Deck 6: Congress

Question 1

Most districts that are majority Black are

A) not represented in Congress.
B) represented by Black legislators.
C) represented by White legislators.
D) represented by Latino legislators.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

A person who is chosen to make laws on behalf of a defined group of people is called a

A) constituency.
B) party.
C) representative.
D) All of the above

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A _______ is composed of the people who select a representative to act on their behalf.

A) constituency
B) party
C) legislature
D) committee

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Constituencies are generally determined by

A) religious sect.
B) racial composition.
C) geographic region.
D) interest groups.

Question 5

What is the state of representation in the United States?

A) All people living under American control have representation in Congress.
B) Only a few people living under American control have representation in Congress.
C) The issue of which individuals under American control have representation in Congress is not of consequence.
D) A significant portion of people living under American control does not have representation in Congress.

Question 6

Which of the following send nonvoting representatives to Congress?

A) American Samoa
B) Washington, DC
C) Guam
D) All of the above

Question 7

What is the process of allotting states a specific number of representatives based on decennial census figures?

A) Apportionment
B) Reapportionment
C) Preapportionment
D) Malapportionment

Question 8

Members of the House of Representatives represent people living in

A) urban or suburban areas.
B) districts within states.
C) Both of the above
D) Neither of the above

Question 9

When was the number of members of Congress permanently capped at 435?

A) 1790
B) 1874
C) 1930
D) 1910

Question 10

The total number of voting members of Congress is

A) 110.
B) 289.
C) 435.
D) 535.

Question 11

Redistricting is a

A) process by which a state is divided into geographical regions, with each region electing a member of the House of Representatives.
B) practice in which a group, usually a political party, uses the redrawing of district lines to maximize its chances of winning elections.
C) practice of electing representatives to political positions.
D) process for redistributing the total number of seats in a legislature based on shifting populations.

Question 12

Gerrymandering is a

A) process by which a state is divided into geographical regions, with each region electing a member of the House of Representatives.
B) practice in which a group, usually a political party, uses the redrawing of district lines to maximize its chances of winning elections.
C) practice of electing representatives to political positions.
D) process for redistributing the total number of seats in a legislature based on shifting populations.

Question 13

_______ are legislative districts that contain a population made up of more than 50 percent of a racial or ethnic minority groups.

A) Parliamentary districts
B) Majority-minority districts
C) Proportional districts
D) Minority-majority districts

Question 14

The number and proportion of Black and Latino House members have increased significantly since

A) 1988.
B) 1990.
C) 1992.
D) 1994.

Question 15

Which of the following groups has been historically underrepresented in Congress?

A) Blacks
B) Latinos
C) Asian Americans
D) All of the above

Question 16

Descriptive representation refers to the extent to which

A) representatives advocate policies that benefit their constituents.
B) the characteristics of a representative correspond with the general characteristics of his or her own constituency.
C) constituents trust and accept their representative and the legislative institution as a whole.
D) constituents are able to choose representatives to hold public office.

Question 17

Substantive representation refers to the extent to which

A) representatives advocate policies that benefit their constituents.
B) the characteristics of a representative correspond with the general characteristics of his or her own constituency.
C) constituents trust and accept their representative and the legislative institution as a whole.
D) constituents are able to choose representatives to hold public office.

Question 18

Symbolic representation refers to the extent to which

A) representatives advocate policies that benefit their constituents.
B) the characteristics of a representative correspond with the general characteristics of his or her own constituency.
C) constituents trust and accept their representative and the legislative institution as a whole.
D) constituents are able to choose representatives to hold public office.

Question 19

What is the relationship between descriptive and substantive representation?

A) You can have descriptive without substantive.
B) You can have substantive without descriptive.
C) You can have both descriptive and substantive simultaneously.
D) All of the above

Question 20

When a voter votes for a candidate solely based on whether the candidate "looks like" him or her, the voter is opting specifically for

A) direct representation.
B) descriptive representation.
C) symbolic representation.
D) substantive representation.

Question 21

When a voter votes for a candidate based on the fact that his or her policy positions line up with the interests of the voter, he or she is opting specifically for

A) direct representation.
B) descriptive representation.
C) symbolic representation.
D) substantive representation.

Question 22

Which of the following groups has the most members in the House of Representatives?

A) African Americans
B) Latinos
C) Asian American
D) American Indians

Question 23

Why is it more difficult for racial and ethnic minorities to win Senate elections?

A) Racialized voting on behalf of Whites
B) Senators represent entire states
C) Few states have large minority populations
D) All of the above

Question 24

Mass organizations that seek to elect candidates to public office and influence policymaking are known as

A) political institutions.
B) political parties.
C) interest groups.
D) social movements.

Question 25

The political party in the House or the Senate that has more than half of the seats and therefore controls the leadership, rules, and outcome of legislation is known as the

A) political party.
B) majority party.
C) minority party.
D) None of the above

Question 26

The political party in the House or the Senate that has fewer than half of the seats and therefore does not control the leadership, rules, or outcome of legislation is known as the

A) political party.
B) majority party.
C) minority party.
D) None of the above

Question 27

The leader of the majority party who possesses the most powerful position in the House of Representatives is known as the

A) House majority leader.
B) Speaker of the House.
C) House minority leader.
D) majority whip.

Question 28

The second most powerful leader in the House of Representatives, who assists the Speaker in passing the majority party's legislative priorities, is known as the

A) House majority leader.
B) Speaker of the House.
C) House minority leader.
D) majority whip.

Question 29

A legislative leader who assists the party by counting votes and persuading members to vote according to the party leaders' wishes is known as the

A) House majority leader.
B) Speaker of the House.
C) House minority leader.
D) whip.

Question 30

The leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives, who articulates the legislative priorities of the minority party and opposes the majority party's priorities but exerts minimal control over the outcome of legislation, is known as the

A) House majority leader.
B) Speaker of the House.
C) House minority leader.
D) majority whip.

Question 31

How many minority senators were there in the 117^th Congress, which ends in January 2023?

A) 6
B) 7
C) 8
D) 9

Question 32

What is one major dimension along which Congress organizes itself?

A) Gender
B) Political party
C) Race
D) Religion

Question 33

The person who has the most powerful position in the Senate, who articulates the majority party's legislative priorities and works to pass them, is known as the

A) Senate majority leader.
B) Senate majority whip.
C) Senate minority leader.
D) Senate minority whip.

Question 34

The leader of the minority party of the Senate, who articulates the legislative priorities of the minority party and opposes the majority party's priorities but exerts minimal control over the outcome of legislation, is known as the

A) Senate majority leader.
B) Senate majority whip.
C) Senate minority leader.
D) Senate minority whip.

Question 35

A majority party leader in the Senate who counts votes, persuades members to vote according to the leadership's wishes, and assists the majority leader in passing the majority party's legislation is known as the

A) Senate majority leader.
B) Senate majority whip.
C) Senate minority leader.
D) Senate minority whip.

Question 36

Congressional committees increase the efficiency of the legislature through

A) division of labor.
B) specialization of labor.
C) Both of the above
D) None of the above

Question 37

Can committees amend bills?

A) No
B) Yes, in markup sessions
C) Only when the main sponsor is on the committee
D) Sometimes

Question 38

Who determines the committee a bill is assigned to when it is introduced in the House of Representatives?

A) House majority leader
B) Speaker of the House
C) House minority leader
D) Majority whip

Question 39

Which of the following is accurate?

A) The Speaker of the House recommends passage or rejection of bills.
B) The committees recommend passage or rejection of bills.
C) Both of the above
D) None of the above

Question 40

How many majority leaders have been non-White?

A) 0
B) 1
C) 2
D) 3

Question 41

How many Speakers of the House have been non-White?

A) 0
B) 1
C) 2
D) 3

Question 42

Committee and subcommittee chairs have the authority to call meetings, preside over markup sessions, and

A) directly impeach Supreme Court justices.
B) unilaterally pass spending bills.
C) decide which witnesses testify at hearings.
D) choose replacements for U. S. Senators.

Question 43

What was a highly successful tactic used by conservative White Southern committee chairs in the 1950s to prevent the passage of civil rights legislation?

A) Refusing to schedule a bill for committee action
B) Completely changing the bill in the markup session
C) Working to get the committee to vote to reject the bill
D) Refusing to take the bill into the committee when the Speaker assigns it

Question 44

In terms of committees, what is seniority?

A) Long-term membership in a political party
B) Long-term membership
C) Long-term service on a committee
D) Long-term support or opposition for a policy before a committee

Question 45

What is the main requirement for becoming a committee chair?

A) Minority party affiliation
B) Seniority
C) Race
D) Gender

Question 46

When did states begin to create majority-minority districts?

A) 1930s
B) 1950s
C) 1980s
D) 2010s

Question 47

Informal organizations within Congress are called

A) subparties.
B) mini-orgs.
C) caucuses.
D) meetings.

Question 48

What is the focus of congressional caucuses?

A) Cultural concerns
B) Economic issues
C) Geographic issues
D) All of the above

Question 49

An informal organization consisting of African Americans elected to the United States Congress is known as the

A) Congressional African American Caucus.
B) Congressional Black Caucus.
C) Congressional Colored Peoples Caucus.
D) Congressional Negro Caucus.

Question 50

Congressional caucuses are

A) bipartisan but not bicameral.
B) bicameral but not bipartisan.
C) bipartisan and bicameral.
D) None of the above

Question 51

In terms of the lawmaking process, the House and the Senate have

A) similar processes.
B) different processes and different amounts of political party power.
C) different processes but similar amounts of political party power.
D) completely unrelated processes.

Question 52

Why is the House Rules Committee such an important committee?

A) It decides how a bill will be considered by the full House.
B) It decides whether a bill will be considered by the full House.
C) It decides which committee a bill will go to.
D) All of the above

Question 53

The published record of the official proceedings of Congress is known as the

A) Congressional Register.
B) Congressional Record.
C) Congressional Marker.
D) Congressional Staff.

Question 54

Which of the following is accurate?

A) The House minority party dominates the content of legislation and the speed with which it passes.
B) Neither House party dominates the content of legislation and the speed with which it passes.
C) The House majority party dominates the content of legislation and the speed with which it passes.
D) The most senior members of the House dominate the content of legislation and the speed with which it passes.

Question 55

The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

A) lacks the power to schedule bills on the Senate floor.
B) decides whether the full Senate will consider a bill.
C) decides which committee a bill will go to.
D) All of the above

Question 56

A filibuster is a

A) parliamentary technique in the Senate that allows senators to delay or block votes by talking endlessly.
B) procedure in the Senate to stop a filibuster that requires three-fifths of the senators (60) agreeing to end debate.
C) process through which a member of the executive or judicial branch is removed from office.
D) None of the above

Question 57

A cloture vote refers to a

A) parliamentary technique in the Senate that allows senators to delay or block votes by talking endlessly.
B) procedure in the Senate to stop a filibuster that requires three-fifths of the senators (60) agreeing to end debate.
C) process through which a member of the executive or judicial branch is removed from office.
D) None of the above

Question 58

The tool of _______ has been used to prevent the passage of civil rights legislation.

A) the filibuster
B) the cloture vote
C) impeachment
D) None of the above

Question 59

A committee composed of members of the House and the Senate that reconciles different versions of the same bill is known as a

A) discussion committee.
B) subcommittee.
C) conference committee.
D) bicameral committee.

Question 60

Which of the following is a nonlegislative function of the Congress?

A) Impeachment
B) Confirming presidential appointments
C) Executive and judicial oversight
D) All of the above

Question 61

The process by which the House of Representatives charges a president, vice president, or federal judge with a high crime or misdemeanor and then the Senate decides whether to remove that official from office with a two-thirds vote is known as

A) filibuster.
B) cloture.
C) impeachment.
D) None of the above

Question 62

How many presidents have been removed from office?

A) Zero
B) One
C) Two
D) Three

Question 63

How is congressional oversight generally handled?

A) By majority party members
B) By committees and subcommittees
C) By caucuses
D) By the Speaker of the House and the Senate majority leader

Question 64

A period in which both houses of Congress are controlled by the same party as the president is known as

A) ineffective government.
B) effective government.
C) unified government.
D) divided government.

Question 65

A period in which the president is of one political party and the majority of one or both houses of Congress are of the other party is known as

A) ineffective government.
B) effective government.
C) unified government.
D) divided government.

Question 66

The makeup of Congress in 2017 when President Trump first took office was an example of

A) ineffective government.
B) effective government.
C) unified government.
D) divided government.

Question 67

The makeup of the 116^th Congress in 2019 after the 2018 midterm elections was an example of

A) ineffective government.
B) effective government.
C) unified government.
D) divided government.

Question 68

Which of the following influences congressional decision making?

A) Colleagues
B) Constituents
C) Party leaders
D) All of the above

Question 69

According to Mayhew, members of Congress are primarily concerned with

A) constituent interests.
B) reelection.
C) position perks.
D) election money.

Question 70

Favors and other forms of assistance that members of Congress provide to their constituents are known as

A) gifts.
B) favoritism.
C) casework.
D) home work.

Question 71

Members of Congress use _______ for attaining their reelection goals.

A) gifts
B) favoritism
C) casework
D) home work

Question 72

The ability of members of Congress to send noncampaign material to their constituents free of charge is known as the

A) franking privilege.
B) candidate privilege.
C) electoral privilege.
D) None of the above

Question 73

What kind of material are members of Congress not allowed to send under the franking privilege?

A) Newsletters
B) Campaign material
C) Surveys
D) Pamphlets

Question 74

The practice by members of Congress of trading votes or other favors to enhance members' mutual interests is known as

A) logrolling.
B) pork barrel spending.
C) franking.
D) credit claiming.

Question 75

Federal money spent on projects that benefit only a specific member's district or state is known as

A) logrolling.
B) pork barrel spending.
C) franking.
D) credit claiming.

Question 76

Which of the following is not associated with the influence of colleagues on congressional decision making?

A) Logrolling
B) Pork barrel spending
C) Casework
D) All of the above

Question 77

How do interest groups attempt to influence congressional decision making?

A) Lobby members of Congress
B) Mobilize constituents to contact members of Congress concerning public policy
C) Provide information to members of Congress
D) All of the above

Question 78

Which of the following is an example of how congressional staff influence decision making?

A) Providing casework for members of Congress
B) Using franking privilege
C) Writing the legislation members of Congress introduce
D) None of the above

Question 79

The Congressional Black Caucus has recently worked to

A) expose the disproportionate effect COVID-19 has on Black communities.
B) reform the Supreme Court through court-packing.
C) end the Senate filibuster.
D) change district apportionment rules.

Question 80

What President encouraged the Senate to kill the filibuster in order to advance his agenda?

A) Richard Nixon
B) Donald Trump
C) Barack Obama
D) George W. Bush