Question 1

Congressional committees exist to

Accepted Answer

A)  help members of Congress develop expertise and specialization in policy areas. 
B)  allow policymaking to take place largely in isolation from public attention. 
C)  make legislators more accountable to their constituents. 
D)  assist legislators in gaining an audience with the president. 
E)  give media exposure to selected issues. 
A)  help members of Congress develop expertise and specialization in policy areas. 
B)  allow policymaking to take place largely in isolation from public attention. 
C)  make legislators more accountable to their constituents. 
D)  assist legislators in gaining an audience with the president. 
E)  give media exposure to selected issues.

Question 2

What is the best predictor of voting behaviors of members of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  party affiliation 
B)  income 
C)  gender 
D)  race 
E)  education 
A)  party affiliation 
B)  income 
C)  gender 
D)  race 
E)  education

Question 3

Which type of occupation is noticeably absent among congresspersons?

Accepted Answer

A)  blue-collar workers 
B)  professionals 
C)  lawyers 
D)  business executives 
E)  none of the above 
A)  blue-collar workers 
B)  professionals 
C)  lawyers 
D)  business executives 
E)  none of the above

Question 4

Which of these powers is unique to the House of Representatives?

Accepted Answer

A)  the origination of revenue bills 
B)  the power to advise and consent for treaties 
C)  trying impeachment cases 
D)  advise and consent for judicial appointments 
E)  advise and consent for upper-level executive appointments 
A)  the origination of revenue bills 
B)  the power to advise and consent for treaties 
C)  trying impeachment cases 
D)  advise and consent for judicial appointments 
E)  advise and consent for upper-level executive appointments

Question 5

When a congressional committee takes testimony from those who are for and against a bill, this is called

Accepted Answer

A)  markup. 
B)  discharge. 
C)  hearing. 
D)  cloture. 
E)  a filibuster. 
A)  markup. 
B)  discharge. 
C)  hearing. 
D)  cloture. 
E)  a filibuster.

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 the ________ model of representation.

Accepted Answer

A)  trustee 
B)  direct 
C)  delegate 
D)  indirect 
E)  presidential 
A)  trustee 
B)  direct 
C)  delegate 
D)  indirect 
E)  presidential

Question 7

Open seat elections are those in which the incumbent does not run for reelection.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Incumbents have a harder time raising money and so tend to spend less than their challengers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Bills are often written by the executive branch or by an interest group.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which of the following best describes public opinion towards Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  Americans dislike their own representatives but like Congress as an institution. 
B)  Americans dislike their own representatives and dislike Congress as an institution. 
C)  Americans like their own representatives but dislike Congress as an institution. 
D)  Americans like their own representatives and like Congress as an institution. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  Americans dislike their own representatives but like Congress as an institution. 
B)  Americans dislike their own representatives and dislike Congress as an institution. 
C)  Americans like their own representatives but dislike Congress as an institution. 
D)  Americans like their own representatives and like Congress as an institution. 
E)  none of the above

Question 11

Much evidence shows that party unity has been increasing in Congress of late. Why is this so? Why do members of the same party vote together in the first place? Under what conditions are legislators likely to defect from their party?

Accepted Answer

Party unity in Congress has been increas

Question 12

The largest portion of money spent on congressional campaigns is spent by challengers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The evidence presented by the authors of your textbook suggests that Congress is generally unresponsive even when the public is aware of issues and expresses its opinion.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

For each election cycle, ________ seats in the House of Representatives are up for reelection.

Accepted Answer

The answer of For each election cycle, ________ seats in...

Question 15

Bills are scheduled for floor debate in the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

All of the following EXCEPT which of the following were designed to limit the power of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  necessary and proper clause 
B)  ex post facto clause 
C)  bill of attainder provision 
D)  habeas corpus provision 
E)  none of the above 
A)  necessary and proper clause 
B)  ex post facto clause 
C)  bill of attainder provision 
D)  habeas corpus provision 
E)  none of the above

Question 17

The incumbency advantage means that although some legislators will be defeated, a sizeable majority will be reelected.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

A norm of Congress in which members defer to the judgment of specialists is called

Accepted Answer

A)  unanimity. 
B)  reciprocity. 
C)  civility. 
D)  cloture. 
E)  committee deference. 
A)  unanimity. 
B)  reciprocity. 
C)  civility. 
D)  cloture. 
E)  committee deference.

Question 19

Which of these is a reason for the rise of partisanship in Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  In the electorate and among the members of Congress, Democrats are becoming more liberal and Republicans are becoming more consistently conservative. 
B)  The changing regional bases of the parties have created new alliances. 
C)  Partisan conflict and division is happening across the board in the country. 
D)  Party advocacy groups are pressured strongly to act as partisans as they go about their legislative tasks. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  In the electorate and among the members of Congress, Democrats are becoming more liberal and Republicans are becoming more consistently conservative. 
B)  The changing regional bases of the parties have created new alliances. 
C)  Partisan conflict and division is happening across the board in the country. 
D)  Party advocacy groups are pressured strongly to act as partisans as they go about their legislative tasks. 
E)  all of the above

Question 20

Between 1994 and 2006 congressional elections, the Republicans control the House of Representatives. Thus,

Accepted Answer

A)  all chairmanships of standing committees were Republicans. 
B)  Democrats are not allowed on important committees. 
C)  Democrats cannot vote on committee matters. 
D)  all ranking committee members were Republicans. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  all chairmanships of standing committees were Republicans. 
B)  Democrats are not allowed on important committees. 
C)  Democrats cannot vote on committee matters. 
D)  all ranking committee members were Republicans. 
E)  all of the above

Congressional committees exist to

What is the best predictor of voting behaviors of members of Congress?

Which type of occupation is noticeably absent among congresspersons?

Which of these powers is unique to the House of Representatives?

When a congressional committee takes testimony from those who are for and against a bill, this is called

"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 the ________ model of representation.

Open seat elections are those in which the incumbent does not run for reelection.

Incumbents have a harder time raising money and so tend to spend less than their challengers.

Bills are often written by the executive branch or by an interest group.

Which of the following best describes public opinion towards Congress?

Much evidence shows that party unity has been increasing in Congress of late. Why is this so? Why do members of the same party vote together in the first place? Under what conditions are legislators likely to defect from their party?

The largest portion of money spent on congressional campaigns is spent by challengers.

The evidence presented by the authors of your textbook suggests that Congress is generally unresponsive even when the public is aware of issues and expresses its opinion.

For each election cycle, ________ seats in the House of Representatives are up for reelection.

Bills are scheduled for floor debate in the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

All of the following EXCEPT which of the following were designed to limit the power of Congress?

The incumbency advantage means that although some legislators will be defeated, a sizeable majority will be reelected.

A norm of Congress in which members defer to the judgment of specialists is called

Which of these is a reason for the rise of partisanship in Congress?

Between 1994 and 2006 congressional elections, the Republicans control the House of Representatives. Thus,

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

Congressional committees exist to

What is the best predictor of voting behaviors of members of Congress?

Which type of occupation is noticeably absent among congresspersons?

Which of these powers is unique to the House of Representatives?

When a congressional committee takes testimony from those who are for and against a bill, this is called

"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 the ________ model of representation.

Open seat elections are those in which the incumbent does not run for reelection.

Incumbents have a harder time raising money and so tend to spend less than their challengers.

Bills are often written by the executive branch or by an interest group.

Which of the following best describes public opinion towards Congress?

Much evidence shows that party unity has been increasing in Congress of late. Why is this so? Why do members of the same party vote together in the first place? Under what conditions are legislators likely to defect from their party?

The largest portion of money spent on congressional campaigns is spent by challengers.

The evidence presented by the authors of your textbook suggests that Congress is generally unresponsive even when the public is aware of issues and expresses its opinion.

For each election cycle, ________ seats in the House of Representatives are up for reelection.

Bills are scheduled for floor debate in the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

All of the following EXCEPT which of the following were designed to limit the power of Congress?

The incumbency advantage means that although some legislators will be defeated, a sizeable majority will be reelected.

A norm of Congress in which members defer to the judgment of specialists is called

Which of these is a reason for the rise of partisanship in Congress?

Between 1994 and 2006 congressional elections, the Republicans control the House of Representatives. Thus,

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