Deck 6: Congress

Question 1

During an election,an incumbent representative might point to local allocations of a federal highway bill as a reason to be reelected.This is an example of __________.

A) credit claiming
B) gerrymandering
C) franking
D) casework

Answer 1

A

Question 2

A rise in party unity is indicative of __________.

A) cooperation across party lines
B) cooperation between Congress and the executive branch
C) high bipartisanship
D) low bipartisanship

Answer 2

D

Question 3

How might a bill become law if it has been pocket vetoed?

A) Congress may override the pocket veto with a three-fourths vote in each chamber.
B) Congress may override the pocket veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber.
C) The bill can be reintroduced during the next session of Congress.
D) The bill can never become law.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

A(n)__________ committee is created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate.

A) conference
B) appropriations
C) ways and means
D) standing

Question 5

Whips serve what main function?

A) to act as official spokespersons for their chambers
B) to help the Speaker schedule proposed legislation for debate
C) to meet with members of the executive cabinet
D) to persuade party members to support the party

Question 6

The __________ is where members of Congress affiliated with a given party gather to select their leadership at the beginning of each term.

A) conference committee
B) electoral college
C) leadership conference
D) party caucus

Question 7

__________ is the process of allotting congressional seats to each state according to its proportion of the population.

A) Apportionment
B) Appropriations
C) Gerrymandering
D) Redistricting

Question 8

Each state has __________ senators,each of whom serves a __________-year term.

A) two; two
B) two; four
C) two; six
D) four; two

Question 9

The Constitutional Convention resulted in what form of legislature?

A) bicameral
B) direct
C) unicameral
D) unified

Question 10

Why are there currently 435 members in the House of Representatives?

A) The Constitution requires a specific ratio of representatives to constituents.
B) The Constitution stipulates exactly 435 members.
C) The number has grown each decade, according to census data.
D) The number is fixed by statute.

Question 11

What does the Congressional Research Service do?

A) audits the financial expenditures of the executive branch and federal agencies
B) conducts research and provides information to Congress
C) supervises all government-sponsored research projects that use human subjects
D) ensures that the Library of Congress has up-to-date research materials

Question 12

Why were Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton impeached but not removed from office?

A) The House officially charged them with wrongdoing, but a Senate trial failed to convict them.
B) The Senate officially charged them with wrongdoing, but a House trial failed to convict them.
C) The Senate officially charged them with wrongdoing, but a Supreme Court trial failed to convict them.
D) Neither chamber of Congress secured enough votes for a trial.

Question 13

The formal method for ending a filibuster is __________; it requires the approval of __________ senators.

A) abrogation; fifty-one
B) censure; fifty-five
C) cloture; sixty
D) discharge; sixty-seven

Question 14

In the House of Representatives,who is second in authority to the Speaker of the House?

A) majority leader
B) majority whip
C) minority leader
D) president pro tempore (or pro tem)

Question 15

Members of the House are apportioned to states based on __________.They serve __________-year terms.

A) equal representation by state; four
B) equal representation by state; six
C) population; two
D) population; four

Question 16

Which of the following contributes to the incumbency advantage?

A) the desire to "throw the bums out"
B) surge and decline
C) property taxes
D) name recognition

Question 17

An elected official who votes the way his or her constituents would want is a __________.

A) conscientious objector
B) delegate
C) trustee
D) politico

Question 18

Pork may aid the district of a member of Congress by __________.

A) diverting unallocated funds to the service sector
B) increasing jobs and revenue with federally funded projects
C) increasing revenue through private market investment
D) taxing corporations less so they provide health insurance for employees

Question 19

Congress is __________ than the general population.

A) less partisan
B) less well paid
C) happier
D) wealthier

Question 20

What occurs during the appropriations process?

A) Congress grants funds to federal agencies and programs.
B) Congress creates new federal agencies.
C) Congress acquires requested oversight material from the executive.
D) Congress instructs the president to eliminate federal agencies.

Question 21

A __________ is one tactic to signal the leadership that a senator may have objections to a bill.

A) cloture
B) hold
C) markup
D) pocket veto

Question 22

The president pro tempore __________.

A) has the power to nullify legislation with a pocket veto
B) has the power to select the majority leader
C) is an honorific office awarded to the senior senator of the majority party
D) is required to preside over the Senate whenever it is in session

Question 23

What procedure limits debate of budget controversies to twenty hours,thereby ending the threat of a filibuster in the Senate?

A) caucus
B) cloture
C) programmatic requests
D) reconciliation

Question 24

After a bill is reported by a full committee,it goes to __________.

A) a conference committee composed of members from the original House and Senate committees
B) the House Committee on Rules or the Senate floor
C) a subcommittee
D) the House or Senate floor

Question 25

What is the purpose of a discharge petition?

A) to force a vote on a House bill that is otherwise stuck in committee
B) to force a vote on a Senate bill that is being delayed by a filibuster
C) to force a vote on a House or Senate bill that is favored by a minority
D) to force Congress to remain in session until the calendar has been fully discharged

Question 26

Incumbents are most likely to lose their bid for reelection when they are impacted by which of the following events?

A) budget deficits
B) low presidential approval ratings
C) redistricting
D) logrolling

Question 27

Which statement about incumbency is most accurate?

A) Incumbents have a huge reelection advantage.
B) Incumbents have a small reelection advantage.
C) Incumbents only leave office when pressured by party leadership.
D) Incumbents only leave office when they are involved in a scandal.

Question 28

How have Americans rated members of Congress in recent years?

A) quite high
B) somewhat high
C) mediocre
D) dismally low

Question 29

According to the trustee model of representation,legislators are entrusted to __________.

A) follow a strict interpretation of the Constitution
B) present the views of their party
C) use their judgment when making decisions
D) make decisions according to their constituents' demands

Question 30

A __________ committee is a temporary committee that is appointed for a specific purpose.

A) ways and means
B) caucus
C) select
D) standing

Question 31

What is the typical trajectory of a bill in the House of Representatives?

A) introduction, committee referral, subcommittee, full committee report, full House vote, Committee on Rules, conference committee, send to president
B) introduction, committee referral, subcommittee, full committee report, Committee on Rules, full House vote, conference committee, full House vote, send to president
C) introduction, committee referral, subcommittee, Committee on Rules, full committee report, conference committee, full House vote, send to president
D) introduction, committee referral, Committee on Rules, subcommittee, full committee report, full House vote, conference committee, send to president

Question 32

Which is an example of logrolling in Congress?

A) awarding a government contract to a campaign supporter
B) introducing and sponsoring a bill
C) supporting someone else's bill in exchange for future support of your bill
D) health care reform

Question 33

Which statement best characterizes a subcommittee hearing?

A) A bill receives a subcommittee hearing whenever the vice president requests it.
B) A bill receives a subcommittee hearing only after it is extensively marked up by the full committee.
C) A bill receives a subcommittee hearing after it has been pocket vetoed, but before it goes to the floor.
D) Those opposed and those in favor of a bill can voice their opinions on it to the subcommittee.

Question 34

Which individual keeps close contact with all members of his or her party,counts votes for key legislation,prepares summaries of bills,and acts as a communications link within the party?

A) majority leader
B) minority leader
C) whip
D) president pro tempore

Question 35

The vice president of the United States is the ceremonial leader of the Senate,but he or she has little real leadership responsibilities.The true leader of the Senate is the __________.

A) majority leader
B) president pro tempore
C) president of the Senate
D) Speaker

Question 36

The House minority leader __________.

A) selects the president pro tempore
B) decides jointly with the majority leader which legislation goes to the floor
C) is elected by the minority party
D) is selected by the Speaker of the House

Question 37

__________ is a good example of congressional casework.

A) Analysis of an incumbent's policy positions prior to a debate
B) Analysis of water quality within a district
C) Helping a constituent navigate red tape
D) Assisting a federal agency operating within a member's district

Question 38

When is the staff of a member of Congress most likely to have an influence over how he or she votes on a given bill?

A) when the bill is expensive
B) when the bill is important to his or her constituents
C) when the bill is highly partisan
D) when the bill is nonideological

Question 39

What is the typical trajectory of a bill in the Senate?

A) introduction, committee referral, subcommittee, full committee report, full Senate debate and vote, conference committee, full Senate vote, send to president
B) introduction, committee referral, subcommittee, Committee on Rules, full committee report, conference committee, full Senate vote, send to president
C) introduction, committee referral, Committee on Rules, subcommittee, full committee report, full Senate vote, conference committee, send to president
D) introduction, subcommittee, committee referral, full committee report, Committee on Rules, full Senate vote, conference committee, send to president

Question 40

The __________ presides over the House of Representatives in a way that smooths the passage of majority-backed bills.

A) majority leader
B) majority whip
C) president pro tempore
D) Speaker

Question 41

What occurs at a congressional party conference?

A) Democrats take questions from the press.
B) Democrats review bills passed at the end of a session of Congress.
C) Republicans and Democrats meet to build rapport and plan bills.
D) Republicans discuss party strategy.

Question 42

Members of Congress are more religious than the general public.

Question 43

A bill goes through markup in a full committee after a subcommittee votes in favor of it.

Question 44

In the face of inaction by a House committee,a discharge petition signed by a majority can force a bill out of a committee and to the floor.

Question 45

__________ is the practice whereby the president gives deference to senators from the home state where a judicial vacancy occurs.

A) Appointee preeminence
B) Committee referral
C) Congressional review
D) Senatorial courtesy

Question 46

The Congressional Budget Office evaluates the economic effects of different spending programs and provides information to Congress on the anticipated cost of proposed policies.

Question 47

In response to Nixon's refusal to spend money for social programs despite Congress's authorization to do so,Congress __________.

A) opened an inquiry into presidential malfeasance
B) passed the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
C) passed the War Powers Resolution in 1973
D) impeached Nixon

Question 48

Incumbents are prohibited from pursuing casework because it is seen as an unfair electoral advantage.

Question 49

In the event of a major scandal,which kind of committee would be convened to conduct a special investigation?

A) a conference committee
B) a subcommittee
C) a joint committee
D) a standing committee

Question 50

Which example best demonstrates a legislator acting according to a delegate view of representation?

A) A legislator may follow his or her conscience unless public opinion is clear.
B) A legislator does whatever is best for his or her reelection.
C) A legislator follows the public opinion of his or her constituency.
D) A legislator heeds public opinion in every case, except in matters of personal conscience.

Question 51

A conference committee is composed of members from the House and Senate committees that originally considered the bill.

Question 52

The increasing partisanship and unproductivity of Congress have contributed to its low approval ratings.

Question 53

How are committee chairs selected in the House?

A) They are selected by party leaders.
B) They are elected by the House.
C) They are determined according to seniority on the committee.
D) They are determined according to seniority within the party.

Question 54

Most bills become law.

Question 55

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between Congress and the judiciary?

A) The Supreme Court typically overturns more than 100 congressional statutes each year.
B) The Supreme Court has been overturning more acts of Congress in recent years than it has in the past.
C) Congress reviews the constitutionality of Supreme Court decisions.
D) Congress typically has the Supreme Court review bills to determine their constitutionality before they are debated on the floor.

Question 56

Congress has ceded to the president a major role in the legislative process.

Question 57

Logrolling was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court following the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Question 58

The House currently has 435 members,but this number increases automatically every ten years after the census is conducted.

Question 59

What does the Government Accountability Office do?

A) audits the financial expenditures of the legislative branch
B) audits the financial expenditures of state governments
C) audits the financial expenditures of the executive branch
D) monitors potential congressional ethics violations

Question 60

Studies show that members of Congress vote in conformity with the prevailing opinion of their constituents a majority of the time.

Question 61

What is the function of the House Committee on Rules? Why is it so important?

Question 62

Compare the trustee model and the delegate model of representation.

Question 63

What oversight function does the Senate have with respect to presidential appointments? How does this affect the president?

Question 64

Cloture is the only way other senators can end a(n)__________.

Question 65

At their party __________ at the beginning of each new Congress,Democrats will meet to nominate or elect party officers,review committee assignments,discuss party policy,impose party discipline,set party themes,and coordinate media.

Question 66

The Supreme Court has prohibited the practice of gerrymandering.

Question 67

The __________ oversees House business and is the official spokesperson for the House.

Question 68

The necessary and proper clause allows Congress to increase the scope of its authority.

Question 69

Congress may override a presidential __________ with a two-thirds vote in each chamber.

Question 70

Bills are referred for consideration to __________ committees that continue from one Congress to the next.

Question 71

__________ committees include members from both houses of Congress and are set up to conduct investigations or special studies.

Question 72

The Constitution is vague about the __________ process,even though it remains Congress's ultimate oversight of the U.S.president.

Question 73

What did the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 create?

Question 74

The most powerful person in Congress is the __________.

Question 75

The Constitution specifies that the presiding officer of the Senate is the __________.

Question 76

Explain the purpose,process,and potential problems associated with redistricting.How have the courts addressed redistricting issues?

Question 77

Explain the selection,responsibilities,and privileges of committee chairs in the House and Senate.

Question 78

Describe how the balance of power between Congress and the president has changed over time.

Question 79

In either chamber of Congress,the __________ is the highest-ranking leader in the minority party.

Question 80

When a bill is introduced in Congress,several members may be listed as __________ in order to show their support for the proposed legislation.