Question 1

The Supreme Court ruling United States v. Lopez (1995) overturned a law banning firearms in and around schools because

Accepted Answer

A)  Congress had overstepped its authority in a matter that should be decided by the states. 
B)  Congress had made a law that was unenforceable except by using federal resources. 
C)  Congress had used the commerce clause for its argument and it should have used the elastic clause. 
D)  Congress had used the commerce clause for its argument and it should have used its enumerated powers. 
E)  the law was passed to appease Congress' constituency, but did not actually work. 
A)  Congress had overstepped its authority in a matter that should be decided by the states. 
B)  Congress had made a law that was unenforceable except by using federal resources. 
C)  Congress had used the commerce clause for its argument and it should have used the elastic clause. 
D)  Congress had used the commerce clause for its argument and it should have used its enumerated powers. 
E)  the law was passed to appease Congress' constituency, but did not actually work.

Question 2

Congressional casework refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  writing bills to submit to Congress. 
B)  bargaining over legislation. 
C)  dealing with the media, interest groups, and other organizations outside Congress. 
D)  helping constituents solve red-tape problems with the federal bureaucracy. 
E)  polling for constituent opinion. 
A)  writing bills to submit to Congress. 
B)  bargaining over legislation. 
C)  dealing with the media, interest groups, and other organizations outside Congress. 
D)  helping constituents solve red-tape problems with the federal bureaucracy. 
E)  polling for constituent opinion.

Question 3

What factor is the single most important predictor of how a member of Congress will vote on a bill?

Accepted Answer

A)  political party 
B)  the president's position 
C)  committee leadership 
D)  party leadership in the Congress 
E)  citizen preferences 
A)  political party 
B)  the president's position 
C)  committee leadership 
D)  party leadership in the Congress 
E)  citizen preferences

Question 4

The Framers believed single-house legislative bodies

Accepted Answer

A)  were the best in theory, but the people did not like them. 
B)  were prone to rash action. 
C)  were the best in practice, but not in theory. 
D)  had historically proven to be the best, but were now outdated. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  were the best in theory, but the people did not like them. 
B)  were prone to rash action. 
C)  were the best in practice, but not in theory. 
D)  had historically proven to be the best, but were now outdated. 
E)  none of the above

Question 5

Powers of the federal government specifically mentioned in the Constitution are known as

Accepted Answer

A)  elastic powers. 
B)  reserve powers. 
C)  supremacy powers. 
D)  powers of federalism. 
E)  enumerated powers. 
A)  elastic powers. 
B)  reserve powers. 
C)  supremacy powers. 
D)  powers of federalism. 
E)  enumerated powers.

Question 6

Who is the leader of the House of Representatives?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Speaker of the House 
B)  the vice-president 
C)  the president pro tempore 
D)  the ranking minority member 
E)  the chair of the committee 
A)  the Speaker of the House 
B)  the vice-president 
C)  the president pro tempore 
D)  the ranking minority member 
E)  the chair of the committee

Question 7

The Founders wanted Congress to be the center of policymaking for the national government.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following best explains the demographic makeup of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is basically representative of the demographic characteristics of the U.S. population. 
B)  It has remained virtually unchanged for 200 years. 
C)  It includes a greater percentage of minorities than the actual population. 
D)  It is not entirely consistent with the norm of political equality. 
E)  It has become less diverse over time. 
A)  It is basically representative of the demographic characteristics of the U.S. population. 
B)  It has remained virtually unchanged for 200 years. 
C)  It includes a greater percentage of minorities than the actual population. 
D)  It is not entirely consistent with the norm of political equality. 
E)  It has become less diverse over time.

Question 9

The Framers of the Constitution wanted the legislative branch to be

Accepted Answer

A)  the center of policymaking for the federal government. 
B)  unlimited in power over the federal government. 
C)  subordinate to the executive branch. 
D)  combined with the executive, similar to the British system. 
E)  responsible for judicial as well as legislative oversight. 
A)  the center of policymaking for the federal government. 
B)  unlimited in power over the federal government. 
C)  subordinate to the executive branch. 
D)  combined with the executive, similar to the British system. 
E)  responsible for judicial as well as legislative oversight.

Question 10

Which of the following describes a characteristic of the Senate, as opposed to the House of Representatives?

Accepted Answer

A)  has a minimum age requirement of 25 years 
B)  originates revenue bills 
C)  has the power to bring impeachment charges 
D)  gives advice and consent to the president on treaties 
E)  all of the above 
A)  has a minimum age requirement of 25 years 
B)  originates revenue bills 
C)  has the power to bring impeachment charges 
D)  gives advice and consent to the president on treaties 
E)  all of the above

Question 11

The "franking privilege" allows members of Congress to use the U.S. mail system free of charge, regardless of whether the mail is business or personal in nature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

How are members of Congress different from members of European parliaments?

Accepted Answer

A)  American members of Congress are less likely to vote along party lines. 
B)  American candidates for congressional seats are hand picked by party leaders. 
C)  There is a greater concentration of power in the U.S. Congress. 
D)  American legislators are elected in state-wide at large elections. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  American members of Congress are less likely to vote along party lines. 
B)  American candidates for congressional seats are hand picked by party leaders. 
C)  There is a greater concentration of power in the U.S. Congress. 
D)  American legislators are elected in state-wide at large elections. 
E)  all of the above

Question 13

A discharge petition can force a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Give several reasons for the incumbency advantage in the House of Representatives.

Accepted Answer

Congressional incumbents, first of all,

Question 15

Unanimous consent is used to conduct much of the business in the House of Representatives.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

________ is the best predictor of the voting behavior of members of Congress.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ is the best predictor of the...

Question 17

Which of these statements is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Candidates from both major parties spend such enormous amounts of money on campaigns that the amount spent by either candidate has little relationship to the final outcome. 
B)  Incumbents are reelected in such high numbers that they are able to spend relatively limited funds and are usually outspent by their opponents. 
C)  Federal campaign laws now strictly limit the amounts of money that can be spent campaigning for Congress. 
D)  Although the candidate who spends the most money does not always win, the amount of money spent is related to the probability of winning. 
E)  Challengers typically receive more PAC money than incumbents. 
A)  Candidates from both major parties spend such enormous amounts of money on campaigns that the amount spent by either candidate has little relationship to the final outcome. 
B)  Incumbents are reelected in such high numbers that they are able to spend relatively limited funds and are usually outspent by their opponents. 
C)  Federal campaign laws now strictly limit the amounts of money that can be spent campaigning for Congress. 
D)  Although the candidate who spends the most money does not always win, the amount of money spent is related to the probability of winning. 
E)  Challengers typically receive more PAC money than incumbents.

Question 18

________ involves helping constituents solve various problems with the federal bureaucracy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ involves helping constituents solve various problems...

Question 19

What impact does political party have on the organization and functioning of Congress?

Accepted Answer

The political party of the majority in C

Question 20

Today, all congressional districts are roughly equal in population.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

The Supreme Court ruling United States v. Lopez (1995) overturned a law banning firearms in and around schools because

Congressional casework refers to

What factor is the single most important predictor of how a member of Congress will vote on a bill?

The Framers believed single-house legislative bodies

Powers of the federal government specifically mentioned in the Constitution are known as

Who is the leader of the House of Representatives?

The Founders wanted Congress to be the center of policymaking for the national government.

Which of the following best explains the demographic makeup of Congress?

The Framers of the Constitution wanted the legislative branch to be

Which of the following describes a characteristic of the Senate, as opposed to the House of Representatives?

The "franking privilege" allows members of Congress to use the U.S. mail system free of charge, regardless of whether the mail is business or personal in nature.

How are members of Congress different from members of European parliaments?

A discharge petition can force a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote.

Give several reasons for the incumbency advantage in the House of Representatives.

Unanimous consent is used to conduct much of the business in the House of Representatives.

________ is the best predictor of the voting behavior of members of Congress.

Which of these statements is correct?

________ involves helping constituents solve various problems with the federal bureaucracy.

What impact does political party have on the organization and functioning of Congress?

Today, all congressional districts are roughly equal in population.

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

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Exam 11: Congress

The Supreme Court ruling United States v. Lopez (1995) overturned a law banning firearms in and around schools because

Congressional casework refers to

What factor is the single most important predictor of how a member of Congress will vote on a bill?

The Framers believed single-house legislative bodies

Powers of the federal government specifically mentioned in the Constitution are known as

Who is the leader of the House of Representatives?

The Founders wanted Congress to be the center of policymaking for the national government.

Which of the following best explains the demographic makeup of Congress?

The Framers of the Constitution wanted the legislative branch to be

Which of the following describes a characteristic of the Senate, as opposed to the House of Representatives?

The "franking privilege" allows members of Congress to use the U.S. mail system free of charge, regardless of whether the mail is business or personal in nature.

How are members of Congress different from members of European parliaments?

A discharge petition can force a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote.

Give several reasons for the incumbency advantage in the House of Representatives.

Unanimous consent is used to conduct much of the business in the House of Representatives.

________ is the best predictor of the voting behavior of members of Congress.

Which of these statements is correct?

________ involves helping constituents solve various problems with the federal bureaucracy.

What impact does political party have on the organization and functioning of Congress?

Today, all congressional districts are roughly equal in population.

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