Question 1

A(n)______ has the same status as a treaty but does not require Senate approval.

Accepted Answer

A)  international accord 
B)  multilateral initiative 
C)  executive agreement 
D)  foreign policy position 
E)  executive order 
A)  international accord 
B)  multilateral initiative 
C)  executive agreement 
D)  foreign policy position 
E)  executive order C

Question 2

One reason some people support the instatement of term limits in the House and Senate is

Accepted Answer

A)  that it will decrease the power and influence of interest groups. 
B)  that it will decrease turnover in Congress and lead to more experienced legislators. 
C)  that it will increase turnover and get new faces into Congress. 
D)  that it will limit the power and influence of the judiciary. 
E)  that it will limit the use of patronage by representatives. 
A)  that it will decrease the power and influence of interest groups. 
B)  that it will decrease turnover in Congress and lead to more experienced legislators. 
C)  that it will increase turnover and get new faces into Congress. 
D)  that it will limit the power and influence of the judiciary. 
E)  that it will limit the use of patronage by representatives. C

Question 3

The jurisdiction of standing committees

Accepted Answer

A)  is related to a specific geographic region. 
B)  is defined by the subject matter of legislation,which often parallels the major cabinet departments or agencies. 
C)  is determined by the different political parties. 
D)  is determined by the U.S.Supreme Court. 
E)  often overlaps with the jurisdiction of select committees. 
A)  is related to a specific geographic region. 
B)  is defined by the subject matter of legislation,which often parallels the major cabinet departments or agencies. 
C)  is determined by the different political parties. 
D)  is determined by the U.S.Supreme Court. 
E)  often overlaps with the jurisdiction of select committees. B

Question 4

Organizational reforms instituted by Congress in the 1970s

Accepted Answer

A)  fragmented power by reducing the power of committee chairs. 
B)  centralized power into the hands of party leaders. 
C)  sped up legislation by reducing the number of committees to which a bill was referred. 
D)  reduced the scrutiny of the media by closing hearings to the public. 
E)  replaced issue networks with iron triangles. 
A)  fragmented power by reducing the power of committee chairs. 
B)  centralized power into the hands of party leaders. 
C)  sped up legislation by reducing the number of committees to which a bill was referred. 
D)  reduced the scrutiny of the media by closing hearings to the public. 
E)  replaced issue networks with iron triangles.

Question 5

The role the House of Representatives plays in impeachments can best be compared with that of a

Accepted Answer

A)  judge. 
B)  grand jury. 
C)  prosecuting attorney. 
D)  defense attorney. 
E)  defense witness. 
A)  judge. 
B)  grand jury. 
C)  prosecuting attorney. 
D)  defense attorney. 
E)  defense witness.

Question 6

The most common occupation among members of Congress before coming to Congress is

Accepted Answer

A)  business executive. 
B)  sales representative. 
C)  professor. 
D)  lawyer. 
E)  lobbyist. 
A)  business executive. 
B)  sales representative. 
C)  professor. 
D)  lawyer. 
E)  lobbyist.

Question 7

The House of Representatives has 335 members,and the Senate has 100 members.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

About 50 percent of incumbents win re-election.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The House Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over which of the following areas?

Accepted Answer

A)  taxes,trade,and entitlement programs 
B)  foreign relations and national security 
C)  rules governing debate on the floor and committee assignments 
D)  highways and waterways 
E)  agricultural and food issues 
A)  taxes,trade,and entitlement programs 
B)  foreign relations and national security 
C)  rules governing debate on the floor and committee assignments 
D)  highways and waterways 
E)  agricultural and food issues

Question 10

"Astroturf lobbying" refers to the practice whereby

Accepted Answer

A)  members of Congress are influenced by being given free tickets to sporting events or other gifts. 
B)  a special interest group simulating a grassroots movement works with well-organized campaigns and petitions. 
C)  members of Congress are influenced by large campaign donations. 
D)  lobbyists begin to specialize,with narrow areas of professional expertise. 
E)  a special interest group pretends to represent the public interest. 
A)  members of Congress are influenced by being given free tickets to sporting events or other gifts. 
B)  a special interest group simulating a grassroots movement works with well-organized campaigns and petitions. 
C)  members of Congress are influenced by large campaign donations. 
D)  lobbyists begin to specialize,with narrow areas of professional expertise. 
E)  a special interest group pretends to represent the public interest.

Question 11

When two members of Congress who share no common interests agree to support each other's bills,the practice is called

Accepted Answer

A)  filibustering. 
B)  delegating. 
C)  logrolling. 
D)  bargaining. 
E)  pork barreling. 
A)  filibustering. 
B)  delegating. 
C)  logrolling. 
D)  bargaining. 
E)  pork barreling.

Question 12

Which of the following does not typically affect an individual's decision to run for elected office?

Accepted Answer

A)  the strength of the individual's connections with interest groups and the national party organization 
B)  the way state legislative districts overlap with congressional districts. 
C)  the individual's ability to meet the extensive list of educational requirements defined by local,state,and federal laws 
D)  the individual's level of personal ambition. 
E)  the individual's ability to raise money for his or her campaign 
A)  the strength of the individual's connections with interest groups and the national party organization 
B)  the way state legislative districts overlap with congressional districts. 
C)  the individual's ability to meet the extensive list of educational requirements defined by local,state,and federal laws 
D)  the individual's level of personal ambition. 
E)  the individual's ability to raise money for his or her campaign

Question 13

The power of impeachment is located entirely in the Senate,as part of its advice and consent powers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The filibuster is likely to remain a feature of legislative politics in the United States because

Accepted Answer

A)  the House,the Senate,and the president all must agree to eliminate it. 
B)  it makes majority rule in the Senate much easier. 
C)  a sixty-seven vote majority is required to eliminate it. 
D)  a constitutional amendment is required to eliminate it. 
E)  it is universally regarded as an essential part of every legislative assembly. 
A)  the House,the Senate,and the president all must agree to eliminate it. 
B)  it makes majority rule in the Senate much easier. 
C)  a sixty-seven vote majority is required to eliminate it. 
D)  a constitutional amendment is required to eliminate it. 
E)  it is universally regarded as an essential part of every legislative assembly.

Question 15

Constituency service is a key aspect of agency representation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

What unusual action did Texas take after the 2000 census?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Texas legislature refused to change the congressional districts from what they were during the 1990s. 
B)  Texas redistricted twice,in 2001 and 2003. 
C)  The Texas legislature established a nonpartisan redistricting board to draw new districts. 
D)  The Texas legislature permitted the Department of Justice to draw the new district boundaries,in conformity with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 
E)  The Texas legislature allowed citizens to vote directly on how each of the new districts should be drawn. 
A)  The Texas legislature refused to change the congressional districts from what they were during the 1990s. 
B)  Texas redistricted twice,in 2001 and 2003. 
C)  The Texas legislature established a nonpartisan redistricting board to draw new districts. 
D)  The Texas legislature permitted the Department of Justice to draw the new district boundaries,in conformity with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 
E)  The Texas legislature allowed citizens to vote directly on how each of the new districts should be drawn.

Question 17

Which of the following is a key assumption of the sociological model of representation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because similarity helps promote good representation,the composition of legislative bodies should mirror the composition of society. 
B)  The composition of legislative bodies need not mirror society because all members of Congress are equally well-equipped to represent the views and interests of their constituents. 
C)  The government that governs least governs best. 
D)  The government that governs most governs best. 
E)  All representatives should have extensive educations and degrees in the social sciences before taking office in order to ensure the best government. 
A)  Because similarity helps promote good representation,the composition of legislative bodies should mirror the composition of society. 
B)  The composition of legislative bodies need not mirror society because all members of Congress are equally well-equipped to represent the views and interests of their constituents. 
C)  The government that governs least governs best. 
D)  The government that governs most governs best. 
E)  All representatives should have extensive educations and degrees in the social sciences before taking office in order to ensure the best government.

Question 18

A proposed piece of legislation is called a

Accepted Answer

A)  bill. 
B)  referendum. 
C)  proposal. 
D)  cloture. 
E)  filibuster. 
A)  bill. 
B)  referendum. 
C)  proposal. 
D)  cloture. 
E)  filibuster.

Question 19

Which of the following would not constitute an example of patronage?

Accepted Answer

A)  a senator from Virginia adding a project for a $3.5 million horse trail in Virginia to a highway bill 
B)  a senator from New York voting in favor of a law to eliminate earmarks 
C)  a member of the House helping a senior citizen who lives in their district overcome problems with their Social Security benefit eligibility 
D)  a member of the House securing an appointment to one of the military academies for the child of a constituent 
E)  a member of the House sponsoring a bill to obtain legal status for an undocumented couple whose son had died as a marine in Iraq 
A)  a senator from Virginia adding a project for a $3.5 million horse trail in Virginia to a highway bill 
B)  a senator from New York voting in favor of a law to eliminate earmarks 
C)  a member of the House helping a senior citizen who lives in their district overcome problems with their Social Security benefit eligibility 
D)  a member of the House securing an appointment to one of the military academies for the child of a constituent 
E)  a member of the House sponsoring a bill to obtain legal status for an undocumented couple whose son had died as a marine in Iraq

Question 20

Cloture is

Accepted Answer

A)  the ability of a senator to speak for as long as he or she wishes to prevent action from being taken on legislation that he or she opposes. 
B)  the process by which three-fifths of the Senate can end a filibuster. 
C)  the rule that allows one house of Congress to circumvent the other during the legislative process. 
D)  the process by which the president can end a filibuster. 
E)  a lawsuit filed by a member of the Senate against a member of the House or vice versa. 
A)  the ability of a senator to speak for as long as he or she wishes to prevent action from being taken on legislation that he or she opposes. 
B)  the process by which three-fifths of the Senate can end a filibuster. 
C)  the rule that allows one house of Congress to circumvent the other during the legislative process. 
D)  the process by which the president can end a filibuster. 
E)  a lawsuit filed by a member of the Senate against a member of the House or vice versa.

A(n)______ has the same status as a treaty but does not require Senate approval.

One reason some people support the instatement of term limits in the House and Senate is

The jurisdiction of standing committees

Organizational reforms instituted by Congress in the 1970s

The role the House of Representatives plays in impeachments can best be compared with that of a

The most common occupation among members of Congress before coming to Congress is

The House of Representatives has 335 members,and the Senate has 100 members.

About 50 percent of incumbents win re-election.

The House Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over which of the following areas?

"Astroturf lobbying" refers to the practice whereby

When two members of Congress who share no common interests agree to support each other's bills,the practice is called

Which of the following does not typically affect an individual's decision to run for elected office?

The power of impeachment is located entirely in the Senate,as part of its advice and consent powers.

The filibuster is likely to remain a feature of legislative politics in the United States because

Constituency service is a key aspect of agency representation.

What unusual action did Texas take after the 2000 census?

Which of the following is a key assumption of the sociological model of representation?

A proposed piece of legislation is called a

Which of the following would not constitute an example of patronage?

Cloture is

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters

Exam 12: Congress

A(n)______ has the same status as a treaty but does not require Senate approval.

One reason some people support the instatement of term limits in the House and Senate is

The jurisdiction of standing committees

Organizational reforms instituted by Congress in the 1970s

The role the House of Representatives plays in impeachments can best be compared with that of a

The most common occupation among members of Congress before coming to Congress is

The House of Representatives has 335 members,and the Senate has 100 members.

About 50 percent of incumbents win re-election.

The House Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over which of the following areas?

"Astroturf lobbying" refers to the practice whereby

When two members of Congress who share no common interests agree to support each other's bills,the practice is called

Which of the following does not typically affect an individual's decision to run for elected office?

The power of impeachment is located entirely in the Senate,as part of its advice and consent powers.

The filibuster is likely to remain a feature of legislative politics in the United States because

Constituency service is a key aspect of agency representation.

What unusual action did Texas take after the 2000 census?

Which of the following is a key assumption of the sociological model of representation?

A proposed piece of legislation is called a

Which of the following would not constitute an example of patronage?

Cloture is

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters