Deck 12: Congress

Question 1

The act of "standing for" one's constituents in government is defined as

A)delegation.
B)representation.
C)constituency.
D)populism.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Two important ways in which the framers of the Constitution tried to contain the dangers of faction were through

A)the Bill of Rights and liberalism.
B)tyranny and regulation.
C)federalism and separation of powers.
D)confederalism and collaboration.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the three broad areas of Congressional power?

A)representation, law enforcement, and organization
B)lawmaking, budgeting, and oversight
C)constitutionalism, republicanism, and federalism
D)governance, leadership, and development

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The first woman to serve in the Senate was ______, who served in 1922 for only a day.

A)Rebecca Latimer Felton
B)Shirley Chisholm
C)Barbara Boxer
D)Bella Abzug

Question 5

In Congress, 1992 was known as the year of

A)democracy.
B)civil disobedience.
C)the woman.
D)youthful exuberance.

Question 6

According to James Madison in the Federalist Papers, a bicameral legislature

A)"doubles the security to the people…in schemes of usurpation and perfidy."
B)"assures a more perfect system of lawmaking."
C)"accounts for the tyranny of the majority."
D)"determines the absolute integrity of representation."

Question 7

In contrast to members of the House, Senators were meant to be more

A)in touch with their constituency.
B)representative of their state legislatures.
C)wealthy and powerful elites.
D)insulated from the public.

Question 8

In 2016, the 114th session of Congress included ______ women senators.

A)11
B)16
C)21
D)27

Question 9

The most important power of Congress is its

A)representative responsibility.
B)governance and organization.
C)oversight power.
D)legislative authority.

Question 10

Congress is separated into two chambers that are increasingly divided along ______ lines.

A)partisan
B)democratic
C)authoritarian
D)demographic

Question 11

James Madison argued that "the door" to the House of Representatives was the ability to be selected on the basis of

A)merit.
B)wealth.
C)influence.
D)education.

Question 12

In 2016, the 114th session of Congress saw ______ women serving as members of Congress.

A)55
B)65
C)75
D)85

Question 13

A bicameral legislature with distinct differences between the House and the Senate established ______ within Congress and not just between Congress and the other branches.

A)separation of powers
B)a wall of separation
C)checks and balances
D)distinct barriers

Question 14

In contrast to members of the House, Senators must be ______.

A)older
B)wealthier
C)more educated
D)property holders

Question 15

Members of the House of Representatives are

A)indirectly elected through an electoral college system.
B)appointed and assigned by state legislatures.
C)directly elected by eligible voters.
D)recruited from the majority party in a state.

Question 16

While women represent more than half of the population, in 1992, only ______ women had been elected to full terms in the Senate.

A)3
B)6
C)12
D)21

Question 17

What was interesting about the Senate floor on the day known as "snowzilla"?

A)Only men were on the Senate floor.
B)Members of the House were forced to meet in the Senate.
C)The Senate was closed for the first time in a decade.
D)Only women were on the Senate floor.

Question 18

Which of the following do all of the members of the United States Congress have in common?

A)They are delegates for elitist factions.
B)They have a populist agenda.
C)They are there to represent voter interests.
D)They each represent their own personal interests.

Question 19

In anticipation of the challenges of factions and their "passions," the framers set up roadblocks in the Senate to prevent the American electorate from

A)falling prey to the tyranny of the majority.
B)unfairly controlling the public agenda.
C)too quickly voting its wishes into action.
D)allowing a minority faction to control the nation.

Question 20

Which of the following terms was James Madison's way of referring to the dangers of faction?

A)"tyranny and anarchy"
B)"usurpation and perfidy"
C)"dominance and treachery"
D)"collaboration and duress"

Question 21

Many of the rules governing the budgetary process in Congress were set in

A)the Federal Budget Authorization Act of 1997.
B)the Federal Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1990.
C)the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
D)the Budget Control Act of 2011.

Question 22

The body of law that Congress creates is called

A)constitutional law.
B)regulatory law.
C)statutory law.
D)ordinance law.

Question 23

When branches of government are allowed a level of oversight over each other, it is best described as

A)separation of powers.
B)legislative authority.
C)governmental oversight.
D)checks and balances.

Question 24

The ideas of Senatorial ratification of treaties and Congressional power to declare war were designed to force the ______ to work together.

A)executive and legislative branches
B)two houses of Congress
C)judicial and legislative branches
D)president and the cabinet

Question 25

The confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas were marred by allegations of

A)sexual harassment.
B)fiscal impropriety.
C)gross misconduct.
D)a lack of qualifications.

Question 26

Congress funds the activities of bureaucratic agencies through the process of ______.

A)reconciliation
B)appropriation
C)fiscal responsibility
D)omnibus legislation

Question 27

If a member of Congress wishes to get a project funded without writing a separate bill, they can attach it to a larger funding bill in the form of an ______.

A)earmark
B)filibuster
C)cloture
D)oversight

Question 28

When Congress exercises authority to ensure that laws are implemented in the way that Congress intended when it passed them, the process is described as

A)earmark.
B)filibuster.
C)cloture.
D)oversight.

Question 29

Among legislative bodies in the world's democracies, the United States Congress is the most active and independent in terms of its ability to make

A)constitutional policy.
B)national policy.
C)foreign policy.
D)state and local policy.

Question 30

In comparison to other bills in Congress, reconciliation bills are more

A)complicated.
B)thorough.
C)debated.
D)streamlined.

Question 31

To remove an official from federal office, the House of Representatives votes to ______ and the Senate has the authority to ______, which will then remove the official from office.

A)impeach | convict
B)accuse | censure
C)censure | review
D)convict | impeach

Question 32

In 2010, the reconciliation process was used to assist in the passage of which of the following important laws?

A)the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
B)the Children's Health Act
C)the African Growth and Opportunity Act
D)the Anti-Terrorism Act

Question 33

Which of the following presidents have faced successful House resolutions of impeachment?

A)John Quincy Adams and Benjamin Harrison
B)William Henry Harrison and Richard M. Nixon
C)Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton
D)Andrew Jackson and Warren G. Harding

Question 34

When Congress wanted to look into the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, it called immediate hearings, which are described as

A)police patrol oversight.
B)fire alarm oversight.
C)omnibus oversight.
D)legislative oversight.

Question 35

The agency whose role is to provide information and estimates of the likely budgetary consequences of funding the agencies and programs created by Congress is the Office of ______.

A)General Accounting Oversight
B)Legislative Review
C)Congressional Representation
D)Management and Budget

Question 36

The norm of ______ generally allows senators to nominate lower-lever federal judges to serve in their states with the expectation that they will be confirmed without significant opposition.

A)congressional oversight
B)senatorial courtesy
C)advice and consent
D)state federalism

Question 37

When Congress continually monitors the actions of a bureaucracy, it participates in

A)police patrol oversight.
B)fire alarm oversight.
C)omnibus oversight.
D)legislative oversight.

Question 38

In order to ensure that funds appropriated for programs are being spent efficiently, legally, and in accordance with the law's intent, Congress may conduct

A)oversight investigations.
B)appropriations audits.
C)committee and subcommittee hearings.
D)formal fiduciary studies.

Question 39

The event that crystalized the commitment of women to run for Congress in 1992 was

A)the failure of the Equal Rights Amendment.
B)the rise of the National Organization of Women.
C)the growing population of women in the United States.
D)the Senate confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas.

Question 40

The power to impeach is found in ______ of the Constitution.

A)Article I | Section 3
B)Article II, Section 4
C)Article IV, Section 1
D)Article V, Section 2

Question 41

Congressional party leaders work through ______ in order to set up goals, choose leaders, assign members to committees, and try to present a unified voice to the American electorate.

A)formal leadership positions
B)party caucuses and party conferences
C)constituency groups
D)special interests

Question 42

Perhaps the most important factor paving the way for newcomers to run for Congress in 1992 was the

A)changing demographic landscape.
B)rising discord with incumbents.
C)record number of open seats.
D)intense constituent agenda.

Question 43

Qualified challengers for congressional office often ______ before running for office.

A)rationally wait for an open seat
B)base their decision on constituency
C)seek political mandates
D)acquire political power

Question 44

The group of women members of Congress, led by Representative Barbara Boxer, who actively protested the confirmation of Justice Clarence Thomas, was nicknamed the ______ by the press.

A)"opposition"
B)"women of Iwo Jima"
C)"dragon ladies"
D)"Boxer rebellion"

Question 45

When challengers decide to stand for office, above all else, they need ______.

A)experience and money
B)power and stamina
C)political agendas and resources
D)constituent support and momentum

Question 46

The usual prerequisite for a would-be House Speaker is

A)a strong relationship with major donors.
B)support from bipartisan interest groups.
C)a record of successful service in the House.
D)strong advocacy from political constituents.

Question 47

The framework for the boundaries of constituency is set in the

A)Bill of Rights.
B)Constitution.
C)rules of Congress.
D)state legislatures.

Question 48

If they wish to make their views manifest in American public policy, newcomers to Congress need to

A)seek the support of a wide array of constituents.
B)design a well-organized ground campaign.
C)learn the complicated rules and procedures of Congress.
D)make their political agenda known to those they represent.

Question 49

To divide the workload, both the House and the Senate have established the ______ system.

A)party leadership
B)committee
C)partisan
D)regulatory

Question 50

Much of the formal structure of Congress revolves around the role of ______.

A)political constituency
B)monetary contributions
C)political leadership
D)political parties

Question 51

An increasingly important prerequisite in selecting a Speaker is the ability to

A)raise money for other members of one's party.
B)connect and interface with other party members.
C)exhibit leadership skills within and outside the party.
D)recruit and maintain new party members.

Question 52

An individual in the House or Senate chosen by their party members whose job is to ensure party unity and discipline is called the

A)party whip.
B)majority leader.
C)minority leader.
D)leadership committee chair.

Question 53

Committee chairs have considerable influence, especially in setting

A)legislative schedules.
B)congressional rules.
C)committee membership.
D)the committee's agenda.

Question 54

Members of Congress gain power and influence

A)as soon as they are elected.
B)through the mandate of their constituency.
C)by way of congressional leaders.
D)as their congressional careers develop.

Question 55

The only House leadership position described in the Constitution is the

A)Speaker of the House.
B)Majority Leader.
C)Party Whip.
D)Minority Leader.

Question 56

Many first-time candidates for Congress bring with them a set of ______ rather than one specific issue.

A)policy objectives
B)constituent mandates
C)representational requirements
D)political ideals

Question 57

Committee membership is determined and negotiated by

A)bipartisan support.
B)partisan constituency.
C)party leaders.
D)direct election.

Question 58

For political scientists Linda Fowler and Robert McClure, the main factor that sets declared candidates apart from "the unseen candidates" is political ______.

A)agenda
B)constituency
C)power
D)ambition

Question 59

As the size of the American republic and the complexity of issues before Congress have both grown, so has the size of

A)Congressional staff.
B)inside lobbying.
C)political action committees.
D)Congressional representation.

Question 60

The assistant to the Speaker of the House is the

A)House Minority Leader.
B)Majority Party Whip.
C)House Majority Leader.
D)Minority Party Whip.

Question 61

For most noncontroversial issues, a simple ______ request may be used in the Senate.

A)plurality vote
B)majority vote
C)unanimous consent
D)floor debate

Question 62

When voters select representatives who reflect and share their policy preferences, identities, interests, and lived experiences, they are also transmitting information to members of Congress that political scientist Richard F.Fenno, Jr.Describes as ______.

A)home style
B)constituent identification
C)representative delegation
D)partisan collaboration

Question 63

Once the differences between House and Senate versions of a bill are resolved, the bill is then sent for ______.

A)final action in the House and Senate
B)presidential signature or veto
C)further committee consideration
D)submission to subcommittees for review

Question 64

In order for Congress to avoid a pocket veto, it may opt to

A)request the president return the bill for further debate.
B)ask for a 2/3 vote to signal its intent to override the veto.
C)conduct a quorum call to require all voting members to return.
D)leave one or more members behind while everyone else goes home.

Question 65

In the House, a member may file a ______ to free a bill from an unfriendly committee and move it to the House floor for a vote.

A)cloture amendment
B)filibuster request
C)discharge petition
D)quorum call

Question 66

An important difference between the House and the Senate is the role of the ______ in the House legislative process, which has no equally powerful counterpart in the Senate.

A)Congressional Budget Office
B)House Rules Committee
C)General Accounting Office
D)House Majority Leader

Question 67

______ has challenged the role of norms in constraining member behavior in recent years.

A)The increasing use of inside lobbying efforts
B)The growing impact of outside political contributions
C)Animosity between members of the two political parties
D)A sizable increase in the number of political movements

Question 68

Who may introduce a bill into Congress?

A)any citizen
B)any registered voter
C)any governmental employee
D)any member of Congress

Question 69

Having successfully passed out of committee, bills proceed to

A)consideration on the floors of the House and the Senate.
B)subcommittee debate for further recommendation.
C)the executive branch for presidential signature.
D)either the House or the Senate for singular consideration.

Question 70

When House and Senate versions of a bill are amended and sent back and forth between the two chambers until the process has produced a single text, it is known as ______.

A)ping-ponging
B)mutual consideration
C)collective bargaining
D)bilateral agreement

Question 71

If a Senator wishes to delay a vote on a piece of legislation by continuously talking/debating the issues, he/she has initiated a

A)cloture.
B)filibuster.
C)floor debate.
D)consent request.

Question 72

Political scientist Barbara Sinclair used the term "______" to describe the realities of the modern legislative process.

A)unrealistic representation
B)partisan regulation
C)traditional legislation
D)unorthodox lawmaking

Question 73

The ______ keeps track of agencies created and funded by Congress.

A)Congressional Budget Office
B)Government Accountability Office
C)House Rules Committee
D)Senate Oversight Committee

Question 74

In order to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill, a bill is referred to

A)the whole floor of both houses.
B)subcommittees in both houses.
C)a joint conference committee.
D)the president for a decision.

Question 75

The ______ allows committee members to make changes to a bill before the committee reports it to the floor.

A)concurrent meeting
B)assistive process
C)collective delegation
D)markup session

Question 76

The process of ______ describes the assignment of a bill to more than one committee, especially if the bill is large and complex.

A)multiple referral
B)dual legislation
C)interactive consideration
D)collective agency

Question 77

If a president chooses not to sign or veto a piece of legislation, the president's third option is to

A)return the bill unsigned.
B)request further revision.
C)pocket veto the legislation.
D)ask for another floor vote.

Question 78

A long tradition of research in political science has shown that on most issues, the majority of constituents are

A)well educated.
B)highly motivated.
C)poorly informed.
D)uninterested.

Question 79

In order to stop a filibuster, a 3/5 vote of Senators known as a ______ must be achieved.

A)cloture
B)filibuster
C)floor debate
D)consent request

Question 80

When a bill comes to the floor of the House or Senate for a "yea," "nay," or "present" indication by members of Congress in order to be recorded, the process is called a(n)

A)public forum.
B)roll-call vote.
C)congressional caucus.
D)open debate.