Question 1

How can parties exercise control over the functioning of committees?

Accepted Answer

A)  Leaders function as committee chairs. 
B)  Leaders appoint committee chairs. 
C)  Parties approve all members of committees. 
D)  Parties are constitutionally bound to committees. 
E)  Parties exist wholly outside committees. 
A)  Leaders function as committee chairs. 
B)  Leaders appoint committee chairs. 
C)  Parties approve all members of committees. 
D)  Parties are constitutionally bound to committees. 
E)  Parties exist wholly outside committees. C

Question 2

Why do large bills contain many small,targeted provisions?

Accepted Answer

A)  Writing bills in small portions is easier. 
B)  These provisions garner more support for a bill from affected members. 
C)  Office staff write bills amongst many people. 
D)  Presidents find these bills easier to sign into law. 
E)  The Court is less likely to declare these bills unconstitutional. 
A)  Writing bills in small portions is easier. 
B)  These provisions garner more support for a bill from affected members. 
C)  Office staff write bills amongst many people. 
D)  Presidents find these bills easier to sign into law. 
E)  The Court is less likely to declare these bills unconstitutional. B

Question 3

Which of these Senate tools is the closest to a rule issued by the House Rules Committee?

Accepted Answer

A)  committee markups 
B)  unanimous consent agreements 
C)  filibusters and holds 
D)  multiple track requests 
E)  right of first recognition 
A)  committee markups 
B)  unanimous consent agreements 
C)  filibusters and holds 
D)  multiple track requests 
E)  right of first recognition B

Question 4

Why are measures of incumbency success in re-election often overstated?

Accepted Answer

A)  Incumbents lie about their re-election to office. 
B)  Representatives retire rather than face probable defeat. 
C)  Measures of incumbent success are actually understated. 
D)  These measures are probabilities of success, and thus are not accurate. 
E)  These measures add together Senate and House re-election rates. 
A)  Incumbents lie about their re-election to office. 
B)  Representatives retire rather than face probable defeat. 
C)  Measures of incumbent success are actually understated. 
D)  These measures are probabilities of success, and thus are not accurate. 
E)  These measures add together Senate and House re-election rates.

Question 5

What is the importance of markups for individual representatives?

Accepted Answer

A)  Representatives can bribe other representatives in this process. 
B)  Party leaders can control the actions of committee members. 
C)  Presidents influence the markup process. 
D)  Bureaucrats give testimony about the needs of their programs. 
E)  Representatives can control bill content at this stage. 
A)  Representatives can bribe other representatives in this process. 
B)  Party leaders can control the actions of committee members. 
C)  Presidents influence the markup process. 
D)  Bureaucrats give testimony about the needs of their programs. 
E)  Representatives can control bill content at this stage.

Question 6

What is the best description of the difference between the informational and distributional models of congressional organization?

Accepted Answer

A)  Informational places more weight on the opinions of party leaders. 
B)  Distributional places less emphasis on jurisdictions of committees. 
C)  Informational places more emphasis on members receiving benefits. 
D)  Distributional places less emphasis on the needs of constituents. 
E)  There is no true difference between the two models of organization. 
A)  Informational places more weight on the opinions of party leaders. 
B)  Distributional places less emphasis on jurisdictions of committees. 
C)  Informational places more emphasis on members receiving benefits. 
D)  Distributional places less emphasis on the needs of constituents. 
E)  There is no true difference between the two models of organization.

Question 7

Why does the makeup of state government affect redistricting for Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  State legislatures often determine the boundaries of congressional districts. 
B)  Nomination for office occurs through state legislatures, and divided government produces more moderate candidates. 
C)  Governors draw maps on their own and thus parties must control the governorship if they wish to have an effect. 
D)  State legislatures approve judges, and therefore the judges that draw the map respond exclusively to the partisanship of the legislature. 
E)  Commissions draw all maps, and thus the makeup of state governments does not affect congressional redistricting. 
A)  State legislatures often determine the boundaries of congressional districts. 
B)  Nomination for office occurs through state legislatures, and divided government produces more moderate candidates. 
C)  Governors draw maps on their own and thus parties must control the governorship if they wish to have an effect. 
D)  State legislatures approve judges, and therefore the judges that draw the map respond exclusively to the partisanship of the legislature. 
E)  Commissions draw all maps, and thus the makeup of state governments does not affect congressional redistricting.

Question 8

Where does political representation occur most?

Accepted Answer

A)  political parties 
B)  congressional caucuses 
C)  Supreme Court judges 
D)  individual politicians 
E)  congressional committees 
A)  political parties 
B)  congressional caucuses 
C)  Supreme Court judges 
D)  individual politicians 
E)  congressional committees

Question 9

Why is having a fellow partisan as the chamber leader important?

Accepted Answer

A)  The leader writes all legislation. 
B)  The leader is the chair of committees. 
C)  The leader is the agenda setter. 
D)  The leader pressures the president to sign bills. 
E)  The leader makes all members vote in partisan fashion. 
A)  The leader writes all legislation. 
B)  The leader is the chair of committees. 
C)  The leader is the agenda setter. 
D)  The leader pressures the president to sign bills. 
E)  The leader makes all members vote in partisan fashion.

Question 10

Why are laws passed by Congress often not far from the status quo?

Accepted Answer

A)  Broad support needed to pass legislation generates moderate legislation. 
B)  All representatives are close to the center of the ideological distribution. 
C)  Presidents favor the status quo and will only sign bills close to it. 
D)  The Supreme Court will strike down extreme legislation. 
E)  Most laws passed by Congress are far from the status quo. 
A)  Broad support needed to pass legislation generates moderate legislation. 
B)  All representatives are close to the center of the ideological distribution. 
C)  Presidents favor the status quo and will only sign bills close to it. 
D)  The Supreme Court will strike down extreme legislation. 
E)  Most laws passed by Congress are far from the status quo.

Question 11

What is the best explanation for why Congress bears ultimate responsibility in lawmaking?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Supreme Court cannot rule congressionally generated laws unconstitutional. 
B)  The president cannot be trusted to make wise decisions. 
C)  The bureaucracy cannot make decisions. 
D)  The creation of laws occurs within Congress. 
E)  The veto override ability of Congress is guaranteed to work. 
A)  The Supreme Court cannot rule congressionally generated laws unconstitutional. 
B)  The president cannot be trusted to make wise decisions. 
C)  The bureaucracy cannot make decisions. 
D)  The creation of laws occurs within Congress. 
E)  The veto override ability of Congress is guaranteed to work.

Question 12

Why are conference committees important?

Accepted Answer

A)  Combined effort between the House and Senate is important to American government. 
B)  They enable leaders of the House and Senate to meet. 
C)  The Constitution mandates that all legislation be passed through conference committees. 
D)  Differences between the House and Senate bills are resolved. 
E)  The president is able to direct the content of legislation at this stage. 
A)  Combined effort between the House and Senate is important to American government. 
B)  They enable leaders of the House and Senate to meet. 
C)  The Constitution mandates that all legislation be passed through conference committees. 
D)  Differences between the House and Senate bills are resolved. 
E)  The president is able to direct the content of legislation at this stage.

Question 13

What is the best explanation for why the size of the House would be capped at 435 members?

Accepted Answer

A)  The House chamber could not fit more members and therefore needed to be kept at that size. 
B)  The House would have difficulties in resolving collective dilemmas if the size were any greater. 
C)  The House must not be more than four times larger than the Senate by constitutional provision. 
D)  The House was limited by state populations in 1911. 
E)  The House is not limited to 435 members, but rather is that size due to the original district size distributions. 
A)  The House chamber could not fit more members and therefore needed to be kept at that size. 
B)  The House would have difficulties in resolving collective dilemmas if the size were any greater. 
C)  The House must not be more than four times larger than the Senate by constitutional provision. 
D)  The House was limited by state populations in 1911. 
E)  The House is not limited to 435 members, but rather is that size due to the original district size distributions.

Question 14

Where does the informational model place the most emphasis?

Accepted Answer

A)  drafting legislation 
B)  referring legislation 
C)  committee deliberation 
D)  floor debate 
E)  presidential vetoes 
A)  drafting legislation 
B)  referring legislation 
C)  committee deliberation 
D)  floor debate 
E)  presidential vetoes

Question 15

Compare and contrast the delegate and trustee models of representation.What might motivate constituents to accept a trustee-type representative rather than a delegate-type representative? Which model is a more accurate representation of how members of Congress actually operate? Give examples or cite evidence to support your judgment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the delegate and trustee...

Question 16

Why is the inability of a party leader to control a candidate's usage of a party label in elections important?

Accepted Answer

A)  Election monitors have a more difficult time differentiating fake ballots. 
B)  Women candidates have a more difficult time being nominated in primary elections. 
C)  Candidates run individualistic campaigns and not party-wide plans. 
D)  Parties do have the ability to control the usage of their label. 
E)  Presidents can utilize this feature to generate more institutional strength. 
A)  Election monitors have a more difficult time differentiating fake ballots. 
B)  Women candidates have a more difficult time being nominated in primary elections. 
C)  Candidates run individualistic campaigns and not party-wide plans. 
D)  Parties do have the ability to control the usage of their label. 
E)  Presidents can utilize this feature to generate more institutional strength.

Question 17

Why are parties stronger in the Senate than in the House?

Accepted Answer

A)  Party leaders write all bills in the House, unlike Senate individualism. 
B)  Members are elected as partisans in the House, and not in the Senate. 
C)  There are more independents in the Senate, which undermines parties. 
D)  The parties run the House Rules committee, which has more control than in the Senate. 
E)  The parties are equally strong in the Senate and House, and there is no difference. 
A)  Party leaders write all bills in the House, unlike Senate individualism. 
B)  Members are elected as partisans in the House, and not in the Senate. 
C)  There are more independents in the Senate, which undermines parties. 
D)  The parties run the House Rules committee, which has more control than in the Senate. 
E)  The parties are equally strong in the Senate and House, and there is no difference.

Question 18

Why do only 33 or 34 Senators face re-election in each cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  Many senators retire rather than face reelection. 
B)  Six-year terms mean only 1/3 of the chamber is re-elected at a time. 
C)  Each state only has one senator and retirements lower the number of re-elections. 
D)  Senators want to become president and thus pursue that goal. 
E)  All senators face re-election in each cycle. 
A)  Many senators retire rather than face reelection. 
B)  Six-year terms mean only 1/3 of the chamber is re-elected at a time. 
C)  Each state only has one senator and retirements lower the number of re-elections. 
D)  Senators want to become president and thus pursue that goal. 
E)  All senators face re-election in each cycle.

Question 19

What is the tradeoff inherent in performing constituent service?

Accepted Answer

A)  More offices must be opened in order to deal with greater demands for constituent service. 
B)  Limited time available to members means that increased constituent service creates less time for other activities. 
C)  Constituent service involves committees on which members serve, therefore it increases committee power at the expense of party power. 
D)  Members do not value services provided to constituents, and thus choose to do less of it. 
E)  There is no tradeoff for constituent service. 
A)  More offices must be opened in order to deal with greater demands for constituent service. 
B)  Limited time available to members means that increased constituent service creates less time for other activities. 
C)  Constituent service involves committees on which members serve, therefore it increases committee power at the expense of party power. 
D)  Members do not value services provided to constituents, and thus choose to do less of it. 
E)  There is no tradeoff for constituent service.

Question 20

Why is the Speaker important in the referral process?

Accepted Answer

A)  controls all bill referrals 
B)  strategic referral of bills 
C)  appoints committee chairs 
D)  authors bills to shape their referral 
E)  The Speaker is not important to the referral process. 
A)  controls all bill referrals 
B)  strategic referral of bills 
C)  appoints committee chairs 
D)  authors bills to shape their referral 
E)  The Speaker is not important to the referral process.

How can parties exercise control over the functioning of committees?

Why do large bills contain many small,targeted provisions?

Which of these Senate tools is the closest to a rule issued by the House Rules Committee?

Why are measures of incumbency success in re-election often overstated?

What is the importance of markups for individual representatives?

What is the best description of the difference between the informational and distributional models of congressional organization?

Why does the makeup of state government affect redistricting for Congress?

Where does political representation occur most?

Why is having a fellow partisan as the chamber leader important?

Why are laws passed by Congress often not far from the status quo?

What is the best explanation for why Congress bears ultimate responsibility in lawmaking?

Why are conference committees important?

What is the best explanation for why the size of the House would be capped at 435 members?

Where does the informational model place the most emphasis?

Why is the inability of a party leader to control a candidate's usage of a party label in elections important?

Why are parties stronger in the Senate than in the House?

Why do only 33 or 34 Senators face re-election in each cycle?

What is the tradeoff inherent in performing constituent service?

Why is the Speaker important in the referral process?

Introduction

the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Rights and Liberties

the Presidency

the Bureaucracy

the Judiciary

Public Opinion

Political Participation

Interest Groups and Social Movements

Political Parties

Elections and Campaigns

Mass Media and the Press

Economic Policy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 5: Congress

How can parties exercise control over the functioning of committees?

Why do large bills contain many small,targeted provisions?

Which of these Senate tools is the closest to a rule issued by the House Rules Committee?

Why are measures of incumbency success in re-election often overstated?

What is the importance of markups for individual representatives?

What is the best description of the difference between the informational and distributional models of congressional organization?

Why does the makeup of state government affect redistricting for Congress?

Where does political representation occur most?

Why is having a fellow partisan as the chamber leader important?

Why are laws passed by Congress often not far from the status quo?

What is the best explanation for why Congress bears ultimate responsibility in lawmaking?

Why are conference committees important?

What is the best explanation for why the size of the House would be capped at 435 members?

Where does the informational model place the most emphasis?

Why is the inability of a party leader to control a candidate's usage of a party label in elections important?

Why are parties stronger in the Senate than in the House?

Why do only 33 or 34 Senators face re-election in each cycle?

What is the tradeoff inherent in performing constituent service?

Why is the Speaker important in the referral process?

Introduction

the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Rights and Liberties

the Presidency

the Bureaucracy

the Judiciary

Public Opinion

Political Participation

Interest Groups and Social Movements

Political Parties

Elections and Campaigns

Mass Media and the Press

Economic Policy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters