Deck 11: Congress

Question 1

It has been said that the Founders designed Congress as a machine for killing legislation, not passing it. Do you agree? Would the Founders be surprised by the current gridlock in Congress?

Answer 1

The statement that the Founders designed Congress as a machine for killing legislation, not passing it, is a commonly held belief among political scholars. The system of checks and balances, the bicameral structure, and the requirement for a supermajority in the Senate to pass certain legislation all contribute to the difficulty of passing laws.

In this sense, it can be argued that the Founders did intend for Congress to be a deliberative body that carefully considered and debated legislation before enacting it into law. However, it is unlikely that they anticipated the level of gridlock and partisan polarization that currently exists in Congress.

The Founders believed in the importance of compromise and the ability of elected officials to work together for the common good. They would likely be surprised and disappointed by the current state of gridlock in Congress, where partisan politics often take precedence over the needs of the country.

While the Founders may have designed Congress to be a deliberative body, it is clear that they did not intend for it to be paralyzed by partisan bickering and unable to effectively address the pressing issues facing the nation. It is up to the current members of Congress to work towards finding common ground and breaking through the gridlock in order to fulfill the Founders' vision for a functioning legislative branch.

Question 2

How should citizens judge the wastefulness of government spending? Is it true that one person's pork-barrel spending is another person's absolutely necessary expenditure? How might this attitude affect the policy and political choices of members of Congress?

Answer 2

Citizens should judge the wastefulness of government spending by examining whether the spending is meeting the needs of the public and providing value for the taxpayer dollars. This can be done by evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of government programs and projects, as well as considering the long-term impact on the economy and society.

It is true that one person's pork-barrel spending can be seen as another person's absolutely necessary expenditure. This is because different individuals and communities have varying perspectives on what constitutes essential government spending. What may seem wasteful to one person may be considered vital to another, depending on their priorities and interests.

This attitude can significantly affect the policy and political choices of members of Congress. Politicians may be more inclined to support spending that benefits their constituents, even if it is deemed wasteful by others. This can lead to the allocation of resources based on political considerations rather than the overall public good. Additionally, the perception of wasteful spending can also be used as a political tool to criticize opponents and gain support from certain voter groups.

In conclusion, the judgment of government spending as wasteful or necessary is subjective and can be influenced by various factors. It is important for citizens to critically evaluate government expenditures and hold elected officials accountable for their decisions. Additionally, policymakers should strive to prioritize spending that benefits the broader public and promotes the common good, rather than succumbing to political pressures and special interests.

Question 3

Many Congressional Republicans have been voicing concerns about possible voter backlash should Congress repeal the Affordable Care Act. Are the authors of the textbook correct in saying that members of Congress must be "constantly concerned with what use future opponents will make of their floor votes"?

Answer 3

Yes, the authors of the textbook are correct in saying that members of Congress must be "constantly concerned with what use future opponents will make of their floor votes." This concern is rooted in the nature of democratic political systems, where elected officials are held accountable by their constituents and can face electoral consequences for their actions and decisions.

Members of Congress are aware that their voting record can be scrutinized and used against them in future election campaigns. Opponents can highlight particular votes to portray a member of Congress as being out of touch with their constituents' needs or values. For example, if a member votes to repeal a popular piece of legislation like the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which provides healthcare coverage to millions of Americans, they may be criticized for taking away benefits that their constituents rely on.

The potential for voter backlash is a significant factor in the decision-making process for legislators. They must balance their own policy preferences and party loyalty with the interests and opinions of their constituents. If they believe that a vote could harm their re-election prospects, they may be hesitant to support it, even if it aligns with their party's agenda.

In the case of the ACA, many Congressional Republicans recognized that while there was a push within their party to repeal the law, doing so without a suitable replacement could lead to millions of Americans losing their health insurance, which could be politically damaging. This concern about the electoral repercussions of their votes influences how members of Congress position themselves on various issues and can lead to more cautious legislative behavior, especially on high-profile or controversial matters.

In summary, the need for re-election and the desire to maintain a favorable image among voters means that members of Congress must indeed be vigilant about how their floor votes could be used by future opponents, which can affect their willingness to support or oppose legislation.

Question 4

The authors suggest that major change brought about by legislation in Congress is only possible when there is a national consensus about an issue. Is this a good thing? Is it antidemocratic? After all, shouldn't the winners of an election be able to implement their platform and promises without obstruction by the minority?

Question 5

The failure of Congress to pass a budget bill and its reliance on continuing resolutions suggests that the institution is indeed broken. Propose some reforms that might allow Congress to pass a budget on time each year.

Question 6

In the nineteenth century, German chancellor Otto Von Bismarck said, "Two things you should never watch are the making of sausage and the making of legislation." Has the process of lawmaking remained as messy as Bismarck said it was? Why might the process of lawmaking be confusing to the average citizen? Why might the average citizen be cynical about the results of the process?

Question 7

Some believe that cloture should be abolished for all legislation and nominations in the Senate and that majority votes should be sufficient in all cases. Why is it highly unlikely that such a reform will ever happen in the Senate? What would have to happen for such a reform to come to fruition? What would be the pros and cons of such a reform?

Question 8

Will government shutdowns such as the one that happened in 2013 become a regular occurrence? What were some of the political and economic effects of the 2013 shutdown? Did either political party "win" the shutdown?

Question 9

A Supreme Court ruling that focused on gerrymandering was:

A) Miller v. Johnson
B) Hinck v. U.S.
C) Winkelman v. Parma City School District
D) League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry

Question 10

The last fiscal year in which Congress passed a balanced budget was:

A) 2008
B) 2002
C) 1999
D) 1980

Question 11

A bill cannot be sent to the president until it passes:

A) All committee members' approval
B) Through at least two drafts
C) Scrutiny by the president's cabinet
D) Both houses of Congress in identical form

Question 12

A closed rule means that:

A) A bill may not be amended on the House floor
B) A bill will not be debated in the Senate
C) Committee hearings will not be open to the public
D) Rules Committee members may not discuss their decision

Question 13

A congressional member's vote is influenced by:

A) Party, constituents, and colleagues
B) Party and colleagues, but not constituents
C) Constituents and colleagues, but not party
D) Ideology, education, and committee assignment

Question 14

A difference between the constitutional qualifications for election to the House of Representatives and election to the Senate is that:

A) Senators must be thirty years old, while representatives need only be twenty-five
B) Representatives can be ten years younger than senators
C) Representatives must be residents of their districts, but senators need not
D) Senators must be residents of their districts five years longer than representatives are required to be

Question 15

A filibuster can be ended in the Senate by invoking a cloture petition, which requires the support of:

A) A majority of the senators
B) The vice president
C) Fifteen senators
D) Sixty senators

Question 16

A temporary committee of the Congress formed to study a particular problem like the Iran-Contra affair is called a:

A) Joint committee
B) Select committee
C) Standing committee
D) Conference committee

Question 17

After a bill has been introduced in Congress, it is assigned to _________ for study, markup, and recommendation.

A) a standing committee and its subcommittees
B) a political party caucus
C) a conference committee
D) the Rules Committee

Question 18

After passing a law, Congress has the additional responsibility of oversight, which is ensuring that:

A) The president's Cabinet is aware of the new policies
B) Executive agencies implement the policies as directed
C) State agencies are informed of new legislation
D) Legislative staffs make new proposals to the state agencies

Question 19

Before it is voted on, a proposed law is:

A) Published in the legal section of the Washington Post
B) Studied by junior members of Congress
C) Researched by all committee members
D) Published in the Congressional Record

Question 20

Behind the myth of Congress as an ineffective institution is the reality that Congress was designed to:

A) Represent constituents, not make policy
B) Make quick decisions
C) Avoid responsibility
D) Work slowly

Question 21

Bills raising revenue must originate:

A) From the president
B) In the House
C) In the Senate
D) In a conference committee

Question 22

Congress can override the president's decision to sign or veto a bill by:

A) Rewriting the bill
B) A two-thirds majority vote in both houses
C) Meeting with the president and his advisors to discuss the bill
D) Giving the bill to the Senate to change

Question 23

Congress investigated the 2010 BP oil spill to determine responsibility and solutions. This was an example of:

A) Congressional dominance
B) Congressional authority
C) Congress' inability to pass more stringent laws
D) Congressional oversight

Question 24

Congress may exercise oversight to conduct:

A) Research into drafted policies
B) A wiretap
C) A criminal investigation
D) Committee investigations

Question 25

Despite the myth of Congress as the broken branch, the public:

A) Continues to show great respect for Congress
B) Places greater trust in Congress than in the president
C) Keeps electing the same members
D) Believes that the institution is too responsive to public demands

Question 26

Drawing district boundaries to maximize a party's strength is called:

A) Franking
B) Gerrymandering
C) Bringing home the bacon
D) Casework

Question 27

Each house of Congress has a distinct legislative process even though they are equal in power, making Congress a ____organization.

A) centralized
B) fragmented
C) unified
D) decentralized

Question 28

Difficult legislation might receive up to ____ hour(s) of debate in the House.

A) one
B) two
C) five
D) ten

Question 29

House districts are redrawn every ____ years.

A) five
B) ten
C) twenty-five
D) fifty

Question 30

If a temporary committee is established to study a particular problem, the committee will usually be in existence for no more than:

A) Eight months
B) One year
C) One and a half years
D) Two years

Question 31

In the current rules of the House, no committee can have more than six subcommittees EXCEPT:

A) The Capital Budget Committee
B) The Appropriations and Government Reform committees
C) The Education Committee
D) The Environmental Health Committee

Question 32

In congressional elections since 1946, the vast majority of members of Congress have:

A) Been reelected
B) Defeated the incumbent
C) Been defeated in primaries
D) Chosen not to run again

Question 33

In order to avoid opposition, the Kennedy administration's civil rights bill was referred to the Senate's ____ Committee.

A) Judiciary
B) Commerce
C) Agriculture
D) Rules

Question 34

In order to keep a particular bill from dying in conference, committee members may revise it several times. As a result, conference committees are sometimes referred to as the:

A) "House of rejuvenation"
B) "Selected house of Congress"
C) "House of last resort"
D) "Third house of Congress"

Question 35

In the 2006 elections, Democrats gained thirty seats in the House and six seats in the Senate in part because of:

A) Their unity on health care reform
B) The unpopular war in Iraq
C) The fact that they had strong candidates
D) Their legislative success on Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) issues

Question 36

It seems that the key to increasing the number of legislative seats held by women is:

A) To raise awareness of the abilities these women possess
B) To encourage female law students to enter politics
C) To increase female voters in every district
D) The use of multimember districts

Question 37

Legislation can be drafted by various means but can only be introduced for a vote by:

A) The head of a committee
B) The oldest member of a committee
C) A member of Congress
D) The Speaker of the House

Question 38

Our Congress differs from foreign bicameral legislative bodies in that our two houses:

A) Contain members elected by state vote
B) Contain more members who have law degrees
C) Have separate voting powers
D) Have nearly equal power

Question 39

Pork-barrel legislation:

A) Reapportions electoral districts
B) Reduces taxes in some areas but not others
C) Benefits agricultural districts instead of urban areas
D) Provides money for local federal projects

Question 40

Prolonged debate in the Senate with the purpose of killing a bill is called a(n):

A) Filibuster
B) Cloture
C) Open rule
D) Example of senatorial courtesy

Question 41

Restrictions on the voting rights of African Americans in the late nineteenth century virtually:

A) Eliminated their congressional representation entirely
B) Made congressional seats available only to those who were financially stable
C) Limited African American representatives to only the largest urban districts
D) Stopped the free election process

Question 42

Since the Supreme Court's decision in a historic 1995 case on "majority-minority" districts:

A) All congressional districts must be redrawn to ensure that racial minorities are represented in Congress
B) The "predominant factor" in designing district lines must be racial equality
C) Race cannot be the "predominant factor" in designing a congressional district
D) All gerrymandering to create congressional districts is illegal

Question 43

Social Security benefits and military pensions are examples of government:

A) Budget-controlled programs
B) Extracurricular spending
C) Budget projections
D) Entitlements

Question 44

The 1994 elections were historic because, for the first time since 1950:

A) Most of the incumbents won
B) Most of the challengers won
C) The Republicans gained control of the House
D) The Democrats gained control of the Senate

Question 45

The most notable outcome of the 2010 elections was that:

A) Most incumbents lost
B) The Democrats gained large majorities in both the House and the Senate
C) The Senate was evenly split afterward
D) The Republicans took control of the House

Question 46

The Congressional Budget Office:

A) Assists Congress in its analysis of the president's budget
B) Decides who will receive entitlements and privileges
C) Helps incumbent members of Congress raise money for campaigns
D) Sets a number of deficit reduction targets that must be met within the fiscal year

Question 47

Republican Party reforms in 1995 put a term limit of ____ years on committee and subcommittee chairs.

A) three
B) four
C) five
D) six

Question 48

The Supreme Court has ruled that the legislative veto is a(n):

A) Constitutional use of the necessary and proper clause
B) Constitutional method of gerrymandering
C) Unconstitutional form of congressional oversight
D) Unconstitutional form of congressional casework

Question 49

The War Powers Resolution (1973) calls for congressional approval of presidential commitment of troops within ____ days.

A) 10
B) 60
C) 100
D) 365

Question 50

The ____ Amendment changed the manner in which senators were selected.

A) Thirteenth
B) Fifteenth
C) Seventeenth
D) Nineteenth

Question 51

The bills recommended by the committees for floor action:

A) Do not usually make it to the floor
B) Define the congressional agenda
C) Are not expected to pass the first round
D) Are too numerous to consider individually

Question 52

The congressional process by which a bill becomes a law is compared in the text to a(n):

A) One-hundred-yard dash
B) Cross-country race
C) Obstacle course
D) Marathon

Question 53

The current budgetary process in Congress, including the establishment of budget committees for each house, was created by:

A) Article II of the Constitution
B) The 1986 Tax Reform Act
C) The 1974 Budget and Impoundment Control Act
D) 1990 negotiations between Congress and the White House

Question 54

The first woman to serve in Congress was ____, a Republican elected in 1916.

A) Alice Mary Robertson
B) Mae Ella Nolan
C) Jeannette Rankin
D) Edith Rogers

Question 55

The head of the opposition party in the House of Representatives is the:

A) Minority leader
B) Speaker of the House
C) Party whip
D) Party challenger

Question 56

The section in the Constitution that focuses on the legislature is Article:

A) I
B) II
C) III
D) IV

Question 57

The most common profession among members of Congress is:

A) Business executive
B) Farmer
C) Teacher
D) Lawyer

Question 58

The most important committees in Congress are ____ committees.

A) special
B) select
C) joint
D) standing

Question 59

The myth of Congress as the broken branch is clearly contradicted by the evidence of members' effectiveness in handling:

A) Casework
B) Committee work
C) Deficit reduction
D) Ethics investigations

Question 60

The necessary and proper clause is important to congressional power because it gives Congress:

A) Specific power to oversee the executive branch
B) Specific power to coin money and levy taxes
C) Authority to check the president's enumerated powers
D) Flexible power beyond the enumerated powers

Question 61

The party officials responsible for communicating the party's positions to the membership and keeping the leaders informed of the members' views are called:

A) The majority leaders
B) The loyal opposition
C) Committee chairs
D) Whips

Question 62

The power to dictate national spending policies and coordinate the federal budget lies with the:

A) President
B) Cabinet
C) Office of Management and Budget
D) Congress

Question 63

When Congress is unable to pass a budget, it can temporarily continue funding to federal agencies through:

A) A two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate
B) The Congressional Budget Office
C) A resolution to raise the debt ceiling
D) A continuing resolution

Question 64

The second-in-line to succeed the president of the United States is the:

A) Vice president
B) Head of the House Ways and Means Committee
C) Leader of the Senate
D) Speaker of the House

Question 65

The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives is:

A) The presiding officer, chosen in an open, nonpartisan election of the whole House
B) Both the presiding officer and the leader of the majority party in the House
C) The majority party leader, who has no power to preside over the whole House
D) Largely a ceremonial office with little real power

Question 66

The top leadership positions in Congress are all determined by:

A) The president
B) Public election
C) Constitutional procedures
D) The majority party in power

Question 67

The trouble with the myth of Congress as the broken branch is that it ignores:

A) The fact that the presidency is just as bad
B) All the good people who are in Congress
C) The wide range of congressional responsibilities
D) The high level of efficiency of Congress as a lawmaking body

Question 68

There are four permanent joint committees of Congress, composed of:

A) Elected officials voted on by their peers
B) Three Senate members and one House member
C) An equal number of members from each house
D) Three House members and one Senate member

Question 69

To keep in touch with their constituents and retain a high approval rating, congressional members will mail out newsletters or questionnaires postage-free, taking advantage of their:

A) Media privileges
B) Franking privilege
C) Legislative staffs
D) Office to gain votes

Question 70

Under House rules, the Speaker may refer a bill to:

A) The floor only one time
B) Any number of committees at a time
C) Only one committee at a time
D) Assigned committees after approval from the president

Question 71

Under the original provisions of the Constitution, U.S. senators were:

A) Appointed by their state's House delegation
B) Appointed by state governors and a board of supervisors
C) Elected by the people in each state
D) Elected by state legislatures

Question 72

What happens when the House of Representatives and the Senate pass different versions of the same bill?

A) Both versions are sent to the president, who can decide which one to sign.
B) The bill is vetoed automatically by the president.
C) The bill has to be referred back to standing committees.
D) A conference committee is formed.

Question 73

What role does the First Concurrent Budget Resolution play in the annual production of the federal budget?

A) It places final mandatory limits on federal spending.
B) It is the first committee evaluation of the president's budget proposal, which must then be evaluated by Congress.
C) It sets the deficit reduction targets that must be met by the administration.
D) It sets preliminary targets on spending based on congressional budget committee recommendations.

Question 74

When Congress passes a statute granting the president or other agencies wide discretion in formulating policies yet keeps control over those policies by making them subject to congressional approval, this process is known as:

A) Legislative boycott
B) Executive house control
C) Executive jurisdiction
D) Legislative veto

Question 75

When a subcommittee chooses to hold hearings, it may ask all of the following to testify EXCEPT:

A) Members of the president's cabinet
B) Congressional colleagues
C) Members of special interest groups
D) The president

Question 76

When applied to Congress, casework means:

A) Preparing for testimony at congressional hearings
B) Overseeing the workings of the executive branch
C) Developing arguments for congressional debate
D) Providing personal services for constituents

Question 77

When the House and the Senate agree to amend amounts in the first budget resolution so that limits are not exceeded, the process is known as:

A) Backtracking
B) Co-option
C) Triangulation
D) Reconciliation

Question 78

When the political party controlling the state legislature tries to draw congressional district boundaries so as to concentrate the other party's supporters into the fewest possible districts, it is engaging in a practice called:

A) Bringing home the bacon
B) Oversight
C) Packing
D) Cracking

Question 79

Which of the following groups adheres to the principle of seniority most strictly?

A) House Republicans
B) Senate Republicans
C) House Democrats
D) Senate Democrats

Question 80

Which of the following is an accurate profile of constitutional requirements for potential members of the House of Representatives?

A) Thirty years old, five-year citizenship in the United States
B) Twenty-five years old, seven-year citizenship in the United States
C) Five years younger and five years less citizenship than Senate candidates
D) Twenty-one years old, resident of the district that they are campaigning to represent