Question 1

Bills are formally introduced in Congress by

Accepted Answer

A) members of Congress only. 
B) executive agencies. 
C) interest groups. 
D) the Supreme Court. 
E) All of these answers are correct. 
A) members of Congress only. 
B) executive agencies. 
C) interest groups. 
D) the Supreme Court. 
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true about congressional members over the last three decades?

Accepted Answer

A) Republicans have become more conservative. 
B) Republicans have continued to be moderate. 
C) Republicans have become more liberal. 
D) Democrats have become more moderate. 
E) Democrats have become more conservative. 
A) Republicans have become more conservative. 
B) Republicans have continued to be moderate. 
C) Republicans have become more liberal. 
D) Democrats have become more moderate. 
E) Democrats have become more conservative.

Question 3

Defining the conditions and scheduling a bill for floor debate in the House of Representatives is the responsibility of the

Accepted Answer

A) Ways and Means Committee. 
B) Rules Committee. 
C) Budget Committee. 
D) Appropriations Committee. 
E) Judiciary Committee. 
A) Ways and Means Committee. 
B) Rules Committee. 
C) Budget Committee. 
D) Appropriations Committee. 
E) Judiciary Committee.

Question 4

Since the founding of the United States,the debate over the representation function of Congress has centered on whether

Accepted Answer

A) key decisions should be made by a small number of representatives in committee or by the whole membership in floor debate. 
B) the primary concern of a representative should be the interests of the nation or of his or her constituency. 
C) Congress or the president should lead in policymaking. 
D) the House or the Senate is more responsive to the public. 
E) the House or the Senate should take the lead on foreign policy issues. 
A) key decisions should be made by a small number of representatives in committee or by the whole membership in floor debate. 
B) the primary concern of a representative should be the interests of the nation or of his or her constituency. 
C) Congress or the president should lead in policymaking. 
D) the House or the Senate is more responsive to the public. 
E) the House or the Senate should take the lead on foreign policy issues.

Question 5

What must happen for a bill to be referred to a full congressional chamber for action?

Accepted Answer

A) approval by the Speaker of the House or Senate majority leader 
B) belief by the majority party that the bill has a chance of passing 
C) passage through conference committee 
D) a majority committee vote recommending passage 
E) approval from the president 
A) approval by the Speaker of the House or Senate majority leader 
B) belief by the majority party that the bill has a chance of passing 
C) passage through conference committee 
D) a majority committee vote recommending passage 
E) approval from the president

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

More than ________ of all PAC contributions in recent elections have gone to incumbents.

Accepted Answer

A) 10 percent 
B) 30 percent 
C) 50 percent 
D) 70 percent 
E) 85 percent 
A) 10 percent 
B) 30 percent 
C) 50 percent 
D) 70 percent 
E) 85 percent

Question 8

Campaign fundraising tends to be a much greater challenge for

Accepted Answer

A) challengers 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 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 9

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 strictly controls the rules of debate. 
E) All of 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 strictly controls the rules of debate. 
E) All of these answers are correct.

Question 10

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

Question 11

The oversight responsibility of Congress is

Accepted Answer

A) relatively easy to carry out. 
B) becoming less and less important to the nation. 
C) empowered by control of yearly budgets. 
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) empowered by control of yearly budgets. 
D) the most time-consuming task for most legislators. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 12

Most of the work on legislation in Congress is done

Accepted Answer

A) by committees and their respective subcommittees. 
B) on the floor of the House and Senate. 
C) by conference committees. 
D) by the president. 
E) by bureaucratic agencies. 
A) by committees and their respective subcommittees. 
B) on the floor of the House and Senate. 
C) by conference committees. 
D) by the president. 
E) by bureaucratic agencies.

Question 13

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 14

In contrast with the Speaker of the House,the Senate majority leader

Accepted Answer

A) plays a key role in formulating the majority party's legislative positions. 
B) seeks to develop influential relationships with his or her colleagues. 
C) cannot compel an end to floor debate on a bill. 
D) holds a position that is defined in the Constitution. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) plays a key role in formulating the majority party's legislative positions. 
B) seeks to develop influential relationships with his or her colleagues. 
C) cannot compel an end to floor debate on a bill. 
D) holds a position that is defined in the Constitution. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 15

Congress typically takes presidential proposals

Accepted Answer

A) as a starting point for negotiation if it has enough support. 
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) as a starting point for negotiation if it has enough support. 
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 16

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

Accepted Answer

Congress has a fragmented nature: It has

Question 17

To override a presidential veto,Congress must vote at a minimum by a

Accepted Answer

A) simple majority in each chamber. 
B) three-fifths majority in each chamber. 
C) two-thirds majority in each chamber. 
D) four-fifths majority in each chamber. 
E) simple majority in the House and a three-fifths majority in the Senate. 
A) simple majority in each chamber. 
B) three-fifths majority in each chamber. 
C) two-thirds majority in each chamber. 
D) four-fifths majority in each chamber. 
E) simple majority in the House and a three-fifths majority in the Senate.

Question 18

The framers of the Constitution saw the ________ as the preeminent component of the federal government.

Accepted Answer

A) Supreme Court 
B) bureaucracy 
C) Congress 
D) president 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) Supreme Court 
B) bureaucracy 
C) Congress 
D) president 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 19

Redistricting happens after the census,which is conducted every ________ years.

Accepted Answer

A) 4 
B) 8 
C) 10 
D) 15 
E) 20 
A) 4 
B) 8 
C) 10 
D) 15 
E) 20

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

A) being more likely to take a national perspective on policy issues. 
B) being granted more authority by the Constitution in the area of lawmaking. 
C) being assisted by literally hundreds of policy specialists. 
D) 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) being more likely to take a national perspective on policy issues. 
B) being granted more authority by the Constitution in the area of lawmaking. 
C) being assisted by literally hundreds of policy specialists. 
D) 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.

Bills are formally introduced in Congress by

Which of the following statements is true about congressional members over the last three decades?

Defining the conditions and scheduling a bill for floor debate in the House of Representatives is the responsibility of the

Since the founding of the United States,the debate over the representation function of Congress has centered on whether

What must happen for a bill to be referred to a full congressional chamber for action?

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

More than ________ of all PAC contributions in recent elections have gone to incumbents.

Campaign fundraising tends to be a much greater challenge for

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

A standing committee in the House or Senate

The oversight responsibility of Congress is

Most of the work on legislation in Congress is done

Which of the following statements is true?

In contrast with the Speaker of the House,the Senate majority leader

Congress typically takes presidential proposals

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

To override a presidential veto,Congress must vote at a minimum by a

The framers of the Constitution saw the ________ as the preeminent component of the federal government.

Redistricting happens after the census,which is conducted every ________ years.

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

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

Income,welfare,and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

Filters

Exam 11: Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

Bills are formally introduced in Congress by

Which of the following statements is true about congressional members over the last three decades?

Defining the conditions and scheduling a bill for floor debate in the House of Representatives is the responsibility of the

Since the founding of the United States,the debate over the representation function of Congress has centered on whether

What must happen for a bill to be referred to a full congressional chamber for action?

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

More than ________ of all PAC contributions in recent elections have gone to incumbents.

Campaign fundraising tends to be a much greater challenge for

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

A standing committee in the House or Senate

The oversight responsibility of Congress is

Most of the work on legislation in Congress is done

Which of the following statements is true?

In contrast with the Speaker of the House,the Senate majority leader

Congress typically takes presidential proposals

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

To override a presidential veto,Congress must vote at a minimum by a

The framers of the Constitution saw the ________ as the preeminent component of the federal government.

Redistricting happens after the census,which is conducted every ________ years.

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

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

Income,welfare,and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

Filters