PSC2601
Assignment 02 (Quiz 2)
Semester 2, 2024
Kindly see below the questions for your Assignment 02. The quiz allows 3 attempts
of which the highest mark will be allocated to you. Please consult the Announcements
to confirm which Units you should prepare.
QUESTION 1
Which one of the following is NOT a concurrent power jointly exercised by the provincial
and national governments?
a. Welfare services
b. Tertiary education
c. Housing
d. Local government
QUESTION 2
Which executive system of local government is presented in the following statement?
“The mayor and executive committee are elected by the municipal council. In most cases
the executive committee consists of the members of the main parties in the council, and
they are represented on a proportional basis in the committee. Executive powers are
attached to the committee and not to the mayor.”
a. Executive mayoral system
b. Collective executive system
c. Plenary executive system
d. District executive system
QUESTION 3
Which type of municipality is described by the following?
“It consists of a number of municipalities. They share power with local councils in that
area and their function is to coordinate the activities of these local municipalities”.
a. Metropolitan municipalities
b. Local municipalities
c. District municipalities
d. Megacity municipalities
QUESTION 4
Which one of the following does not form part of the spheres of government?
a. National
b. Provincial
c. Local
a. Council
QUESTION 5
Which one of the following chapter nine institutions is not funded by the national
parliament?
a. The Electoral Commission of South Africa.
b. The Public Protector
c. The Auditor-General of South Africa.
d. The Commission for Gender Equality.
QUESTION 6
Which one of the following options is the most accurate statement about the Electoral
Commission as a Chapter 9 institution?
a. Registration of voters is the responsibility of political parties.
b. The IEC is responsible to manage all national, provincial and local government
elections.
c. It should consist of at least five members, appointed by the President on advice
of Parliament, for a period of five years.
d. The Electoral Court (on the advice of the IEC) should declare an election as free
and fair.
QUESTION 7
This question deals with the Public Protector.
“A member of the public wanted to report a case about neighbours who started a
business in their home which causes unacceptable noise and traffic in the area. The
home is not zoned for business purposes and is therefore illegal. The matter has not
been referred to the municipal authority. The person approaches you for advice whether
this case can be reported to the Public Protector”.
What will be your best advice?
a. It can be reported to the Public Protector, because it deals with a public issue,
abuse of power by the neighbours and neglect by the municipal government to
act against it.
b. It can be reported to Public Protector, because it deals with violations of the
municipal by-laws, which is a public issue.
c. It cannot be reported to the Public Protector, because only public officials can
report matters to that office.
d. It cannot be reported to the Public Protector, because only matters related state
institutions and state affairs can be investigated, while this is a private matter.
QUESTION 8
Which one of the following chapter nine institutions is not funded by the national
parliament?
a. The Electoral Commission of South Africa.
b. The Public Protector
c. The Auditor-General of South Africa.
d. The Commission for Gender Equality.
QUESTION 9
Which one of the following options is the most accurate description of what “voter
turnout” is?
a. It is the number of voters who voted in an election as a percentage of the total
number of registered voters.
b. It is the number of registered voters as a percentage of the total number of
eligible voters.
c. It is the number of eligible voters as a percentage of the number of voters who
voted in an election.
d. It is the number of voters who are registered to vote.
QUESTION 10
The following statement relates to voter turnout in general. Indicate the correct
combination of the missing words.
“It has been observed in general that (i) …. systems have relatively higher voter turnout
figures than (ii) …. systems”.
a. (i) constituency-based (ii) proportional representation
b. (i) proportional representation (ii) constituency-based
c. (i) List PR (ii) mixed-member proportional
d. (i) mixed-member proportional (ii) List PR
QUESTION 11
The following statement deals with voter turnout in South Africa. Indicate which option
is the most accurate.
“The general view is that voter turnout is higher during National and Provincial than
Local elections, because voters assume that decision-making is primarily a national
function, including service delivery at the local level”.
a. True, but it is only a general perception and there is no evidence that supports
the believe that voters think all decisions are taken only at the national level.
b. True, because the voter turnout of National and Provincial elections is generally
about 20% higher than Local elections.
c. False, because the voter turnout in the 2016 Local election had increased while
the voter turnout in the 2019 National and Provincial elections had decreased.
d. False, because the National/Provincial and Local elections are taking place in
different years and therefore it is impossible to compare them with each other.
QUESTION 12
Which type of electoral system is used for municipal (local) elections?
a. Fixed lists proportional representation system
b. First-past-the-post system
c. Mixed-member proportional system
d. Multi-member proportional system
QUESTION 13
The traditional authorities in South Africa are accommodated in the Constitution. Which
option MISREPRESENTS this constitutional position?
a. Recognise traditional leadership their authority is subject to the Constitution
b. Participate in government only in local government
c. Customary law excludes Constitution’s authority on traditional issues
d. Traditional Authority their role and function includes facilitation
QUESTION 14
“According to the Constitution, the executive and legislative authority of a municipality is
vested in its municipal council. There are differences of opinion whether it excludes
traditional authorities from government, because the Constitution does recognize
traditional leadership and customary law. Traditional authorities are also involved in
judicial matters and dispute resolution as well as ceremonial functions”.
a. Correct, because traditional authorities are not excluded from playing a role also
in municipal councils in terms of national legislation. Customary law is
recognised by the Constitution insofar as it is not in conflict with constitutional
principles.
b. Correct, because municipal councils can automatically include traditional
councils, which means that they don’t have to be elected in municipal elections.
c. Incorrect, because traditional leaders are not part of the judiciary and can
therefore not play judicial functions. Customary law is applied only by courts.
d. Incorrect, because traditional authorities are regarded as the “fourth tier of
government”.
QUESTION 15
The Chapter 9 institutions are used to support constitutional democracy. The six
institutions have common characteristics. Which option is INACCURATE about these
characteristics?
a. Most of their members are chosen by Parliament and they must report annually
to the legislature.
b. They are independent of government and must do their work in an impartial
manner.
c. They are protected by the courts against becoming politicised. They cannot be
removed from office by Parliament or any other institution.
d. The terms of office of the members of these institutions are not all the same.
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UNISA
2024
