Exam 11: Congress

The __________ makes economic projections about the performance of the economy,the costs of proposed policies,and the economic effects of taxing and spending alternatives.

In either chamber of Congress,the __________ is the highest-ranking leader in the minority party.

Which of the following is an advantage congressional incumbents possess in seeking reelection over challengers?

The vice president of the United States is the ceremonial leader of the Senate,but he or she has little real leadership responsibilities.The leader of the Senate responsible for the brunt of the work of the majority party is the __________.

The House currently has 200 members.

In the House of Representatives,a sizeable majority of incumbents seeking reelection usually win.

Over the past three decades,the distance between the political parties in Congress has been growing steadily.As the parties have pulled apart ideologically,they also have become more __________ internally.

__________ is a good example of congressional casework.

What strategies do politicians use in credit claiming? Which are most effective,and why?

The English politician and philosopher Edmund Burke advocated the concept of legislators as __________ who use their best judgment to make policy in the interests of the people.

What is a filibuster? Where,when,and how are filibusters used? How and why did filibuster rules change in 2013? What questions do filibusters raise about the health of American democracy?

Why might incumbents want to deemphasize their policy positions during a reelection campaign?

Caucuses are groups of like-minded interest groups that join forces to lobby Congress.

You are a freshman member of the House of Representatives.What committee(s)would you most like to be on,and why? When and how might you become chair? What advantages will being on a committee offer you and your constituents? Be sure to consider how your particular district affects your choices.

Explain the specific responsibilities associated with legislative oversight.

How are Senate committee chairs generally selected?

There are nearly 500 __________,which are informal groups of members of Congress who share an interest.

Interest groups play a central role in the legislative process.Discuss some of the ways lobbyists' efforts at shaping the views of representatives can have positive effects and some of the ways in which they might cause problems.Then describe some of the efforts Congress has taken to limit the kinds of impacts lobbyists can have on the legislature.

Position taking is more likely to affect the outcome of a House race than a Senate race.

Explain the selection and responsibilities of committee chairs.