Deck 9: Congress

Question 1

Republican House member Randy "Duke" Cunningham was

A)sent to jail in 2005 for accepting bribes by companies hoping to receive earmarks in return.
B)the primary supporter of a bill that would have prohibited the use of earmarks in Congress.
C)the initiator of a lawsuit heard by the Supreme Court about the constitutionality of earmarks.
D)the first member of Congress to propose that representatives publish a list of all earmark requests on a single website.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The "sophomore surge" refers to the

A)fact that many members of Congress lose their reelection campaigns after their second term in office.
B)tendency for college students to intern with their local members of Congress during the summer between their sophomore and junior years in college.
C)fact that most members of Congress leave office after serving only two years.
D)tendency for candidates to win a higher percentage of the vote when seeking future terms in office.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Gerrymandering refers to the

A)manipulation of electoral districts to serve the interests of a particular group.
B)practice whereby legislators trade their support or opposition on one bill to get the support of another legislator on a different bill.
C)investigations of the executive branch by members of Congress.
D)tactic used by members of the Senate to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The number of seats in the House of Representatives has been fixed at ________ since ________.

A)100; 1790
B)100; 1929
C)435; 1929
D)435; 1959

Question 5

Congress is a ________ legislature with ________ members.

A)unicameral; 342
B)bicameral; 535
C)bicameral; 100
D)bicameral; 275

Question 6

In each House district there are approximately ________ people.

A)250,000
B)700,000
C)1,300,000
D)2,500,000

Question 7

In recent years,about ________ percent of U.S.House incumbents won reelection.

A)50
B)66
C)80
D)95

Question 8

If a legislative body was composed of 15 percent Latinos and 70 percent males in a state whose residents were 35 percent Latino and 50 percent male,the legislative body could be said to lack

A)agency representation.
B)sociological representation.
C)delegate representation.
D)trustee representation.

Question 9

The kind of representation that takes place when constituents have the power to hire and fire
Their representatives is called

A)agency representation.
B)sociological representation.
C)delegate representation.
D)trustee representation.

Question 10

The term "pork barrel" refers to

A)any piece of legislation that changes the number of agricultural subsidies provided to farmers by the federal government.
B)the collective set of law that regulates America's meat exports.
C)bills that grant a special privilege to a person named in the bill.
D)appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that are often not needed but that are created so that local representatives can win reelection in their home districts.

Question 11

A U.S.senator has a ________-year term.

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

Question 12

What is the MOST common occupation among members of Congress before coming to Congress?

A)business executive
B)lobbyist
C)college professor
D)lawyer

Question 13

What did the Supreme Court justices declare in Miller v.Johnson (1995)?

A)Districts could not be drawn to favor the incumbent candidate.
B)The racial composition of a district could not be the predominant factor when redistricting.
C)It was not unconstitutional for states to use an unelected,nonpartisan committee
To redistrict.
D)The use of computer technologies to draw districts that would favor one party over another is unconstitutional.

Question 14

If a member of the House of Representatives won her first election with 52 percent of the
Vote and won her second election with 75 percent,it would be an example of

A)the "second-election surprise."
B)the "rich get richer" effect.
C)the "sophomore surge."
D)the "incumbency increase."

Question 15

Which sort of representation is based on the principle that if two individuals are similar in background,character,interests,and perspectives,then one could correctly represent the other's views?

A)agency
B)sociological
C)trustee
D)delegate

Question 16

A member of the House of Representatives that helps a constituent apply for Social Security
Benefits is engaging in

A)constituency service.
B)quid-pro-quo-ism.
C)earmarking.
D)logrolling.

Question 17

Over the past several decades,the ________ and the ________ have benefited most from apportionment.

A)Northeast; Midwest
B)Northeast; South
C)South; Midwest
D)South; West

Question 18

Between 1995 and 2006,the number of congressional earmarks

A)remained the same.
B)dropped to nearly zero.
C)nearly doubled.
D)increased by a factor of 10.

Question 19

The process of allocating congressional seats among the 50 states is called

A)redistricting.
B)gerrymandering.
C)redlining.
D)apportionment.

Question 20

A senator or representative running for reelection is called the

A)constituent.
B)incumbent.
C)trustee.
D)delegate.

Question 21

How is the Speaker of the House determined?

A)The vice president of the United States is also Speaker of the House.
B)The representative with the longest tenure in the House is the Speaker of the House.
C)The elected leader of the majority party in the House is the Speaker.
D)The president selects the Speaker of the House from the majority party in the House.

Question 22

The jurisdiction of standing committees

A)is related to a specific geographic region.
B)is defined by the subject matter of legislation,which often parallels the major
Cabinet departments or agencies.
C)is determined by the different political parties.
D)often overlaps with the jurisdiction of select committees.

Question 23

In 2011,

A)the House of Representatives dramatically increased the number of earmarks in their spending bills while the Senate dramatically decreased the number of earmarks in their spending bills.
B)the Senate dramatically increased the number of earmarks in their spending bills while the House of Representatives dramatically decreased the number of earmarks in their spending bills.
C)both the House of Representatives and the Senate dramatically increased the number of earmarks in their spending bills.
D)the House and the Senate agreed to a two-year moratorium on earmarks in spending bills.

Question 24

One reason why some people support the establishment of term limits in the House and
Senate is that this would

A)decrease the power and influence of interest groups.
B)decrease turnover in Congress and lead to more experienced legislators.
C)increase turnover and get new faces into Congress.
D)limit the power and influence of the judiciary.

Question 25

The House Rules committee is important because it

A)is placed in charge of selecting the Speaker of the House.
B)decides the order in which bills come up for a vote on the House floor and determines
The specific rules that govern the length of debate and opportunity for amendments.
C)reviews all applications regarding the formation of select committees.
D)determines the jurisdiction of every congressional standing committee.

Question 26

The Senate and House Appropriations committees are important because

A)they determine the number of seats on each congressional committee.
B)they are placed in charge of redistricting after every census.
C)they decide how much funding various programs will receive and how the money
Will be spent.
D)they determine what conduct is ethically appropriate for elected representatives
And what the penalties associated with inappropriate conduct will be.

Question 27

A ________ specifies general rules and categories of behavior,people,and institutions while a ________ grants a relief,special privilege,or exemption to a particular individual.

A)private bill; public bill
B)public bill; private bill
C)continuing resolution; pork-barrel bill
D)consent decree; pork-barrel bill

Question 28

In the House of Representatives,what is the relationship between the majority leader and
The Speaker of the House?

A)The majority leader is subordinate to the Speaker of the House.
B)They are the same office.
C)The majority leader is superior in formal powers to the Speaker of the House.
D)The majority leader has the same powers as the Speaker of the House but is a different office.

Question 29

The president pro tempore of the Senate is usually

A)the minority party leader with the greatest seniority.
B)the minority party leader with the least seniority.
C)selected directly by the president.
D)the majority party member with the greatest seniority.

Question 30

________ bills are one of Congress's favorite vehicles for pork-barrel spending.

A)Education
B)Veteran's affairs
C)Health care
D)Highway

Question 31

A bill proposed in Congress that grants citizenship to a specifically named individual from a
Foreign country would be an example of a(n)

A)public bill.
B)private bill.
C)executive order.
D)executive agreement.

Question 32

Which of the following statements best describes the representation of women and minorities
In the U.S.Congress?

A)Representation of women and minorities has decreased by one-third since the 1970s.
B)Representation of women and minorities has increased over the past two decades but is not comparable to their proportions in the general population.
C)Women are underrepresented in Congress,but there is a disproportionate representation of minorities in Congress.
D)Since the mid-1990s,the number of women and minorities in Congress has roughly reflected their proportions in the general population.

Question 33

What are the most common private bills proposed in Congress?

A)bills giving individuals or corporations tax relief
B)bills for permanent visas or citizenship for foreign nationals
C)bills for defense contracts in a representative's district
D)bills that declare certain foreign nationals enemies of the United States

Question 34

The frequency with which they must seek reelection makes members of the U.S.House of Representatives

A)more responsive to the needs of the elites in the states they represent.
B)less responsive to the needs of the elites in the states they represent.
C)less responsive to the needs of local interest groups in the districts they represent.
D)more responsive to the needs of local interest groups in the districts they represent.

Question 35

In discussions of Congress,the term "whip" refers to

A)a punishment party leaders give when a member of Congress does not vote with
The rest of his or her party.
B)a Senate rule that allows 60 senators to immediately end another senator's filibuster.
C)the majority party leader's chief of staff.
D)a party member in the House or Senate responsible for coordinating the party's legislative strategy,building support for key issues,and counting votes.

Question 36

Who decides which committee assignments members of the House of Representatives receive?

A)the Speaker of the House
B)each party's own steering and policy committee
C)The president selects for members of his or her own party,and either the House
Majority or minority leader selects for opposition members.
D)each party's whip

Question 37

Race became a major factor in drawing congressional district lines as a result of

A)Title IX of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
B)Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
C)the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v.Holder.
D)the 1982 amendments to the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Question 38

Senators' longer terms of office and larger,more heterogeneous constituencies makes them more

A)attuned to the needs of groups and interests organized on a city or countywide basis.
B)likely to consider new ideas and better able to act as the agents for groups and interests organized on a statewide or national basis.
C)likely to serve existing interests than to bring together new coalitions of interests.
D)likely to spend their time thinking about and running for reelection.

Question 39

Who has the MOST real power in the Senate?

A)the president of the Senate
B)the majority and minority leaders
C)the Senate president pro tempore
D)the chair of the Rules Committee

Question 40

Over what does the House Ways and Means Committee have jurisdiction?

A)taxes,trade,and entitlement programs
B)foreign relations and national security
C)rules governing debate on the floor and committee assignments
D)highways and waterways

Question 41

The Senate Watergate committee of 1973 is an example of a ________ committee.

A)conference
B)joint
C)select
D)standing

Question 42

The so-called nuclear option refers to a

A)proposal to extend the use of the filibuster to the House of Representatives.
B)constitutional amendment to eliminate senatorial approval of nominees for positions in the executive branch and the federal courts.
C)policy of restructuring of Congress in a way that would eliminate the committee system.
D)change to the filibuster rules enacted in 2013 that prevents the filibustering of nominees for positions in the executive branch and the federal courts.

Question 43

Conference committees

A)must always include members from both political parties.
B)must always include members from all three branches of government.
C)are only likely to include members from both political parties when control of Congress is divided.
D)are only likely to include members from all three branches of government when control of Congress is divided.

Question 44

Approximately ________ percent of the ________ bills introduced in a typical congressional
Session die in committee.

A)50; 1,000
B)85; 1,000
C)50; 10,000
D)85; 10,000

Question 45

The framers gave the power to introduce "money bills" to the House of Representatives but not
The Senate because they believed that

A)the Senate was too small in size to make good decisions about taxing and spending.
B)the chamber closest to the people should exercise greater authority over taxing and spending.
C)every state should not have equal influence over taxing and spending decisions.
D)taxing and spending were not important issues and the Senate should focus its attention on the country's most pressing problems.

Question 46

Congressional leaders form ________ committees when they want to take up an issue that falls between the jurisdiction of existing committees,to highlight an issue,or to investigate a
Particular problem.

A)conference
B)joint
C)select
D)standing

Question 47

Joint committees

A)are temporary,but have the power to present legislation.
B)are permanent and have the power to present legislation.
C)are temporary and do not have the power to present legislation.
D)are permanent,but do not have the power to present legislation.

Question 48

A filibuster allows members of the Senate to

A)refer a bill to multiple committees.
B)avoid a conference committee.
C)prevent a vote on a bill by speaking continuously on the floor.
D)add amendments to any bill at any time.

Question 49

How can Congress override a president's veto?

A)a two-thirds vote in either chamber
B)a two-thirds vote in both chambers
C)a simple majority vote in both chambers
D)According to the U.S.Constitution,a president's veto cannot be overridden.

Question 50

Why does the House typically have greater party unity than the Senate?

A)Representatives have more partisan constituents than senators.
B)House leaders have more organizational control over the actions of representatives
Than Senate leaders.
C)There is,in fact,no real difference in levels of party unity between the House
And the Senate.
D)Interest groups are less influential in the House than in the Senate.

Question 51

What is cloture?

A)the ability of a senator to speak for as long as he or she wishes to prevent action from being taken on legislation that he or she opposes
B)the process by which three-fifths of the Senate can end a filibuster
C)the rule that allows one house of Congress to circumvent the other during the legislative process
D)a lawsuit filed by a member of the Senate against a member of the House or vice versa

Question 52

What are the four joint committees in Congress?

A)economic,taxation,library,and printing
B)foreign affairs,welfare,currency,and trade
C)globalization,human rights,employment,and citizenship
D)justice,agriculture,education,and technology

Question 53

The congressional practice of "ping ponging" occurs when

A)Congress passes a new version of a law that was previously struck down as unconstitutional by the federal judiciary.
B)Congress passes a new version of a law that was previously vetoed by the president.
C)there is a divided Congress and the House and Senate exchange amendments in order
To reach agreement on the final version of a bill.
D)a bill is passed in one house of Congress but not passed in the other.

Question 54

Conference committees are

A)permanent and involve members from both the House and the Senate.
B)temporary and are created to take up an issue that falls between the jurisdiction of existing committees,to highlight an issue,or to investigate a particular problem.
C)permanent and have the power to write and propose legislation.
D)temporary,involve members from both houses of Congress,and are charged with reaching a compromise on legislation once it has been passed by both the House and the Senate.

Question 55

A senator who agrees to vote for a tax cut bill that he or she disagrees with in order to receive
Another senator's vote on a climate change bill that he or she has proposed is engaged in

A)filibustering.
B)logrolling.
C)cloturing.
D)insider trading.

Question 56

The filibuster

A)has never been a frequently used tactic in the U.S.Senate.
B)was rarely used throughout most of American history but has become a frequently
Used tactic in the U.S.Senate during the last 20 years.
C)was a frequently used tactic in the U.S.Senate throughout most of American history
But has almost never been used during the last 20 years.
D)has always been a frequently used tactic in the U.S.Senate.

Question 57

Who is responsible for communicating the leaders' wishes to members in Congress?

A)the Speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tempore
B)the party whips
C)the party caucuses
D)the Ways and Means Committee

Question 58

A ________ veto occurs when Congress adjourns during a 10-day period after presenting the president with a bill on which he or she takes no action.

A)procrastination
B)pocket
C)silent
D)line-item

Question 59

In the House of Representatives,virtually all the time allotted by the Rules Committee for debate
On a given bill is controlled by the

A)majority leader and the minority leader.
B)bill's sponsor and its leading opponent.
C)whip.
D)Rules Committee chairperson.

Question 60

The 2015 House of Representatives committee that held hearings to investigate Hillary Clinton's
Use of private email services during her tenure as secretary of state is an example of

A)a standing committee.
B)a select committee.
C)a joint committee.
D)a conference committee.

Question 61

Oversight can best be described as the

A)efforts of Congress to supervise the manner in which its laws are implemented by
The executive branch.
B)organizational control exercised by party whips over members of Congress.
C)authority of committee chairs over the hearings and investigations conducted by the subcommittees.
D)approval that the Senate must give to all presidential appointments to the federal judiciary.

Question 62

In addition to pressuring members of Congress to vote a certain way on a bill,interest groups
Also have substantial influence in

A)setting the legislative agenda.
B)getting senators to filibuster debates on bills they oppose.
C)determining whether a member of Congress will run for reelection.
D)deciding committee assignments for members of Congress.

Question 63

Who were the only two presidents to be impeached by the U.S.House of Representatives?

A)Andrew Johnson and Richard Nixon
B)Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover
C)Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton
D)Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford

Question 64

The Senate's constitutional power of advice and consent extends to which of the following?

A)the president's power to make treaties with foreign nations
B)the president's power to engage in executive oversight
C)the president's power to issue executive orders
D)the president's power to issue pardons

Question 65

Which of the following statements about the impeachment process is most accurate?

A)It is a nonpolitical exercise.
B)It is one where all legislators have a common understanding of the definition of
"high crimes and misdemeanors."
C)It is a political exercise.
D)It is carried out entirely by the Senate,and the House has no role to play.

Question 66

The Hastert Rule is

A)an informal Democratic Party rule that all congressional committees include an equal number of men and women.
B)a formal policy in Congress that prevents representatives and senators from serving more than 12 years on the same committee.
C)an informal Republican Party rule that the Speaker of the House will not allow any bill
To reach the floor unless it has the support of a majority of Republican members of the House.
D)a formal Senate policy that prevents the filibustering of nominees for positions in the executive branch and the federal courts.

Question 67

Describe how Congress exercises its checks and balances over the executive branch.Which chamber of Congress has more authority over the executive branch? Provide examples.How might partisanship help to diminish the exercise of congressional power over the presidency? Explain.

Question 68

Which of the following statements best describes the difference between a congressional
Hearing and a congressional investigation?

A)There are no important differences between a congressional hearing and a congressional investigation.
B)A hearing is held by members of both the House and the Senate while an investigation is conducted exclusively by members of a single chamber.
C)A hearing is held in order to analyze a specific bill that has already been proposed while an investigation examines a broad problem and concludes with recommendations for a proposed bill.
D)An investigation is held in order to analyze a specific bill that has already been proposed while hearing examines a broad problem and concludes with recommendations for a proposed bill.

Question 69

Many political observers have identified a strong "incumbency advantage" and a "sophomore surge" in congressional elections.Describe what these terms mean and explain the reasons behind them.In particular,discuss some of the ways members of Congress can provide patronage to their districts and the role that redistricting plays in congressional elections.

Question 70

Compared to the rest of American history,recent congresses have been ________ polarized
And ________ productive in terms of passing laws.

A)less; equally
B)less; less
C)more; less
D)more; more

Question 71

There are many different ways in which members of Congress can represent the American people.Define and discuss the differences between sociological and agency representation.Which type of representation do you think the U.S.Congress provides best,and why?

Question 72

The 2014 Select Committee on Benghazi is an example of Congress's

A)advice and consent powers.
B)oversight powers.
C)impeachment powers.
D)executive agreement powers.

Question 73

Describe the process by which a bill becomes a law.What are the major steps in the process? How often do bills fail,and where in the process do they typically die? What are the main differences in the legislative process between the two houses of Congress?

Question 74

What is the organizational structure of Congress? What are some of the leadership positions in both houses,and what are their functions? What are some of the types of committees? Are there any important differences between the organizational structures of the House and Senate? If so,discuss them.

Question 75

The role that the U.S.House of Representatives plays in impeachments can best be
Compared with that of a

A)judge.
B)grand jury.
C)prosecuting attorney.
D)defense attorney.

Question 76

Leadership PACs are

A)members of Congress who have previously served on the Parent's Advisory Council.
B)interest groups that lobby Congress to provide more funding for performing arts centers.
C)organizations that members of Congress use to raise funds that they then distribute to other members of their party who are running for election.
D)federally funded training academies that educate newly elected members of Congress on the norms of the House and Senate.

Question 77

Most members of the House attempt to stay on good terms with the Speaker of the House
Because the Speaker

A)has the authority to call all party unity votes.
B)possesses the power of recognition.
C)approves all requests for logrolling.
D)makes all decisions regarding how leadership PACs will distribute their funds.

Question 78

In addition to gerrymandering,a major reason why so many members of Congress are elected
From safe districts is

A)local newspapers and television stations typically provide very favorable coverage to the incumbent party's candidates.
B)the natural geographic clustering of people who share a political ideology.
C)that once people move into a district that is very liberal or very conservative they tend to switch their ideology to match that of their new districts.
D)candidates for Congress usually change their partisan affiliation to match that of their districts.

Question 79

The role that the U.S.Senate plays in impeachments can best be compared with that of a

A)trial jury.
B)grand jury.
C)prosecuting attorney.
D)defense attorney.