Deck 5: Congress: the First Branch

Question 1

How often do voters elect members to the House of Representatives?

A)every year
B)every two years
C)every four years
D)every six years
E)Members serve life terms.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

A representative who voted to limit greenhouse gas emissions because she thought it was in the best interest of the country even though her constituency did not support that action exemplifies a __________ style of representation.

A)trustee
B)delegate
C)plebiscitary
D)runaway agent
E)jurisprudential

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The only national representative assembly in the world that can actually be said to govern is the

A)National Diet of Japan.
B)United States Congress.
C)British House of Lords.
D)British House of Commons.
E)Russian Duma.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The district making up the area from which an official is elected is known as his or her

A)home turf.
B)geographic center.
C)re-election base.
D)terra firma.
E)constituency.

Question 5

How many members are in the U.S.Senate?

A)100
B)102
C)350
D)435
E)535

Question 6

Which term best describes a legislative assembly,such as the Congress,that is divided into two chambers or houses?

A)bipolar
B)bilateral
C)bipartisan
D)bicameral
E)bipartite

Question 7

How many members are in the current U.S.House of Representatives?

A)100
B)350
C)390
D)435
E)535

Question 8

In the American political system,where does power to approve the appointment of ambassadors lie?

A)Senate
B)president
C)Supreme Court
D)House of Representatives
E)Office of Management and Budget

Question 9

The agency conception of representation works because of the ambition of politicians (as agents) and the capacity of constituents (as principals) to

A)contribute significantly to campaign funds.
B)be aware of specific deals made by politicians on their behalf.
C)reward and punish on the basis of the legislator's performance and reputation.
D)acquiesce to legislative initiative that may counter citizens' immediate interests.
E)become fully informed about policy debates before Congress.

Question 10

Who do members of Congress owe their primary responsibility to?

A)the president
B)their constituencies
C)their political parties
D)congressional leadership
E)campaign donors

Question 11

What is one way in which the Founders made the Senate more distant from the will of the majority than the House?

A)Senators have to be U.S.citizens longer than House members.
B)Senators have longer terms than House members.
C)There are more senators than members of the House.
D)Senators have shorter terms than members of the House.
E)Senators have higher salaries than members of the House.

Question 12

Representatives who believe that they have been selected by their fellow citizens in order to do what the legislator thinks is "right" act as

A)masters.
B)politicos.
C)delegates.
D)guardians.
E)trustees.

Question 13

The Senate has the power to approve treaties with a __________ vote.

A)plurality
B)majority
C)two-thirds
D)three-fourths
E)unanimous

Question 14

When a senator voted against a gun-control bill that he agreed with but that his constituency did not support,he exemplified a __________ style of representation.

A)trustee
B)delegate
C)plebiscitary
D)runaway agent
E)platonic

Question 15

According to the text,the idea of agency representation is similar to the relationship between

A)seller and buyer.
B)parent and child.
C)master and pet.
D)landlord and tenant.
E)lawyer and client.

Question 16

The type of representation according to which representatives are held accountable to their constituents if they fail to represent constituents properly is known as __________ representation.

A)constrictive
B)bicameral
C)agency
D)runaway
E)ex ante

Question 17

Representatives who believe that they have been elected in order to do the bidding of those who sent them to the legislature are considered to be serving as

A)trustees.
B)politicos.
C)delegates.
D)"fingers in the wind."
E)bosses.

Question 18

In the American political system,the power to ratify treaties is held by the

A)Council on Foreign Relations.
B)president.
C)Supreme Court.
D)House of Representatives.
E)Senate.

Question 19

Which political institution in the American system of government did the framers intend to be the closest to the people?

A)Senate
B)president
C)Supreme Court
D)House of Representatives
E)Electoral College

Question 20

How long is the term of office for a U.S.senator?

A)two years
B)four years
C)six years
D)eight years
E)twenty years

Question 21

What kind of legislation must begin in the U.S.House and not the Senate?

A)declarations of war
B)tax cuts or increases
C)Supreme Court nominations
D)adjournment resolutions
E)cloture petitions

Question 22

The franking privilege is an example of a tool that leads to

A)the incumbency advantage.
B)a professional legislature.
C)frequent ethics violations.
D)pork-barrel legislation.
E)patronage.

Question 23

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

A)perk.
B)earmark.
C)hold.
D)prerogative.
E)itemized request.

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a tool used by legislators to maintain the incumbency advantage?

A)serving on committees that deal with issues relevant to one's constituents
B)helping constituents obtain favorable treatment from the federal bureaucracy
C)inserting language into bills to provide special benefits to one's own constituents
D)making reciprocal agreements between legislators to vote for or against a bill
E)sending mail free of charge to constituents to keep them informed of government affairs

Question 25

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?

A)pork barreling
B)constituency service (casework)
C)swilling the planters with bumbo
D)glad-handing
E)gerrymandering

Question 26

State legislatures must redraw congressional districts to reflect population changes every __________ years.

A)two
B)four
C)six
D)ten
E)twenty

Question 27

Which of the following is NOT a way in which incumbency helps win elections?

A)using the tools of office,such as the franking privilege
B)developing name recognition among constituents
C)being able to secure pork-barrel legislation
D)performing casework for constituents
E)frequently inviting tough challengers to run campaigns

Question 28

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

A)21
B)25
C)30
D)35
E)40

Question 29

Holding a political office for which one is running is called

A)rank.
B)tenure.
C)seniority.
D)incumbency.
E)ladder clinging.

Question 30

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

A)35
B)55
C)75
D)90
E)100

Question 31

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

A)larger and more diverse.
B)smaller and more diverse.
C)larger and more homogeneous.
D)smaller and more homogeneous.
E)older and wealthier.

Question 32

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?

A)patronage
B)incumbency
C)sponsorships
D)franking privileges
E)position taking

Question 33

The tendency for candidates to win a higher percentage of the vote when running for a second term in office is called the

A)senior zoom.
B)freshman bulge.
C)junior advantage.
D)sophomore surge.
E)second step.

Question 34

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

A)more likely to work on a broad range of legislative issues.
B)more likely to be defeated in general elections.
C)less likely to travel back home to visit with constituents.
D)especially responsive to cues from party leaders.
E)especially responsive to the legislative needs of local interest groups.

Question 35

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)

A)perk.
B)earmark.
C)hold.
D)prerogative.
E)block grant.

Question 36

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

A)21
B)25
C)30
D)35
E)40

Question 37

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

A)organized.
B)centralized.
C)specialized.
D)deliberative.
E)partisan.

Question 38

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

A)ideological unity.
B)intense partisanship.
C)deliberation of issues.
D)willingness to compromise.
E)indifference to public opinion.

Question 39

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

A)monkey-barrel
B)pickle-barrel
C)cracker-barrel
D)whiskey-barrel
E)pork-barrel

Question 40

One well-known advantage of congressional incumbency is the

A)campaign.
B)political ad.
C)voting record.
D)franking privilege.
E)ballot rank priority.

Question 41

Which term describes the act of redrawing congressional districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to the political party in power?

A)mudzoning
B)redistricting
C)redlining
D)reapportionment
E)gerrymandering

Question 42

Who is the chief presiding officer in the U.S.House of Representatives?

A)Speaker of the House
B)majority leader
C)minority leader
D)president pro tempore
E)House clerk

Question 43

In the U.S.House of Representatives,how are the committee chairs now selected?

A)a strict seniority system
B)consensus of the House leadership
C)an election by members of the full legislature
D)an election by the members of the majority party
E)drawing of straws among majority committee members

Question 44

The Congressional Research Service,which provides legislators with facts and competing arguments relevant to policy proposals or other legislative business,is an example of

A)the expansion of bureaucratic largesse.
B)the expansion of gatekeeping authority.
C)the application of after-the-fact authority.
D)a staff agency.
E)a congressional caucus.

Question 45

In the House of Representatives,who determines the order in which bills come up for a vote?

A)the majority whip
B)the president pro tempore
C)the Rules Committee
D)the Deliberations Committee
E)the Agenda Committee

Question 46

Who is the individual with the most real power within the U.S.Senate?

A)Speaker
B)majority leader
C)minority leader
D)president pro tempore
E)vice president

Question 47

The provision by the House Rules Committee that permits floor debate and the addition of amendments to a bill is a(n)

A)open rule.
B)modifying rule.
C)developing rule.
D)closed rule.
E)motion to recommit.

Question 48

In the House of Representatives,who are the elected individuals responsible for lining up party members on important votes and relaying voter information to the leaders?

A)prods
B)whips
C)strikes
D)thrashers
E)snipes

Question 49

A permanent legislative committee that considers legislation within its designated subject area is known as the

A)majority caucus.
B)permanent caucus.
C)standing committee.
D)administrative committee.
E)select subcommittee.

Question 50

In recent years,how have congressional party leaders sought to augment their formal powers?

A)fund-raising for members,including the use of leadership political action committees (PACs)
B)limiting campaign spending to focus resources on the administrative and intellectual core of the party organization
C)setting affirmative action quotas on their leadership and membership
D)encouraging members to neglect their constituencies
E)building relationships with foreign leaders

Question 51

Imagine you are a member of Congress and have sponsored a controversial piece of legislation overhauling the immigration system.The bill has made it through committee and has the support of leaders from both parties,but many of your colleagues are opposed to various provisions in the bill and would like to see substantial changes.What would you like to happen to ensure the bill is voted upon as originally drafted?

A)have the bill sent to the floor to be considered under a closed rule
B)have a colleague filibuster the bill
C)have the bill sent to the floor to be considered under an open rule
D)have the whips instruct your colleagues that they are free to vote as they please
E)have each party's leader organize support for a discharge petition

Question 52

A bill's supporters generally prefer that the Rules Committee decide to use a(n) __________ rule.

A)open
B)closed
C)termination
D)commencement
E)previous question

Question 53

Why would opponents of a bill prefer an open rule to a closed rule?

A)Members of the House can exercise their filibuster power and block the legislation.
B)The open rule allows the other chamber to make a decision on the bill first.
C)The open rule prevents a bill's supporter from making further demands on minority party legislators.
D)The open rule makes it easier to add amendments that may weaken the bill's chances of passing.
E)An open rule means that a bill can be recalled even after it is passed.

Question 54

What is the area of policy over which a committee is assigned responsibility?

A)area of expertise
B)central function
C)domain
D)home turf
E)jurisdiction

Question 55

In 2003,when the Texas legislature redrew the Texas congressional district boundaries in a way that favored Republicans,it exemplified the practice known as

A)gerrymandering.
B)pork barreling.
C)casework.
D)franking privilege.
E)filibustering.

Question 56

Amendments to the 1965 Voting Rights Act have increased the controversial practice of drawing congressional district boundaries on the basis of the

A)party identification of district residents.
B)race of district residents.
C)religion of district residents.
D)gender of district residents.
E)age of district residents.

Question 57

A group of senators or representatives who share certain opinions,interests,or social characteristics is called a

A)caucus.
B)task force.
C)committee.
D)commission.
E)issue club.

Question 58

The party conference or caucus is a

A)group of congressional aides who administer the day-to-day affairs of the national parties.
B)communications network in each house of Congress that polls the members to learn their voting intentions.
C)party organ designed to promote the election of fellow party candidates.
D)meeting of a political or legislative group to select leaders or discuss party strategy.
E)meeting of legislators held every four years to choose a presidential candidate.

Question 59

When members of the Senate prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down,which tactic are they using?

A)cloture
B)advice and consent
C)blockade
D)blowback
E)filibuster

Question 60

Congress has established three staff agencies designed to provide the legislative branch with resources and expertise independent of the executive branch.These three agencies are the Congressional Research Service,the Congressional Budget Office,and the

A)Federal Reserve Board.
B)National Security Agency.
C)Department of Commerce.
D)Government Accountability Office.
E)Office of Management and Budget.

Question 61

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

Question 62

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

Question 63

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.

A)standing
B)ad hoc
C)conference
D)bicameral
E)disagreement

Question 64

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

A)whipping.
B)logrolling.
C)the distributive tendency.
D)interest-group bargaining.
E)a filibuster.

Question 65

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?

A)policy allocation
B)central frequency
C)distributive tendency
D)interest-group pluralism
E)southern strategy

Question 66

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

Question 67

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?

A)They may deny a member's future request to sit on a desired committee.
B)They may restrict a member's ability to speak on the floor about an issue of importance to his or her constituents.
C)They may decide who gets to run for re-election to the House.
D)They may promise to take up a future bill supported by disgruntled party members in exchange for support on the immigration bill.
E)They may employ the whip system to exert pressure on members to change their votes.

Question 68

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

A)invoke immunity to ethical allegations.
B)set committee assignments.
C)reward other members with a desirable assignment to the Ethics Committee.
D)purge the majority leader.
E)maintain agenda control.

Question 69

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?

A)the constituency
B)interest groups
C)political party leaders
D)military leaders
E)the Brookings Institution

Question 70

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

Question 71

Which is an example of a special Senate power?

A)impeachment
B)the pocket veto
C)advice and consent
D)executive agreement
E)declaring war

Question 72

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

Question 73

A rule allowing a three-fifths majority of U.S.senators to set a time limit on debate over a given bill is called

A)cloture.
B)preemption.
C)a closed rule.
D)a legislative veto.
E)duration power.

Question 74

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

A)ad hoc authority
B)enforcement authority
C)oversight
D)agency loss management
E)administrative vetoes

Question 75

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

A)policy allocation.
B)central frequency.
C)distributive tendency.
D)interest-group pluralism.
E)difference.

Question 76

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

A)the Speaker
B)the president
C)the majority leader
D)the president pro tempore
E)the Supreme Court

Question 77

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

A)Congress
B)the Senate
C)the vice president
D)the Supreme Court
E)the Electoral College

Question 78

The U.S.Congress is a bicameral legislature.

Question 79

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

Question 80

When Senator Strom Thurmond spoke for over 24 hours in an attempt to block a piece of civil rights legislation,he used the

A)cloture motion.
B)filibuster.
C)blockade.
D)blowback method.
E)moonshine.