Question 1

Who can introduce a bill in Congress?

Accepted Answer

Only a member of Congress can introduce a bill in Congress.

Question 2

The most important committees in Congress are permanent bodies that possess an expertise resulting from their jurisdiction over certain policy areas. These are known as what kind of committees?

Accepted Answer

Standing committees are permanent bodies in Congress that possess an expertise resulting from their jurisdiction over certain policy areas. Select committees are temporary and appointed for a specific purpose, joint committees are made up of members from both the House and Senate, and conference committees are created to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill. Legislative committees is not a type of committee.

Question 3

A filibuster is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A filibuster is a tactic used in the Senate to prevent the passage of a bill by engaging in unlimited debate in order to delay or prevent a vote on the measure. This allows a minority of senators to effectively block the passage of a bill by continuously speaking on the floor and preventing the Senate from moving to a final vote.

Question 4

Why might Congress try to limit the number of refugees allowed to come into the United States?

Accepted Answer

Concerns about national security and the potential for terrorists to enter the country under the guise of refugees can lead Congress to limit refugee admissions.

Question 5

The concept of cloture refers to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Cloture is a process used in the Senate to end a filibuster and limit debate on a bill or nominee. It requires a three-fifths vote (60 senators) to invoke cloture and proceed to a final vote.

Question 6

In the Senate, how many votes are necessary to invoke cloture and end debate on a bill?

Accepted Answer

60 votes are necessary to invoke cloture and end debate on a bill in the Senate. This is known as a filibuster-proof majority. Without this number of votes, Senators can continue to debate indefinitely, effectively rendering the bill dead.

Question 7

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose is known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A select committee is a temporary legislative committee that is created for a specific purpose and a limited time period. Select committees are often established to investigate a particular issue or problem that requires specialized attention, expertise, or resources. Once the select committee has completed its work, it is disbanded or dissolved.

Question 8

Oversight is the process by which Congress does which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Oversight refers to the process by which Congress follows up on the laws that it has enacted to ensure that they are being properly implemented and enforced. This includes reviewing reports from the executive branch and holding hearings to gather information and assess the effectiveness of programs and policies. Choices A, B, C, and D are not accurate descriptions of oversight.

Question 9

A senator who wants to prevent a bill from coming up for a vote might decide to deliberate on the subject matter of the bill for hours since the Senate gives its members the right to unlimited debate in a process called which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A filibuster is a tactic used in the U.S. Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill by extending debate on the measure.

Question 10

In the absence of the president of the Senate, who presides over the Senate?

Accepted Answer

According to the Constitution, the president pro tempore of the Senate presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President (who is the President of the Senate). The Senate majority leader and whip are both influential positions in the Senate, but they do not preside over the chamber. The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives, not the Senate.

Question 11

The seniority system provides which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The seniority system in Congress provides that the committee member of the majority party with the longest continuous service normally becomes the committee chairperson. This is known as the seniority rule and is a longstanding tradition in Congress. The seniority system also affects committee assignments and leadership roles within parties, but the choice that best represents the system as a whole is B.

Question 12

Selection of committee chairpersons in each chamber of Congress is most often based on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Selection of committee chairpersons in each chamber of Congress is most often based on seniority. This means that the member who has served the longest on a particular committee within their party is typically given the chairmanship.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the duties of the U.S. vice president?

Accepted Answer

The vice president serves as the president of the Senate and has the power to cast tiebreaking votes. They do not have the duty of making committee assignments in the Senate.

Question 14

The purpose of a conference committee is to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A conference committee is created when the House of Representatives and the Senate pass different versions of a bill. The conference committee's purpose is to reconcile the differences in the bill to create a single version that both chambers can agree on. The reconciled bill then goes back to the House and Senate for a final vote before being sent to the President for approval or veto.

Question 15

Which of the following is the committee in the House that proposes time limitations on debate for bills?

Accepted Answer

The Rules Committee is responsible for proposing time limitations on debate for bills in the House. This is done through the creation of a rule that determines the amount of time allocated for debate and the number of amendments that will be allowed to be considered.

Question 16

In 2013, in response to their frustration with minority filibusters, Senate Democrats decided to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

In 2013, Senate Democrats used the "nuclear option" to eliminate filibusters for most presidential nominees, except for Supreme Court justices, allowing confirmations to proceed with a simple majority vote.

Question 17

How can Congress pass a bill over a presidential veto?

Accepted Answer

Congress can pass a bill over a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress. This is the process outlined in the U.S. Constitution for veto overrides.

Question 18

To signal one's intent to filibuster, a senator may issue which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A senator may issue a "hold" to signal their intent to filibuster or delay a bill or nomination.

Question 19

Over time, what has happened to political parties in Congress?

Accepted Answer

Over time, political parties in Congress have become more ideologically distinct, with increased polarization and less overlap between the parties.

Question 20

After being reported by a committee, but before being sent to the House floor, bills are sent to which committee, which defines the conditions under which the bill is to be considered by the House?

Accepted Answer

Bills are sent to the Rules Committee before being sent to the House floor. The Rules Committee sets the conditions under which the bill will be considered, such as the amount of time for debate and the types of amendments that will be allowed. The other committees listed (Appropriations, Joint, Select, and Ways and Means) may have jurisdiction over certain bills, but they do not define the conditions for consideration on the House floor.

Quiz 11: Congress