Question 1

Which of the following best describes the duties of the U.S. vice president?

Accepted Answer

A)  Serving as president of the Senate 
B)  Making committee assignments in the Senate 
C)  Casting tiebreaking votes in the Senate 
D)  Serving as president of the Senate and making committee assignments in the Senate 
E)  Serving as president of the Senate and casting tiebreaking votes in the Senate 
A)  Serving as president of the Senate 
B)  Making committee assignments in the Senate 
C)  Casting tiebreaking votes in the Senate 
D)  Serving as president of the Senate and making committee assignments in the Senate 
E)  Serving as president of the Senate and casting tiebreaking votes in the Senate E

Question 2

An important domestic power of Congress includes which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Spending and regulating commerce 
B)  Establishing post offices and building new monuments 
C)  Establishing the federal court system and selecting judges 
D)  Coining money and using the concept of judicial review 
E)  Establishing rules for selecting judges and borrowing money 
A)  Spending and regulating commerce 
B)  Establishing post offices and building new monuments 
C)  Establishing the federal court system and selecting judges 
D)  Coining money and using the concept of judicial review 
E)  Establishing rules for selecting judges and borrowing money A

Question 3

The drawing of legislative district boundaries in order to give one side an advantage is known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  The coattail effect 
B)  The incumbency advantage 
C)  Redistricting 
D)  Reapportionment 
E)  Gerrymandering 
A)  The coattail effect 
B)  The incumbency advantage 
C)  Redistricting 
D)  Reapportionment 
E)  Gerrymandering E

Question 4

The seniority system provides which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Members are awarded additional committee assignments in line with their seniority. 
B)  The committee member of the majority party with the longest continuous service normally becomes the committee chairperson. 
C)  Members become party whips in order of seniority. 
D)  Members of the House can be appointed to the Senate to fill vacancies. 
E)  The Speaker of the House is the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service. 
A)  Members are awarded additional committee assignments in line with their seniority. 
B)  The committee member of the majority party with the longest continuous service normally becomes the committee chairperson. 
C)  Members become party whips in order of seniority. 
D)  Members of the House can be appointed to the Senate to fill vacancies. 
E)  The Speaker of the House is the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service.

Question 5

In the absence of the president of the Senate, who presides over the Senate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Senate majority leader 
B)  The Senate majority whip 
C)  The president pro tempore of the Senate 
D)  The vice president of the United States 
E)  The Speaker of the House 
A)  The Senate majority leader 
B)  The Senate majority whip 
C)  The president pro tempore of the Senate 
D)  The vice president of the United States 
E)  The Speaker of the House

Question 6

It is common for a president's party to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Gain control of Congress in a presidential election year and lose control of Congress during the midterm election 
B)  Gain congressional seats during a presidential election year and lose seats during the midterm election 
C)  Lose control of Congress during a presidential election year and gain control of Congress during midterm elections 
D)  Lose congressional seats during a presidential election year and gain seats during a midterm election 
E)  Gain seats in Congress during every election 
A)  Gain control of Congress in a presidential election year and lose control of Congress during the midterm election 
B)  Gain congressional seats during a presidential election year and lose seats during the midterm election 
C)  Lose control of Congress during a presidential election year and gain control of Congress during midterm elections 
D)  Lose congressional seats during a presidential election year and gain seats during a midterm election 
E)  Gain seats in Congress during every election

Question 7

When a Congress member intercedes with a regulatory agency because members of the constituency are concerned with regulations that agency is proposing, the Congress member is playing which of the following roles?

Accepted Answer

A)  Executive branch member 
B)  Instructed delegate 
C)  Trustee 
D)  Ombudsperson 
E)  Parliamentarian 
A)  Executive branch member 
B)  Instructed delegate 
C)  Trustee 
D)  Ombudsperson 
E)  Parliamentarian

Question 8

Which of the following statements accurately describes the political process for proposed legislation?

Accepted Answer

A)  The House of Representatives and Senate use the exact same rules, procedures, and criteria for debate and argument. 
B)  Filibusters in the Senate are used to stop bills from coming to a floor vote. 
C)  Cloture in the Senate is used to send a bill to committee for further discussion and review. 
D)  The Rules Committee in the House of Representatives can call for a floor vote at any time once a bill is introduced. 
E)  The House of Representatives and the Senate both allot the same amount of time for party leaders to present their arguments. 
A)  The House of Representatives and Senate use the exact same rules, procedures, and criteria for debate and argument. 
B)  Filibusters in the Senate are used to stop bills from coming to a floor vote. 
C)  Cloture in the Senate is used to send a bill to committee for further discussion and review. 
D)  The Rules Committee in the House of Representatives can call for a floor vote at any time once a bill is introduced. 
E)  The House of Representatives and the Senate both allot the same amount of time for party leaders to present their arguments.

Question 9

In the Senate, how many votes are necessary to invoke cloture and end debate on a bill?

Accepted Answer

A)  A simple majority 
B)  67 
C)  75 
D)  50 
E)  60 
A)  A simple majority 
B)  67 
C)  75 
D)  50 
E)  60

Question 10

A majority of the bills on which Congress acts originate where?

Accepted Answer

A)  Among the bureaucracy 
B)  Among the people 
C)  In the executive branch 
D)  From members of Congress 
E)  From Supreme Court decisions 
A)  Among the bureaucracy 
B)  Among the people 
C)  In the executive branch 
D)  From members of Congress 
E)  From Supreme Court decisions

Question 11

Which of the following best identifies the source from which House and Senate elections are funded?

Accepted Answer

A)  Individual donations 
B)  Money from political action committees (PACs) 
C)  Money from the political party 
D)  Money from the candidate themselves 
E)  All of these are correct. 
A)  Individual donations 
B)  Money from political action committees (PACs) 
C)  Money from the political party 
D)  Money from the candidate themselves 
E)  All of these are correct.

Question 12

What has happened to the cost of the franking privilege in recent years?

Accepted Answer

A)  The cost is about the same. 
B)  The cost has increased slightly. 
C)  The cost has increased a great deal. 
D)  The cost has declined slightly. 
E)  The cost has decreased a great deal. 
A)  The cost is about the same. 
B)  The cost has increased slightly. 
C)  The cost has increased a great deal. 
D)  The cost has declined slightly. 
E)  The cost has decreased a great deal.

Question 13

Democrat members of Congress from moderate districts who sometimes vote with Republicans and are frequently pursued by Republican leaders are known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Blue Dog Democrats 
B)  Fence sitters 
C)  Logrolling Democrats 
D)  Pork barrelers 
E)  Swing voters 
A)  Blue Dog Democrats 
B)  Fence sitters 
C)  Logrolling Democrats 
D)  Pork barrelers 
E)  Swing voters

Question 14

Discuss the different types of congressional caucuses. Why do they exist, and who funds them?

Accepted Answer

Congressional caucuses are informal grou

Question 15

Who conducts polls among party members in the House as to members' views on legislation, informs the leaders of doubtful votes, and pressures members to support the leaders' position?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Speaker of the House 
B)  The party whips 
C)  The House majority leader 
D)  Various committee chairmen 
E)  The vice president 
A)  The Speaker of the House 
B)  The party whips 
C)  The House majority leader 
D)  Various committee chairmen 
E)  The vice president

Question 16

Compared to the leadership structure in the House of Representatives, the leadership structure in the Senate is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Not necessary 
B)  Totally centralized 
C)  More complex 
D)  Basically the same 
E)  Not as formal 
A)  Not necessary 
B)  Totally centralized 
C)  More complex 
D)  Basically the same 
E)  Not as formal

Question 17

Referring bills and resolutions to the appropriate standing committees of the House is part of the job of whom?

Accepted Answer

A)  The House Rules Committee 
B)  The House Appropriations Committee 
C)  The House majority leader 
D)  The Speaker of the House 
E)  The president pro tempore of the House 
A)  The House Rules Committee 
B)  The House Appropriations Committee 
C)  The House majority leader 
D)  The Speaker of the House 
E)  The president pro tempore of the House

Question 18

Selection of committee chairpersons in each chamber of Congress is most often based on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  The party of the president 
B)  Which party holds the majority in the chamber 
C)  Seniority 
D)  Balancing power between the two parties 
E)  Longstanding traditions of assigning certain positions to members from certain districts or states 
A)  The party of the president 
B)  Which party holds the majority in the chamber 
C)  Seniority 
D)  Balancing power between the two parties 
E)  Longstanding traditions of assigning certain positions to members from certain districts or states

Question 19

A temporary law that Congress passes when an appropriations bill has not been decided by the beginning of the fiscal year is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  An emergency revenue generation 
B)  An emergency fall review 
C)  A continuing resolution 
D)  A second temporary budget resolution 
E)  A spring review 
A)  An emergency revenue generation 
B)  An emergency fall review 
C)  A continuing resolution 
D)  A second temporary budget resolution 
E)  A spring review

Question 20

Describe the leadership structure in each house of Congress, noting the differences between the House and the Senate.

Accepted Answer

In the House of Representatives, the lea

Which of the following best describes the duties of the U.S. vice president?

An important domestic power of Congress includes which of the following?

The drawing of legislative district boundaries in order to give one side an advantage is known as which of the following?

The seniority system provides which of the following?

In the absence of the president of the Senate, who presides over the Senate?

It is common for a president's party to do which of the following?

When a Congress member intercedes with a regulatory agency because members of the constituency are concerned with regulations that agency is proposing, the Congress member is playing which of the following roles?

Which of the following statements accurately describes the political process for proposed legislation?

In the Senate, how many votes are necessary to invoke cloture and end debate on a bill?

A majority of the bills on which Congress acts originate where?

Which of the following best identifies the source from which House and Senate elections are funded?

What has happened to the cost of the franking privilege in recent years?

Democrat members of Congress from moderate districts who sometimes vote with Republicans and are frequently pursued by Republican leaders are known as which of the following?

Discuss the different types of congressional caucuses. Why do they exist, and who funds them?

Who conducts polls among party members in the House as to members' views on legislation, informs the leaders of doubtful votes, and pressures members to support the leaders' position?

Compared to the leadership structure in the House of Representatives, the leadership structure in the Senate is which of the following?

Referring bills and resolutions to the appropriate standing committees of the House is part of the job of whom?

Selection of committee chairpersons in each chamber of Congress is most often based on which of the following?

A temporary law that Congress passes when an appropriations bill has not been decided by the beginning of the fiscal year is which of the following?

Describe the leadership structure in each house of Congress, noting the differences between the House and the Senate.

One Republic Two Americas

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion and Political Socialization

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Campaigns Voting and Elections

The Media and Politics

The President

The Bureaucracy

The Courts

Domestic Policy

Economic Policy

Foreign Policy and National Security

State and Local Government

Filters

Exam 11: The Congress

Which of the following best describes the duties of the U.S. vice president?

An important domestic power of Congress includes which of the following?

The drawing of legislative district boundaries in order to give one side an advantage is known as which of the following?

The seniority system provides which of the following?

In the absence of the president of the Senate, who presides over the Senate?

It is common for a president's party to do which of the following?

When a Congress member intercedes with a regulatory agency because members of the constituency are concerned with regulations that agency is proposing, the Congress member is playing which of the following roles?

Which of the following statements accurately describes the political process for proposed legislation?

In the Senate, how many votes are necessary to invoke cloture and end debate on a bill?

A majority of the bills on which Congress acts originate where?

Which of the following best identifies the source from which House and Senate elections are funded?

What has happened to the cost of the franking privilege in recent years?

Democrat members of Congress from moderate districts who sometimes vote with Republicans and are frequently pursued by Republican leaders are known as which of the following?

Discuss the different types of congressional caucuses. Why do they exist, and who funds them?

Who conducts polls among party members in the House as to members' views on legislation, informs the leaders of doubtful votes, and pressures members to support the leaders' position?

Compared to the leadership structure in the House of Representatives, the leadership structure in the Senate is which of the following?

Referring bills and resolutions to the appropriate standing committees of the House is part of the job of whom?

Selection of committee chairpersons in each chamber of Congress is most often based on which of the following?

A temporary law that Congress passes when an appropriations bill has not been decided by the beginning of the fiscal year is which of the following?

Describe the leadership structure in each house of Congress, noting the differences between the House and the Senate.

One Republic Two Americas

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion and Political Socialization

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Campaigns Voting and Elections

The Media and Politics

The President

The Bureaucracy

The Courts

Domestic Policy

Economic Policy

Foreign Policy and National Security

State and Local Government

Filters