Question 1

Why might a representative propose a bill knowing it will fail?

Accepted Answer

A)  Party leaders write the bill for the member. 
B)  guaranteed referral to a committee on which the member serves 
C)  popularity with the representative's constituents 
D)  The Supreme Court is unlikely to strike down the bill. 
E)  The president favors the legislation. 
A)  Party leaders write the bill for the member. 
B)  guaranteed referral to a committee on which the member serves 
C)  popularity with the representative's constituents 
D)  The Supreme Court is unlikely to strike down the bill. 
E)  The president favors the legislation. C

Question 2

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 3

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. A

Question 4

What is the best example of party discipline?

Accepted Answer

A)  representatives leaving at the same time for their districts 
B)  representatives campaigning for one another in nonelection years 
C)  representatives caucusing with their fellow partisans in election years 
D)  representatives voting with their fellow partisans on difficult votes 
E)  senators caucusing with their fellow partisans in election years 
A)  representatives leaving at the same time for their districts 
B)  representatives campaigning for one another in nonelection years 
C)  representatives caucusing with their fellow partisans in election years 
D)  representatives voting with their fellow partisans on difficult votes 
E)  senators caucusing with their fellow partisans in election years

Question 5

Helen lives in District 1 in Colorado, a district represented by Democrat Diana Degette. Because the House of Representatives is controlled by the Republican Party, Helen's district is unlikely to get special provisions from congressional bills. Which model best explains this phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

A)  the informational model 
B)  the logrolling model 
C)  the distributional model 
D)  the partisan model 
E)  None; this is an unlikely situation. 
A)  the informational model 
B)  the logrolling model 
C)  the distributional model 
D)  the partisan model 
E)  None; this is an unlikely situation.

Question 6

Which model for evaluating Congress emphasizes an ideological, team-oriented approach?

Accepted Answer

A)  the partisan model 
B)  the distributional model 
C)  the informational model 
D)  the logrolling model 
E)  the principal-agent model 
A)  the partisan model 
B)  the distributional model 
C)  the informational model 
D)  the logrolling model 
E)  the principal-agent model

Question 7

Which of these is the best explanation for why representatives might not vote in a manner consistent with majority opinion in their districts?

Accepted Answer

A)  The majority opinion is factually incorrect. 
B)  The minority opinion is the position of the opposition party. 
C)  The representative is facing a tough primary election challenger. 
D)  The representative is facing a tough general election challenger. 
E)  The representative will never vote against the district majority opinion. 
A)  The majority opinion is factually incorrect. 
B)  The minority opinion is the position of the opposition party. 
C)  The representative is facing a tough primary election challenger. 
D)  The representative is facing a tough general election challenger. 
E)  The representative will never vote against the district majority opinion.

Question 8

How can votes on the floor of the House and Senate be utilized by interest groups?

Accepted Answer

A)  Scores of closeness to the group's interest are generated through votes. 
B)  Senators are differentiated from representatives. 
C)  Interest groups use votes to push for new interest groups. 
D)  Representatives utilize these to grade their party leaders. 
E)  Interest groups judge based on individual bills. 
A)  Scores of closeness to the group's interest are generated through votes. 
B)  Senators are differentiated from representatives. 
C)  Interest groups use votes to push for new interest groups. 
D)  Representatives utilize these to grade their party leaders. 
E)  Interest groups judge based on individual bills.

Question 9

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 10

What is an effect of primary elections for Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  decreased party control of members 
B)  increased power for committee chairs 
C)  decreased power for individual members 
D)  increased party control of members 
E)  decreased power for committee chairs 
A)  decreased party control of members 
B)  increased power for committee chairs 
C)  decreased power for individual members 
D)  increased party control of members 
E)  decreased power for committee chairs

Question 11

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 12

Why are measures of incumbency success in reelection often overstated?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

________ representation is more independent of district opinion than ________ representation.

Accepted Answer

A)  Delegate; descriptive 
B)  Descriptive; substantive 
C)  Substantive; trustee 
D)  Delegate; trustee 
E)  Trustee; delegate 
A)  Delegate; descriptive 
B)  Descriptive; substantive 
C)  Substantive; trustee 
D)  Delegate; trustee 
E)  Trustee; delegate

Question 14

Which of these models of congressional organization places the most emphasis on the growth of bureaucracies such as the congressional research service?

Accepted Answer

A)  distributional 
B)  descriptive 
C)  partisan 
D)  substantive 
E)  informational 
A)  distributional 
B)  descriptive 
C)  partisan 
D)  substantive 
E)  informational

Question 15

The Congressional Black Caucus holds a meeting at the beginning of every session. What is most likely discussed in those meetings?

Accepted Answer

A)  issues related to the Democratic Party 
B)  issues related to the Republican Party 
C)  issues related to African Americans 
D)  issues related to African politics 
E)  issues related to urban politics 
A)  issues related to the Democratic Party 
B)  issues related to the Republican Party 
C)  issues related to African Americans 
D)  issues related to African politics 
E)  issues related to urban politics

Question 16

Which of the following is the best explanation for the increase in the amount of constituency service?

Accepted Answer

A)  The president values his or her constituents and mandates that Congress engage in this activity. 
B)  Constituent service is a consistent percentage of the annual budget. 
C)  Bureaucrats argue among themselves, and this causes an increase in paperwork. 
D)  The complexity of the federal government has increased as it has grown larger. 
E)  Riders on bills mandate that elected officials do more casework. 
A)  The president values his or her constituents and mandates that Congress engage in this activity. 
B)  Constituent service is a consistent percentage of the annual budget. 
C)  Bureaucrats argue among themselves, and this causes an increase in paperwork. 
D)  The complexity of the federal government has increased as it has grown larger. 
E)  Riders on bills mandate that elected officials do more casework.

Question 17

Identify two collective dilemmas faced by Congress. What institutions has Congress put in place to mitigate the negative consequences of these dilemmas? How do the institutions you identify help Congress as an institution overcome the problems that would be created by the uncoordinated activities of its members?

Accepted Answer

A thorough answer may include the follow

Question 18

What is the Rules Committee? How does the Rules Committee support the power of party leaders in the House of Representatives? How does the absence of a parallel institution in the Senate increase the power of individual senators relative to party leaders?

Accepted Answer

A thorough answer may include the follow

Question 19

Compare and contrast the constituencies and terms of office of members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Why did the framers provide for different electoral mechanisms to select representatives and senators? How do these institutional choices relate to the different procedures and characters of each house of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A thorough answer may include the follow

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

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

Why might a representative propose a bill knowing it will fail?

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

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

What is the best example of party discipline?

Helen lives in District 1 in Colorado, a district represented by Democrat Diana Degette. Because the House of Representatives is controlled by the Republican Party, Helen's district is unlikely to get special provisions from congressional bills. Which model best explains this phenomenon?

Which model for evaluating Congress emphasizes an ideological, team-oriented approach?

Which of these is the best explanation for why representatives might not vote in a manner consistent with majority opinion in their districts?

How can votes on the floor of the House and Senate be utilized by interest groups?

What is the importance of markups for individual representatives?

What is an effect of primary elections for Congress?

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

Why are measures of incumbency success in reelection often overstated?

representation is more independent of district opinion than representation.

Which of these models of congressional organization places the most emphasis on the growth of bureaucracies such as the congressional research service?

The Congressional Black Caucus holds a meeting at the beginning of every session. What is most likely discussed in those meetings?

Which of the following is the best explanation for the increase in the amount of constituency service?

What is the Rules Committee? How does the Rules Committee support the power of party leaders in the House of Representatives? How does the absence of a parallel institution in the Senate increase the power of individual senators relative to party leaders?

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

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

Why might a representative propose a bill knowing it will fail?

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

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

What is the best example of party discipline?

Helen lives in District 1 in Colorado, a district represented by Democrat Diana Degette. Because the House of Representatives is controlled by the Republican Party, Helen's district is unlikely to get special provisions from congressional bills. Which model best explains this phenomenon?

Which model for evaluating Congress emphasizes an ideological, team-oriented approach?

Which of these is the best explanation for why representatives might not vote in a manner consistent with majority opinion in their districts?

How can votes on the floor of the House and Senate be utilized by interest groups?

What is the importance of markups for individual representatives?

What is an effect of primary elections for Congress?

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

Why are measures of incumbency success in reelection often overstated?

________ representation is more independent of district opinion than ________ representation.

Which of these models of congressional organization places the most emphasis on the growth of bureaucracies such as the congressional research service?

The Congressional Black Caucus holds a meeting at the beginning of every session. What is most likely discussed in those meetings?

Which of the following is the best explanation for the increase in the amount of constituency service?

What is the Rules Committee? How does the Rules Committee support the power of party leaders in the House of Representatives? How does the absence of a parallel institution in the Senate increase the power of individual senators relative to party leaders?

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

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

representation is more independent of district opinion than representation.