Deck 10: The Congress

Question 1

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.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

A representative who is performing the role of a trustee

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

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Casework is

A) logrolling.
B) constituent service.
C) lawmaking.
D) oversight.
E) providing advice and consent.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A legislator from Florida who votes, against her better judgment, to support subsidies for orange growers would be acting

A) as a trustee.
B) as a logroller.
C) as an instructed delegate.
D) on what she believes is best for the entire society.
E) None of the above is true.

Question 5

If the race for congressional seats were more competitive

A) candidates would likely become more extreme in their positions.
B) the gerrymandering of district lines would be increased.
C) extreme partisanship would be reduced because winning candidates would need to find a broader appeal to voters outside their party.
D) higher turnover would increase the number of experienced members in the U.S. House of Representatives.
E) incumbents would be able to spend less on campaign ads.

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

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' 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 8

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

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

Question 9

All of the following are enumerated or expressed powers except

A) the power to impose a variety of taxes.
B) the power to coin money.
C) the power to declare war.
D) the power to create a national bank.
E) the power to establish posts offices.

Question 10

If congressional races were more competitive

A) there would be greater turnover in each election year.
B) incumbents would need to spend more to retain their seats.
C) new members might result in the loss to those with experience on important issues.
D) those elected might be less partisan because in order to win, they would need a broad appeal to all types of voters.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 11

Unlike the U.S. Senate, which is more powerful than the U.S. House of Representatives, the upper legislative bodies are weaker than the lower house in the following country (countries):

A) Great Britain
B) France
C) Canada
D) Options A and B are true.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 12

All of the following are true of Congress except

A) it is a bicameral legislative body.
B) it is held in high esteem by the public.
C) members spend considerable time serving constituents.
D) its functions include lawmaking and oversight.
E) its individual members are valued by home district voters.

Question 13

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 14

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 15

The major function of Congress is

A) enforcing laws.
B) lawmaking.
C) using the impeachment power.
D) investigating other branches of government through oversight.
E) judging whether laws are constitutional.

Question 16

Which of the following is not a function of Congress?

A) Spending time serving constituents
B) Educating the public through hearings and debates
C) Carrying out and executing the laws it has passed
D) Representing constituents
E) Resolving conflicts between different groups

Question 17

All of the following are true of bicameralism except

A) it establishes two bodies in the legislature.
B) the Framers wished to balance the interests and the numerical superiority of the common citizens with the property interests of the less numerous landowners, bankers, and merchants.
C) it provided for House members to be directly elected by the people.
D) it set up different ways to amend the Constitution.
E) originally, senators were to be chosen by elected representatives in the state legislatures who would more likely be members of the elite.

Question 18

Polls show that

A) Congress as a whole has very low approval ratings.
B) most individual members of Congress receive high ratings from voters in their district.
C) Congress as a whole has very high approval ratings.
D) most individual members of Congress receive low ratings from voters in their district.
E) Options A and B are true.

Question 19

One major problem with implementing the role of the instructed delegate is that

A) the president's program may not have the support of the public.
B) the constituents may not actually have well-formed views on many issues.
C) a majority of the constituents may be of a different political party than the representative.
D) few members of Congress are knowledgeable about most legislation.
E) members of Congress find it difficult to cooperate.

Question 20

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 21

Gerrymandering

A) is typically used by congressional and state political party leaders to shape voting districts in such a way as to increase the chances of winning more seats.
B) employs two main techniques; packing and cracking.
C) is even more accurate due to the advances of computer technology.
D) helps protect the seats of incumbents.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 22

All of the following are true of the people who work for Congress except

A) they include office clerks and assistants as well as professionals who deal with the media, who draft legislation and work with constituency requests.
B) they are larger in number for House members than for Senators.
C) the number has increased dramatically since 1960.
D) the professional staffs provide information for members of the House and Senate.
E) some of these people maintain local offices in the member's home state or district.

Question 23

In most states, Congressional district lines are drawn by

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

Question 24

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 25

Congressional caucuses are formed around

A) ideological points of view such as the Tea Party and the Progressive Caucus.
B) special agricultural interest such as potatoes and corn growers.
C) racial or ethnic interests.
D) Options A and B are true.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 26

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) Options B and C are true.

Question 27

All of the following are true of reconciliation except

A) traditionally, the use of reconciliation is rare.
B) budget bills can be handled under special rules that prevent filibusters.
C) reconciliation can be used to circumvent the Constitution.
D) reconciliation is sometimes used when the majority party in the U.S. Senate does not have sixty votes on a measure.
E) under the rules, reconciliation is only to be used on budget matters.

Question 28

Members of Congress are granted generous franking privileges that

A) permit them to mail letters to their constituents without charge.
B) allow them to charge items to a special expense account.
C) allow members unlimited phone calls to their district without charge.
D) permit them to receive four round-trip airfares to their district.
E) allow them to hold events such as barbeques in their districts at taxpayer expense.

Question 29

The use of the franking privilege has

A) increased in recent years due to postage costs.
B) decreased in recent years due to the growth of web pages, email, blogs, and social media.
C) dropped to about $2 million per year.
D) helped opponents oust incumbent candidates.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 30

The members of Congress are

A) representative of the voting public in terms of income.
B) representative of the voting population in terms of race.
C) not representative of the voting population in terms of gender.
D) not representative of the voting population in terms of political viewpoint.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 31

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 32

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 33

If congressional districts were not redistricted after the census

A) it would be much more difficult for incumbents to be reelected.
B) it would be possible for one district to have twice the number of people of another district.
C) voters would be able to vote in any congressional district as long as they were registered.
D) members of Congress would not have to reside in the district they represent.
E) Options A and B are true.

Question 34

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 35

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 36

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 37

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 38

All of the following are true of the Senate except

A) the Senate has a tradition of unlimited debate as a blocking tactic.
B) the Senate can end debate by invoking cloture.
C) the Senate cannot pass budget bills without first allowing a filibuster.
D) the Senate can circumvent a filibuster by using reconciliation.
E) the Senate use of filibuster has expanded.

Question 39

The "speech or debate" clause in Article I, Section 6, of the Constitution means that a member of Congress

A) is normally immune from libel or slander charges if the speech is connected with official duties.
B) cannot be arrested for misdemeanors while Congress is in session.
C) must agree to public debates with announced opponents during the campaign.
D) cannot engage in foreign diplomacy without the approval of the administration.
E) cannot be served with parking tickets issued within the District of Columbia.

Question 40

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 the above are true.

Question 41

The most powerful person in the House of Representatives is the

A) president of the House.
B) majority leader.
C) president pro tempore.
D) Speaker of the House.
E) chief whip.

Question 42

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

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

Question 43

After being reported by a committee but before being sent to the House floor, bills are given to the _________, which defines the conditions under which the bills are to be considered by the House.

A) select committee
B) joint committee
C) Rules Committee
D) determination committee
E) definitional committee

Question 44

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 45

The Speaker of the House and the Senate majority leader

A) influence committee assignments and schedule legislation for debate.
B) are elected to these constitutional jobs by the entire House and Senate.
C) are the longest-serving members of the Senate and House.
D) are symbolic positions.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 46

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 47

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 48

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 49

A procedure by which a bill in the House of Representatives can be forced out of committee to the floor for a vote is called a

A) standing vote.
B) committee release.
C) discharge petition.
D) filibuster.
E) cloture vote.

Question 50

All of the following statements regarding the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives are true except

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

Question 51

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 52

The president of the Senate is

A) an honorary position held by the most senior member of the majority party.
B) the vice president of the United States.
C) third in line to succeed the president.
D) selected by party leaders in the Senate.
E) the president of the United States.

Question 53

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 54

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 55

One of the most powerful agencies in Washington, 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 56

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 57

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 58

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 59

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 60

The federal budget deficit

A) is caused by the federal government spending less than it takes in tax revenue.
B) is caused by increases in tax rates by President George W. Bush.
C) grew after the Great Recession due to increased spending and falling tax revenue.
D) decreased after the end of the War in Iraq.
E) decreased after President George W. Bush reduced taxes on investment income, inheritance, and earned income.

Question 61

Explain the different types of committees and their functions.

Question 62

Explain how a bill becomes a law.

Question 63

Compare the House of Representatives and the Senate by discussing four ways in which they are different.

Question 64

Explain the causes of the increase in the federal deficit during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Question 65

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

Question 66

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

Question 67

Describe the enumerated or expressed power of Congress.

Question 68

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

Question 69

Explain the difference between reapportionment and redistricting.

Question 70

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