Question 1

When the small business lobby organized a network of small businesses across the country to oppose President Clinton's health care plan,it illustrated the power of which group to influence congressional decision making?

Accepted Answer

The small business lobby is an example of an interest group, which has the power to influence congressional decision making through various tactics such as lobbying, campaign contributions, and grassroots organizing.

Question 2

Members of Congress rarely pay attention to the interests of their constituency.

Accepted Answer

Members of Congress are elected by their constituency and are accountable to them. They often hold public events, town hall meetings, and listen to their constituents' concerns and opinions. Additionally, they are influenced by their constituency's needs and desires when they make legislative decisions. Therefore, it is not accurate to say they rarely pay attention to the interests of their constituency.

Question 3

When the Republican Party leadership removed several members from the House Ethics Committee for having participated in an investigation of then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay,they exemplified the leadership's power to:

Accepted Answer

The removal of several members from the House Ethics Committee for investigating Tom DeLay exemplifies the Republican Party leadership's power to set committee assignments. By removing these members from the committee, the leadership was able to exert control over the committee's activities and prevent further investigation of DeLay. This is an example of the leadership's ability to shape the legislative process by determining which members have access to important committees and which issues will be prioritized by those committees.

Question 4

Wherein is power to impeach and remove from office vested?

Accepted Answer

The power to impeach and remove federal officials from office is vested in Congress, specifically in the House of Representatives who has the authority to impeach and in the Senate who conducts the trial and ultimately decides whether to remove the official from office. The vice president, Supreme Court, and Electoral College do not have this power.

Question 5

When the 2009 omnibus spending bill was passed in different forms in the House and Senate,the group of legislators from each chamber that met to resolve interchamber differences was known as a(n)________ committee.

Accepted Answer

When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences and produce a final version of the bill for both chambers to vote on. Conference committees are temporary and ad hoc, meaning they are created for a specific purpose and disbanded once their work is done.

Question 6

When members of the Senate prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down,which tactic are they using?

Accepted Answer

This tactic is known as a filibuster, where a senator or group of senators speak continuously to prevent action on legislation they oppose. It is a way for the minority party to delay or block the passage of bills that the majority party supports. The only way to end a filibuster is to either achieve a cloture vote (which requires 60 votes in the Senate) or for the minority party to voluntarily give up the floor.

Question 7

Imagine the Republicans control the majority in the House and are pushing for a major immigration reform bill,although several party members would like to vote against the proposed piece of legislation.Which of the following is NOT a way in which party leaders may encourage party discipline among their members?

Accepted Answer

Party leaders cannot decide who gets to run for reelection to the House. This decision ultimately lies with the member and their constituents.

Question 8

Imagine both the House and the Senate have passed financial reform bills that alter the way in which the federal government oversees the banking sector.However,the Senate bill is significantly different from the House bill.Before the financial reform bill can be sent to the president,what is the final step that must take place?

Accepted Answer

Before a bill can be sent to the president, both the House and the Senate must adopt the conference report, which reconciles differences between the two versions of the bill.

Question 9

A congressional representative's statement to his or her legislative colleague that "I'll support your bill if you'll support mine" is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This is an example of logrolling, where legislators make deals to support each other's bills in exchange for support for their own bills. It is a common practice in Congress to gain support for legislative proposals.

Question 10

A representative who votes according to the preferences of his or her constituency acts as a delegate.

Accepted Answer

A delegate is a representative who acts on behalf of their constituency and votes based on their preferences and opinions. They prioritize the preferences of their constituents over their personal beliefs or party affiliation.

Question 11

A representative who votes based on what he or she thinks is best for his or her constituency acts as a trustee.

Accepted Answer

A trustee represents the best interests of their constituents, even if it means voting against their personal beliefs or party loyalty.

Question 12

Which is an example of a special Senate power?

Accepted Answer

The Senate has the special power of "advise and consent," which involves approving treaties and confirming presidential appointments.

Question 13

When Senator Strom Thurmond spoke for over twenty-four hours in an attempt to block a piece of civil rights legislation,he used the:

Accepted Answer

Senator Strom Thurmond used a filibuster, which is a prolonged speech or series of speeches designed to delay or prevent a vote on a piece of legislation. His speech lasted over 24 hours and was an attempt to block a civil rights bill from being passed.

Question 14

A rule allowing a three-fifths majority of U.S.senators to set a time limit on debate over a given bill is called:

Accepted Answer

Cloture is the rule allowing a three-fifths majority of U.S. senators to set a time limit on debate over a given bill. This is often used to end a filibuster and move the bill to a vote.

Question 15

During the past half century,who has taken the lead in creating legislative agendas?

Accepted Answer

The president has taken the lead in creating legislative agendas through their role in proposing budgets, outlining priorities in their State of the Union speeches, and working with congressional leaders to advance their policy agenda.

Question 16

The U.S.Congress is able to serve simultaneously as a representative assembly and a powerful agency of government.

Accepted Answer

This is true. The U.S. Congress is made up of two chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate, which serve as a representative assembly. However, they also hold significant power as an agency of government, with the ability to make laws and oversee the other branches of government.

Question 17

When Senator Thad Cochran inserted language into the bill funding the war in Iraq that provided $250 million for "disaster relief" for Southern catfish farmers,it illustrated which principle of congressional action?

Accepted Answer

The distributive tendency refers to the tendency of Congress to distribute benefits throughout the country in the form of government programs, subsidies, and funding. The language inserted by Senator Cochran providing $250 million for Southern catfish farmers illustrates this tendency as it allocated funds for a specific group in a certain region.

Question 18

Frequently,features of a bill are drafted initially or revised so as to be more inclusive,spreading the benefits widely among beneficiaries according to the principle of:

Accepted Answer

The distributive tendency refers to the principle of spreading benefits widely among beneficiaries, which is exactly what the question is describing. The other options (A, B, D, and E) do not accurately describe this principle.

Question 19

The U.S.Congress is a bicameral legislature.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Congress is composed of two separate chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate, making it a bicameral legislature.

Question 20

Which term describes efforts by Congress to exercise control over the way bureaucrats implement policies?

Accepted Answer

Oversight refers to the process by which Congress exercises control over the implementation of policies by bureaucrats. This can include holding hearings, conducting investigations, and requiring reports from agencies to ensure that they are carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with established laws and regulations.

Quiz 5: Congress: The First Branch