Deck 9: Congress

Question 1

A representative who votes in accordance with the wishes of his or her constituency is acting as a(n) __________, while one who pursues the best national interest, regardless of public opinion in his or her constituency, is acting as a(n) __________.

A)​trustee; instructed delegate
B)instructed ​delegate; trustee
C)​trustee; ombudsperson
D)​instructed delegate; ombudsperson
E)​ombudsperson; trustee

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The process of suspending the rules of the Senate, thus ending the threat of a filibuster

A)has always been favored by Democrats.
B)has always been favored by Republicans.
C)is known as the nuclear option.
D)is very popular with the public at large.
E)is known as the nuclear option, and has always been favored by Republicans.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The people whom a legislator represents and spends considerable time and effort serving are called

A)delegates.
B)trustees.
C)constituents.
D)representatives.
E)members.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The process of compromise by offering to trade support for a legislator's bill if they support yours is called

A)logrolling.
B)earmarking.
C)lawmaking.
D)horse trading.
E)pork trading.

Question 5

The division of Congress into two separate assemblies is known as

A)cameralism.
B)unicameralism.
C)bicameralism.
D)multicameralism.
E)the separation of powers.

Question 6

The founders of the American republic believed that most of the power that would be exercised by a national government should be in the hands of

A)the chief executive.
B)the legislature.
C)the electoral college.
D)the bureaucracy.
E)the judiciary.

Question 7

A filibuster is

A)an attempt to prevent the passage of a bill through the use of unlimited debate.
B)an attempt to persuade others to vote for a particular bill in return for a favor at a later date.
C)used in the House to force a standing committee to release a bill.
D)a method used by the Speaker of the House to promote the majority party's legislation.
E)a technique that is unique to the House.

Question 8

The committee in the House that proposes time limitations on debate for bills is called the

A)Debate Committee.
B)Rules Committee.
C)House Ways and Means Committee.
D)Debate and Censure Committee.
E)Issues Committee.

Question 9

All of the following groups of powers belong exclusively to Congress, EXCEPT ​

A)establishing post offices and standards of weights and measures.
B)borrowing funds and regulating commerce.
C)raising an army and establishing courts.
D)declaring war and commanding the military.
E)regulating bankruptcy and currency.

Question 10

The necessary and proper clause

A)has expanded the role of the national government relative to the states.
B)has increased the powers of the state governments at the expense of Congress's powers.
C)was in the original Constitution, but was eliminated as a consequence of the Twenty-Seventh Amendment.
D)has served to limit the expansion of national authority.
E)is located in the Constitution in the text of the Tenth Amendment.

Question 11

The role in which members of Congress serve as brokers between private citizens and the federal government usually takes the form of

A)trusteeship.
B)delegation.
C)casework.
D)lawmaking.
E)earmarking.

Question 12

Lawmaking is the major function of

A)the House, but not the Senate.
B)Congress.
C)the Senate, but not the House.
D)the President.
E)the bureaucracy.

Question 13

One major difference between the House and Senate is the total number of members. As a result

A)the House will spend much more time on a bill on the floor as opposed to the Senate.
B)the Senate is able to decide on the proper action on a bill quicker than the House.
C)a greater number of formal rules are needed to govern activity in the House.
D)House members must sit on more committees than Senators.
E)a constitutional amendment has been proposed to increase the size of the House and to reduce the numbers in the Senate.

Question 14

The concept of cloture refers to

A)a method used to defeat legislation in Congress.
B)a process that attempts to limit debate on a bill in the Senate.
C)closed meetings held by both parties to elect their leadership or resolve other important issues.
D)action taken by the House Rules Committee that must be approved by the Speaker.
E)the resolution that adjourns Congress.

Question 15

A representative who is performing the role of an instructed delegate is

A)primarily representing the wishes of his or her constituents.
B)supporting the president on all of his legislative programs.
C)representing the broad interests of the entire society.
D)supporting his or her political party.
E)representing other members of Congress.

Question 16

A special rule that can be applied to budget bills sent from the House to the Senate is known as

A)cloture.
B)a filibuster.
C)reconciliation.
D)reconstruction.
E)the Hastert rule.

Question 17

A three-fifths majority of the __________ is required in order to __________.

A)House; pass a bill into law
B)House; impeach a President
C)Senate; invoke cloture and end a filibuster
D)Senate; pass a budget
E)Senate; filibuster a bill

Question 18

A representative who is performing the role of a trustee votes

A)in the interest of his or her home constituents.
B)in support of his or her political party agenda.
C)on the basis of his or her own conscience in the broad interests of society.
D)in accordance with opinion polls.
E)based on vote trades.

Question 19

Oversight is the process by which Congress

A)follows up on the laws it has enacted.
B)reviews the actions of subcommittees.
C)chooses its leadership.
D)supervises the activity of the judicial branch.
E)passes legislation.

Question 20

The rule under which a Republican Speaker of the House will not allow a bill to reach the floor for a vote unless it has the support of a majority of the majority party is known as

A)the Boehner rule.
B)the Hastert rule.
C)the Ryan rule.
D)the Pelosi rule.
E)the Obama doctrine.

Question 21

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose is a

A)joint committee.
B)conference committee.
C)standing committee.
D)select committee.
E)rules committee.

Question 22

Reapportionment is

A)the allocation of seats in the House to each state after each census.
B)the redrawing of district boundaries within each state to ensure equal district populations.
C)a court order to hold new elections because of voting irregularities.
D)altering a legislative formula that apportions spending among the states.
E)normally a bipartisan exercise.

Question 23

All of the following statements are true about gerrymandering EXCEPT

A)the issue of gerrymandering has been resolved.
B)the term originates with tactics used by a governor of Massachusetts named Gerry.
C)the tactic of gerrymandering is used to create districts to the advantage of one political party or another.
D)the tactic of gerrymandering has been used for racial discrimination.
E)the practice can cause excessive manipulation of the shape of a district.

Question 24

In most states, congressional district lines are drawn

A)by a small group of party leaders in the state legislature.
B)by a non-partisan state panel of commissioners.
C)by a non-partisan panel elected in special elections.
D)by a group of retired judges elected by political party leaders.
E)at a forum chaired by the state's U.S.Senators.

Question 25

All of the following are true of members of Congress EXCEPT

A)they are disproportionately male.
B)they are disproportionately white.
C)they are, on average, about as wealthy as the average American citizen.
D)more of them are lawyers than any other profession.
E)they are, on average, older than the average American citizen.

Question 26

The seniority system provides that

A)members are awarded additional committee assignments in line with their seniority.
B)the committee member of the majority party with the longest continuous service normally becomes the committee chairperson.
C)members become party whips in order of seniority.
D)members of the House can be appointed to the Senate to fill vacancies.
E)the Speaker of the House is the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service.

Question 27

U.S. House districts have to be as close as possible to equal in population

A)in order to make it easier to determine the winners of the district.
B)under the principle of one person, one vote.
C)in order for each representative to have equal legislative power.
D)in order for each representative to have an equal chance of serving on House committees.
E)in order for each representative to have equal legislative power, and for each representative to have an equal chance of serving on House committees.

Question 28

The Freedom Caucus in Congress is an example of a(n)

A)party caucus.
B)ideological caucus.
C)demographic caucus.
D)issue caucus.
E)standing committee.

Question 29

Redistricting is

A)the allocation of seats in the House to each state after each census.
B)the redrawing of district boundaries within each state to ensure equal district populations.
C)a court order to hold new elections because of voting irregularities.
D)altering a legislative formula that apportions spending among the states.
E)normally a bipartisan exercise.

Question 30

In 2013, ____________ exercised the "nuclear option" to ____________.

A)Senate Republicans; allow passage of the House Republican budget
B)House Republicans; override President Obama's veto of the Republican budget
C)Senate Democrats; allow passage of all legislation
D)Senate Democrats; allow confirmation of judicial nominees
E)House Democrats; allow passage of all legislation

Question 31

It is common for a President's party to

A)gain control of Congress during a presidential election year and lose control of Congress during a midterm election.
B)gain Congressional seats during a presidential election year and lose seats during a midterm election.
C)lose control of Congress during a presidential election year and regain control of Congress during a midterm election.
D)lose Congressional seats during a presidential election year and gain seats during a midterm election.
E)gain seats in Congress during every election.

Question 32

Minority-majority districts

A)are unconstitutional.
B)were allowed after the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
C)are districts in which a racial minority is the majority of the voting population.
D)decrease the voting power of minority groups.
E)were allowed after the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and are districts in which a racial minority is the majority of the voting population.

Question 33

The most important committees in Congress are _________ committees, permanent bodies that possess an expertise resulting from their jurisdiction over certain policy areas.

A)standing
B)select
C)joint
D)conference
E)legislative

Question 34

If a congressional district is challenged based on evidence that the lines were drawn as a racial gerrymander

A)the U.S.Supreme Court will determine whether the evidence is sufficient to order the district lines to be redrawn.
B)the U.S.House of Representatives will determine whether the evidence is sufficient to order the district lines to be redrawn.
C)the U.S.Senate will determine whether the evidence is sufficient to order the district lines to be redrawn.
D)a review committee created every two years by the president will determine whether the evidence is sufficient to order the district lines to be redrawn.
E)All of these choices are true.

Question 35

The drawing of legislative district boundaries in order to give one side an advantage is known as

A)the coattail effect.
B)incumbency advantage.
C)redistricting.
D)reapportionment.
E)gerrymandering.

Question 36

Seats in the House of Representatives are up for election every __________, while Senate seats are up for election every __________.

A)six years; four years
B)six years; two years
C)two years, three years
D)two years; four years
E)two years; six years

Question 37

Committee chairs and leadership positions in each house of Congress are based on

A)the party of the President.
B)seniority.
C)which party holds the majority in each chamber.
D)balancing power between the two parties.
E)long standing traditions of assigning certain positions to members from certain districts or states.

Question 38

In midterm congressional elections

A)voter turnout increases sharply.
B)the president's political party will usually gain seats in Congress.
C)voter turnout falls sharply.
D)the president's political party will be unaffected unless the president campaigns for congressional candidates.
E)incumbents are more likely to lose.

Question 39

Most incumbent members of Congress

A)choose not to run for reelection.
B)are defeated in primary elections.
C)are defeated in general elections.
D)successfully run for reelection.
E)are term limited and cannot run for reelection.

Question 40

If a United States Senator makes a false allegation on the floor of the Senate, he or she

A)may be prosecuted by the Attorney General.
B)may be punished by the Supreme Court.
C)can be sued for slander.
D)can only be subjected to penalties in his or her home state.
E)cannot be sued and is not subject to any other legal action.

Question 41

One of the most powerful agencies in Washington, DC, the __________ assists in the preparation of the federal budget and monitors federal agencies throughout the year.

A)Council of Economic Advisers
B)Office of Management and Budget
C)Department of Budget and Commerce
D)House Ways and Means Committee
E)Senate Budget Committee

Question 42

The House majority leader is

A)elected by the caucus of the majority party.
B)selected by the president.
C)chosen by seniority.
D)chosen by the national party chairperson.
E)chosen soon after their first election to Congress.

Question 43

The annual process in which all federal programs are required to review their programs and submit requests for funding is

A)the executive budgetary process.
B)the fiscal year.
C)the spring review.
D)the fall review.
E)earmarking.

Question 44

A ______________ is a permanent body established by a house of Congress, while a ______________ is appointed to reconcile difference between two different versions of the same basic bill.

A)standing committee; select committee
B)joint committee; conference committee
C)select committee; standing committee
D)standing committee; conference committee
E)conference committee; joint committee

Question 45

The two steps to the Congressional budgeting process are

A)authorization and raising the debt ceiling.
B)authorization and appropriation.
C)raising the debt ceiling and appropriation.
D)appropriation and earmarking.
E)earmarking and authorization.

Question 46

In 2013, Congressional __________ refused to raise the debt ceiling, leading to __________.

A)Republicans; a government shutdown
B)Republicans; impeachment charges against Congressional leadership
C)Democrats; a government shutdown
D)Democrats; impeachment charges against Congressional leadership
E)Democrats; the nuclear option

Question 47

A temporary law that Congress passes when an appropriations bill has not been decided by the beginning of the fiscal year is a(n)

A)emergency resolution.
B)budget extension.
C)continuing resolution.
D)preview budget.
E)temporary budget.

Question 48

In the absence of the president of the Senate, the Senate is presided over by

A)the president pro tempore of the Senate.
B)the Senate majority leader.
C)the Senate majority whip.
D)the Vice President of the United States.
E)the Speaker of the House.

Question 49

The federal government operates on a fiscal year that runs from

A)January to December.
B)April to March.
C)October to September.
D)July to June.
E)September to August.

Question 50

All of the following statements regarding the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives are true EXCEPT that the Speaker ​

A)is elected by a vote in the U.S.House of Representatives every two years.
B)must be from the majority party in the House.
C)presides over House meetings.
D)is the most influential member of the U.S.House of Representatives.
E)schedules legislation for vote.

Question 51

The whips assist the party leaders by

A)voting to support the party platform at the national convention.
B)attempting to convince the general public that congresspersons should vote the party line.
C)passing information to and from members of Congress in accordance with the desires of the leadership of the party.
D)gathering research information.
E)pressuring them to take positions popular among the party rank-and-file.

Question 52

All taxing and spending bills must originate

A)in the Senate.
B)in the Rules Committee.
C)in the House of Representatives.
D)in the conference committee.
E)from the president.

Question 53

The real leadership power in the Senate rests in the hands of the

A)president of the Senate.
B)president pro tempore of the Senate.
C)senator designate selected by the president.
D)Senate majority leader.
E)speaker of the Senate.

Question 54

​The powers of the Speaker of the House include all of the following EXCEPT

A)​presiding over meetings of the House.
B)​appointing members of conference committees.
C)​scheduling legislation for floor action.
D)​presiding over the conference of the majority party.
E)​sending legislation to the appropriate standing committee.

Question 55

After a bill has been introduced and referred to a committee, the committee

A)to which it has been referred is required to pass the bill on to the entire house.
B)is not allowed to make changes in the wording of the bill.
C)may hold hearings and discussions to explore the merits of the bill.
D)may give some bills to a subcommittee, although the Constitution requires that subcommittee involvement in legislation not exceed 25 percent of the total congressional workload.
E)is required by the Constitution to consult with the president of the United States or the president's officially designated legislative liaison.

Question 56

​A budget prepared by the president and submitted to Congress is called the

A)​executive budget.
B)​presidential budget.
C)​administrative budget.
D)​presidential expenditures report.
E)​executive expenditures report.

Question 57

The Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 requires

A)each member of Congress to inform constituents of their votes on appropriations measures.
B)the president to spend the funds that Congress has appropriated.
C)a balanced budget by the 2030 fiscal year.
D)the president to present an executive budget.
E)budgets to receive the approval of the American people before they go into effect.

Question 58

The U.S. vice president also

A)serves as president of the Senate.
B)makes committee assignments in the Senate.
C)casts tiebreaking votes in the Senate.
D)serves as president of the Senate and makes committee assignments in the Senate.
E)serves as president of the Senate and casts tiebreaking votes in the Senate.

Question 59

The formal declaration by the appropriate congressional committee that a certain amount of funding may be made available to an agency is called

A)authorization.
B)appropriation.
C)allocation.
D)reconciliation.
E)consolidation.

Question 60

The job of a conference committee is to

A)originate appropriations bills.
B)reconcile House and Senate versions of a bill.
C)set the rules of debate for a bill.
D)determine the committee path of a bill.
E)override a presidential veto.

Question 61

Compare and contrast the trustee and instructed-delegate theories of representation.

Question 62

Describe the enumerated or expressed power of Congress.

Question 63

Discuss the demographic makeup of Congress and how it compares to the United States as a whole. What differences are there and what effects might these differences have?

Question 64

Describe the history of the term gerrymandering and how it has been used in practice.

Question 65

Explain the functions and rules regarding filibuster, cloture, and reconciliation.

Question 66

Explain the role of committees in Congress and discuss their power in the legislative process.

Question 67

Compare the Hastert Rule in the House with the nuclear option in the Senate and discuss the implications of these for Congress as a democratic body.

Question 68

Explain the debt ceiling and discuss the ways in which it has become a political tool.

Question 69

Explain the roles played by the members of the House and Senate leadership.

Question 70

Explain the process of reapportionment and explain how it is related to redistricting.