Question 1

The founders believed that representatives should generally follow the delegate model of representation, except in times of great crisis, when the politico model should be used.

Accepted Answer

The founders primarily believed in the trustee model of representation, where elected officials should use their own judgment in decision-making, rather than the delegate model where they would strictly follow the wishes of their constituents. The politico model, which combines elements of both the trustee and delegate models, was not a specific delineation made by the founders but rather a modern conceptualization of representative roles.

Question 2

The minimum age for service in the U.S. House of Representatives is 30 years.

Accepted Answer

The minimum age for service in the U.S. House of Representatives is 25 years.

Question 3

In its 1995 decision in Shaw v. Reno, the U.S. Supreme Court supported race as the principal criterion for drawing legislative districts.

Accepted Answer

In Shaw v. Reno, the U.S. Supreme Court held that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause, indicating that race cannot be the predominant factor in creating legislative districts without a compelling governmental interest.

Question 4

In general, states in the northeast have seen an increase in the number of representatives in the House while the south and west have seen sharp declines.

Accepted Answer

In general, states in the northeast have seen a decrease or stagnation in the number of representatives in the House due to slower population growth, while the south and west have seen increases due to faster population growth.

Question 5

Before a bill can be sent to the president for approval, differences between competing House and Senate bills on the same topic must be ironed out in a conference committee.

Accepted Answer

Before a bill can be sent to the president, both the House of Representatives and the Senate must agree on the exact wording of the bill. If there are differences between the House and Senate versions, a conference committee is often formed to reconcile those differences and produce a final, unified bill for both chambers to vote on again.

Question 6

Generally speaking, U.S. House committees consist of about 20 members.

Accepted Answer

U.S. House committees typically have more than 20 members, with some of the larger committees having 50 or more members. The exact number can vary depending on the specific committee and the decisions of the House leadership.

Question 7

Orientation function refers to the job of legislators familiarizing the new members with congressional procedures, norms, and customs.

Accepted Answer

Orientation function is indeed about helping new legislators understand the workings, procedures, norms, and customs of the legislative body they are joining, ensuring they can effectively participate and contribute from the start.

Question 8

Minority whips are responsible for eliciting support for legislation and for keeping count of how members plan to vote.

Accepted Answer

Minority whips, similar to their majority counterparts, are tasked with securing party support for legislation, monitoring and influencing how party members vote, and keeping a tally of votes in anticipation of legislative actions.

Question 9

In the absence of the Vice President of the United States, the presiding officer in the Senate is the minority leader.

Accepted Answer

In the absence of the Vice President, the Senate's presiding officer is the President pro tempore, not the minority leader.

Question 10

A presidential veto can be overridden by a simple majority vote in both chambers of Congress.

Accepted Answer

A presidential veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Question 11

Under the conscience model of representation, legislators should

Accepted Answer

Under the conscience model of representation, legislators follow the will of the people unless they believe that it is in the best interest of the country to do otherwise, acting according to their conscience.

Question 12

Under the delegate model of representation, legislators should

Accepted Answer

Under the delegate model of representation, legislators are expected to act as delegates of their constituents, meaning they should adhere to the will of their constituents rather than following their own judgment or acting on what they believe to be in the best interest of the country irrespective of public opinion.

Question 13

An elected representative who strictly adheres to the will of their constituents is said to act according to the

Accepted Answer

The delegate model of representation is where elected representatives act strictly according to the will of their constituents, essentially serving as their delegates.

Question 14

Russ Feingold and Edward Kennedy were vocal opponents of the Iraq War and voted against the war in 2002, despite widespread popular support for the authorization of war against Iraq. Their vote can best be understood through the

Accepted Answer

The trustee model of representation suggests that elected representatives should make decisions based on their own judgments and conscience, even if those decisions are not in line with the immediate wishes or preferences of their constituents. Russ Feingold and Edward Kennedy voting against the Iraq War in 2002, despite its popularity among the public at the time, exemplifies this approach. They acted on their own assessments of the situation rather than following the prevailing public opinion, embodying the trustee model of representation.

Question 15

During the impeachment trial of President Clinton, Representative Henry Hyde argued "We're not delegates who are sent here to weigh our mail every day and then to vote accordingly. We are elected to bring our judgment, our experience, and our consciences with us here." Hyde's claim is an argument in favor of the

Accepted Answer

Hyde's statement supports the trustee model of representation, where elected officials are trusted to use their own judgment and conscience to make decisions, rather than acting strictly according to the wishes of their constituents.

Question 16

Representative Sherwood Boehlert's argument that legislators should use the "pillow test"-that legislators should follow the will of their constituents until doing so keeps the legislator awake at night-is an argument in favor of the

Accepted Answer

Boehlert's "pillow test" suggests that legislators should primarily follow their constituents' will but ultimately rely on their own judgment or conscience when they strongly disagree or when following the constituents' will would cause them significant personal ethical concern. This aligns with the conscience model of representation, where representatives are elected for their judgment and conscience and are expected to act in the best interests of their constituents, even if it means occasionally going against the majority opinion.

Question 17

Senator J. William Fulbright's warning that "The average legislator early in his career discovers that there are certain interests or prejudices of his constituents which are dangerous to trifle with" is an argument in favor of the

Accepted Answer

Senator J. William Fulbright's warning suggests that legislators often find themselves navigating the interests and prejudices of their constituents, indicating a blend of following constituent preferences and using their own judgment. This aligns with the politico model of representation, where elected officials act as delegates by following constituent preferences when clear and as trustees using their own judgment when constituent preferences are not clear.

Question 18

The most important responsibility of a member of Congress is to

Accepted Answer

Members of Congress are elected to represent the interests and concerns of their constituents, making speaking and acting on behalf of the people their most important responsibility.

Question 19

The assumption that a legislator will represent or favor only his or her own ethnic group or gender (as opposed to the entire population) is generally referred to as

Accepted Answer

Symbolic representation refers to the idea that elected officials serve as symbols of their constituents' identities or characteristics, such as ethnicity or gender, rather than necessarily acting in their constituents' best interests or according to their preferences. This concept suggests that the presence of a representative who shares an identity with a particular group can have symbolic importance, even if their policy actions do not directly benefit that group.

Question 20

A legislative system in which there are two houses or chambers is usually described as

Accepted Answer

Bicameral is the term used to describe a legislative system that consists of two houses or chambers.

Quiz 6: Congress