Deck 16: The Two Congresses and the American People

Question 1

All of the following tend to be considered by most voters in assessing their individual member of Congress EXCEPT ______.

A) legislative effectiveness
B) home style
C) service to the state or district
D) communication style

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following media sources tends to provide the most favorable coverage of individual members of Congress?

A) national media
B) local broadcast media
C) newspapers
D) cable news

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of opposition research?

A) A news reporter chooses to highlight scandalous lobbying violations in a broadcast.
B) Congressional oversight uncovers that an executive agency is misusing funds.
C) A Democrat presents evidence that a Republican-sponsored bill will hurt the economy.
D) A challenger uncovers evidence that a Senator used illegal drugs.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of "unorthodox" lawmaking?

A) packaging numerous disparate policies into omnibus bills
B) scheduling votes for the "Tuesday-Thursday" club
C) the nuclear option for federal judicial nominations
D) the use of the pocket veto by the president

Question 5

All of the following are key elements of strong party government EXCEPT ______.

A) parties are internally cohesive
B) subcommittee chairs tend to be very powerful
C) members' party-line voting presents clear alternatives to voters
D) caucuses meet regularly to decide policy

Question 6

All of the following are historically common reasons for use of the filibuster in the Senate EXCEPT ______.

A) regional conflicts
B) issues of great importance to constituents
C) routine procedural matters
D) great constituency

Question 7

In which of the following conflicts did the president actively seek congressional authorization for use of force?

A) Bush--use of force in Iraq
B) Obama--military action in Libya
C) Truman--intervention in the Korean War
D) Clinton--cruise missile attacks on Iraqi intelligence

Question 8

Which branch of government is responsible for statutory interpretation?

A) legislative
B) judicial
C) executive
D) bureaucracy

Question 9

The primary function of a legislative assembly is ______.

A) to foster deliberation
B) to end conflict
C) to check the executives
D) to pass budgets

Question 10

In the modern Congress, committees have become much stronger and more influential compared to past Congresses.

Question 11

Local representatives are primarily evaluated in light of the personal bonds they forge with constituents and the political positions they take.

Question 12

During the 2008 financial crisis, Congress took the lead in setting the agenda and finding solutions.

Question 13

When considering the greatest achievements of the federal government over the past 50 years, Congress played a minimal role in pushing forward these policy changes.

Question 14

Crises often demand that Congress act quickly without due deliberation.

Question 15

Voters tend to view their own member of Congress as less ethical than the rest of Congress.

Question 16

Scandals, even when they are uncovered and punished, weaken public confidence.

Question 17

Greater transparency in Congress tends to lead to more negotiation and compromise.

Question 18

Congress has produced many innovative and effective policies.

Question 19

For most of the Senate's history, filibusters were rare.

Question 20

Congressional reforms in the 1970s were successful in permanently reshaping Congress-president relations, with Congress now having the upper hand on most issues.

Question 21

Since WWII, presidents have regularly engaged the US troops in foreign conflicts without seeking congressional approval.

Question 22

Presidents have become more assertive in denying information to Congress.

Question 23

Executive dominance is most apparent in military affairs.

Question 24

What is the "Tuesday-Thursday club" and how does it impact deliberation?

Question 25

How does the financial crisis of 2008 illustrate how Congress operates during a crisis?

Question 26

Why do Congress's internal ethics procedures seem to fail to inspire public confidence?

Question 27

What are the costs and benefits of increased congressional transparency?

Question 28

How has political news coverage changed in recent years?

Question 29

How do the public's expectations differ for individual members compared to Congress as a whole?

Question 30

What types of media coverage are members most likely to seek out, and why?

Question 31

What are the "hazards of public life" and how might they influence who runs for Congress?

Question 32

What are some of the major achievements of the federal government? Did Congress play a major role in bringing about these achievements?

Question 33

How have recent developments in Congress impacted the quality and quantity of congressional deliberations?

Question 34

What is party government, and how has the increase in party government in recent years impacted policymaking?

Question 35

What is the partisan filibuster and when did it emerge? How does it differ from the traditional use of the filibuster?

Question 36

What is the impact of the partisan filibuster on governance?

Question 37

How has Congress contributed to the imbalance of power between the executive and legislative branches in national security?

Question 38

How does polarization influence the balance of power between Congress and the Supreme Court?

Question 39

What are some of the institutional shortcomings of Congress, and what are some of the proposed reforms to these shortcomings? Do you believe effective reform is possible?

Question 40

Is the trend toward increasing presidential power reversible or not? What steps could or should Congress take to reclaim some power from the executive?