Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

A)  attuned to the needs of groups and interests organized on a city or countywide basis. 
B)  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)  likely to serve existing interests than to bring together new coalitions of interests. 
D)  likely to spend their time thinking about and running for re-election. 
E)  concerned about reapportionment than members of the House. 
A)  attuned to the needs of groups and interests organized on a city or countywide basis. 
B)  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)  likely to serve existing interests than to bring together new coalitions of interests. 
D)  likely to spend their time thinking about and running for re-election. 
E)  concerned about reapportionment than members of the House. B

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Congress exercises its checks and balances over the executive branch in several ways. One of the most important ways is through its power to oversee and investigate the actions of the president and the executive branch agencies. This is done through congressional committees, such as the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee, which have the authority to hold hearings, issue subpoenas, and request documents and testimony from the executive branch.

Another way Congress checks the power of the executive branch is through its power of the purse. Congress has the authority to approve or deny funding for executive branch initiatives and programs, as well as the power to allocate funds for specific purposes. This gives Congress significant leverage over the president's agenda and can be used to influence executive branch policies and actions.

In terms of which house of Congress has more authority over the executive branch, the House of Representatives generally has more direct authority due to its power to initiate revenue-related bills and its larger membership. However, both the House and the Senate have equal authority in most other areas, such as oversight and investigations.

Partisanship can diminish the exercise of congressional power over the presidency in several ways. When members of Congress are deeply divided along party lines, it can be difficult to reach consensus on issues related to oversight and investigations. This can lead to gridlock and inaction, allowing the executive branch to operate without sufficient checks and balances. Additionally, partisan loyalty can lead members of Congress to prioritize their party's interests over their constitutional duty to provide oversight of the executive branch, further diminishing the effectiveness of congressional checks and balances. Overall, partisanship can hinder Congress's ability to effectively exercise its authority over the presidency.

Question 3

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. A

Question 4

Which of the following is a key assumption of the sociological model of representation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because similarity helps promote good representation, the composition of legislative bodies should mirror the composition of society. 
B)  The composition of legislative bodies need not mirror society because all members of Congress are equally well equipped to represent the views and interests of their constituents. 
C)  The government that governs least governs best. 
D)  The government that governs most governs best. 
E)  All representatives should have extensive educations and degrees in the social sciences before taking office in order to ensure the best government. 
A)  Because similarity helps promote good representation, the composition of legislative bodies should mirror the composition of society. 
B)  The composition of legislative bodies need not mirror society because all members of Congress are equally well equipped to represent the views and interests of their constituents. 
C)  The government that governs least governs best. 
D)  The government that governs most governs best. 
E)  All representatives should have extensive educations and degrees in the social sciences before taking office in order to ensure the best government.

Question 5

One reason some people support the establishment of term limits in the House and Senate is that it will

Accepted Answer

A)  decrease the power and influence of interest groups. 
B)  decrease turnover in Congress and lead to more experienced legislators. 
C)  increase turnover and get new faces into Congress. 
D)  limit the power and influence of the judiciary. 
E)  limit the use of patronage by representatives. 
A)  decrease the power and influence of interest groups. 
B)  decrease turnover in Congress and lead to more experienced legislators. 
C)  increase turnover and get new faces into Congress. 
D)  limit the power and influence of the judiciary. 
E)  limit the use of patronage by representatives.

Question 6

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 7

Gerrymandering refers to the

Accepted Answer

A)  resources that elected officials use to reward their supporters. 
B)  manipulation of electoral districts to serve the interests of a particular group. 
C)  practice whereby legislators trade their support or opposition on one bill to get the support of another legislator on a different bill. 
D)  investigations of the executive branch that Congress frequently engages in. 
E)  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)  resources that elected officials use to reward their supporters. 
B)  manipulation of electoral districts to serve the interests of a particular group. 
C)  practice whereby legislators trade their support or opposition on one bill to get the support of another legislator on a different bill. 
D)  investigations of the executive branch that Congress frequently engages in. 
E)  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 8

What is the most common occupation among members of Congress before coming to Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  business executive 
B)  sales representative 
C)  professor 
D)  lawyer 
E)  lobbyist 
A)  business executive 
B)  sales representative 
C)  professor 
D)  lawyer 
E)  lobbyist

Question 9

Following the 2006 elections, ________ became speaker of the U.S. House.

Accepted Answer

A)  Harry Reid 
B)  Dennis Hastert 
C)  Newt Gingrich 
D)  Nancy Pelosi 
E)  John Boehner 
A)  Harry Reid 
B)  Dennis Hastert 
C)  Newt Gingrich 
D)  Nancy Pelosi 
E)  John Boehner

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT an important influence on the legislative agenda of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  constituents 
B)  lobbyists 
C)  the president 
D)  the federal courts 
E)  party leadership 
A)  constituents 
B)  lobbyists 
C)  the president 
D)  the federal courts 
E)  party leadership

Question 11

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.

Question 12

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 13

Describe the electoral connection in Congress. Describe some examples of constituency service. What are some of the ways a member of Congress can directly aid his or her state or district? What impact do incumbency and redistricting have in the makeup of Congress?

Accepted Answer

The electoral connection in Congress ref

Question 14

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 15

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 within which the district falls. 
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 within which the district falls.

Question 16

What is a legislative "hold"?

Accepted Answer

A)  a stalling tactic used in the U.S. House of Representatives 
B)  a stalling tactic used in the U.S. Senate 
C)  a secret way to delay the passing of bills in the U.S. Senate 
D)  both b and c 
E)  a way for presidents to avoid the U.S. Senate altogether 
A)  a stalling tactic used in the U.S. House of Representatives 
B)  a stalling tactic used in the U.S. Senate 
C)  a secret way to delay the passing of bills in the U.S. Senate 
D)  both b and c 
E)  a way for presidents to avoid the U.S. Senate altogether

Question 17

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 18

Which of the following would NOT constitute an example of patronage?

Accepted Answer

A)  a senator from Virginia adding a project for a $3.5 million horse trail in Virginia to a highway bill 
B)  a senator from New York voting in favor of a law to eliminate earmarks 
C)  a member of the House helping a senior citizen who lives in his or her district overcome problems with his or her Social Security benefit eligibility 
D)  a member of the House securing an appointment to one of the military academies for the child of a constituent 
E)  a member of the House sponsoring a bill to obtain legal status for an undocumented couple whose son had died as a marine in Iraq 
A)  a senator from Virginia adding a project for a $3.5 million horse trail in Virginia to a highway bill 
B)  a senator from New York voting in favor of a law to eliminate earmarks 
C)  a member of the House helping a senior citizen who lives in his or her district overcome problems with his or her Social Security benefit eligibility 
D)  a member of the House securing an appointment to one of the military academies for the child of a constituent 
E)  a member of the House sponsoring a bill to obtain legal status for an undocumented couple whose son had died as a marine in Iraq

Question 19

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 20

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 U.S. 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 U.S. House of Representatives.

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

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

Pork-barrel legislation

Which of the following is a key assumption of the sociological model of representation?

One reason some people support the establishment of term limits in the House and Senate is that it will

Oversight can best be described as

Gerrymandering refers to the

What is the most common occupation among members of Congress before coming to Congress?

Following the 2006 elections, ________ became speaker of the U.S. House.

Which of the following is NOT an important influence on the legislative agenda of Congress?

Making laws is frequently compared to making sausages because

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

Describe the electoral connection in Congress. Describe some examples of constituency service. What are some of the ways a member of Congress can directly aid his or her state or district? What impact do incumbency and redistricting have in the makeup of Congress?

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

What is a legislative "hold"?

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

Which of the following would NOT constitute an example of patronage?

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

Which is the best description of the K Street Project?

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

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

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

Pork-barrel legislation

Which of the following is a key assumption of the sociological model of representation?

One reason some people support the establishment of term limits in the House and Senate is that it will

Oversight can best be described as

Gerrymandering refers to the

What is the most common occupation among members of Congress before coming to Congress?

Following the 2006 elections, ________ became speaker of the U.S. House.

Which of the following is NOT an important influence on the legislative agenda of Congress?

Making laws is frequently compared to making sausages because

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

Describe the electoral connection in Congress. Describe some examples of constituency service. What are some of the ways a member of Congress can directly aid his or her state or district? What impact do incumbency and redistricting have in the makeup of Congress?

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

What is a legislative "hold"?

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

Which of the following would NOT constitute an example of patronage?

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

Which is the best description of the K Street Project?

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