Question 1

It is so difficult for Congress to pass laws because ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  a bill can be defeated at many points in the process 
B)  of the sheer size of the institution 
C)  of the rivalry that exists between the House and the Senate 
D)  of the lack of legislative leadership demonstrated by recent presidents 
E)  passing a bill is costly 
A)  a bill can be defeated at many points in the process 
B)  of the sheer size of the institution 
C)  of the rivalry that exists between the House and the Senate 
D)  of the lack of legislative leadership demonstrated by recent presidents 
E)  passing a bill is costly

Question 2

Partisan gerrymandering is the process in a particular state legislature whereby the majority party ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  draws districts to maximize the number of House seats the party can win 
B)  promotes candidates who will most likely vote Republican 
C)  favors candidates who believe in a patriarchy 
D)  tries to keep the opposition party from voting 
E)  tries to win an election by getting young people to vote 
A)  draws districts to maximize the number of House seats the party can win 
B)  promotes candidates who will most likely vote Republican 
C)  favors candidates who believe in a patriarchy 
D)  tries to keep the opposition party from voting 
E)  tries to win an election by getting young people to vote

Question 3

The two most important functions of Congress are ______ and ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  representation and national lawmaking. 
B)  delegation and campaigning. 
C)  voting and policy discussion. 
D)  congressional hearings and speeches. 
A)  representation and national lawmaking. 
B)  delegation and campaigning. 
C)  voting and policy discussion. 
D)  congressional hearings and speeches.

Question 4

Which of the following is the extremely powerful congressional committee that determines when debate on a bill will take place?

Accepted Answer

A)  the House Government Reform Committee 
B)  the House Ways and Means Committee 
C)  the House Rules Committee 
D)  the House Appropriations Committee 
E)  the House Administration Committee 
A)  the House Government Reform Committee 
B)  the House Ways and Means Committee 
C)  the House Rules Committee 
D)  the House Appropriations Committee 
E)  the House Administration Committee

Question 5

In general,what has the greatest effect on the midterm losses suffered by the president's party?

Accepted Answer

A)  the economy and the president's standing in the world 
B)  how aggressively the Supreme Court has ruled against or for the president's positions 
C)  whether the president's party controls Congress 
D)  whether or not the president campaigns for reelection 
E)  the president's standing with the public and the state of the economy 
A)  the economy and the president's standing in the world 
B)  how aggressively the Supreme Court has ruled against or for the president's positions 
C)  whether the president's party controls Congress 
D)  whether or not the president campaigns for reelection 
E)  the president's standing with the public and the state of the economy

Question 6

After the census every ten years,House seats are ______ to ensure that districts maintain population equality.

Accepted Answer

A)  reapportioned among the states 
B)  voted on 
C)  traded between states 
D)  removed 
A)  reapportioned among the states 
B)  voted on 
C)  traded between states 
D)  removed

Question 7

When deciding whether to run for a seat in Congress,strategic politicians will ask all of the following questions EXCEPT this one:

Accepted Answer

A)  Will this seat lead to the presidency? 
B)  Is this the right district or state for me? 
C)  What is the strategic situation in the district? 
D)  Do I have access to the funds necessary to run a vigorous campaign? 
E)  How are the national tides running? 
A)  Will this seat lead to the presidency? 
B)  Is this the right district or state for me? 
C)  What is the strategic situation in the district? 
D)  Do I have access to the funds necessary to run a vigorous campaign? 
E)  How are the national tides running?

Question 8

According to the textbook,what has happened to the coattail effect in recent years?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has been ignored by mainstream political scientists. 
B)  It has decreased in importance due to declining party ties. 
C)  It has become completely nonexistent because of declining party ties. 
D)  It has remained roughly as powerful as before. 
E)  It has become more pronounced because of increasing party ties. 
A)  It has been ignored by mainstream political scientists. 
B)  It has decreased in importance due to declining party ties. 
C)  It has become completely nonexistent because of declining party ties. 
D)  It has remained roughly as powerful as before. 
E)  It has become more pronounced because of increasing party ties.

Question 9

As a leader,the majority leader of the Senate has much ______ power than the Speaker of the House.

Accepted Answer

The answer of As a leader,the majority leader of the...

Question 10

Congress makes use of __________ to increase its independence from the executive branch of government.

Accepted Answer

A)  the Legislative Budget Board 
B)  conference committees 
C)  the Government Accountability Office 
D)  the Joint Authorization Task Force 
E)  the congressional chief of staff 
A)  the Legislative Budget Board 
B)  conference committees 
C)  the Government Accountability Office 
D)  the Joint Authorization Task Force 
E)  the congressional chief of staff

Question 11

Strategic voters are politically experienced nonincumbents who rationally and carefully weigh key issues.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

All of the following statements concerning congressional committee chairs are true EXCEPT this one:

Accepted Answer

A)  Committee chairs have lost some of their power in the past thirty years. 
B)  Committee chairs serve at the pleasure of the party caucus and party leaders. 
C)  Throughout most of the twentieth century, the seniority system controlled the selection of committee chairs. 
D)  The use of the seniority system means that the member of the majority party with the longest service on the committee is selected as the chair. 
E)  Seniority is now irrelevant for the selection of committee chairs. 
A)  Committee chairs have lost some of their power in the past thirty years. 
B)  Committee chairs serve at the pleasure of the party caucus and party leaders. 
C)  Throughout most of the twentieth century, the seniority system controlled the selection of committee chairs. 
D)  The use of the seniority system means that the member of the majority party with the longest service on the committee is selected as the chair. 
E)  Seniority is now irrelevant for the selection of committee chairs.

Question 13

Congress can influence the judiciary through all of the following EXCEPT this:

Accepted Answer

A)  reducing the salaries of judges 
B)  amending the Constitution 
C)  the process of approving judicial appointments 
D)  the power to create lower courts 
E)  defining court jurisdiction 
A)  reducing the salaries of judges 
B)  amending the Constitution 
C)  the process of approving judicial appointments 
D)  the power to create lower courts 
E)  defining court jurisdiction

Question 14

Explain the role of the parties in Congress.How does party leadership differ between the two chambers and why? Explain recent trends in party leadership strength over time as well as the reasons for changing strength.

Accepted Answer

Students should highlight the important

Question 15

In recent years,roll-call votes have become a tactic regularly used by the minority party to block proposals of the majority party.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The Vietnam War and Watergate affected Congress by ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  causing Congress to take steps to increase its independence from the information sources of the executive branch 
B)  causing Congress to reduce its dependence on information sources outside of the executive branch 
C)  causing Congress to increase the power of committee chairs to strengthen the institution 
D)  causing Congress to reduce the power of the leadership 
E)  reducing party line votes in Congress 
A)  causing Congress to take steps to increase its independence from the information sources of the executive branch 
B)  causing Congress to reduce its dependence on information sources outside of the executive branch 
C)  causing Congress to increase the power of committee chairs to strengthen the institution 
D)  causing Congress to reduce the power of the leadership 
E)  reducing party line votes in Congress

Question 17

The major differences between the House and the Senate include all of the following EXCEPT this:

Accepted Answer

A)  the length of their terms 
B)  the size of the institutions 
C)  the method of determining their constituencies 
D)  their role in the impeachment process 
E)  their power in the legislative process 
A)  the length of their terms 
B)  the size of the institutions 
C)  the method of determining their constituencies 
D)  their role in the impeachment process 
E)  their power in the legislative process

Question 18

Most bills introduced in Congress ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  die by inaction at the committee stage 
B)  are voted down on the floor of the House or the Senate 
C)  are bottled up in the House Rules Committee 
D)  pass through both the House and the Senate 
E)  pass one chamber but not the other 
A)  die by inaction at the committee stage 
B)  are voted down on the floor of the House or the Senate 
C)  are bottled up in the House Rules Committee 
D)  pass through both the House and the Senate 
E)  pass one chamber but not the other

Question 19

Leaders in Congress obtain their power from ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  the Constitution 
B)  seniority 
C)  the members 
D)  the president 
E)  the Supreme Court 
A)  the Constitution 
B)  seniority 
C)  the members 
D)  the president 
E)  the Supreme Court

Question 20

According to the textbook,racial gerrymandering is highly controversial.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

It is so difficult for Congress to pass laws because ______.

Partisan gerrymandering is the process in a particular state legislature whereby the majority party ______.

The two most important functions of Congress are and .

Which of the following is the extremely powerful congressional committee that determines when debate on a bill will take place?

In general,what has the greatest effect on the midterm losses suffered by the president's party?

After the census every ten years,House seats are ______ to ensure that districts maintain population equality.

When deciding whether to run for a seat in Congress,strategic politicians will ask all of the following questions EXCEPT this one:

According to the textbook,what has happened to the coattail effect in recent years?

As a leader,the majority leader of the Senate has much ______ power than the Speaker of the House.

Congress makes use of __________ to increase its independence from the executive branch of government.

Strategic voters are politically experienced nonincumbents who rationally and carefully weigh key issues.

All of the following statements concerning congressional committee chairs are true EXCEPT this one:

Congress can influence the judiciary through all of the following EXCEPT this:

Explain the role of the parties in Congress.How does party leadership differ between the two chambers and why? Explain recent trends in party leadership strength over time as well as the reasons for changing strength.

In recent years,roll-call votes have become a tactic regularly used by the minority party to block proposals of the majority party.

The Vietnam War and Watergate affected Congress by ______.

The major differences between the House and the Senate include all of the following EXCEPT this:

Most bills introduced in Congress ______.

Leaders in Congress obtain their power from ______.

According to the textbook,racial gerrymandering is highly controversial.

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

It is so difficult for Congress to pass laws because ______.

Partisan gerrymandering is the process in a particular state legislature whereby the majority party ______.

The two most important functions of Congress are ______ and ______.

Which of the following is the extremely powerful congressional committee that determines when debate on a bill will take place?

In general,what has the greatest effect on the midterm losses suffered by the president's party?

After the census every ten years,House seats are ______ to ensure that districts maintain population equality.

When deciding whether to run for a seat in Congress,strategic politicians will ask all of the following questions EXCEPT this one:

According to the textbook,what has happened to the coattail effect in recent years?

As a leader,the majority leader of the Senate has much ______ power than the Speaker of the House.

Congress makes use of __________ to increase its independence from the executive branch of government.

Strategic voters are politically experienced nonincumbents who rationally and carefully weigh key issues.

All of the following statements concerning congressional committee chairs are true EXCEPT this one:

Congress can influence the judiciary through all of the following EXCEPT this:

Explain the role of the parties in Congress.How does party leadership differ between the two chambers and why? Explain recent trends in party leadership strength over time as well as the reasons for changing strength.

In recent years,roll-call votes have become a tactic regularly used by the minority party to block proposals of the majority party.

The Vietnam War and Watergate affected Congress by ______.

The major differences between the House and the Senate include all of the following EXCEPT this:

Most bills introduced in Congress ______.

Leaders in Congress obtain their power from ______.

According to the textbook,racial gerrymandering is highly controversial.

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

The two most important functions of Congress are and .