Question 1

The ________ model emphasizes leadership control while the ________ model emphasizes committees.

Accepted Answer

A)  partisan; informational 
B)  distributional; informational 
C)  informational; distributional 
D)  informational; partisan 
E)  partisan; distributional 
A)  partisan; informational 
B)  distributional; informational 
C)  informational; distributional 
D)  informational; partisan 
E)  partisan; distributional

Question 2

Why would two sitting incumbents face each other in a general election for Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  One moved to run for the Senate and lost. 
B)  Each is running for governor. 
C)  They have been redistricted into the same district. 
D)  Their districts have been moved into the same state. 
E)  Incumbents do not face each other in general elections. 
A)  One moved to run for the Senate and lost. 
B)  Each is running for governor. 
C)  They have been redistricted into the same district. 
D)  Their districts have been moved into the same state. 
E)  Incumbents do not face each other in general elections.

Question 3

What is the difference between plurality rule and majority rule?

Accepted Answer

A)  Plurality rule takes more people to win an election. 
B)  Plurality rule encourages the success of third party candidates. 
C)  Plurality rule does not require more than 50 percent. 
D)  Majority rule does not require runoff elections. 
E)  Majority rule does not require more than 50 percent. 
A)  Plurality rule takes more people to win an election. 
B)  Plurality rule encourages the success of third party candidates. 
C)  Plurality rule does not require more than 50 percent. 
D)  Majority rule does not require runoff elections. 
E)  Majority rule does not require more than 50 percent.

Question 4

Why do only 33 or 34 senators face reelection in each cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  Many senators retire rather than face reelection. 
B)  One-third of the chamber is reelected at a time. 
C)  Each state only has one senator, and retirements lower the number of reelections. 
D)  Senators want to become president and thus pursue that goal. 
E)  All senators face reelection in each cycle. 
A)  Many senators retire rather than face reelection. 
B)  One-third of the chamber is reelected at a time. 
C)  Each state only has one senator, and retirements lower the number of reelections. 
D)  Senators want to become president and thus pursue that goal. 
E)  All senators face reelection in each cycle.

Question 5

What does the elastic clause entail?

Accepted Answer

A)  Over time, the distance between Congress and the president increases and decreases. 
B)  When necessary, the Supreme Court can become more activist. 
C)  The powers given to the president can be expanded through the authority to make laws in the national interest. 
D)  Congressional powers can be expanded without limit. 
E)  Congressional powers can be expanded through the authority to make laws in the national interest. 
A)  Over time, the distance between Congress and the president increases and decreases. 
B)  When necessary, the Supreme Court can become more activist. 
C)  The powers given to the president can be expanded through the authority to make laws in the national interest. 
D)  Congressional powers can be expanded without limit. 
E)  Congressional powers can be expanded through the authority to make laws in the national interest.

Question 6

Why do the jurisdictions of committees matter?

Accepted Answer

A)  The party caucuses determine the jurisdiction of committees. 
B)  Bills are drafted entirely in committees. 
C)  Committee jurisdictions determine what bills are heard in what committee. 
D)  Committees are the same between the House and Senate. 
E)  Only standing committees hear legislation. 
A)  The party caucuses determine the jurisdiction of committees. 
B)  Bills are drafted entirely in committees. 
C)  Committee jurisdictions determine what bills are heard in what committee. 
D)  Committees are the same between the House and Senate. 
E)  Only standing committees hear legislation.

Question 7

Which of these is a duty of the party whip?

Accepted Answer

A)  organize party retreats for the member organization 
B)  write legislation that is in the best interest of the party 
C)  encourage members to vote for party-sponsored legislation 
D)  coordinate partisans on relevant committees to produce partisan legislation 
E)  speak at party events with outside interest groups 
A)  organize party retreats for the member organization 
B)  write legislation that is in the best interest of the party 
C)  encourage members to vote for party-sponsored legislation 
D)  coordinate partisans on relevant committees to produce partisan legislation 
E)  speak at party events with outside interest groups

Question 8

What effect does the constitutional feature of separation of powers have on the pace of legislation?

Accepted Answer

A)  The pace is sped up. 
B)  The pace is slowed. 
C)  The pace is no different with or without separation of powers. 
D)  The pace is slowed through the Supreme Court only. 
E)  The pace is slowed through the bureaucracy. 
A)  The pace is sped up. 
B)  The pace is slowed. 
C)  The pace is no different with or without separation of powers. 
D)  The pace is slowed through the Supreme Court only. 
E)  The pace is slowed through the bureaucracy.

Question 9

What is the central purpose of subcommittees?

Accepted Answer

A)  serving as agenda setters for bills 
B)  They are relatively unimportant, but were mandated by the Constitution. 
C)  formally deciding which bills go to the floor 
D)  passing legislation 
E)  solving collective dilemmas in committees 
A)  serving as agenda setters for bills 
B)  They are relatively unimportant, but were mandated by the Constitution. 
C)  formally deciding which bills go to the floor 
D)  passing legislation 
E)  solving collective dilemmas in committees

Question 10

Why are staffs for legislative and campaign work separate entities?

Accepted Answer

A)  The sizes are too much to deal with under one heading. 
B)  The president mandates that staff be organized in this fashion. 
C)  Congress functions more efficiently in this fashion. 
D)  The separation is mandated by election law. 
E)  The separation is mandated by the Constitution. 
A)  The sizes are too much to deal with under one heading. 
B)  The president mandates that staff be organized in this fashion. 
C)  Congress functions more efficiently in this fashion. 
D)  The separation is mandated by election law. 
E)  The separation is mandated by the Constitution.

Question 11

What is the trade-off inherent in performing constituent service?

Accepted Answer

A)  Increased constituent service creates less time for other activities because time is limited. 
B)  More offices must be opened in order to deal with greater demands for constituent service. 
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 trade-off for constituent service. 
A)  Increased constituent service creates less time for other activities because time is limited. 
B)  More offices must be opened in order to deal with greater demands for constituent service. 
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 trade-off for constituent service.

Question 12

Which of these is a combined committee between members of the House and Senate?

Accepted Answer

A)  agriculture 
B)  conference 
C)  standing 
D)  special 
E)  member 
A)  agriculture 
B)  conference 
C)  standing 
D)  special 
E)  member

Question 13

What is the impact of the power and duties of the House Rules Committee relative to proceedings in the Senate?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is no difference between the two committees. 
B)  Senators have more power than representatives. 
C)  The House has greater partisan control of floor proceedings. 
D)  The Senate has greater partisan control of floor proceedings. 
E)  The parties have complete control in the House over all proceedings. 
A)  There is no difference between the two committees. 
B)  Senators have more power than representatives. 
C)  The House has greater partisan control of floor proceedings. 
D)  The Senate has greater partisan control of floor proceedings. 
E)  The parties have complete control in the House over all proceedings.

Question 14

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 among 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 among many people. 
D)  Presidents find these bills easier to sign into law. 
E)  The Court is less likely to declare these bills unconstitutional.

Question 15

Why is the Senate more individualistic than the House?

Accepted Answer

A)  The lower number of members makes parties more difficult. 
B)  The president plays a much greater role in the Senate. 
C)  The Constitution mandates that the Senate be more individualistic. 
D)  Senate debate and procedure rules permit such behavior relative to the House. 
E)  The Senate is not more individualistic than the House. 
A)  The lower number of members makes parties more difficult. 
B)  The president plays a much greater role in the Senate. 
C)  The Constitution mandates that the Senate be more individualistic. 
D)  Senate debate and procedure rules permit such behavior relative to the House. 
E)  The Senate is not more individualistic than the House.

Question 16

Identify and define the three major models of congressional activity described in the text. Explain how each model can explain some aspect or aspects of the congressional committee system. Which model is most consistent with the structure and operation of congressional committees?

Accepted Answer

A thorough answer may include the follow

Question 17

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

A thorough answer may include the follow

Question 18

Where do Americans usually see the most political representation of their views in their political system?

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 19

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 20

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.

The model emphasizes leadership control while the model emphasizes committees.

Why would two sitting incumbents face each other in a general election for Congress?

What is the difference between plurality rule and majority rule?

Why do only 33 or 34 senators face reelection in each cycle?

What does the elastic clause entail?

Why do the jurisdictions of committees matter?

Which of these is a duty of the party whip?

What effect does the constitutional feature of separation of powers have on the pace of legislation?

What is the central purpose of subcommittees?

Why are staffs for legislative and campaign work separate entities?

What is the trade-off inherent in performing constituent service?

Which of these is a combined committee between members of the House and Senate?

What is the impact of the power and duties of the House Rules Committee relative to proceedings in the Senate?

Why do large bills contain many small, targeted provisions?

Why is the Senate more individualistic than the House?

Identify and define the three major models of congressional activity described in the text. Explain how each model can explain some aspect or aspects of the congressional committee system. Which model is most consistent with the structure and operation of congressional committees?

Where do Americans usually see the most political representation of their views in their political system?

Why are conference committees important?

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

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

The ________ model emphasizes leadership control while the ________ model emphasizes committees.

Why would two sitting incumbents face each other in a general election for Congress?

What is the difference between plurality rule and majority rule?

Why do only 33 or 34 senators face reelection in each cycle?

What does the elastic clause entail?

Why do the jurisdictions of committees matter?

Which of these is a duty of the party whip?

What effect does the constitutional feature of separation of powers have on the pace of legislation?

What is the central purpose of subcommittees?

Why are staffs for legislative and campaign work separate entities?

What is the trade-off inherent in performing constituent service?

Which of these is a combined committee between members of the House and Senate?

What is the impact of the power and duties of the House Rules Committee relative to proceedings in the Senate?

Why do large bills contain many small, targeted provisions?

Why is the Senate more individualistic than the House?

Identify and define the three major models of congressional activity described in the text. Explain how each model can explain some aspect or aspects of the congressional committee system. Which model is most consistent with the structure and operation of congressional committees?

Where do Americans usually see the most political representation of their views in their political system?

Why are conference committees important?

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

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

The model emphasizes leadership control while the model emphasizes committees.