Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

According to the US Constitution, the Senate must approve treaties with a two-thirds vote in order for them to be valid. This means that at least 67 out of 100 senators must vote in favor of the treaty for it to be approved.

Question 2

Leaders in the House have greater control over the agenda and debate compared to leaders in the Senate.Which principle of politics best explains this difference?

Accepted Answer

The institution principle refers to the idea that the rules and procedures of political institutions influence how they operate. In this case, the House and Senate have different rules regarding agenda-setting and debate, which gives leaders in the House greater control over these aspects of legislation.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

The term that best describes a legislative assembly that is divided into two chambers or houses is "bicameral". Therefore, option D is the correct answer. The prefix "bi-" means "two", and "cameral" refers to chambers or houses. The US Congress is an example of a bicameral legislative assembly, with the Senate and the House of Representatives as its two chambers.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

The framers intended the House of Representatives to be the closest to the people as its members are elected every two years directly by the people from their respective states. The House of Representatives is also proportionally representative, with the number of representatives per state based on its population, further ensuring that the people's voices are heard in the legislative process.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Representatives who act as trustees believe that they have been entrusted with the power to make decisions on behalf of their constituents based on their own judgment and conscience. They do not necessarily reflect the majority opinion, but they act in what they believe is the best interest of the people they represent.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

The term "constituency" refers to the geographic area or group of people represented by an elected official. It includes the individuals who live in that district and are eligible to vote for that official. Therefore, option E is the correct answer. The other options (A, B, C, and D) do not accurately describe the concept of a political constituency.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

The term of office for a U.S. senator is six years.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

There are currently 100 members in the U.S. Senate, with each state electing two senators to represent them.

Question 9

Members of Congress owe their primary responsibility to

Accepted Answer

Members of Congress are ultimately accountable to the citizens they represent. Their primary responsibility is to serve and represent their constituency, ensuring that their interests, concerns, and priorities are reflected in lawmaking decisions. While they may also have duties to their political party, congressional leadership, and even campaign donors, they are ultimately elected to serve the people and communities of their district or state.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years, which is known as their term of office. The purpose of having shorter terms for Representatives is to ensure that they remain accountable to their constituents and face reelection frequently. This differs from the Senate, where members are elected for six-year terms.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Representatives who see themselves as delegates believe that they should act according to the specific preferences of the constituents they represent, essentially serving as messengers for the people who elected them. They view their role as representing the interests of their district or state first and foremost, rather than adhering to their own beliefs or party affiliations.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

The agency conception of representation is based on the idea that politicians act as agents for their constituents, who are the principals. Constituents have the power to reward or punish their representatives on the basis of their performance and reputation, which is why option C is the best choice. The other options, such as contributing to campaign funds, being aware of specific deals made by politicians, acquiescing to legislative initiative that may counter citizens' immediate interests, and becoming fully informed about policy debates before Congress, are all important factors but are not central to the agency conception of representation.

Question 13

The type of representation that holds representatives accountable to their constituents if they fail to represent the constituents properly is known as __________ representation.

Accepted Answer

Agency representation is the type of representation in which representatives are expected to act as agents of their constituents and are held accountable to them for their actions. If representatives fail to represent their constituents properly, they can be removed from office in the next election cycle.

Question 14

Members of Congress may act as delegates or trustees, but they must win the next election in order to pursue either role.This primary goal of electoral survival is an example of which type of action?

Accepted Answer

Instrumental behavior refers to actions taken with a specific goal or outcome in mind. In the context of members of Congress, their primary goal of electoral survival motivates their actions, making it an example of instrumental behavior. They act in ways that they believe will help ensure their re-election.

Question 15

One of the few national representative assemblies in the world that can actually be said to govern is the

Accepted Answer

The answer of One of the few national representative assemblies...

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

The U.S. House of Representatives has a total of 435 members, which is determined by the population of each state as reported by the decennial census.

Question 17

Agency representation is similar to the relationship between

Accepted Answer

Agency representation is similar to a lawyer-client relationship where the agent (lawyer) acts on behalf of the principal (client) and has a duty to act in the principal's best interest. Similarly, a lawyer has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of their client, and an agent has a similar duty to act in the best interest of their principal.

Question 18

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.

Accepted Answer

A trustee style of representation means that the representative uses their own judgment and expertise to make decisions in the best interest of their constituents and the country, even if those decisions go against the majority opinion of their constituency. This is in contrast to a delegate style of representation, in which the representative strictly follows the will of their constituents, and a plebiscitary style, in which the representative seeks constant feedback from their constituents through polls and constant communication. The styles of runaway agent and jurisprudential are not relevant to this scenario.

Question 19

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.

Accepted Answer

A delegate style of representation is when an elected official follows the preferences of their constituency, even if it conflicts with their own beliefs or values. In this case, the senator may personally support gun control but is representing the views of their constituents who do not support it.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

The fact that Senators have longer terms than House members means that their election cycles are less frequent and therefore they are less directly accountable to the will of the majority of voters. This was a deliberate choice by the founders, who saw the Senate as a more deliberative and stable institution that would balance out the more populist and rapidly changing House.

Quiz 6: Congress: the First Branch