Question 1

Redrawing congressional district boundaries to favor a particular group or party is known as ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  reapportionment 
B)  redistricting 
C)  gerrymandering 
D)  franking 
E)  malapportionment 
A)  reapportionment 
B)  redistricting 
C)  gerrymandering 
D)  franking 
E)  malapportionment C

Question 2

The Senate shares with the president the power to ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  approve members of the Supreme Court 
B)  declare war 
C)  impeach executive branch officials 
D)  approve constitutional amendments 
E)  declare laws unconstitutional 
A)  approve members of the Supreme Court 
B)  declare war 
C)  impeach executive branch officials 
D)  approve constitutional amendments 
E)  declare laws unconstitutional A

Question 3

Explain the process of how a bill becomes a law.Specifically,highlight the many places where a bill may be sidetracked,fundamentally changed,or killed.How does this process fit with the founders' intent concerning Congress?

Accepted Answer

Students should be able to discuss how a bill gets on the congressional agenda and then describe the process,from introduction into the "hopper" to referral to committee,and the fact that most legislation dies in committee or subcommittee.The differences between the Senate and the House are significant.First,senators may always offer amendments to legislation later,so the committee stage is less important in the Senate than in the House.Second,the House Rules Committee can tightly limit debate and amendments,whereas senators can filibuster and offer amendments to legislation.If legislation is passed,it must be in identical form in both chambers; if it is not,it goes to a conference committee.If wording is hammered out in conference committee,both chambers must pass the legislation again in its new form before it gets sent to the president,who may sign it,veto it,or pocket veto it.Both chambers have to pass the legislation with a two-thirds vote to override a presidential veto.A quality answer might mention that providing places in this process where different regional interests can check a majority fits with Madison's arguments in Federalist No.10.Or the answer might highlight how the founders wanted many checks within this branch of government as well as between branches of government.

Question 4

During the constitutional process of removing a president from office,______.

Accepted Answer

A)  the Senate impeaches and the House removes the president from office 
B)  the two houses convene in joint session for all impeachment votes 
C)  the House impeaches and the Senate removes the president from office 
D)  representatives of the media are prohibited from entering the legislature's chambers 
E)  either chamber can impeach, but then the Supreme Court must decide if the president is to be removed from office 
A)  the Senate impeaches and the House removes the president from office 
B)  the two houses convene in joint session for all impeachment votes 
C)  the House impeaches and the Senate removes the president from office 
D)  representatives of the media are prohibited from entering the legislature's chambers 
E)  either chamber can impeach, but then the Supreme Court must decide if the president is to be removed from office

Question 5

Congress can override a presidential veto if a two-thirds majority of both houses vote to do so.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The Senate shares with ______ the power to approve members of the Supreme Court.

Accepted Answer

A)  the populace 
B)  the House 
C)  the Fed 
D)  the president 
A)  the populace 
B)  the House 
C)  the Fed 
D)  the president

Question 7

All of the following statements concerning Hispanic representation in Congress are true EXCEPT this one:

Accepted Answer

A)  They are even more underrepresented than African Americans. 
B)  They do not vote as solidly for one party as do African Americans. 
C)  In recent years, they have been more likely to vote for the Republican Party. 
D)  Both parties have tried to win the Hispanic vote. 
E)  The issue of immigration has had an important effect on the Hispanic vote. 
A)  They are even more underrepresented than African Americans. 
B)  They do not vote as solidly for one party as do African Americans. 
C)  In recent years, they have been more likely to vote for the Republican Party. 
D)  Both parties have tried to win the Hispanic vote. 
E)  The issue of immigration has had an important effect on the Hispanic vote.

Question 8

What are some of the factors that affect a candidate's chances of winning a congressional race?

Accepted Answer

Students should first note that congress

Question 9

The public dislikes Congress for all of the following reasons EXCEPT this one:

Accepted Answer

A)  Members run for Congress by running against it. 
B)  Media coverage has become more negative in recent decades. 
C)  The public has more information concerning how much money is spent in congressional elections. 
D)  The public perceives the legislative process as involving constant bickering and partisanship. 
E)  There has been an increase in corruption among members of Congress in recent years. 
A)  Members run for Congress by running against it. 
B)  Media coverage has become more negative in recent decades. 
C)  The public has more information concerning how much money is spent in congressional elections. 
D)  The public perceives the legislative process as involving constant bickering and partisanship. 
E)  There has been an increase in corruption among members of Congress in recent years.

Question 10

According to the text,the congressional process is slow and involves a great deal of bickering and arguing because ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  politics breeds competitiveness 
B)  each side is more interested in partisan advantage than in solving the nation's problems 
C)  politics draws self-interested men and women 
D)  media coverage causes members to posture and behave in partisan ways to play to their constituents 
E)  democracy is a messy process that involves bargaining and compromise 
A)  politics breeds competitiveness 
B)  each side is more interested in partisan advantage than in solving the nation's problems 
C)  politics draws self-interested men and women 
D)  media coverage causes members to posture and behave in partisan ways to play to their constituents 
E)  democracy is a messy process that involves bargaining and compromise

Question 11

The Supreme Court has ruled that House districts ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  need not be changed if a state has not gained or lost seats since the previous census 
B)  may not be gerrymandered to benefit one political party 
C)  may not be gerrymandered to protect incumbent members of Congress 
D)  may not be gerrymandered to take race into account 
E)  must adhere to the "one person, one vote" standard 
A)  need not be changed if a state has not gained or lost seats since the previous census 
B)  may not be gerrymandered to benefit one political party 
C)  may not be gerrymandered to protect incumbent members of Congress 
D)  may not be gerrymandered to take race into account 
E)  must adhere to the "one person, one vote" standard

Question 12

Discuss the committee system in Congress.What functions does the committee system perform? What are the types of committees,and how do they differ? What is the role of the chair,and how has the selection and power of the chair changed over the years? How are members chosen for committees,and how do they decide the committees on which they wish to serve?

Accepted Answer

A good answer will discuss the fact that

Question 13

When different versions of the same bill pass in the House and the Senate,______.

Accepted Answer

A)  the chamber that considered the bill originally should take the lead in resolving the differences 
B)  it dies immediately, and both chambers must start over 
C)  a conference committee is formed to bridge the gap between the bills 
D)  the president appoints a mediator to negotiate an acceptable compromise 
E)  it is sent back to each chamber for reconsideration 
A)  the chamber that considered the bill originally should take the lead in resolving the differences 
B)  it dies immediately, and both chambers must start over 
C)  a conference committee is formed to bridge the gap between the bills 
D)  the president appoints a mediator to negotiate an acceptable compromise 
E)  it is sent back to each chamber for reconsideration

Question 14

According to the textbook,why does Congress have to be unified and motivated in order to pass legislation?

Accepted Answer

A)  The parties are too strong, which leads to more delays and compromise. 
B)  The president has no ability to affect the agenda of Congress. 
C)  This approach puts more emphasis on representation. 
D)  The founders designed the legislative process to have many possible disruptions and stagnations. 
E)  The current set of politicians in Washington has failed the system. 
A)  The parties are too strong, which leads to more delays and compromise. 
B)  The president has no ability to affect the agenda of Congress. 
C)  This approach puts more emphasis on representation. 
D)  The founders designed the legislative process to have many possible disruptions and stagnations. 
E)  The current set of politicians in Washington has failed the system.

Question 15

According to the textbook,______ gerrymandering is highly controversial.

Accepted Answer

A)  partisan 
B)  incumbent 
C)  geographic 
D)  racial 
E)  gender-based 
A)  partisan 
B)  incumbent 
C)  geographic 
D)  racial 
E)  gender-based

Question 16

The process of redrawing congressional districts to match population shifts in states with more than one representative is called redistricting.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Citizens view Congress with ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  increasing approval 
B)  increasing support for Congress as a whole but with growing disapproval for individual representatives and senators 
C)  increasing disapproval 
D)  approval only during election seasons 
E)  disapproval only during election seasons 
A)  increasing approval 
B)  increasing support for Congress as a whole but with growing disapproval for individual representatives and senators 
C)  increasing disapproval 
D)  approval only during election seasons 
E)  disapproval only during election seasons

Question 18

______ are important in Congress because they organize the chambers.

Accepted Answer

A)  Presidents 
B)  Senior staff 
C)  Parties 
D)  Standing committees 
E)  Lobbyists 
A)  Presidents 
B)  Senior staff 
C)  Parties 
D)  Standing committees 
E)  Lobbyists

Question 19

______ are important in Congress because they organize the chambers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ______ are important in Congress because they...

Question 20

A representative who sought power within the House would likely want a seat on ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  a select committee 
B)  as many joint committees as possible 
C)  the Standards of Official Conduct Committee 
D)  as many conference committees as possible 
E)  the Rules Committee 
A)  a select committee 
B)  as many joint committees as possible 
C)  the Standards of Official Conduct Committee 
D)  as many conference committees as possible 
E)  the Rules Committee

Redrawing congressional district boundaries to favor a particular group or party is known as ______.

The Senate shares with the president the power to ______.

Explain the process of how a bill becomes a law.Specifically,highlight the many places where a bill may be sidetracked,fundamentally changed,or killed.How does this process fit with the founders' intent concerning Congress?

During the constitutional process of removing a president from office,______.

Congress can override a presidential veto if a two-thirds majority of both houses vote to do so.

The Senate shares with ______ the power to approve members of the Supreme Court.

All of the following statements concerning Hispanic representation in Congress are true EXCEPT this one:

What are some of the factors that affect a candidate's chances of winning a congressional race?

The public dislikes Congress for all of the following reasons EXCEPT this one:

According to the text,the congressional process is slow and involves a great deal of bickering and arguing because ______.

The Supreme Court has ruled that House districts ______.

When different versions of the same bill pass in the House and the Senate,______.

According to the textbook,why does Congress have to be unified and motivated in order to pass legislation?

According to the textbook,______ gerrymandering is highly controversial.

The process of redrawing congressional districts to match population shifts in states with more than one representative is called redistricting.

Citizens view Congress with ______.

______ are important in Congress because they organize the chambers.

______ are important in Congress because they organize the chambers.

A representative who sought power within the House would likely want a seat on ______.

Politics: Who Gets What, and How?

American Citizens and Political Culture

Politics of the American Founding

Federalism and the U.S.Constitution

Fundamental American Liberties

The Struggle for Equal Rights

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The American Legal System and the Courts

Public Opinion

Political Parties

Interest Groups

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

The Media

Social and Environmental Policy

Economic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 7: Congress

Redrawing congressional district boundaries to favor a particular group or party is known as ______.

The Senate shares with the president the power to ______.

Explain the process of how a bill becomes a law.Specifically,highlight the many places where a bill may be sidetracked,fundamentally changed,or killed.How does this process fit with the founders' intent concerning Congress?

During the constitutional process of removing a president from office,______.

Congress can override a presidential veto if a two-thirds majority of both houses vote to do so.

The Senate shares with ______ the power to approve members of the Supreme Court.

All of the following statements concerning Hispanic representation in Congress are true EXCEPT this one:

What are some of the factors that affect a candidate's chances of winning a congressional race?

The public dislikes Congress for all of the following reasons EXCEPT this one:

According to the text,the congressional process is slow and involves a great deal of bickering and arguing because ______.

The Supreme Court has ruled that House districts ______.

When different versions of the same bill pass in the House and the Senate,______.

According to the textbook,why does Congress have to be unified and motivated in order to pass legislation?

According to the textbook,______ gerrymandering is highly controversial.

The process of redrawing congressional districts to match population shifts in states with more than one representative is called redistricting.

Citizens view Congress with ______.

______ are important in Congress because they organize the chambers.

______ are important in Congress because they organize the chambers.

A representative who sought power within the House would likely want a seat on ______.

Politics: Who Gets What, and How?

American Citizens and Political Culture

Politics of the American Founding

Federalism and the U.S.Constitution

Fundamental American Liberties

The Struggle for Equal Rights

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The American Legal System and the Courts

Public Opinion

Political Parties

Interest Groups

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

The Media

Social and Environmental Policy

Economic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters