Question 1

The first African American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives was

Accepted Answer

The answer of The first African American elected to the...

Question 2

In _____ the first African American was elected to the House of Representatives.

Accepted Answer

In 1870, Hiram Rhodes Revels was the first African American elected to the U.S. Senate, representing Mississippi, and Joseph H. Rainey became the first African American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing South Carolina.

Question 3

How many African Americans have served in the U.S. Senate?

Accepted Answer

As of October 2023, a total of 11 African Americans have served in the U.S. Senate.

Question 4

Approximately what percentage of members of Congress are attorneys?

Accepted Answer

Approximately 40% of members of Congress are attorneys, as many have legal backgrounds which are common in political careers.

Question 5

Approximately what percentage of national legislatures, today, are of Hispanic descent?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Approximately what percentage of national legislatures, today,...

Question 6

Approximately what percentage of members of Congress are educators (school teachers, professors, etc.)?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Approximately what percentage of members of Congress...

Question 7

In a 2010 New York Times/CBS poll, what percentage of respondents said they disapproved of the job Congress was doing?

Accepted Answer

In the 2010 New York Times/CBS poll, 75 percent of respondents expressed disapproval of the job Congress was doing, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with congressional performance at that time.

Question 8

According to the conscience model of representation, a member of Congress should closely follow the conscious demands of his or her constituents.

Accepted Answer

The conscience model of representation suggests that a representative should follow their own conscience and judgment, even if it goes against the immediate wishes of their constituents.

Question 9

Thomas Paine's argument that "act in the same manner as the whole body would act, were they present" is an argument in favor of the trustee model of representation.

Accepted Answer

Thomas Paine's argument supports the delegate model of representation, where representatives act according to the wishes of their constituents, as if the constituents themselves were present.

Question 10

A great deal of the work of legislators is comprised of casework, which includes answering the letters and phone calls of constituents requesting assistance.

Accepted Answer

Casework is a significant part of a legislator's duties, involving responding to constituents' requests for help, including answering their letters and phone calls.

Question 11

The concept of symbolic representation suggests that Congress should roughly reflect the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the United States.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic representation refers to the idea that elected bodies should mirror the demographic composition of the population they represent, including aspects such as race, ethnicity, and gender, to ensure that diverse perspectives and interests are considered in the policymaking process.

Question 12

The belief that Congress should reflect the diversity of the United States, with a composition that roughly mirrors the racial, ethnic, religious and gender diversity of the country, is expressed in the concept of symbolic representation.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic representation refers to the idea that elected bodies should mirror the demographics of the population they serve, encompassing aspects like race, ethnicity, religion, and gender, to symbolize the diversity of the society.

Question 13

The framers believed that the executive branch should be at the heart of the new American government.

Accepted Answer

The framers of the U.S. Constitution were actually concerned about concentrating too much power in any single branch of government, especially the executive. They aimed for a balance of power among the three branches (executive, legislative, and judicial) to prevent tyranny.

Question 14

Should the president fail to act on a bill for 10 days (excluding Sundays), the bill becomes law unless Congress adjourns during that period.

Accepted Answer

If the President does not sign or veto a bill within 10 days (excluding Sundays) and Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law. If Congress adjourns during that period, the bill does not become law, a situation known as a pocket veto.

Question 15

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison urged President Washington to veto a bill designed to charter a national bank.

Accepted Answer

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison argued that the Constitution did not grant the federal government the authority to create a national bank, urging President Washington to veto the bill that proposed its creation.

Question 16

The term cracking refers to opposition voters being lumped together in one area of a legislative district.

Accepted Answer

Cracking refers to the practice of dividing opposition voters into several districts to dilute their voting power, not lumping them together in one area.

Question 17

Gerrymandering refers to draw legislative boundaries in a way that secures political advantage.

Accepted Answer

Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries in a way that gives one political party an unfair advantage over its rivals.

Question 18

Gerrymandering occurs primarily in states that use at-large districts.

Accepted Answer

Gerrymandering typically occurs in states that use single-member districts, where the process involves manipulating district boundaries to favor one party over another, rather than in at-large districts where representatives are elected on a statewide basis without specific geographic districts.

Question 19

As governor of Massachusetts, Elbridge Gerry redrew the legislative boundaries of his state, giving rise to the term "gerrymander."

Accepted Answer

Elbridge Gerry, as governor of Massachusetts, approved a redistricting plan in 1812 that was designed to benefit his political party, leading to the term "gerrymander."

Question 20

The U.S. Supreme Court has been extensively involved in debates over redistricting, playing a central role in approving new legislative districts.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The U.S. Supreme Court has been extensively...

Quiz 6: Congress