Question 1

One of the most important powers of committee chairpersons is the ability to

Accepted Answer

The answer of One of the most important powers of...

Question 2

Committees that are convened for a limited period of time to consider matters outside the jurisdiction of existing committees are known as

Accepted Answer

Select committees are created for a limited period of time to consider matters outside the jurisdiction of existing committees. Standing committees are permanent committees with a defined jurisdiction. Conference committees are temporary committees that resolve differences between versions of a bill passed by the House and Senate. Steering committees are responsible for determining the legislative agenda of a political party. Joint committees are composed of members of both the House and Senate and have either a temporary or ongoing purpose.

Question 3

The Senate procedure of calling for an end to debate and forcing a vote on the floor is known as

Accepted Answer

The Senate procedure of calling for an end to debate and forcing a vote on the floor is known as cloture. A discharge petition is used in the House of Representatives to force a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote. A filibuster is a tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill by speaking for an extended period of time. A hold is an informal practice in which a senator asks to be informed before a particular bill is brought to the floor for a vote. A gerrymander is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to benefit a particular party or group. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT one of the powers traditionally wielded by the Speaker of the House?

Accepted Answer

The Speaker of the House does not cast the first vote on all legislation. The Speaker may vote on legislation, but it is not required and is not their primary responsibility. The other options listed are powers that the Speaker of the House traditionally wields.

Question 5

Which of the following committees is exceptional in always having an equal number of Republican and Democrat members?

Accepted Answer

The Standards of Official Conduct Committee, also known as the House Ethics Committee, is the only permanent standing committee in Congress that always has an equal number of Democratic and Republican members. This is to ensure that ethical violations are investigated and judged in a nonpartisan manner.

Question 6

The MOST powerful figure in the House of Representatives is the

Accepted Answer

The Speaker of the House is the most powerful figure in the House of Representatives. They are responsible for setting the agenda for the House, assigning bills to committees, and controlling debate on the House floor. They also have significant influence over the legislative process and can use their power to block or promote legislation.

Question 7

In 2013, Senate majority leader Harry Reid pushed through a change in the cloture rule to stop filibusters for executive and many judicial nominees by requiring this number of votes to end debate and move to a vote:

Accepted Answer

In 2013, Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats changed the cloture rule for executive and judicial nominees (except for the Supreme Court) to require a simple majority of 51 votes to end debate, instead of the previous 60 votes. This change is often referred to as the "nuclear option."

Question 8

Who is generally the MOST influential person in the Senate?

Accepted Answer

The majority leader is considered the most influential person in the Senate because they control the Senate's agenda and schedule, as well as have significant power in assigning committee membership and determining which bills make it to the floor for a vote. They also have the ability to negotiate with the minority leader and the President on important legislation.

Question 9

All of the following are basic types of congressional committees EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

While standing committees, conference committees, select committees, and joint committees are all basic types of congressional committees, steering committees are not. Steering committees are actually subcommittees within the standing committees, responsible for assigning some legislative bills to the standing committees for further consideration.

Question 10

The term logrolling refers to the congressional practice of

Accepted Answer

Logrolling is the exchange of votes between members of Congress in order to achieve mutual benefits, such as supporting each other's bills or securing funding for each other's projects. This practice is also commonly known as "reciprocal bargaining."

Question 11

Committees that are convened to reconcile differences between Senate and House versions of the same bill before sending the bill to the president are known as

Accepted Answer

Conference committees are specifically created to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of the same bill. Standing committees, select committees, and joint committees are not specifically involved in this process. Steering committees typically determine which committees will consider specific bills, but are not involved in reconciling differences between House and Senate versions of bills.

Question 12

The Senate tactic of holding the floor for hours on end until an unwanted piece of legislation is dropped or amended is known as

Accepted Answer

The Senate tactic of holding the floor for hours on end until an unwanted piece of legislation is dropped or amended is known as a filibuster.

Question 13

Congressional leaders are increasingly chosen for their

Accepted Answer

Congressional leaders are often selected based on a combination of their partisan outlook, ability to frame issues along party lines, skill in controlling the legislative agenda, and ability to raise funds for fellow party members.

Question 14

Which of the following persons had a well-deserved reputation as a powerful Senate majority leader?

Accepted Answer

Lyndon Johnson had a well-deserved reputation as a powerful Senate majority leader, often credited with masterfully using his influence and negotiating skills to get bills passed and navigate political obstacles.

Question 15

The chief duty of whips is to

Accepted Answer

Whips are responsible for ensuring that party members are present to vote and that they vote in the desired manner. They maintain discipline within their party and are tasked with counting votes to determine the level of support for a particular piece of legislation.

Answer: E 
 Whips also control the flow of debate on the House floor, managing the order in which bills are considered and allocating time for discussion and amendment. They work closely with the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader to ensure that the legislative agenda is advanced according to the party's priorities.

Question 16

Most of the actual drafting and review of legislation in Congress takes place

Accepted Answer

The majority of drafting and review of legislation in Congress happens in committees. Committees are made up of small groups of representatives or senators who are experts on a particular issue or topic. They will review legislation related to their expertise, make changes, and recommend what changes to make before the bill moves to the full Chamber for a vote.

Question 17

At the beginning of the 113^th Congress in 2013, the MOST powerful person in the House was

Accepted Answer

At the beginning of the 113th Congress in 2013, John Boehner was the Speaker of the House and thus the MOST powerful person in the House.

Question 18

Funding for specific projects that are added by members of Congress to appropriation bills, usually without oversight or public debate, is known as

Accepted Answer

Funding for specific projects that are added by members of Congress to appropriation bills, usually without oversight or public debate, is known as earmarks. Riders are additional provisions added to bills, budget requests are formal requests made by the president for funding, presidential funding priorities are areas of importance to the president for funding, and log projects are not a term commonly used in government funding.

Question 19

Over the last couple of decades in Congress,

Accepted Answer

There has been a significant polarization of the two major political parties in the United States over the past couple of decades, with Democrats moving further to the left on many issues and Republicans moving further to the right. This polarization has been particularly pronounced in Congress, where Democrats have become more liberal on a range of issues while Republicans have become more conservative.

Question 20

A request to force a House committee to release a piece of legislation to the floor for a vote is known as

Accepted Answer

A discharge petition is a request made by members of the House of Representatives to force a committee to release a piece of legislation to the floor for a vote. If a majority of the House signs the discharge petition, the bill can be brought directly to the floor for consideration without going through the committee process.

Quiz 11: Congress: Doing the Peoples Business