Question 1

In recent years,approximately what percentage of House members seeking re-election won their race?

Accepted Answer

A)  50 percent 
B)  60 percent 
C)  75 percent 
D)  80 percent 
E)  95 percent 
A)  50 percent 
B)  60 percent 
C)  75 percent 
D)  80 percent 
E)  95 percent

Question 2

"Closed rule" and "open rule" refer to congressional provisions regarding

Accepted Answer

A)  whether deliberations are closed or open to the general public. 
B)  assignment to powerful committees. 
C)  whether lobbyists are allowed inside Congress. 
D)  floor debate on a bill. 
E)  whether all members of the House or just members of a particular committee vote on passing a bill. 
A)  whether deliberations are closed or open to the general public. 
B)  assignment to powerful committees. 
C)  whether lobbyists are allowed inside Congress. 
D)  floor debate on a bill. 
E)  whether all members of the House or just members of a particular committee vote on passing a bill.

Question 3

Oversight is an important legislative check on the executive branch.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

When the House and the Senate coordinate two versions of the same bill,they will often use a ______ to obtain a single unified bill.

Accepted Answer

A)  joint committee 
B)  conference committee 
C)  reconciliation committee 
D)  standing committee 
E)  select committee 
A)  joint committee 
B)  conference committee 
C)  reconciliation committee 
D)  standing committee 
E)  select committee

Question 5

A filibuster allows members of the Senate to

Accepted Answer

A)  refer a bill to multiple committees. 
B)  avoid a conference committee. 
C)  prevent a vote on a bill by speaking continuously on the floor. 
D)  call into question any action of the executive branch. 
E)  add amendments to any bill at any time. 
A)  refer a bill to multiple committees. 
B)  avoid a conference committee. 
C)  prevent a vote on a bill by speaking continuously on the floor. 
D)  call into question any action of the executive branch. 
E)  add amendments to any bill at any time.

Question 6

Who decides which committee assignments members of the House of Representatives receive?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Speaker of the House 
B)  each party's own "steering and policy" committee 
C)  the president selects for members of his own party,and either the House majority or minority leader selects for opposition members 
D)  each party's National Committee 
E)  each party's whip 
A)  the Speaker of the House 
B)  each party's own "steering and policy" committee 
C)  the president selects for members of his own party,and either the House majority or minority leader selects for opposition members 
D)  each party's National Committee 
E)  each party's whip

Question 7

In addition to pressuring members of Congress to vote a certain way on a bill,interest groups also have substantial influence in

Accepted Answer

A)  setting the legislative agenda. 
B)  getting senators to filibuster debates on bills that they oppose. 
C)  determining whether a member of Congress will run for re-election. 
D)  deciding committee assignments for members of Congress. 
E)  determining whether a bill will receive an open rule or a closed rule. 
A)  setting the legislative agenda. 
B)  getting senators to filibuster debates on bills that they oppose. 
C)  determining whether a member of Congress will run for re-election. 
D)  deciding committee assignments for members of Congress. 
E)  determining whether a bill will receive an open rule or a closed rule.

Question 8

Which statement about the membership of Congress is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Senators and members of the House are much less likely to be Hispanic than the population on the whole. 
B)  Senators and members of the House are more likely than the population on the whole to be Jewish. 
C)  Senators and members of the House are much more likely than the population on the whole to hold a professional or law degree. 
D)  Senators and members of the House are less likely than the population on the whole to be Protestants. 
E)  Senators and members of the House are,on average,much older than the population. 
A)  Senators and members of the House are much less likely to be Hispanic than the population on the whole. 
B)  Senators and members of the House are more likely than the population on the whole to be Jewish. 
C)  Senators and members of the House are much more likely than the population on the whole to hold a professional or law degree. 
D)  Senators and members of the House are less likely than the population on the whole to be Protestants. 
E)  Senators and members of the House are,on average,much older than the population.

Question 9

Agencies in Congress designed to oversee administrative agencies and evaluate presidential proposals are called

Accepted Answer

A)  committee agencies. 
B)  oversight committees. 
C)  staff agencies. 
D)  review offices. 
E)  iron triangles. 
A)  committee agencies. 
B)  oversight committees. 
C)  staff agencies. 
D)  review offices. 
E)  iron triangles.

Question 10

Describe the process by which a bill becomes a law.What are some of the major steps and hurdles over which a bill must pass? What are the main differences in the legislative process between the two houses of Congress?

Accepted Answer

The process by which a bill becomes a la

Question 11

Describe how Congress exercises its checks and balances over the executive branch.Which house of Congress has more authority over the executive branch? Give examples.How might partisanship help to diminish the exercise of congressional power over the presidency?

Accepted Answer

Congress exercises its checks and balanc

Question 12

Three factors related to the American electoral system affect who is elected to office in this country and what they do once they get there.Those factors are

Accepted Answer

A)  party affiliation,family connections,and the substance of issues raised during a campaign. 
B)  who decides to run for office,incumbency,and the drawing of district lines. 
C)  incumbency,franking,and party affiliation. 
D)  military service,professional connections,and religious beliefs. 
E)  race,religious beliefs,and the region of the country the district falls within. 
A)  party affiliation,family connections,and the substance of issues raised during a campaign. 
B)  who decides to run for office,incumbency,and the drawing of district lines. 
C)  incumbency,franking,and party affiliation. 
D)  military service,professional connections,and religious beliefs. 
E)  race,religious beliefs,and the region of the country the district falls within.

Question 13

Describe some of the different ways members of Congress can represent the American people.What are the principles behind sociological and agency representation? What are some examples of each type? Describe the difference between a trustee and a delegate.Which type of representation do you believe is the best?

Accepted Answer

Members of Congress can represent the Am

Question 14

The frequency with which they must seek re-election makes members of the House

Accepted Answer

A)  more responsive to the needs of the elites in the states they represent. 
B)  less responsive to the needs of elites in the states they represent. 
C)  less responsive to the needs of local interest groups in the districts they represent. 
D)  more responsive to the needs of local interest groups in the districts they represent. 
E)  less responsive to the needs of both elites and interest groups in the districts they represent. 
A)  more responsive to the needs of the elites in the states they represent. 
B)  less responsive to the needs of elites in the states they represent. 
C)  less responsive to the needs of local interest groups in the districts they represent. 
D)  more responsive to the needs of local interest groups in the districts they represent. 
E)  less responsive to the needs of both elites and interest groups in the districts they represent.

Question 15

What is the organizational structure of Congress? Describe some of the main differences between the House and the Senate.What are some of the leadership positions in both houses,and what are their functions? What are some of the types of committees? What role do political parties play in the distribution of congressional power?

Accepted Answer

The organizational structure of Congress

Question 16

Constituency service is so important that

Accepted Answer

A)  representatives spend about three-quarters of their time aiding constituents. 
B)  party leaders will not ask any member to vote in a way that conflicts with the interests or opinions of the member's district. 
C)  the House and Senate have recently created a Committee on Constituency Service. 
D)  the Constitution explicitly lists "constituent service" as the most important responsibility of Congress. 
E)  members of Congress have been impeached for not devoting enough attention to constituency service. 
A)  representatives spend about three-quarters of their time aiding constituents. 
B)  party leaders will not ask any member to vote in a way that conflicts with the interests or opinions of the member's district. 
C)  the House and Senate have recently created a Committee on Constituency Service. 
D)  the Constitution explicitly lists "constituent service" as the most important responsibility of Congress. 
E)  members of Congress have been impeached for not devoting enough attention to constituency service.

Question 17

Which of the following is not a task of congressional staff members?

Accepted Answer

A)  dealing with administrative agencies 
B)  drafting legislative proposals 
C)  organizing hearings 
D)  debating and voting in subcommittee meetings 
E)  negotiating with lobbyists 
A)  dealing with administrative agencies 
B)  drafting legislative proposals 
C)  organizing hearings 
D)  debating and voting in subcommittee meetings 
E)  negotiating with lobbyists

Question 18

The determination of the time and structure of floor debate on a bill,in the House of Representatives,is up to the

Accepted Answer

A)  bill's authors. 
B)  Rules Committee. 
C)  Ways and Means Committee. 
D)  majority leader. 
E)  congressional staff. 
A)  bill's authors. 
B)  Rules Committee. 
C)  Ways and Means Committee. 
D)  majority leader. 
E)  congressional staff.

Question 19

Which of the following is the best definition of a congressional caucus?

Accepted Answer

A)  a formal substructure of congressional parties,oriented toward fund-raising 
B)  unofficial groups of representatives or senators sharing similar interests or opinions 
C)  informal lobbying groups,organized around similar interests such as agriculture or maritime affairs 
D)  a formal committee that has the power to propose and write legislation 
E)  a vote by members of the House in order to determine who the Speaker of the House will be 
A)  a formal substructure of congressional parties,oriented toward fund-raising 
B)  unofficial groups of representatives or senators sharing similar interests or opinions 
C)  informal lobbying groups,organized around similar interests such as agriculture or maritime affairs 
D)  a formal committee that has the power to propose and write legislation 
E)  a vote by members of the House in order to determine who the Speaker of the House will be

Question 20

A standing committee usually has a parallel department or agency within the executive branch.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

In recent years,approximately what percentage of House members seeking re-election won their race?

"Closed rule" and "open rule" refer to congressional provisions regarding

Oversight is an important legislative check on the executive branch.

When the House and the Senate coordinate two versions of the same bill,they will often use a ______ to obtain a single unified bill.

A filibuster allows members of the Senate to

Who decides which committee assignments members of the House of Representatives receive?

In addition to pressuring members of Congress to vote a certain way on a bill,interest groups also have substantial influence in

Which statement about the membership of Congress is not true?

Agencies in Congress designed to oversee administrative agencies and evaluate presidential proposals are called

Describe the process by which a bill becomes a law.What are some of the major steps and hurdles over which a bill must pass? What are the main differences in the legislative process between the two houses of Congress?

Describe how Congress exercises its checks and balances over the executive branch.Which house of Congress has more authority over the executive branch? Give examples.How might partisanship help to diminish the exercise of congressional power over the presidency?

Three factors related to the American electoral system affect who is elected to office in this country and what they do once they get there.Those factors are

The frequency with which they must seek re-election makes members of the House

Constituency service is so important that

Which of the following is not a task of congressional staff members?

The determination of the time and structure of floor debate on a bill,in the House of Representatives,is up to the

Which of the following is the best definition of a congressional caucus?

A standing committee usually has a parallel department or agency within the executive branch.

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

In recent years,approximately what percentage of House members seeking re-election won their race?

"Closed rule" and "open rule" refer to congressional provisions regarding

Oversight is an important legislative check on the executive branch.

When the House and the Senate coordinate two versions of the same bill,they will often use a ______ to obtain a single unified bill.

A filibuster allows members of the Senate to

Who decides which committee assignments members of the House of Representatives receive?

In addition to pressuring members of Congress to vote a certain way on a bill,interest groups also have substantial influence in

Which statement about the membership of Congress is not true?

Agencies in Congress designed to oversee administrative agencies and evaluate presidential proposals are called

Describe the process by which a bill becomes a law.What are some of the major steps and hurdles over which a bill must pass? What are the main differences in the legislative process between the two houses of Congress?

Describe how Congress exercises its checks and balances over the executive branch.Which house of Congress has more authority over the executive branch? Give examples.How might partisanship help to diminish the exercise of congressional power over the presidency?

Three factors related to the American electoral system affect who is elected to office in this country and what they do once they get there.Those factors are

The frequency with which they must seek re-election makes members of the House

Constituency service is so important that

Which of the following is not a task of congressional staff members?

The determination of the time and structure of floor debate on a bill,in the House of Representatives,is up to the

Which of the following is the best definition of a congressional caucus?

A standing committee usually has a parallel department or agency within the executive branch.

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