Question 1

Perhaps the most important factor determining who runs for Congress is

Accepted Answer

Candidates' personal ambitions are a crucial factor in deciding to run for Congress, as individuals must have the motivation and desire to pursue a political career and endure the rigors of campaigning.

Question 2

Which term describes the direct services and benefits that congressional representatives provide for their districts such as appointing supporters to government offices or conferring grants and licenses to constituents?

Accepted Answer

Patronage refers to the practice of providing direct services and benefits to constituents in a representative's district, such as appointments to government offices and conferring grants and licenses. This is often seen as a way for representatives to build and maintain support among their constituents.

Question 3

What is the minimum age required to serve as a U.S.senator?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Constitution requires that a senator be at least 30 years old.

Question 4

Which of the following helps explain pork-barrel activities in Congress?

Accepted Answer

The collective action principle explains how pork-barrel activities in Congress occur. Legislators must work together and exchange support for each other's projects in order to secure funds for their own projects.

Question 5

Article I of the Constitution specifies that the House of Representatives must originate all legislation on which topic?

Accepted Answer

Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution states that "All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives." This means that any legislation related to taxes and spending must be first introduced in the House of Representatives before moving to the Senate for approval.

Question 6

A professional legislature is one with members who

Accepted Answer

The answer of A professional legislature is one with members...

Question 7

In recent years, the rate of reelection for representatives seeking to return to service in the U.S.House of Representatives has been about __________ percent.

Accepted Answer

The rate of reelection for representatives seeking to return to service in the U.S. House of Representatives has been about 90 percent in recent years. This means that the vast majority of incumbents have been successful in their reelection campaigns.

Question 8

The practice by congressional representatives of including language providing special benefits for their constituents in otherwise unrelated bills is called the

Accepted Answer

This practice is commonly known as an "earmark." An earmark is a provision added to a funding bill that directs specific funds to a specific recipient or project, often at the request of a member of Congress. It is often criticized for being used to secure political favors or to direct funds towards pet projects rather than based on merit or need.

Question 9

The so-called Bridge-to-Nowhere project for which Alaskan legislators secured federal funding to build a bridge to an unpopulated island in Alaska is an example of a(n)

Accepted Answer

The Bridge-to-Nowhere project is a classic example of an earmark, which is a provision in a government spending bill that allocates funds for a specific project or recipient, often at the behest of a particular legislator or interest group. This earmark was inserted into a transportation bill in 2005, and would have directed $233 million in federal funds towards a bridge that would have connected the town of Ketchikan to an island with a population of only 50 people. The project was eventually cancelled due to public outcry and scrutiny, and it became a symbol of wasteful government spending.

Question 10

Compared to the Senate, the small size and relative homogeneity of House districts, combined with more frequent elections, make House members

Accepted Answer

House members are especially responsive to the legislative needs of local interest groups due to the small size and homogeneity of their districts, which makes them more focused on local issues to secure re-election.

Question 11

Compared to the House of Representatives, the Senate is much more

Accepted Answer

The Senate is known for being more deliberative than the House of Representatives. This is because Senators have longer terms (6 years) than Congressmen (2 years) and only one-third of the Senate is up for reelection at any given time, meaning that Senators do not have to constantly worry about campaigning and can focus more on the legislative process. Additionally, the Senate has fewer members than the House, which allows for more in-depth debate and discussion on bills.

Question 12

One well-known advantage of congressional incumbency is the

Accepted Answer

The franking privilege allows incumbent members of Congress to send mail to their constituents free of charge, which can be a powerful tool in staying in touch with voters and promoting their own image and accomplishments. This advantage can help incumbents to build name recognition and secure voter loyalty.

Question 13

Compared to the House of Representatives, the Senate serves constituencies that are

Accepted Answer

The Senate serves entire states as its constituencies, which are generally larger and more diverse than the districts represented by members of the House of Representatives. Additionally, because states are more geographically and demographically diverse than individual districts, the Senate also represents a greater diversity of perspectives and interests within its constituencies.

Question 14

Holding a political office for which one is running is called

Accepted Answer

Incumbency refers to holding a political office for which one is running. It is an advantage in elections as the incumbent has name recognition and has already established a track record in the office.

Question 15

What is the general term for providing minor services to constituents, introducing bills for specific citizens, and attempting to influence decisions by agencies and regulatory commissions on their behalf?

Accepted Answer

Constituency service, also known as casework, involves providing minor services to constituents, such as helping them navigate government bureaucracy or introducing bills for specific citizens. It also involves attempting to influence decisions by agencies and regulatory commissions on their behalf. Pork barreling refers to securing government funds or projects for a specific district or constituency, swilling the planters with bumbo is a historical term for politicians providing liquor to potential voters, glad-handing is the act of greeting constituents in a friendly manner, and gerrymandering refers to the manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political gain.

Question 16

What is the minimum age required to serve as a member of the House of Representatives?

Accepted Answer

The minimum age required to serve as a member of the House of Representatives is 25 years old, as stated in Article 1, Section 2 of the United States Constitution.

Question 17

Legislation that captures federal projects and funds for a congressional representative's own district is described as __________ legislation.

Accepted Answer

Pork-barrel legislation refers to legislation that allocates federal funds to projects and programs that primarily benefit a specific lawmaker's home district or state. These projects can include infrastructure, education, or other initiatives that benefit the local community but may not be considered as high-priority at the national level. The term "pork barrel" refers to the historical practice of storing and preserving meat in barrels, with legislators supposedly dipping into the barrel to secure their share of government funds.

Question 18

Why does the Senate tend to be a more deliberative body than the House?

Accepted Answer

The Senate has a strong commitment to the principle of unlimited debate, which allows for more discussion and consideration of legislation than in the House, where debate is more limited. This contributes to the Senate being a more deliberative body.

Question 19

One of the primary goals of many incumbent legislators is to be reelected.Support for tools such as the franking privilege and the use of earmarks among incumbent legislators is best illustrated by which principle of politics?

Accepted Answer

The rationality principle suggests that political actors, including incumbent legislators, pursue their interests in a rational manner. Seeking reelection is a primary interest for many legislators, and they use tools like the franking privilege and earmarks to achieve this goal by communicating with constituents and securing benefits for them, respectively. These actions are rational strategies aimed at increasing their chances of reelection.

Question 20

Compared to the Senate, the House of Representatives has exhibited considerably more

Accepted Answer

The House of Representatives has generally exhibited more intense partisanship than the Senate, with members often voting along party lines rather than considering compromise or deliberating on issues. This is due in part to the shorter terms of Representatives and the more frequent elections which can lead to a greater focus on pleasing party leadership and the base, rather than working across the aisle.

Quiz 6: Congress: the First Branch