Question 1

Why does the House have greater party unity than the Senate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Representatives have more partisan constituents than senators. 
B)  House leaders have more organizational control over the actions of representatives than Senate leaders. 
C)  Political parties donate more money to re-elect representatives than senators,who are more independent fund-raisers. 
D)  There is,in fact,no real difference in levels of party unity between the House and the Senate. 
E)  Interest groups are less influential in the House than in the Senate. 
A)  Representatives have more partisan constituents than senators. 
B)  House leaders have more organizational control over the actions of representatives than Senate leaders. 
C)  Political parties donate more money to re-elect representatives than senators,who are more independent fund-raisers. 
D)  There is,in fact,no real difference in levels of party unity between the House and the Senate. 
E)  Interest groups are less influential in the House than in the Senate.

Question 2

Congress may overturn a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote by each house.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

The vice president also serves as Speaker of the House of Representatives and breaks tie votes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The need to divide the labor of legislation is best exemplified in what formal structure of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  the establishment of party whips 
B)  the establishment of standing committees 
C)  the strict control over floor time in Congress 
D)  the use of conference committees 
E)  the establishment of minority and majority leaders 
A)  the establishment of party whips 
B)  the establishment of standing committees 
C)  the strict control over floor time in Congress 
D)  the use of conference committees 
E)  the establishment of minority and majority leaders

Question 5

Pork-barrel legislation

Accepted Answer

A)  deals with specific projects and their location within a particular congressional district. 
B)  deals with specific agricultural subsidies. 
C)  funds efforts to increase the levels of America's meat exports. 
D)  grants a special privilege to a person named in the bill. 
E)  orders state governments to implement a program without providing funding for doing so. 
A)  deals with specific projects and their location within a particular congressional district. 
B)  deals with specific agricultural subsidies. 
C)  funds efforts to increase the levels of America's meat exports. 
D)  grants a special privilege to a person named in the bill. 
E)  orders state governments to implement a program without providing funding for doing so.

Question 6

Which is the best description of the K Street Project?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was an attempt to place former Republican staffers in key lobbying positions to help ensure a large flow of corporate donations to the Republican Party. 
B)  It was an attempt by Democrats to place party loyalists in key positions in the administrative agencies that line K Street in Washington,D.C. 
C)  Orchestrated by the Federalist Society,it has the goal of placing conservatives on the federal courts. 
D)  This describes a bipartisan movement to get the offices of congressional staffers expanded beyond Capitol Hill to K Street. 
E)  It was a collective attempt by interest groups who had offices on K Street in Washington,D.C. ,to have their staffers elected to the House of Representatives. 
A)  It was an attempt to place former Republican staffers in key lobbying positions to help ensure a large flow of corporate donations to the Republican Party. 
B)  It was an attempt by Democrats to place party loyalists in key positions in the administrative agencies that line K Street in Washington,D.C. 
C)  Orchestrated by the Federalist Society,it has the goal of placing conservatives on the federal courts. 
D)  This describes a bipartisan movement to get the offices of congressional staffers expanded beyond Capitol Hill to K Street. 
E)  It was a collective attempt by interest groups who had offices on K Street in Washington,D.C. ,to have their staffers elected to the House of Representatives.

Question 7

How long is the term of office for a U.S.senator?

Accepted Answer

A)  two years 
B)  four years 
C)  six years 
D)  eight years 
E)  ten years 
A)  two years 
B)  four years 
C)  six years 
D)  eight years 
E)  ten years

Question 8

Which of the following is not a service often provided by representatives to their constituents?

Accepted Answer

A)  attempting to influence the decision of a regulatory commission on behalf of a constituent 
B)  presenting a special bill for constituents 
C)  offering constituents legal advice regarding new administrative laws 
D)  writing and mailing out newsletters 
E)  talking to constituents 
A)  attempting to influence the decision of a regulatory commission on behalf of a constituent 
B)  presenting a special bill for constituents 
C)  offering constituents legal advice regarding new administrative laws 
D)  writing and mailing out newsletters 
E)  talking to constituents

Question 9

The Supreme Court has ruled that race could not be the predominant factor in creating electoral districts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Who is the Speaker of the House?

Accepted Answer

A)  The vice president is also the Speaker of the House. 
B)  The representative with the longest tenure in the House is the Speaker of the House. 
C)  The elected leader of the majority party in the House is the Speaker. 
D)  An employee of Congress who formally brings the House into session each day is the Speaker. 
E)  The president selects the Speaker of the House from the majority party in the House. 
A)  The vice president is also the Speaker of the House. 
B)  The representative with the longest tenure in the House is the Speaker of the House. 
C)  The elected leader of the majority party in the House is the Speaker. 
D)  An employee of Congress who formally brings the House into session each day is the Speaker. 
E)  The president selects the Speaker of the House from the majority party in the House.

Question 11

A vote on which 50 percent or more of the members of one party take one position while at least 50 percent of the members of the other party take the opposing position is called

Accepted Answer

A)  an ideological split. 
B)  congressional gridlock. 
C)  a party unity vote. 
D)  a pocket veto. 
E)  cloture. 
A)  an ideological split. 
B)  congressional gridlock. 
C)  a party unity vote. 
D)  a pocket veto. 
E)  cloture.

Question 12

As of 2012,how many women serve in the U.S.Senate?

Accepted Answer

A)  two 
B)  seven 
C)  twenty 
D)  twenty-one 
E)  twenty-nine 
A)  two 
B)  seven 
C)  twenty 
D)  twenty-one 
E)  twenty-nine

Question 13

Gerrymandering refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  the resources that elected officials use to reward their supporters. 
B)  the manipulation of electoral districts to serve the interests of a particular group. 
C)  the practice whereby legislators trade their support or opposition on one bill to get the support of another legislator on a different bill. 
D)  the investigations of the executive branch that Congress frequently engages in. 
E)  the tactic used by members of the Senate to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down. 
A)  the resources that elected officials use to reward their supporters. 
B)  the manipulation of electoral districts to serve the interests of a particular group. 
C)  the practice whereby legislators trade their support or opposition on one bill to get the support of another legislator on a different bill. 
D)  the investigations of the executive branch that Congress frequently engages in. 
E)  the tactic used by members of the Senate to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down.

Question 14

In each House district there are approximately ______ people.

Accepted Answer

A)  200,000 
B)  700,000 
C)  1,000,000 
D)  1,500,000 
E)  2,000,000 
A)  200,000 
B)  700,000 
C)  1,000,000 
D)  1,500,000 
E)  2,000,000

Question 15

Which of the following statements concerning the process of reapportionment is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  In order for one state to gain a seat,another state must lose a seat. 
B)  States that grow in size may gain extra seats,but the Constitution forbids reducing the number of representatives for any state. 
C)  States that fall below a minimum number of inhabitants are represented in the House by a nonvoting delegate. 
D)  States that grow in size may gain extra seats,but the Constitution forbids any state from having more than 35 representatives. 
E)  States that grow in population can refuse to accept further seats and instead give them to another state. 
A)  In order for one state to gain a seat,another state must lose a seat. 
B)  States that grow in size may gain extra seats,but the Constitution forbids reducing the number of representatives for any state. 
C)  States that fall below a minimum number of inhabitants are represented in the House by a nonvoting delegate. 
D)  States that grow in size may gain extra seats,but the Constitution forbids any state from having more than 35 representatives. 
E)  States that grow in population can refuse to accept further seats and instead give them to another state.

Question 16

Congressional organization is influenced by all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)  parliamentary rules of the House and Senate. 
B)  presidential directives. 
C)  political parties. 
D)  the committee system. 
E)  congressional staff. 
A)  parliamentary rules of the House and Senate. 
B)  presidential directives. 
C)  political parties. 
D)  the committee system. 
E)  congressional staff.

Question 17

The larger,more heterogeneous constituencies and longer terms of Senators means that they are

Accepted Answer

A)  more attuned to the needs of groups and interests organized on a city or countywide basis. 
B)  more likely to consider "new ideas" and are better able to act as the agents for groups and interests organized on a statewide or national basis. 
C)  more likely to serve existing interests than to bring together new coalitions of interests. 
D)  more likely to spend their time thinking about and running for re-election. 
E)  more concerned about reapportionment than members of the House. 
A)  more attuned to the needs of groups and interests organized on a city or countywide basis. 
B)  more likely to consider "new ideas" and are better able to act as the agents for groups and interests organized on a statewide or national basis. 
C)  more likely to serve existing interests than to bring together new coalitions of interests. 
D)  more likely to spend their time thinking about and running for re-election. 
E)  more concerned about reapportionment than members of the House.

Question 18

Congressional leaders form ______ committees when they want to take up an issue that falls between the jurisdiction of existing committees,to highlight an issue,or to investigate a particular problem.

Accepted Answer

A)  conference 
B)  joint 
C)  select 
D)  standing 
E)  rules 
A)  conference 
B)  joint 
C)  select 
D)  standing 
E)  rules

Question 19

Oversight can best be described as

Accepted Answer

A)  the efforts of Congress to supervise the manner in which its laws are implemented by the executive branch. 
B)  the organizational control exercised by party whips over members of Congress. 
C)  the authority of committee chairs over the hearings and investigations conducted by the subcommittees. 
D)  the informal power of the president to set the legislative agenda for Congress. 
E)  the approval that the Senate must give to all presidential appointments to the federal judiciary. 
A)  the efforts of Congress to supervise the manner in which its laws are implemented by the executive branch. 
B)  the organizational control exercised by party whips over members of Congress. 
C)  the authority of committee chairs over the hearings and investigations conducted by the subcommittees. 
D)  the informal power of the president to set the legislative agenda for Congress. 
E)  the approval that the Senate must give to all presidential appointments to the federal judiciary.

Question 20

Making laws is frequently compared to making sausages because

Accepted Answer

A)  the result is always unhealthy. 
B)  it is such an easy and straightforward process. 
C)  almost everyone likes the result even if they do not know what went into making it. 
D)  it is such a complex and often ugly process. 
E)  there are no rules that need to be followed. 
A)  the result is always unhealthy. 
B)  it is such an easy and straightforward process. 
C)  almost everyone likes the result even if they do not know what went into making it. 
D)  it is such a complex and often ugly process. 
E)  there are no rules that need to be followed.

Why does the House have greater party unity than the Senate?

Congress may overturn a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote by each house.

The vice president also serves as Speaker of the House of Representatives and breaks tie votes.

The need to divide the labor of legislation is best exemplified in what formal structure of Congress?

Pork-barrel legislation

Which is the best description of the K Street Project?

How long is the term of office for a U.S.senator?

Which of the following is not a service often provided by representatives to their constituents?

The Supreme Court has ruled that race could not be the predominant factor in creating electoral districts.

Who is the Speaker of the House?

A vote on which 50 percent or more of the members of one party take one position while at least 50 percent of the members of the other party take the opposing position is called

As of 2012,how many women serve in the U.S.Senate?

Gerrymandering refers to

In each House district there are approximately ______ people.

Which of the following statements concerning the process of reapportionment is correct?

Congressional organization is influenced by all of the following except

The larger,more heterogeneous constituencies and longer terms of Senators means that they are

Congressional leaders form ______ committees when they want to take up an issue that falls between the jurisdiction of existing committees,to highlight an issue,or to investigate a particular problem.

Oversight can best be described as

Making laws is frequently compared to making sausages because

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

Why does the House have greater party unity than the Senate?

Congress may overturn a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote by each house.

The vice president also serves as Speaker of the House of Representatives and breaks tie votes.

The need to divide the labor of legislation is best exemplified in what formal structure of Congress?

Pork-barrel legislation

Which is the best description of the K Street Project?

How long is the term of office for a U.S.senator?

Which of the following is not a service often provided by representatives to their constituents?

The Supreme Court has ruled that race could not be the predominant factor in creating electoral districts.

Who is the Speaker of the House?

A vote on which 50 percent or more of the members of one party take one position while at least 50 percent of the members of the other party take the opposing position is called

As of 2012,how many women serve in the U.S.Senate?

Gerrymandering refers to

In each House district there are approximately ______ people.

Which of the following statements concerning the process of reapportionment is correct?

Congressional organization is influenced by all of the following except

The larger,more heterogeneous constituencies and longer terms of Senators means that they are

Congressional leaders form ______ committees when they want to take up an issue that falls between the jurisdiction of existing committees,to highlight an issue,or to investigate a particular problem.

Oversight can best be described as

Making laws is frequently compared to making sausages because

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