Question 1

Why might incumbents want to deemphasize their policy positions during a reelection campaign?

Accepted Answer

Incumbents may want to avoid emphasizing their policy positions during a reelection campaign to avoid making enemies and potentially losing support from constituents who may not agree with their stances on certain issues. By focusing more on their record and accomplishments in office, incumbents can appeal to a wider range of voters without alienating those who may disagree with their specific policy positions.

Question 2

How do congressional staffers use information from constituent contacts in a way that helps the member of Congress win reelection?

Accepted Answer

Congressional staffers use the information to tailor their communications to voters based on the issues they care about. By doing so, they can ensure that the member of Congress maintains a positive relationship with their constituents and can address their concerns effectively. This can help the member of Congress win reelection by demonstrating that they are responsive and accountable to their constituents' needs.

Question 3

Congress missed the fact that various agencies with responsibility for supervising the banking industry were negligent in identifying looming financial problems that led to the recession of 2008-2009.This suggests a failure of __________.

Accepted Answer

The statement indicates that Congress failed to oversee the agencies responsible for supervising the banking industry, resulting in their failure to identify financial problems that led to the recession. Therefore, the failure can be attributed to a lack of oversight.

Question 4

What is the typical process followed by a bill in the House of Representatives?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the typical process followed by...

Question 5

Whose job is it to convey the party's position to rank-and-file congresspersons,keep vote counts,pressure waverers,and report the views and complaints of the House to the party leadership?

Accepted Answer

The role described is that of a whip, whose job it is to do all of the mentioned tasks in order to ensure party unity and support for the party's agenda in the House. Committee chairpersons may have similar responsibilities, but only within their specific committee. The majority leader and Speaker of the House have broader leadership roles, but they are not solely responsible for the tasks mentioned.

Question 6

What is substantive representation?

Accepted Answer

Substantive representation refers to the advocacy for and representation of the interests and policy preferences of groups, even if the representative does not personally belong to those groups. It contrasts with descriptive representation, where representatives share the characteristics or identities of the groups they represent.

Question 7

__________ is defined as the activities of members of Congress that help individual constituents,particularly by cutting through bureaucratic red tape.

Accepted Answer

Casework is specifically related to the activities done by members of Congress to help individual constituents by navigating the bureaucratic obstacles. Gains from trade and logrolling are terms associated with the process of seeking support for legislative proposals, while the pork barrel refers to funding for projects benefiting specific districts or states.

Question 8

To increase turnover in the membership of Congress,some reformers have proposed __________ for representatives and senators.

Accepted Answer

Term limits have been proposed as a way to increase turnover in Congress by limiting the number of terms that a representative or senator can serve. This would prevent career politicians from dominating Congress and would allow for new voices and ideas to be represented. Credit claiming, franking privileges, and incumbency are not directly related to increasing turnover in Congress.

Question 9

Which statement about incumbency is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Incumbents have a significant reelection advantage due to factors such as name recognition, access to campaign resources, and the ability to use their position to cultivate relationships with voters and interest groups. Studies have shown that incumbents win reelection at a much higher rate than challengers.

Question 10

One thing that helps incumbents win reelection is __________,which might include federal spending projects benefitting state and local governments,businesses,colleges,and other institutions in a congressional district.

Accepted Answer

The pork barrel refers to the practice of using government funds and resources for projects that primarily serve to benefit the interests of a particular district or state, and which are often designed to secure the reelection of an incumbent politician. These projects can include federal spending on local infrastructure, business development, and educational institutions. The use of the pork barrel is a common tactic used by incumbents to help solidify their support and win reelection.

Question 11

In the House of Representatives,a bill goes to the Rules Committee __________.

Accepted Answer

The Rules Committee is responsible for determining the rules and procedures under which a bill will be debated and voted on by the full House of Representatives. Therefore, the bill must first be approved by its full committee before it can be sent to the Rules Committee for consideration.

Question 12

Of the following groups,which is most underrepresented in Congress?

Accepted Answer

Women are the most underrepresented group in Congress, despite making up more than half of the US population. Currently, women only make up 27% of Congress (126 out of 468 total members). This is despite the fact that women have been able to vote and run for office for over 100 years.

Question 13

Which example best demonstrates a legislator acting as a trustee of his or her constituency?

Accepted Answer

A legislator acting as a trustee of his or her constituency would consider public opinion but also use his or her best judgment to make decisions. This approach assumes that the legislator knows more about the issue than the average constituent and is best positioned to make informed decisions on their behalf. B is an example of a legislator acting as a delegate, where they prioritize the views of their constituents above their own judgment. C is also an example of a delegate approach, where the legislator simply follows the public opinion of their constituency. D is an example of a legislator acting as a partisan, where they prioritize the interests of their political party above those of their constituents.

Question 14

Most of the work of Congress goes on in __________.

Accepted Answer

Committees are where bills are drafted, discussed, and amended before they are sent to the full House or Senate for a vote. The bulk of legislative work happens in committees. Recess is the time when Congress is not in session, conferences happen when differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill need to be worked out, and hearings are typically used to gather information or testimony on a particular issue or bill.

Question 15

In the 2011-2012 election cycle,how much money did the average winning House candidate spend?

Accepted Answer

According to data from the Federal Election Commission, the average winning House candidate spent approximately $1.6 million in the 2011-2012 election cycle. Option B, C, and D are not accurate as they are too high and not reflective of the actual spending patterns for House candidates.

Question 16

When is lobbying more likely to be successful?

Accepted Answer

Lobbying against change is more likely to be successful because it is easier to defend the status quo than to convince policymakers to support a new policy. Policymakers are often risk-averse and may be hesitant to support new or untested policies, especially if they perceive a potential backlash from their constituents. Therefore, lobbying efforts that aim to maintain existing policies or block proposed changes may have a higher chance of success.

Question 17

Because Congress is __________,it is fairly open to interest group influence.

Accepted Answer

Decentralization refers to the fact that power within Congress is dispersed among many different committees and subcommittees, which allows interest groups to focus their lobbying efforts on specific areas or individuals who are more receptive to their message. This makes Congress more open to influence from interest groups. In contrast, professionalization (A) and hierarchy (D) suggest a more rigid structure within Congress that may make it more difficult for interest groups to effectively lobby. Complexity (B) can go either way - while it may create more opportunities for interest group influence, it can also make it more difficult for interest groups to navigate the system and get their message heard.

Question 18

A committee created to reconcile differences in versions of a bill passed by the House and Senate is called a(n)__________ committee.

Accepted Answer

A conference committee is created with members from both the House and Senate to reconcile differences in versions of a bill that was passed by the two chambers. The other choices do not specifically relate to this task.

Question 19

The __________ is the only House official mandated by the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

The Speaker of the House is the only House official mandated by the Constitution, as the Constitution states that the House of Representatives shall choose its Speaker. The other options listed are leadership positions within the House, but are not mandated by the Constitution.

Question 20

What is the vice president's only constitutionally defined job?

Accepted Answer

The only constitutionally defined job of the Vice President is to serve as President of the Senate, including casting the deciding vote in the event of a tie. While the Vice President may also have other duties, such as representing the President at official state functions, this is not specifically stated in the Constitution.

Quiz 11: Congress