Question 1

The distributive theory of legislative organization argues that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The distributive theory of legislative organization argues...

Question 2

The process by which bills are rewritten and amended in a committee is known as:

Accepted Answer

The process of rewriting and amending bills within a congressional committee is known as markup. This process allows for committee members to propose changes to the bill before it is presented to the full House or Senate for a vote.

Question 3

What is a pocket veto?

Accepted Answer

A pocket veto occurs when the president does not sign a bill and Congress adjourns before the 10-day period for the president to either sign or veto the bill expires. In this case, the bill dies automatically and cannot be passed into law.

Question 4

Which of the following is less common in the Senate than in the House?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is less common...

Question 5

The ________ process limits the amount of money that could be spent on a bill, but the ________ process determines how much money is actually assigned to be spent.

Accepted Answer

The authorization process determines whether the government has legal permission to spend money on a particular program or project, while the appropriation process decides how much money should be spent on it. Therefore, the authorization process comes before the appropriation process. Choice B correctly identifies the order of these two processes.

Question 6

A vote of cloture requires approval by how many senators?

Accepted Answer

A vote of cloture requires approval by 60 senators to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote. This is because the Senate operates under the "three-fifths rule" for cloture, meaning that 60 votes are needed to overcome a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote.

Question 7

Which theory of legislative politics holds that committee assignments are based on legislators trying to best serve their districts and that the entire legislature therefore respects the committee's interests?

Accepted Answer

The distributive theory holds that legislators are primarily motivated by advancing the interests of their districts, and as such committee assignments are made to best serve those interests. This theory suggests that the entire legislature respects the committee's work because it is seen as advancing the interests of all districts.

Question 8

Which aspect of the committee system does NOT support members' reelection prospects?

Accepted Answer

While party leaders can raise money to funnel to other legislators, this does not directly support the reelection prospects of individual members.

Question 9

When a bill comes to the floor of the House under ________, it cannot be amended.

Accepted Answer

Under closed rules, a bill comes to the floor of the House and is considered under strict time limits and without the opportunity for amendments or revisions. The rules are established by the House Rules Committee, which is controlled by the majority party, and can limit debate and amendment opportunities.

Question 10

What is a filibuster?

Accepted Answer

A filibuster is a tactic used in the Senate to delay or prevent a vote on a bill by allowing a senator to speak for as long as they can and refuse to yield the floor, thereby preventing any further action on the bill. There is no time limit for a filibuster, and it can only be ended by a vote of cloture.

Question 11

All of the following describe omnibus legislation EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A supermajority is not required for passage in both houses. This option refers to a different legislative procedure known as a "cloture vote," which is used to end a filibuster in the Senate.

Question 12

A vote of ________ will limit the amount of time spent debating a bill in the Senate.

Accepted Answer

The term "cloture" refers to a procedural motion used in the Senate to end debate on a bill and move towards a vote. If at least 60 senators vote for cloture, debate is limited to 30 additional hours before a final vote is taken. Therefore, this is the correct choice as it limits the time spent debating a bill.

Question 13

What is an advantage that larger committee staffs give members of Congress?

Accepted Answer

Larger committee staffs give members of Congress independent sources of information and expertise with which to challenge the president.

Question 14

The Livestock, Rural Development, and Credit Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee meets to determine the final language of a bill on regulations affecting livestock in the United States. This process is an example of what?

Accepted Answer

The process described is a markup, which is the process by which a legislative committee debates, amends, and rewrites proposed legislation.

Question 15

Conference committees are ________ and negotiate differences between ________.

Accepted Answer

Conference committees are temporary and are created when the House and Senate need to reconcile differences between versions of a bill that each chamber has passed. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 16

A ________ committee is created to deal with a specific policy topic, while a ________ committee is created to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of the same bill.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A ________ committee is created to deal...

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a deviation from the standard path of the lawmaking process?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is NOT a...

Question 18

Why is the filibuster/vote of cloture an important legislative strategy for the minority party?

Accepted Answer

The filibuster/vote of cloture is an important legislative strategy for the minority party because it allows them to stop legislation with as few as 41 votes. By requiring a supermajority of 60 votes to end debate and move to a final vote, the minority party can block bills they oppose from passing. This gives the minority party a significant amount of power and influence in the legislative process.

Question 19

Which of the following lists is correctly ordered?

Accepted Answer

The correct order of the legislative process is: a member introduces a bill, one chamber takes floor action, and then if necessary, a conference committee version is approved.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a way for Congress to engage in oversight of the bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

Suspending rules is not a way for Congress to engage in oversight of the bureaucracy. The other options listed (holding hearings, conducting investigations, limiting or cutting appropriations, and interviewing members of the bureaucracy) are all common ways for Congress to oversee the actions of the bureaucracy.

Quiz 10: Congress