Deck 6: Congress

Question 1

The only officer of the House of Representatives specifically mentioned in the Constitution is the

A)Speaker of the House.
B)president pro tempore.
C)vice president.
D)sergeant at arms.
E)majority leader.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The most powerful people in the House of Representatives are the majority and minority leaders.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

All bills must be introduced by

A)members of Congress.
B)the president.
C)interest groups.
D)staffers.
E)the president's Cabinet.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The official chair of the Senate is the _____.

A)majority leader
B)Speaker
C)caucus chair
D)vice president
E)president pro tempore

Question 5

Bills can be forced out of committee

A)by a discharge petition signed by a majority of House members.
B)by a vote of cloture.
C)by removing a hold.
D)by the committee chair.
E)by amending a majority of the original bill's provisions.

Question 6

Any legislature with two houses is referred to as

A)Congress.
B)bifurcated.
C)bimodal.
D)bicameral.
E)bipolar.

Question 7

Joint committees always are established to reconcile differences between versions of a particular bill in the House and the Senate.

Question 8

Only the Senate can impeach civil officers,who are tried by the House of Representatives.

Question 9

Individual senators can exercise tremendous power by filibustering

A)unless a majority of the Senate votes to cut her or him off from speaking.
B)unless the party leader tells him or her to stop.
C)unless three-fifths of the senators vote to cut her or him off.
D)unless two-thirds of the senators vote to cut her or him off.
E)unless three-quarters of the senators vote to cut him or her off.

Question 10

Elected representatives that listen to their constituents' opinions and then use their best judgment to make decisions behave as

A)delegates.
B)trustees.
C)politicos.
D)representatives.
E)statesmen.

Question 11

The Supreme Court has ruled that

A)the Constitution bars any redistricting between censuses.
B)the Texas legislature's actions were forbidden by the full faith and credit clause since other states did not redistrict.
C)Representative Tom DeLay's actions in ordering Democrats to attend the legislative session voting on redistricting proposals were illegal.
D)it was unconstitutional for states to redistrict to purposefully dilute minority strength.
E)the actions of the Democrats (leaving the state and therefore avoiding voting on redistricting)were a federal offense.

Question 12

The only congressional officer mentioned in the Constitution is the Speaker of the House.

Question 13

In recent years,Congress has expressed its unhappiness with Supreme Court decisions on abortion and gay rights by

A)refusing to confirm new lower federal judges until the Court reverses its decision.
B)ignoring its decisions.
C)blocking confirmation votes on President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominees.
D)attempting to alter the Court's jurisdiction.
E)threatening to reduce the justices' salaries.

Question 14

The process of allotting seats in the House of Representatives is called

A)redistricting.
B)gerrymandering.
C)proportionality.
D)census.
E)apportionment.

Question 15

Members of the Senate must be natural-born citizens of the United States.

Question 16

In general,the House ________ than the Senate.

A)has stricter rules
B)has weaker leadership
C)is more personal
D)has emphasized foreign policy more
E)has weaker party loyalty

Question 17

Redrawing congressional districts to reflect increases or decreases in population is called redistricting.

Question 18

The advantage that MOST helps members of Congress stay in office is

A)redistricting.
B)incumbency.
C)political action committees.
D)being a member of the president's party.
E)demographics.

Question 19

What is the Tenure of Office Act?

A)A bill that was never signed into law that guaranteed a president at least one full term in office.?
B)A law preventing a sitting president from removing people appointed to Cabinet-level positions by previous administrations.
C)An act that was used to justify the impeachment proceedings of President Bill Clinton.
D)Legislation that attempted to establish term limits for members of the Senate.
E)A law that was an initial attempt at setting term limits for presidents.

Question 20

According to the Constitution,apportionment and redistricting must occur every

A)two years.
B)four years.
C)six years.
D)eight years.
E)ten years.

Question 21

The fiscal year ends on December 31.

Question 22

The Constitution stipulates that members of the House of Representatives are elected directly by the people for ________-year terms.

A)two
B)four
C)six
D)eight
E)twelve

Question 23

In general,Congress has experienced _______ in/of its authority over time.

A)growth
B)decline
C)redefinition
D)no change
E)a near obliteration

Question 24

President Franklin D.Roosevelt expanded presidential policymaking powers at the expense of Congress.

Question 25

Logrolling is another term for vote trading.

Question 26

The expansion of health insurance to most Americans

A)was widely supported in the Senate.
B)was widely supported in the House.
C)showed the weakness of the Speaker of the House.
D)was a key reason Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid decided not to seek re-election.
E)showed how important cooperation is between Congress and the president.

Question 27

The Great Compromise resulted in

A)a two-house legislature.
B)legalization of slavery.
C)an Electoral College based on representation.
D)a weakened executive branch.
E)a single-house legislature.

Question 28

A proposed law is known officially as a

A)proposal.
B)suggestion.
C)bill.
D)apportion.
E)affidavit.

Question 29

One of the biggest reasons why members of Congress are mindful of their votes on controversial legislation is

A)getting too much publicity.
B)casting the "wrong" vote.
C)angering the president.
D)angering party leaders.
E)fear of Supreme Court reversal.

Question 30

Under the Constitution,senators are elected to ________-year terms.

A)two
B)four
C)six
D)eight
E)ten

Question 31

The Framers of the Constitution primarily were concerned that members of Congress

A)make laws.
B)represent their constituents.
C)make policy.
D)check and balance the other branches of government.
E)guide public opinion.

Question 32

Before a bill can be debated on the floor of the House of Representatives,it must be given a rule and then placed on the calendar.

Question 33

A politico is a balance between a delegate and a trustee.

Question 34

The House of Representatives and the Senate combined have ________ members with full voting privileges.

A)435
B)475
C)605
D)575
E)535

Question 35

State legislatures lost their control over the selection of senators when the ________ Amendment was ratified in 1913.

A)Fifteenth
B)Seventeenth
C)Nineteenth
D)Twenty-First
E)Twenty-Third

Question 36

Congress's passage of the No Child Left Behind Act-which affected public education,a realm over which Congress does not have specific constitutional authority-is an example of expanding its legislative powers through the ______ clause of the Constitution.

A)adaptive
B)necessary and proper
C)discretionary
D)flexibility
E)executing

Question 37

Every ________ years,________ of members of the Senate are up for re-election.

A)two/one-quarter
B)two/one-third
C)six/one-third
D)six/one-half
E)six/three-quarters

Question 38

Which of the following nations does NOT have a bicameral legislature?
?

A)Canada
B)United States
C)United Kingdom
D)New Zealand
E)Australia

Question 39

Originally,each member of the House of Representatives represented ________ citizens.

A)20,000
B)30,000
C)40,000
D)50,000
E)70,000

Question 40

The power of the House of Representatives to charge politicians with "Treason,Bribery,or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors" is known as

A)the authority to indict.
B)impeachment.
C)accusation.
D)removal authority.
E)federal charging.

Question 41

Gerrymandering is less likely to occur when

A)only one district is involved.
B)there is racial heterogeneity.
C)political parties are strong.
D)courts control the process.
E)district boundaries are established for ten-year periods.

Question 42

The president pro tempore is
I)the youngest member of the Senate.
II)fifth in the line of succession to the presidency.
III)largely a ceremonial position.
IV)generally the most senior person of the majority party.

A)I and II
B)II and III
C)III and IV
D)II and IV
E)II, III, and IV

Question 43

The main organizational vehicle in the House and Senate is

A)the two major political parties.
B)the committee chairs.
C)the two major political parties plus the Independents.
D)the strong party leaders.
E)the subcommittees.

Question 44

Which of the following are advantages of incumbency?
?
I)Ease in fundraising
II)Casework
III)Franking privilege
IV)Credit claiming

A)I only
B)II and III
C)II, III, and IV
D)I, II, and III
E)I, II, III, and IV

Question 45

The Senate has often been referred to as the

A)Kitchen Cabinet.
B)Millionaires Club.
C)Effete Elite.
D)White Guys Club.
E)Melting Pot.

Question 46

Within the House of Representatives,Democratic members function as a group known as a _____.

A)congregation.
B)conference.
C)caucus.
D)posse.
E)committee.

Question 47

In 2010,Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives.That made the Democratic Party the ____ party within that legislative body.

A)opposition
B)minority
C)losing
D)lesser
E)weak

Question 48

In the 112ᵗʰ Congress,there were ____ African Americans in the Senate.

A)zero
B)two
C)five
D)seven
E)ten

Question 49

Democratic House members come largely from states in the

A)Northeast and South.
B)South and Southwest.
C)Northeast and West.
D)Midwest and East Coast.
E)Northeast and Southwest.

Question 50

Congressional leaders whose major task is to keep party members in line and track votes are called

A)party whips.
B)majority leaders.
C)minority leaders.
D)sergeants at arms.
E)president pro tempores.

Question 51

In ________,a record number of women were elected to Congress,doubling the number of women elected to that institution in the previous decade.

A)1990
B)1992
C)2000
D)2004
E)2006

Question 52

The presiding officer of the Senate who can vote only in the case of a tie is the

A)president pro tempore.
B)vice president of the United States.
C)majority leader.
D)Speaker.
E)head of the majority party's campaign committee.

Question 53

The most powerful position in the House of Representatives is called the

A)majority leader.
B)president of the House.
C)Speaker of the House.
D)president pro tempore.
E)party whip.

Question 54

The franking privilege is

A)the ability of a member of Congress to speak bluntly on the floor without fear of public ridicule.
B)the ability of a member of Congress to speak on television for free during campaign season.
C)the ability of a member of Congress to send mail for free by using their signature instead of a stamp.
D)another term for redistricting.?
E)illegal, as a result of a 1978 Supreme Court decision.

Question 55

As illustrated in the chapter,the term gerrymander was so named because of a bizarre geographical contortion of an electoral district in

A)Indiana.
B)Massachusetts.
C)Virginia.
D)North Carolina.
E)Washington.

Question 56

The Speaker of the House is ________ in line of presidential succession.

A)first
B)second
C)third
D)fourth
E)not

Question 57

In general,Congress is ________ than the rest of the United States.
I)more liberal
II)better educated
III)older and whiter
IV)more male and richer

A)I and II
B)I and IV
C)II and III
D)I, II, and III
E)II, III, and IV

Question 58

Republican members of the Senate come largely from states in the

A)Northeast.
B)Northeast and South.
C)Midwest and East Coast.
D)Pacific Northwest and South.
E)South and Southwest.

Question 59

In 2000,Congress passed a law

A)granting automatic citizenship to aliens who had been in the United States for ten years or more.
B)granting citizenship to children adopted by parents who are American citizens.
C)granting citizenship to children adopted by American citizens living in traditional marriages.
D)taking away the rights of naturalized citizens.
E)denying citizenship to aliens suspected of terrorist activities.

Question 60

A new Congress is seated every ________ years.

A)two
B)three
C)four
D)six
E)eight

Question 61

Of the approximately ________ bills introduced during the 111ᵗʰ session of Congress,fewer than ________ were made into law.

A)10,000/5 percent
B)12,000/50 percent
C)15,000/3 percent
D)19,000/1 percent
E)20,000/10 percent

Question 62

In the context of the legislative process,pork refers to

A)the appropriations for members' pet projects that can help them be reelected.
B)the vote trading that goes on when members agree to fund each other's favorite projects.
C)subsidies for the U.S. meat industry.
D)regulations implemented by the Food and Drug Administration concerning the content of hot dogs.
E)pet programs favored by the president.

Question 63

Control of the budgetary process

A)has been under the authority of Congress since the Articles of Confederation.
B)has been under the authority of Congress since ratification of the Constitution.
C)is solely in the hands of the House.
D)is solely in the hands of the Senate.
E)is slowly devolving back to the states.

Question 64

A committee that is established on a temporary basis is called a/an ________ committee.

A)standing
B)ad valorem
C)select
D)pro tempore
E)discharge

Question 65

The Senate has no real counterpart to the House Committee on

A)Budget.
B)Armed Services.
C)Rules.
D)Veterans Affairs.
E)Appropriations.

Question 66

________ BEST maximize/s the opportunities for members on both sides of the aisle to air their views.

A)Floor speeches
B)Markups
C)Subcommittee meetings
D)Party caucuses
E)The Committee of the Whole

Question 67

Committee chairs in the House are

A)always the most senior majority party member of the committee.
B)selected in caucuses by majority party vote.
C)selected by leaders in the majority party.
D)voted on by committee members from both the minority and majority parties.
E)usually in their first term of office.

Question 68

Committees to which proposed bills are referred and that continue from one Congress to the next are called ________ committees.

A)standing
B)conference
C)ad hoc
D)joint
E)special

Question 69

Which of the following is a true statement regarding the House rules given to each bill?

A)They originate with every committee in Congress.
B)They determine the limits on floor debate.
C)They rarely specify the type of amendments that can be made to a bill.
D)They affect the composition of House budget bills.
E)They govern debate in both the House and the Senate.

Question 70

The authority for congressional oversight stems from the
I)Constitution.
II)War Powers Act.
III)Congressional Review Act.
IV)earmark process.

A)I, III, and IV
B)II, III, and IV
C)I, II, and IV
D)I, II, and III
E)I, II, III, and IV

Question 71

All of the following are true of reconciliation EXCEPT that it

A)allows Republicans and Democrats to forge closer ties.
B)was used to help pass the 2010 health care reform bill.
C)is used relatively frequently.
D)limits House and Senate debates on any bill to twenty hours.
E)was part of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

Question 72

In 1921,Congress
I)passed legislation to give it more control over the budget.
II)enacted the Budget and Accounting Act.
III)attempted to move away from the practice of piecemeal budgets.
IV)passed legislation requiring the president to submit a detailed budget to Congress.

A)I and III
B)I, II, and IV
C)I, II, and III
D)II, III, and IV
E)I, II, III, and IV

Question 73

There is only one way to end a filibuster.It is called

A)a hold.
B)cloture.
C)a discharge petition.
D)a veto.
E)a pocket veto.

Question 74

The Committee on ________ has two-thirds Republican members in the 112ᵗʰ Congress.

A)Rules
B)Ways and Means
C)Appropriations
D)Ethics
E)Budget

Question 75

Standing committees can
I)kill bills.
II)amend bills.
III)hurry bills through the process.
IV)reconcile differences in House and Senate versions of bills.

A)I and II
B)II and III
C)I and III
D)II, III, and IV
E)I, II, and III

Question 76

The War Powers Act provides for all of the following EXCEPT?

A)allowing the president thirty days to implement a withdrawal of troops.
B)giving the president the right to declare war.
C)requiring the president to obtaining congressional approval before committing troops abroad.
D)requiring the president to notify Congress within forty-eight hours of deploying troops.
E)requiring the president to withdraw troops after sixty days unless Congress declares war.

Question 77

If you vote for a candidate whom you believe thinks and acts exactly like you,then you MOST likely subscribe to which theory of representation?
?

A)Delegate
B)Trustee
C)Politico
D)Representative
E)Statesman

Question 78

The Office of Management and Budget

A)initially was called the Bureau of Budgetary Affairs.
B)was created to help Congress manage its constitutional mandate.
C)was created to help the president carry out new responsibilities under the Budget and Accounting Act.
D)has sole control over congressional spending.
E)has sole control over executive branch spending.

Question 79

"Congress in session is Congress on exhibition,whilst Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work," wrote

A)John F. Kennedy.
B)Lyndon B. Johnson.
C)Abraham Lincoln.
D)Woodrow Wilson.
E)Theodore Roosevelt.

Question 80

Suppose Congress allocated funds to the Central Intelligence Agency to carry out a new,controversial method of surveillance,and President Barack Obama refused to spend the money.These actions would be similar to those of President

A)Lyndon B. Johnson.
B)Richard M. Nixon.
C)Gerald R. Ford.
D)Jimmy Carter.
E)Ronald Reagan.