Question 1

Which one of the following statements about the seniority principle is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) The seniority principle is based on the length of time the member has spent in Congress. 
B) Because of seniority,committee chairs exercise absolute power over their committees. 
C) Seniority is no longer absolute in the selection of committee chairs,but it is usually followed. 
D) Seniority is no longer used at all in the choice of committee chairs. 
E) Seniority is used in the Democratic Party,but not the Republican Party. 
A) The seniority principle is based on the length of time the member has spent in Congress. 
B) Because of seniority,committee chairs exercise absolute power over their committees. 
C) Seniority is no longer absolute in the selection of committee chairs,but it is usually followed. 
D) Seniority is no longer used at all in the choice of committee chairs. 
E) Seniority is used in the Democratic Party,but not the Republican Party. C

Question 2

The oversight responsibility of Congress is

Accepted Answer

A) relatively easy to carry out. 
B) becoming less and less important to the nation. 
C) more interesting to most legislators than policy making responsibilities. 
D) the most time consuming task for most legislators. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) relatively easy to carry out. 
B) becoming less and less important to the nation. 
C) more interesting to most legislators than policy making responsibilities. 
D) the most time consuming task for most legislators. 
E) None of these answers is correct. E

Question 3

Describe the typical process by which a bill becomes a law.

Accepted Answer

Once a bill is introduced by a member of the House or Senate,it is given a number and a title and referred to the relevant committee.The bill is then sent to one of the subcommittees.Most bills are tabled in subcommittees.Bills that are not tabled can then be examined through hearings.The bill can then be sent back to the committee where additional hearings may be held.During these steps,the bill can be marked up or revised.Once a bill has gained committee approval,it is reported out of committee and is scheduled for debate and possible amendment by the full chamber.In the House,the Rules Committee has power over scheduling decisions.In the Senate,the majority leader makes most of these decisions.Each chamber of Congress must pass the bill by a majority vote or it is killed.A bill must be passed in identical form by both chambers to become law.Any differences in bills passed by the two chambers can be worked out formally in conference committee.Any bill that has been altered must be passed again by both chambers.After both chambers have passed identical versions of a bill it goes to the president for his or her signature.If the president vetoes the bill,it takes a two-thirds majority vote of both houses of Congress to override the veto.

Question 4

Which of the following is one of the three major functions of Congress's policymaking role?

Accepted Answer

A) lawmaking 
B) check the president 
C) appease special interests 
D) inform the people 
E) check the Supreme Court 
A) lawmaking 
B) check the president 
C) appease special interests 
D) inform the people 
E) check the Supreme Court

Question 5

Senators are generally less likely to take directions from their leaders than House members because

Accepted Answer

A) senators are prohibited by their state legislatures from taking orders from others. 
B) senators think of themselves as being equals and are only willing to be led by persuasion. 
C) senators are more highly paid than House members and are thus immune from financial threats. 
D) House rules mandate that all party members on major bills must vote according to the directions of their leaders. 
E) All these answers are correct. 
A) senators are prohibited by their state legislatures from taking orders from others. 
B) senators think of themselves as being equals and are only willing to be led by persuasion. 
C) senators are more highly paid than House members and are thus immune from financial threats. 
D) House rules mandate that all party members on major bills must vote according to the directions of their leaders. 
E) All these answers are correct.

Question 6

In initiating broad legislative proposals,the president enjoys all the following advantages over Congress EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A) the president being more likely to take a national perspective on policy issues. 
B) the president being granted more authority by the Constitution in the area of lawmaking. 
C) the president's actions receiving more attention from the national media. 
D) the president having the authority to make policy decisions even when there are conflicting views within the executive branch,while congressional leaders cannot impose their views on other members who disagree with them. 
E) a lack of fragmentation. 
A) the president being more likely to take a national perspective on policy issues. 
B) the president being granted more authority by the Constitution in the area of lawmaking. 
C) the president's actions receiving more attention from the national media. 
D) the president having the authority to make policy decisions even when there are conflicting views within the executive branch,while congressional leaders cannot impose their views on other members who disagree with them. 
E) a lack of fragmentation.

Question 7

Why is redistricting a problem for U.S.House members? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The U.S.House seats are reallocated ever

Question 8

Most of the legislative work of Congress is performed by

Accepted Answer

A) the standing committees and their subcommittees with jurisdiction over particular policy areas. 
B) the joint committees chosen to coordinate actions between the two chambers of Congress. 
C) the select committees chosen to study special problems on a temporary basis. 
D) the steering committees that decide how the party stands on particular bills. 
E) party leaders in both chambers. 
A) the standing committees and their subcommittees with jurisdiction over particular policy areas. 
B) the joint committees chosen to coordinate actions between the two chambers of Congress. 
C) the select committees chosen to study special problems on a temporary basis. 
D) the steering committees that decide how the party stands on particular bills. 
E) party leaders in both chambers.

Question 9

For a bill to pass in either chamber of Congress,it must

Accepted Answer

A) receive the support of a third of its members. 
B) receive the support of a simple majority of its members. 
C) receive the support of two-thirds of its members. 
D) be passed within two weeks of its passage by the other chamber. 
E) be passed within a month of its passage by the other chamber. 
A) receive the support of a third of its members. 
B) receive the support of a simple majority of its members. 
C) receive the support of two-thirds of its members. 
D) be passed within two weeks of its passage by the other chamber. 
E) be passed within a month of its passage by the other chamber.

Question 10

Congress typically takes presidential proposals

Accepted Answer

A) only as a starting point. 
B) only if the dominant party is the same as the president's party. 
C) and most often fast-tracks them into law. 
D) and tables them until they expire. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) only as a starting point. 
B) only if the dominant party is the same as the president's party. 
C) and most often fast-tracks them into law. 
D) and tables them until they expire. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 11

Compared with the Senate majority leader,the Speaker of the House has more power because

Accepted Answer

A) the House places more limits on debate. 
B) the House is the larger chamber in terms of membership. 
C) the House has less of a tradition as a chamber of equals. 
D) the Speaker is that chamber's presiding officer. 
E) All these answers are correct. 
A) the House places more limits on debate. 
B) the House is the larger chamber in terms of membership. 
C) the House has less of a tradition as a chamber of equals. 
D) the Speaker is that chamber's presiding officer. 
E) All these answers are correct.

Question 12

When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill,the differences are resolved by a

Accepted Answer

A) conference committee. 
B) standing committee. 
C) select committee. 
D) rules committee. 
E) joint committee. 
A) conference committee. 
B) standing committee. 
C) select committee. 
D) rules committee. 
E) joint committee.

Question 13

A standing committee in the House or Senate

Accepted Answer

A) is a permanent committee. 
B) has jurisdiction over a particular policy area. 
C) has authority to draft,amend,and recommend legislation. 
D) is usually organized according to the seniority principle. 
E) All these answers are correct. 
A) is a permanent committee. 
B) has jurisdiction over a particular policy area. 
C) has authority to draft,amend,and recommend legislation. 
D) is usually organized according to the seniority principle. 
E) All these answers are correct.

Question 14

Campaign spending tends to be a much greater challenge for

Accepted Answer

A) challengers and nonincumbents than for incumbents. 
B) Republican candidates. 
C) Democratic candidates. 
D) candidates in urban areas than for candidates in rural areas. 
E) men than for women. 
A) challengers and nonincumbents than for incumbents. 
B) Republican candidates. 
C) Democratic candidates. 
D) candidates in urban areas than for candidates in rural areas. 
E) men than for women.

Question 15

Incumbents may have some problems in reelection campaigns if

Accepted Answer

A) disruptive issues such as general public discontent with Congress become prominent. 
B) the incumbent is tainted with charges of personal misconduct or corruption. 
C) the election is a midterm election,and the incumbent is of the same party as the president. 
D) through redistricting,the incumbent is placed in a disadvantageous district. 
E) All these answers are correct. 
A) disruptive issues such as general public discontent with Congress become prominent. 
B) the incumbent is tainted with charges of personal misconduct or corruption. 
C) the election is a midterm election,and the incumbent is of the same party as the president. 
D) through redistricting,the incumbent is placed in a disadvantageous district. 
E) All these answers are correct.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Political parties are unimportant in the organization of the U.S.Congress. 
B) Party-line voting rarely occurs in Congress. 
C) Party-line voting has increased in recent years. 
D) Partisanship makes virtually no difference in the votes cast in Congress. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) Political parties are unimportant in the organization of the U.S.Congress. 
B) Party-line voting rarely occurs in Congress. 
C) Party-line voting has increased in recent years. 
D) Partisanship makes virtually no difference in the votes cast in Congress. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 17

Congress's inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is due to

Accepted Answer

A) the lack of talented leadership in Congress. 
B) the fragmented nature of Congress. 
C) constitutional restrictions on Congress's lawmaking powers. 
D) the constant threat of a presidential veto. 
E) opposition from the mass media. 
A) the lack of talented leadership in Congress. 
B) the fragmented nature of Congress. 
C) constitutional restrictions on Congress's lawmaking powers. 
D) the constant threat of a presidential veto. 
E) opposition from the mass media.

Question 18

Explain the difficulties involving the representation function of Congress.How does the representation function conflict with the lawmaking function of Congress?

Accepted Answer

The representation function of Congress

Question 19

Congress is a decentralized,fragmented institution.What are the implications of these realities on its lawmaking role? Explain.

Accepted Answer

Congress has a proliferation of leadersh

Question 20

Most members of Congress are

Accepted Answer

A) concerned with national issues,but even more concerned with local ones. 
B) controlled by special interest groups. 
C) interested only in the work of the subcommittee on which they serve. 
D) opposed to the seniority system. 
E) more interested in oversight than in making laws. 
A) concerned with national issues,but even more concerned with local ones. 
B) controlled by special interest groups. 
C) interested only in the work of the subcommittee on which they serve. 
D) opposed to the seniority system. 
E) more interested in oversight than in making laws.

Which one of the following statements about the seniority principle is most accurate?

The oversight responsibility of Congress is

Describe the typical process by which a bill becomes a law.

Which of the following is one of the three major functions of Congress's policymaking role?

Senators are generally less likely to take directions from their leaders than House members because

In initiating broad legislative proposals,the president enjoys all the following advantages over Congress EXCEPT

Why is redistricting a problem for U.S.House members? Explain.

Most of the legislative work of Congress is performed by

For a bill to pass in either chamber of Congress,it must

Congress typically takes presidential proposals

Compared with the Senate majority leader,the Speaker of the House has more power because

When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill,the differences are resolved by a

A standing committee in the House or Senate

Campaign spending tends to be a much greater challenge for

Incumbents may have some problems in reelection campaigns if

Which of the following statements is true?

Congress's inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is due to

Explain the difficulties involving the representation function of Congress.How does the representation function conflict with the lawmaking function of Congress?

Congress is a decentralized,fragmented institution.What are the implications of these realities on its lawmaking role? Explain.

Most members of Congress are

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Welfare and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

State and Local Politics: Maintaining Our Differences

Filters

Exam 11: Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

Which one of the following statements about the seniority principle is most accurate?

The oversight responsibility of Congress is

Describe the typical process by which a bill becomes a law.

Which of the following is one of the three major functions of Congress's policymaking role?

Senators are generally less likely to take directions from their leaders than House members because

In initiating broad legislative proposals,the president enjoys all the following advantages over Congress EXCEPT

Why is redistricting a problem for U.S.House members? Explain.

Most of the legislative work of Congress is performed by

For a bill to pass in either chamber of Congress,it must

Congress typically takes presidential proposals

Compared with the Senate majority leader,the Speaker of the House has more power because

When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill,the differences are resolved by a

A standing committee in the House or Senate

Campaign spending tends to be a much greater challenge for

Incumbents may have some problems in reelection campaigns if

Which of the following statements is true?

Congress's inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is due to

Explain the difficulties involving the representation function of Congress.How does the representation function conflict with the lawmaking function of Congress?

Congress is a decentralized,fragmented institution.What are the implications of these realities on its lawmaking role? Explain.

Most members of Congress are

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Welfare and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

State and Local Politics: Maintaining Our Differences

Filters