Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Congress is composed of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Its members are elected to represent their constituents in the legislative process, but they also hold significant power as an agency of government. They have the ability to pass laws, confirm presidential appointments, and provide oversight of executive branch agencies. So, Congress serves both as a representative assembly and a powerful agency of government at the same time.

Question 2

The Senate was originally designed to maximize the input of citizens.

Accepted Answer

The Senate was originally designed to represent the states rather than maximizing citizen input.

Question 3

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 usually appointed to resolve the differences and come up with a compromise version of the bill. The conference committee is made up of a small group of legislators from both chambers.

Question 4

When a congressional representative says to a legislative colleague,"I'll support your bill if you'll support mine," that statement is an example of

Accepted Answer

The statement is an example of logrolling, which is when two legislators agree to support each other's bills or policies in order to gain support for their own. This practice is often criticized for prioritizing political gain over the well-being of constituents.

Question 5

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 principle of distributive tendency refers to Congress's tendency to allocate funds to specific geographic areas or interest groups for narrow, specific purposes. Senator Cochran's insertion of funds for southern catfish farmers is an example of this principle in action.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Members of Congress are elected to represent the interests of their constituencies, and their actions are often influenced by the demands and concerns of their constituents. While there may be instances of elected officials ignoring their constituencies, it is not true that this is a common or widespread trend.

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 do not have the power to decide who gets to run for re-election to the House. This power lies with individual candidates and their decision to seek re-election or not. The other options listed are all ways in which party leaders can use their power to influence and discipline party members.

Question 8

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

By removing members from the House Ethics Committee, the Republican Party leadership was exercising its power to set committee assignments. This allowed the leadership to control which members were responsible for investigating ethical allegations and could potentially influence the outcome of such investigations.

Question 9

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 organizing a network of small businesses to oppose President Clinton's health care plan demonstrates the power of interest groups to influence congressional decision-making. Interest groups are organized around a shared interest or goal and work to promote their interests by influencing government policies and decisions. In this case, the small business lobby used its network of businesses to lobby against a particular policy proposal.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. A trustee is a representative who uses their own judgment and beliefs to make decisions on behalf of their constituency.

Question 11

Which is an example of a special Senate power?

Accepted Answer

Advice and consent is a special Senate power that involves the Senate giving their approval or rejection of certain presidential appointments and treaties. This power allows the Senate to have a check on the power of the president and ensures that the appointments or treaties are in the best interest of the country.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. A representative who serves as a delegate is expected to vote according to the interests of their constituents rather than their own personal preferences.

Question 13

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

A cloture vote is a procedural vote to end debate and move forward to a final vote on a bill or nomination. It requires a three-fifths majority of senators (60 votes) to pass. The purpose of cloture is to prevent a minority of senators from continually blocking the passage of a bill through endless debate, also known as a filibuster.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Oversight is the term used to describe the efforts of Congress to exercise control over the way bureaucrats implement policies. Through this process, members of Congress can review and monitor the actions of regulatory agencies and ensure that they are acting in accordance with legislative intent. This can be accomplished through a variety of methods, such as holding hearings, requesting reports, and conducting investigations. By exercising oversight, Congress can help to ensure that the bureaucracy is accountable and responsive to the needs of the public.

Question 15

Frequently,legislation is written to be inclusive,spreading the benefits widely among beneficiaries according to the principle of

Accepted Answer

Distributive tendency refers to the principle of spreading benefits widely among beneficiaries. This means that legislation is written to ensure that multiple groups or individuals benefit from it, rather than just a select few. This approach aims to promote equality and fairness, as well as foster a sense of community and shared responsibility. In contrast, policy allocation and interest-group pluralism are more focused on distributing resources or benefits to specific groups or individuals based on their particular needs or interests. Central frequency and difference are not relevant concepts in this context.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

The president has the power to propose legislation to Congress and can use their State of the Union address to set the legislative agenda. Additionally, in recent years, presidents have been more actively involved in the legislative process through use of executive orders, signing statements, and lobbying efforts, giving them an even greater role in creating legislative agendas.

Question 17

Which person or institution has the power to impeach and remove an official from office?

Accepted Answer

Under the U.S. Constitution, the power of impeachment and removal from office is granted to Congress (specifically, the House of Representatives and Senate). The House has the power to bring impeachment charges against a federal official, while the Senate conducts the trial and ultimately determines whether or not to remove the official from office.

Question 18

The U.S.Congress is a bicameral legislature.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

Members of the House serve longer terms than members of the Senate.

Accepted Answer

Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms, while Senators serve six-year terms.

Question 20

When Senator Strom Thurmond spoke for over 24 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 tactic used in the Senate to delay or prevent a vote on a particular piece of legislation. This involves speaking for an extended period of time in order to delay the vote and try to persuade others to also vote against the legislation. During Thurmond's famous filibuster, he spoke for over 24 hours to try to prevent the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Quiz 5: Congress: the First Branch