Question 1

How can a president's veto be overridden by Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  by a two-thirds vote in either house 
B)  by a two-thirds vote in both houses 
C)  by a simple majority vote in both houses 
D)  by a majority vote in the Veto Override Committee in the House and the Senate 
E)  A president's veto cannot be overridden. 
A)  by a two-thirds vote in either house 
B)  by a two-thirds vote in both houses 
C)  by a simple majority vote in both houses 
D)  by a majority vote in the Veto Override Committee in the House and the Senate 
E)  A president's veto cannot be overridden.

Question 2

In general,members of the House seek committee assignments that will

Accepted Answer

A)  bring them the largest number of campaign donations. 
B)  give them greater media exposure. 
C)  allow them to influence decisions that are of special importance to voters in their districts. 
D)  allow them more personal contact with the president. 
E)  allow them to avoid issues that are important and controversial to voters in their districts. 
A)  bring them the largest number of campaign donations. 
B)  give them greater media exposure. 
C)  allow them to influence decisions that are of special importance to voters in their districts. 
D)  allow them more personal contact with the president. 
E)  allow them to avoid issues that are important and controversial to voters in their districts.

Question 3

The House Ways and Means Committee is one of the most important committees in Congress because

Accepted Answer

A)  it decides the order in which specific bills come up for a vote on the House floor and the specific rules that govern the length of debate. 
B)  it determines which representatives are assigned to which committees within the House. 
C)  it has the final vote on all foreign policy legislation moving through the House. 
D)  it has jurisdiction over taxes,trade,and entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. 
E)  it is placed in charge of voting on impeachment charges. 
A)  it decides the order in which specific bills come up for a vote on the House floor and the specific rules that govern the length of debate. 
B)  it determines which representatives are assigned to which committees within the House. 
C)  it has the final vote on all foreign policy legislation moving through the House. 
D)  it has jurisdiction over taxes,trade,and entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. 
E)  it is placed in charge of voting on impeachment charges.

Question 4

In 2006,______ became the Speaker of the House.

Accepted Answer

A)  Harry Reid 
B)  Dennis Hastert 
C)  Kay Bailey Hutchinson 
D)  Nancy Pelosi 
E)  Rahm Emanuel 
A)  Harry Reid 
B)  Dennis Hastert 
C)  Kay Bailey Hutchinson 
D)  Nancy Pelosi 
E)  Rahm Emanuel

Question 5

Which of the following statements about Congress's role in foreign policy is not accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Congress has sometimes supported the president's foreign policy and sometimes opposed it. 
B)  The Constitution directs Congress to stay out of foreign affairs and concentrate solely on domestic politics. 
C)  Congress is more likely than the president to adopt a short-term,politicized view of foreign affairs. 
D)  Congress is more likely than the president to put domestic concerns ahead of foreign policy priorities. 
E)  Due to their access to the national security apparatus,presidents are better equipped than Congress to know what needs to be done to conduct a successful foreign policy. 
A)  Congress has sometimes supported the president's foreign policy and sometimes opposed it. 
B)  The Constitution directs Congress to stay out of foreign affairs and concentrate solely on domestic politics. 
C)  Congress is more likely than the president to adopt a short-term,politicized view of foreign affairs. 
D)  Congress is more likely than the president to put domestic concerns ahead of foreign policy priorities. 
E)  Due to their access to the national security apparatus,presidents are better equipped than Congress to know what needs to be done to conduct a successful foreign policy.

Question 6

What are the most common private bills proposed in Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  bills giving individuals or corporations tax relief 
B)  bills for permanent visas or citizenship for foreign nationals 
C)  bills for defense contracts in a representative's district 
D)  bills that declare certain foreign nationals enemies of the United States 
E)  There are no private bills in Congress;all bills must be public. 
A)  bills giving individuals or corporations tax relief 
B)  bills for permanent visas or citizenship for foreign nationals 
C)  bills for defense contracts in a representative's district 
D)  bills that declare certain foreign nationals enemies of the United States 
E)  There are no private bills in Congress;all bills must be public.

Question 7

Write an essay describing the electoral connection in Congress.Describe some examples of constituency service.What are some of the ways a member of Congress can directly aid their state or district? What effect do incumbency and redistricting have in the makeup of Congress?

Accepted Answer

The electoral connection in Congress ref

Question 8

Congress is a ______ legislature with ______ members.

Accepted Answer

A)  unicameral;342 
B)  bicameral;535 
C)  bicameral;100 
D)  unicameral;630 
E)  unicameral;750 
A)  unicameral;342 
B)  bicameral;535 
C)  bicameral;100 
D)  unicameral;630 
E)  unicameral;750

Question 9

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Party leaders frequently demand that representatives vote in a particular way even if it conflicts with the representative's district and may hurt their re-election efforts. 
B)  Representatives are always above constituency pressures when they vote on laws in Congress. 
C)  Many states have strict laws that require representatives to vote in accordance with what their constituents want. 
D)  On many issues,constituents do not have very strong views and representatives are free to act as they think best without fear of electoral reprisals. 
E)  On many issues,constituents have very strong views and representatives feel compelled to do exactly what their constituents demand. 
A)  Party leaders frequently demand that representatives vote in a particular way even if it conflicts with the representative's district and may hurt their re-election efforts. 
B)  Representatives are always above constituency pressures when they vote on laws in Congress. 
C)  Many states have strict laws that require representatives to vote in accordance with what their constituents want. 
D)  On many issues,constituents do not have very strong views and representatives are free to act as they think best without fear of electoral reprisals. 
E)  On many issues,constituents have very strong views and representatives feel compelled to do exactly what their constituents demand.

Question 10

Responsibility for communicating the leader's wishes to members in Congress lies with the

Accepted Answer

A)  Speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tempore. 
B)  whip system. 
C)  party's national committee. 
D)  party caucuses. 
E)  the Ways and Means Committee. 
A)  Speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tempore. 
B)  whip system. 
C)  party's national committee. 
D)  party caucuses. 
E)  the Ways and Means Committee.

Question 11

One reason why redistricting is controversial is that

Accepted Answer

A)  computer technologies allow legislatures to know statistically what kinds of people live where and this can be used to give one party an advantage over the other. 
B)  it is unclear whether state legislatures or the federal government has the authority to redraw districts. 
C)  incumbents never lose when districts are redrawn. 
D)  it is unclear whether districts have to be drawn in such a way that each district includes roughly the same number of people. 
E)  interest groups and PACs exert a great deal of influence over the specific shape of each district. 
A)  computer technologies allow legislatures to know statistically what kinds of people live where and this can be used to give one party an advantage over the other. 
B)  it is unclear whether state legislatures or the federal government has the authority to redraw districts. 
C)  incumbents never lose when districts are redrawn. 
D)  it is unclear whether districts have to be drawn in such a way that each district includes roughly the same number of people. 
E)  interest groups and PACs exert a great deal of influence over the specific shape of each district.

Question 12

Constituency service and private bills are common forms of patronage.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Most members of the House attempt to stay on good terms with the Speaker of the House because

Accepted Answer

A)  the Speaker has the authority to call all party unity votes. 
B)  the Speaker possesses the power of recognition. 
C)  the Speaker controls all committee assignments. 
D)  the Speaker approves all requests for logrolling. 
E)  the Speaker makes all decisions regarding how leadership PACs will distribute their funds. 
A)  the Speaker has the authority to call all party unity votes. 
B)  the Speaker possesses the power of recognition. 
C)  the Speaker controls all committee assignments. 
D)  the Speaker approves all requests for logrolling. 
E)  the Speaker makes all decisions regarding how leadership PACs will distribute their funds.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes a way in which the House differs from the Senate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The House is more centralized and organized than the Senate. 
B)  The House is a looser and more deliberative body than the Senate. 
C)  The House's representatives are much less specialized than the Senate's members. 
D)  The House has a much greater level of turnover in its membership than the Senate. 
E)  Only the House has the authority to approve the president's appointments to the federal judiciary. 
A)  The House is more centralized and organized than the Senate. 
B)  The House is a looser and more deliberative body than the Senate. 
C)  The House's representatives are much less specialized than the Senate's members. 
D)  The House has a much greater level of turnover in its membership than the Senate. 
E)  Only the House has the authority to approve the president's appointments to the federal judiciary.

Question 15

The four joint committees in Congress are

Accepted Answer

A)  budget,veterans' affairs,labor,and health. 
B)  economic,taxation,library,and printing. 
C)  foreign affairs,welfare,currency,and trade. 
D)  globalization,human rights,employment,and citizenship. 
E)  justice,agriculture,education,and technology. 
A)  budget,veterans' affairs,labor,and health. 
B)  economic,taxation,library,and printing. 
C)  foreign affairs,welfare,currency,and trade. 
D)  globalization,human rights,employment,and citizenship. 
E)  justice,agriculture,education,and technology.

Question 16

A senator or representative running for re-election is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  constituent. 
B)  incumbent. 
C)  elector. 
D)  trustee. 
E)  delegate. 
A)  constituent. 
B)  incumbent. 
C)  elector. 
D)  trustee. 
E)  delegate.

Question 17

Which of the following statements concerning the representation of women and minorities in the U.S.Congress is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Representation of women and minorities has decreased by one-third since the 1970s. 
B)  Representation of women and minorities has increased over the past two decades but is not comparable to their proportions in the general population. 
C)  Women are underrepresented in Congress,but there is a disproportionate representation of minorities in Congress. 
D)  Since the mid-1990s,the number of women and minorities in Congress roughly reflects their proportions in the general population. 
E)  Women and minorities are overrepresented in the House but underrepresented in the Senate. 
A)  Representation of women and minorities has decreased by one-third since the 1970s. 
B)  Representation of women and minorities has increased over the past two decades but is not comparable to their proportions in the general population. 
C)  Women are underrepresented in Congress,but there is a disproportionate representation of minorities in Congress. 
D)  Since the mid-1990s,the number of women and minorities in Congress roughly reflects their proportions in the general population. 
E)  Women and minorities are overrepresented in the House but underrepresented in the Senate.

Question 18

Members of Congress can represent the people in two ways: as a ______,a member of Congress acts on the express preferences of his or her constituency;as a ______,a member is more loosely tied to constituents and makes the decisions he or she thinks are best.

Accepted Answer

A)  delegate;trustee 
B)  trustee;delegate 
C)  representative;senator 
D)  senator;representative 
E)  delegate;representative 
A)  delegate;trustee 
B)  trustee;delegate 
C)  representative;senator 
D)  senator;representative 
E)  delegate;representative

Question 19

Approximately what percentage of proposed bills die in committee?

Accepted Answer

A)  40 percent 
B)  50 percent 
C)  60 percent 
D)  75 percent 
E)  95 percent 
A)  40 percent 
B)  50 percent 
C)  60 percent 
D)  75 percent 
E)  95 percent

Question 20

Which idea of representation says that a legislator should be viewed as someone whom voters hire to represent their interests?

Accepted Answer

A)  agency representation 
B)  sociological representation 
C)  mirroring representation 
D)  trustee representation 
E)  contract representation 
A)  agency representation 
B)  sociological representation 
C)  mirroring representation 
D)  trustee representation 
E)  contract representation

How can a president's veto be overridden by Congress?

In general,members of the House seek committee assignments that will

The House Ways and Means Committee is one of the most important committees in Congress because

In 2006,______ became the Speaker of the House.

Which of the following statements about Congress's role in foreign policy is not accurate?

What are the most common private bills proposed in Congress?

Write an essay describing the electoral connection in Congress.Describe some examples of constituency service.What are some of the ways a member of Congress can directly aid their state or district? What effect do incumbency and redistricting have in the makeup of Congress?

Congress is a legislature with members.

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Responsibility for communicating the leader's wishes to members in Congress lies with the

One reason why redistricting is controversial is that

Constituency service and private bills are common forms of patronage.

Most members of the House attempt to stay on good terms with the Speaker of the House because

Which of the following best describes a way in which the House differs from the Senate?

The four joint committees in Congress are

A senator or representative running for re-election is called the

Which of the following statements concerning the representation of women and minorities in the U.S.Congress is true?

Members of Congress can represent the people in two ways: as a ,a member of Congress acts on the express preferences of his or her constituency;as a ,a member is more loosely tied to constituents and makes the decisions he or she thinks are best.

Approximately what percentage of proposed bills die in committee?

Which idea of representation says that a legislator should be viewed as someone whom voters hire to represent their interests?

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

How can a president's veto be overridden by Congress?

In general,members of the House seek committee assignments that will

The House Ways and Means Committee is one of the most important committees in Congress because

In 2006,______ became the Speaker of the House.

Which of the following statements about Congress's role in foreign policy is not accurate?

What are the most common private bills proposed in Congress?

Write an essay describing the electoral connection in Congress.Describe some examples of constituency service.What are some of the ways a member of Congress can directly aid their state or district? What effect do incumbency and redistricting have in the makeup of Congress?

Congress is a ______ legislature with ______ members.

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Responsibility for communicating the leader's wishes to members in Congress lies with the

One reason why redistricting is controversial is that

Constituency service and private bills are common forms of patronage.

Most members of the House attempt to stay on good terms with the Speaker of the House because

Which of the following best describes a way in which the House differs from the Senate?

The four joint committees in Congress are

A senator or representative running for re-election is called the

Which of the following statements concerning the representation of women and minorities in the U.S.Congress is true?

Members of Congress can represent the people in two ways: as a ______,a member of Congress acts on the express preferences of his or her constituency;as a ______,a member is more loosely tied to constituents and makes the decisions he or she thinks are best.

Approximately what percentage of proposed bills die in committee?

Which idea of representation says that a legislator should be viewed as someone whom voters hire to represent their interests?

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

Congress is a legislature with members.

Members of Congress can represent the people in two ways: as a ,a member of Congress acts on the express preferences of his or her constituency;as a ,a member is more loosely tied to constituents and makes the decisions he or she thinks are best.