Question 1

Roughly how many incumbents win reelection in the House and Senate during a given election year? What explains their rate of success? Are the high rates of reelection a sign of a healthy democracy or not? Explain.

Accepted Answer

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Question 2

Describe the ways that parties and party leaders help structure Congress, while defining each of the following terms as clearly as possible: "Speaker," "majority leader," "minority leader," and "party conference." What effect does this party structure have on the legislature?

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Question 3

Explain the standard view of how a bill becomes a law, referring to the key steps in both chambers in the proper order of the process. What other factors, aside from the standard view of how a bill becomes a law, also affect whether a bill becomes a law? Why is it that so few bills become law? Is the current system working or is reform needed?

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Question 4

Outline the principal arguments of distributive theory and informational theory. What does each one have to say about how the legislature is organized and whose interests are served? Which do you find more believable and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Outline the principal arguments of distributive theory...

Question 5

Tip O'Neill once called money the "mother's milk of politics." What did he mean by that? What is the effect of money in campaigns for the legislature, especially among incumbents? Do you favor campaign finance reform and, if so, what kind? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

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Question 6

Compare and contrast the lawmaking process in the House and the Senate. How do the sizes of each body affect their functioning? How do the different processes in each chamber affect legislative outcomes? Some reform advocates have proposed eliminating the filibuster. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your argument.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the lawmaking process in...

Quiz 11: Congress

Roughly how many incumbents win reelection in the House and Senate during a given election year? What explains their rate of success? Are the high rates of reelection a sign of a healthy democracy or not? Explain.

Describe the ways that parties and party leaders help structure Congress, while defining each of the following terms as clearly as possible: "Speaker," "majority leader," "minority leader," and "party conference." What effect does this party structure have on the legislature?

Outline the principal arguments of distributive theory and informational theory. What does each one have to say about how the legislature is organized and whose interests are served? Which do you find more believable and why?

Tip O'Neill once called money the "mother's milk of politics." What did he mean by that? What is the effect of money in campaigns for the legislature, especially among incumbents? Do you favor campaign finance reform and, if so, what kind? Why or why not?