving the annual budget presented by government
Appointing judges to all superior courts
Passing legislation requiring presidential signature
Holding government accountable via scrutiny
After a general election, who is typically appointed Taoiseach?
Directly elected candidate nationwide
Leader of party with most seats or coalition
President’s preferred non-partisan technocrat
Most senior civil servant by tenure
Why are coalitions common in Ireland’s national government?
Upper house can veto all single-party laws
President allocates ministries proportionally
Constitution bans single-party cabinets
STV rarely gives a single-party majority
Government accountability in Ireland primarily means the Cabinet must
Maintain support of a majority of TDs
Secure consent of EU Parliament
Win a national referendum annually
Receive confidence from the President
Which statement about referenda in Ireland is correct?
Results are advisory and non-binding
Constitutional amendments require a majority vote
Only the President can call any referendum
Turnout must exceed seventy percent
Which topics were decided by Irish referenda in recent years? (Select all that apply.)
Creation of Seanad in 2012
Same-sex marriage in 2015
Adoption of euro in 2020
Abortion in 2018
Local government in Ireland is primarily composed of
County, city, and town councils
Provincial assemblies and governors
Regional parliaments and prefects
Parish boards and ward committees
Which services are typically managed by local councils? (Select all that apply.)
Housing and local planning
Transportation and local roads
National defense procurement
Primary responsibility for foreign policy
Which checks and balances involve the President and judiciary? (Select all that apply.)
Oireachtas appoints the President directly
President may refer certain bills to the people
Judiciary ensures laws conform to the Constitution
President may refer bills for constitutional review
Which issue became significant for Ireland after Brexit, particularly concerning the border?
Dissolution of local councils nationwide
Northern Ireland withdrawal from the European Union
Adoption of a new written constitution
Relationship with the UK and Northern Ireland
Ireland’s stance in international relations is best summarized as
Active EU member with traditional neutrality
Non-aligned and outside European integration
Military alliance leader with mandatory draft
Isolationist in trade and environmental policy
Which criticism of the party whip system focuses on representatives prioritising party directives over local needs?
It empowers local agency over party agendas
It compels TDs to follow party lines
It decentralises authority to constituencies
It increases direct democracy mechanisms
Which theorist argues that a just society is one that is fair, motivating scrutiny of electoral mechanisms?
David Held in Models of Democracy
Adam Smith in The Wealth of Nations
John Rawls in A Theory of Justice
Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan
Which concept from Martha Nussbaum supports criticism of the party whip system?
Market liberalism favouring competition
Capabilities approach emphasising individual agency
Social contract prioritising sovereign authority
Utilitarian calculus maximising aggregate welfare
Proponents justify the party whip system primarily on which ground?
It strengthens individual autonomy in voting
It preserves cohesion and stable governance
It increases proportionality of representation
It reduces role of political parties entirely
Which pair best matches the thinker with the aligned perspective on party discipline?
bell hooks—centralised control enhances voice
Rawls—individual sovereignty over collective goals
Hobbes—discipline ensures peace and order
Nussbaum—party loyalty advances agency
Which is a highlighted challenge associated with the PRSTV system?
It prevents minor parties from gaining seats
It creates voter confusion due to complexity
It abolishes constituency representation entirely
It mandates nationwide closed party lists
Which outcome from the 2020 election illustrates fragmentation concerns under PRSTV?
All small parties lost their representation
An independent president dissolved the Dáil
A three-party coalition held about 54% of seats
A single-party supermajority formed government
Which argument is advanced by PRSTV proponents regarding democratic inclusion?
It enables marginalised voices to gain a platform
It requires voter education cuts for simplicity
It limits diverse voices to stabilise policy
It concentrates power in dominant parties
Which feature most undermines the Seanad’s democratic legitimacy as described?
Absence of direct elections for most seats
Fixed six-year terms without reviews
Proportional representation by party lists
Overrepresentation of rural constituencies
Which thinker famously defended the trustee model with the Bristol speech?
Karl Marx endorsing workers’ councils
Jean-Jacques Rousseau supporting direct mandates
Thomas Hobbes arguing absolute sovereignty
Edmund Burke emphasising independent judgment
Which aspect of government would Thomas Hobbes most prioritize when evaluating electoral systems in Ireland?
Maximizing party cohesion and stability
Expanding direct citizen legislation
Protecting expansive individual autonomy
Eliminating central authority structures
From John Locke’s perspective, which reform would most likely improve democratic representation in Ireland?
Enhancing PRSTV proportional accuracy
Maintaining indirect Seanad elections
Increasing party whip enforcement
Reducing voter education efforts
Which pairing correctly matches the theorist with the emphasis described?
Burke—mandate for direct democracy
Locke—authority from hereditary rule
Hobbes—order through central authority
Rousseau—sovereignty vested in monarch
Which critique of the part‑whip system appears in the material?
It eliminates all party cohesion
It simplifies candidate selection
It can constrain individual judgment
It guarantees equal voter turnout
Which statement best captures the identified trade‑off of PRSTV in Ireland?
Greater proportionality yet higher complexity
Lower complexity yet weaker stability
More centralization yet broader rights
Stronger stability yet less representation
Which tension does the conclusion say TDs must balance to serve the long‑term interests of society?
Taxation and monetary policy
Local and international law
Judicial and executive roles
Trustee and delegate roles
Which body is responsible for proposing EU legislation and managing day-to-day operations?
European Commission
Court of Justice
European Parliament
European Council
How is membership of the European Commission structured?
Judges selected by the Parliament
Elected MEPs from each region
One Commissioner per member state
National ministers appointed by councils
Which objective motivated the creation of the EU after World War II?
Centralize military command structures
Reduce the number of member states
Expand colonial territories in Europe
Promote peace, stability, and prosperity
Which institution represents citizens directly through elected members?
European Commission
European Central Bank
European Parliament
European Council
Which EU body represents national governments and shares legislative power with Parliament?
European Commission executive board
Court of Justice of the EU judges
European Council heads summit
Council of the European Union ministers
What is the main role of the European Council?
Drafts and passes EU laws
Interprets and enforces EU law
Conducts parliamentary investigations
Sets overall political direction
Who sits in the European Council?
Ministers from sectoral councils
Commissioners and their staff
Heads of state or government
Members of European Parliament
Brexit most directly raised which type of question?
Currency union expansion plans
Membership and sovereignty debates
Uniform education standards
Military alliance obligations
Which mechanism supports democratic features within the EU?
Judicial review by local municipalities
Direct election of the European Parliament
Appointment of MEPs by national executives
Referendums for every EU directive
Select all correct roles the EU plays globally.
Negotiates trade deals collectively
Funds rights and democracy projects
Represents members in climate negotiations
Runs national police forces in member states
John Locke’s principle of consent of the governed is most reflected in which EU institution’s role?
European Council setting priorities
European Court enforcing treaties
European Parliament representing citizens
European Commission drafting proposals
Which philosopher’s ideas support open governance to prevent tyranny?
John Locke in Two Treatises
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Robert Dahl in On Democracy
Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan
What counterargument defends accountability of the unelected Commission?
ECB reports to national voters
Council conducts open deliberations
Parliament can approve or dismiss it
Citizens directly elect commissioners
Which thinkers’ ideas frame the tension between order and accountability in EU governance?
Thomas Hobbes on layered accountability
John Locke on consent of the governed
Karl Marx on class struggle
Jean‑Jacques Rousseau on general will
What broader political effect did Brexit have, as discussed?
Eliminated debates on sovereignty
Strengthened Eurosceptic parties elsewhere
Weakened Euroscepticism across Europe
Ended conflicts over media freedoms
Which agreement established Northern Ireland’s devolved government in 1998?
Anglo-Irish Agreement
Belfast Policing Accord
Good Friday Agreement
St Andrews Agreement
What does devolution mean in the context of Northern Ireland’s governance?
Creating a separate sovereign state
Transferring certain powers from Westminster
Replacing the UK Parliament entirely
Handing all powers to local councils
Which statement best describes the purpose of power sharing in Northern Ireland?
Guaranteeing independent ministers without parties
Giving both Unionists and Nationalists representation
Eliminating coalition governments entirely
Ensuring one party dominates decisions
Who typically supports remaining part of the UK and who generally supports a united Ireland?
Both groups support a united Ireland
Unionists back the UK; Nationalists support unity
Both groups prefer full independence
Unionists support unity; Nationalists back the UK
Which method allocates ministerial positions proportionally in the Executive?
Sainte-Laguë method
D’Hondt method
Borda count method
Hare quota method
Under the D’Hondt method, what happens after the party with most seats chooses first?
Ministries are auctioned to fund campaigns
Smaller parties are excluded from all choices
Selections continue using a seat-dividing formula
All remaining ministries go to independents
What is the typical outcome of using the D’Hondt method?
Equal ministries for all parties
Larger parties gain more ministries
Only minor parties receive ministries
Ministries are assigned randomly
How many members make up the Northern Ireland Assembly, and how are they elected?
60 members by first-past-the-post
90 members by Single Transferable Vote
75 members by alternative vote
120 members by party lists
Which responsibilities belong to the Northern Ireland Assembly? Select all that apply.
Passing laws on devolved areas
Scrutinising the Executive
Running UK-wide foreign policy
Representing all communities’ interests
What is a key safeguard for highly sensitive decisions in Northern Ireland?
Executive decree by largest party
Royal assent without voting
Cross-community support requirement
Simple majority of any parties
Which electoral system used for Assembly elections aims at proportional representation?
Two-Round System
First-Past-The-Post
Single Transferable Vote
Supplementary Vote
Who jointly leads the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure representation from both communities?
An appointed Westminster Commissioner
Two Co-Ministers from any parties
A First Minister and Deputy First Minister
A rotating single-party Prime Minister
Which factor has repeatedly led to collapse or suspension of the Executive?
Budget deficits alone
Low voter turnout in local elections
Disagreements between Unionist and Nationalist parties
Lack of civil service capacity
How have Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol impacted relationships within Northern Ireland politics?
They removed customs checks entirely
They strained Unionist–Nationalist relations
They resolved longstanding party disputes
They ended cross-community safeguards
What specific concern did Unionists have regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol?
A customs border in the Irish Sea
Closure of cross-border institutions
Loss of Assembly voting rights
Mandatory EU membership reinstatement
Which parties share power through ministerial roles under the structures described?
Green Party of England and Wales
Alliance Party
Sinn Féin
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
What condition must key laws and policies meet to ensure minority protections?
Support from the largest party only
Cross-community agreement
Approval by Westminster alone
Automatic passage after committee review
Which term refers to transferring powers from Westminster to Northern Ireland?
Confederation
Home rule charter
Devolved government
Federalization
