Question 1

Which of the following is the proximate goal of members of Congress?

Accepted Answer

The proximate goal of members of Congress is reelection, as it is necessary for them to achieve any other goals they may have, such as passing laws or influencing policy.

Question 2

According to the text, Congress, as a whole, is judged by the ______.

Accepted Answer

Congress is typically judged by the processes it uses and the policies it adopts or fails to adopt, as these are the primary functions and responsibilities of the legislative body.

Question 3

Which of the following would a trustee consider most important according to Edmund Burke's concept of the ideal Congress?

Accepted Answer

Burke's concept of a trustee emphasizes acting in the best interest of the country as a whole, using one's own judgment rather than strictly following constituents' preferences.

Question 4

Which of the following actions fits best under the delegate model of representation?

Accepted Answer

In the delegate model of representation, legislators act according to the wishes and interests of their constituents. Fighting to retain funding for an important industry in the legislator's district aligns with this model as it directly reflects the constituents' interests.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the way members of the House of Representatives are elected?

Accepted Answer

Members of the House of Representatives are elected by a plurality vote within geographic constituencies, meaning the candidate with the most votes in a district wins.

Question 6

Which of the following is true of proportional representation system?

Accepted Answer

In a proportional representation system, seats are allocated to political parties based on the percentage of votes they receive, making party affiliation more important than geographic representation.

Question 7

Which of the following pairs best describes the "dual nature" of Congress?

Accepted Answer

The "dual nature" of Congress refers to its role as both a national lawmaking body and a collection of representatives serving local constituencies.

Question 8

Which of the following is explicitly outlined in the US Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The US Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to write and pass laws.

Question 9

Which of the following is explicitly outlined in the US Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The US Constitution explicitly enumerates specific powers to Congress in Article I, Section 8.

Question 10

Which of the following issues would a senator from a large, diverse state with many competing interests be most likely to focus on during his campaign?

Accepted Answer

A senator from a large, diverse state with many competing interests would likely focus on issues that have a direct and significant impact on the state's economy and employment, such as keeping a large military base open, which would benefit a wide range of constituents.

Question 11

What did the 17th Amendment to the Constitution accomplish in 1913?

Accepted Answer

The 17th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1913, established the direct election of U.S. senators by popular vote, replacing the previous system of election by state legislatures.

Question 12

Which of the following is a basic principle of proportional representation?

Accepted Answer

Proportional representation is a principle where the number of seats a party wins in the legislature is proportional to the level of support it receives from voters.

Question 13

Members of Congress typically focus exclusively on their Washington, DC, activities in order to win reelection.

Accepted Answer

Members of Congress often engage in activities both in Washington, DC, and in their home districts or states to connect with constituents and address local issues, which is crucial for winning reelection.

Question 14

The primary goal of members of Congress is to be reelected.

Accepted Answer

The primary goal of members of Congress is often considered to be reelection, as it allows them to continue pursuing their legislative agendas and maintain their political influence.

Question 15

Congress is mainly judged on the basis of citizens' overall attitudes toward politics policy process and the state of the union.

Accepted Answer

Citizens often evaluate Congress based on their perceptions of political processes, policies, and the overall state of the nation, which influences their approval or disapproval of the legislative body.

Question 16

The writers of the Constitution intended the House of Representatives to be the most representative element in the US national government.

Accepted Answer

The House of Representatives was designed to be directly elected by the people and to represent the population proportionally, making it the most representative body in the US national government.

Question 17

Members of Congress today are more able to cooperate with national party leaders than they were in the past, without risking their chances of reelection.

Accepted Answer

Party leaders have become more powerful in recent years, and members of Congress are more likely to follow their lead in order to maintain their support.

Question 18

Most countries in the world have legislative bodies that are modeled closely on the US Congress.

Accepted Answer

Most countries have legislative bodies that are influenced by their own historical, cultural, and political contexts, and while some may have similarities to the US Congress, they are not closely modeled on it. Many countries have parliamentary systems or other forms of governance.

Question 19

Congress members have moved further away from their parties in recent decades.

Accepted Answer

Congress members have generally become more polarized and aligned with their parties in recent decades, rather than moving away from them.

Question 20

The picture of Congress conveyed by the media has become more flattering.

Accepted Answer

The media often portrays Congress with a critical lens, focusing on conflicts, inefficiencies, and controversies, rather than flattering depictions.

Quiz 1: The Two Congresses

Which of the following is the proximate goal of members of Congress?

According to the text, Congress, as a whole, is judged by the ______.

Which of the following would a trustee consider most important according to Edmund Burke's concept of the ideal Congress?

Which of the following actions fits best under the delegate model of representation?

Which of the following best describes the way members of the House of Representatives are elected?

Which of the following is true of proportional representation system?

Which of the following pairs best describes the "dual nature" of Congress?

Which of the following is explicitly outlined in the US Constitution?

Which of the following is explicitly outlined in the US Constitution?

Which of the following issues would a senator from a large, diverse state with many competing interests be most likely to focus on during his campaign?

What did the 17th Amendment to the Constitution accomplish in 1913?

Which of the following is a basic principle of proportional representation?

Members of Congress typically focus exclusively on their Washington, DC, activities in order to win reelection.

The primary goal of members of Congress is to be reelected.

Congress is mainly judged on the basis of citizens' overall attitudes toward politics policy process and the state of the union.

The writers of the Constitution intended the House of Representatives to be the most representative element in the US national government.

Members of Congress today are more able to cooperate with national party leaders than they were in the past, without risking their chances of reelection.

Most countries in the world have legislative bodies that are modeled closely on the US Congress.

Congress members have moved further away from their parties in recent decades.

The picture of Congress conveyed by the media has become more flattering.