Question 1

In Wesberry v. Sanders (1964), the Supreme Court ruled that

Accepted Answer

A)  the power to draw district lines belongs to the executive branch. 
B)  the principle of one-person, one-vote applies to congressional districts. 
C)  gerrymandering is an inevitable consequence of partisan politics. 
D)  legislative districts must be approximately equal in geographical area. 
E)  one person, one vote does not apply to congressional districts. 
A)  the power to draw district lines belongs to the executive branch. 
B)  the principle of one-person, one-vote applies to congressional districts. 
C)  gerrymandering is an inevitable consequence of partisan politics. 
D)  legislative districts must be approximately equal in geographical area. 
E)  one person, one vote does not apply to congressional districts.

Question 2

Judging from their reelection rates, congressional incumbents do not have big advantages over challengers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

The committee that irons out the differences between House and Senate versions of a bill is the

Accepted Answer

A)  Ways and Means Committee. 
B)  Rules Committee. 
C)  Conference Committee. 
D)  Committee of the Whole. 
E)  Select Committee 
A)  Ways and Means Committee. 
B)  Rules Committee. 
C)  Conference Committee. 
D)  Committee of the Whole. 
E)  Select Committee

Question 4

The original Constitution called for

Accepted Answer

A)  direct election of senators by the people. 
B)  indirect election of senators through an electoral college. 
C)  election of senators by state legislatures. 
D)  appointment of senators by the president. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  direct election of senators by the people. 
B)  indirect election of senators through an electoral college. 
C)  election of senators by state legislatures. 
D)  appointment of senators by the president. 
E)  none of the above

Question 5

Enumerated powers are

Accepted Answer

A)  the powers of the states. 
B)  the powers of Congress listed in the U.S. Constitution. 
C)  derived from implied powers. 
D)  the powers granted Congress by the Supreme Court. 
E)  provided for in the Bill of Rights. 
A)  the powers of the states. 
B)  the powers of Congress listed in the U.S. Constitution. 
C)  derived from implied powers. 
D)  the powers granted Congress by the Supreme Court. 
E)  provided for in the Bill of Rights.

Question 6

"Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays you, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion." This quote is consistent with a delegate form of representation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Fragmentation of governmental power in the United States makes it difficult for Congress to fashion coherent and effective public policies.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

A congressional caucus

Accepted Answer

A)  is a subcommittee that addresses issues related to presidential nominations. 
B)  is a regional, ethnic, racial, or economic subgroup within the House or Senate. 
C)  is a partisan subgroup of the congressional party leadership. 
D)  assists congressional candidates raise money for reelection. 
E)  helps reconcile differences between committee bills. 
A)  is a subcommittee that addresses issues related to presidential nominations. 
B)  is a regional, ethnic, racial, or economic subgroup within the House or Senate. 
C)  is a partisan subgroup of the congressional party leadership. 
D)  assists congressional candidates raise money for reelection. 
E)  helps reconcile differences between committee bills.

Question 9

The franking privilege allows members of Congress to

Accepted Answer

A)  help constituents solve red-tape problems with the federal bureaucracy. 
B)  mail literature related to government to constituents free of charge. 
C)  travel to their districts free of charge. 
D)  testify in Congress with immunity from arrest or imprisonment. 
E)  park for free in Washington, DC. 
A)  help constituents solve red-tape problems with the federal bureaucracy. 
B)  mail literature related to government to constituents free of charge. 
C)  travel to their districts free of charge. 
D)  testify in Congress with immunity from arrest or imprisonment. 
E)  park for free in Washington, DC.

Question 10

Congressional "casework" includes

Accepted Answer

A)  filing legal briefs on behalf of public interest groups. 
B)  helping constituents solve red-tape problems with the federal bureaucracy. 
C)  intervening with police when constituents are held without reasonable bail. 
D)  introducing legislation that would regulate the judicial branch. 
E)  polling for constituent opinion. 
A)  filing legal briefs on behalf of public interest groups. 
B)  helping constituents solve red-tape problems with the federal bureaucracy. 
C)  intervening with police when constituents are held without reasonable bail. 
D)  introducing legislation that would regulate the judicial branch. 
E)  polling for constituent opinion.

Question 11

As a trustee, a representative acts independently and acts on his or her own judgment about how best to serve the public interest.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Discuss the role of money in congressional elections. If you had the power to change money's influence in elections, what would you change, how would you change it and why? Which aspects, if any, would you elect to keep?

Accepted Answer

The role of money in congressional elect

Question 13

The best single predictor of how a congress member will vote is

Accepted Answer

A)  tradition 
B)  political party 
C)  ideology 
D)  presidential leadership 
E)  citizen preferences 
A)  tradition 
B)  political party 
C)  ideology 
D)  presidential leadership 
E)  citizen preferences

Question 14

Congressional rules specify how things should be done and what is not allowed.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

While oversight is a function of Congress, in actuality Congress does very little oversight of the executive branch.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

The path by which a bill becomes a law is so strewn with obstacles that few bills survive.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The only reason for congressional committees is to debate and develop legislation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

What is one consequence of recent redistricting efforts among the states

Accepted Answer

A)  Very few House races are competitive because most redistricting protects incumbents. 
B)  Competition among House races has increased. 
C)  More and more states are using independent commissions to redistrict. 
D)  Campaign contributions for House races have declined. 
E)  Presidents make fewer campaign stops in House races. 
A)  Very few House races are competitive because most redistricting protects incumbents. 
B)  Competition among House races has increased. 
C)  More and more states are using independent commissions to redistrict. 
D)  Campaign contributions for House races have declined. 
E)  Presidents make fewer campaign stops in House races.

Question 19

Cloture, or ending debate, is needed to prevent a filibuster.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

It is quite clear, from the Framers' intent, that they wanted the legislative branch of government to be

Accepted Answer

A)  the center of policymaking for the newly-created national government. 
B)  unchecked in power over the federal government. 
C)  secondary to the executive branch. 
D)  combined with the executive, similar to the British system. 
E)  part of a larger legislative-judicial branch of government. 
A)  the center of policymaking for the newly-created national government. 
B)  unchecked in power over the federal government. 
C)  secondary to the executive branch. 
D)  combined with the executive, similar to the British system. 
E)  part of a larger legislative-judicial branch of government.

In Wesberry v. Sanders (1964), the Supreme Court ruled that

Judging from their reelection rates, congressional incumbents do not have big advantages over challengers.

The committee that irons out the differences between House and Senate versions of a bill is the

The original Constitution called for

Enumerated powers are

"Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays you, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion." This quote is consistent with a delegate form of representation.

Fragmentation of governmental power in the United States makes it difficult for Congress to fashion coherent and effective public policies.

A congressional caucus

The franking privilege allows members of Congress to

Congressional "casework" includes

As a trustee, a representative acts independently and acts on his or her own judgment about how best to serve the public interest.

Discuss the role of money in congressional elections. If you had the power to change money's influence in elections, what would you change, how would you change it and why? Which aspects, if any, would you elect to keep?

The best single predictor of how a congress member will vote is

Congressional rules specify how things should be done and what is not allowed.

While oversight is a function of Congress, in actuality Congress does very little oversight of the executive branch.

The path by which a bill becomes a law is so strewn with obstacles that few bills survive.

The only reason for congressional committees is to debate and develop legislation.

What is one consequence of recent redistricting efforts among the states

Cloture, or ending debate, is needed to prevent a filibuster.

It is quite clear, from the Framers' intent, that they wanted the legislative branch of government to be

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

Public Opinion

News Media

Interest Groups and Business Corporations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Participation Voting, and Elections

The President

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Social Safety Nets

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters

Exam 11: Congress

In Wesberry v. Sanders (1964), the Supreme Court ruled that

Judging from their reelection rates, congressional incumbents do not have big advantages over challengers.

The committee that irons out the differences between House and Senate versions of a bill is the

The original Constitution called for

Enumerated powers are

"Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays you, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion." This quote is consistent with a delegate form of representation.

Fragmentation of governmental power in the United States makes it difficult for Congress to fashion coherent and effective public policies.

A congressional caucus

The franking privilege allows members of Congress to

Congressional "casework" includes

As a trustee, a representative acts independently and acts on his or her own judgment about how best to serve the public interest.

Discuss the role of money in congressional elections. If you had the power to change money's influence in elections, what would you change, how would you change it and why? Which aspects, if any, would you elect to keep?

The best single predictor of how a congress member will vote is

Congressional rules specify how things should be done and what is not allowed.

While oversight is a function of Congress, in actuality Congress does very little oversight of the executive branch.

The path by which a bill becomes a law is so strewn with obstacles that few bills survive.

The only reason for congressional committees is to debate and develop legislation.

What is one consequence of recent redistricting efforts among the states

Cloture, or ending debate, is needed to prevent a filibuster.

It is quite clear, from the Framers' intent, that they wanted the legislative branch of government to be

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

Public Opinion

News Media

Interest Groups and Business Corporations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Participation Voting, and Elections

The President

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Social Safety Nets

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters