Question 1

Lawmakers generally try to get on committees

Accepted Answer

A)  dealing with subjects that do not affect their constituents so there will not be a conflict of interest. 
B)  where work loads are the easiest. 
C)  that won't make it look like they are just using their committee assignment to help them get reelected. 
D)  that will help them serve their constituents. 
E)  that resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill. 
A)  dealing with subjects that do not affect their constituents so there will not be a conflict of interest. 
B)  where work loads are the easiest. 
C)  that won't make it look like they are just using their committee assignment to help them get reelected. 
D)  that will help them serve their constituents. 
E)  that resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Question 2

How often does reapportionment of House seats occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  every ten years 
B)  every two years 
C)  every twenty years 
D)  after each election 
E)  with every new presidency 
A)  every ten years 
B)  every two years 
C)  every twenty years 
D)  after each election 
E)  with every new presidency

Question 3

African-American representation in the Congress reached its peak during the post-Civil War Reconstruction period.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

How does the U.S. Congress differ from the British parliamentary system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Congress is a less powerful body than the British Parliament. 
B)  Individual members of Parliament have more freedom to vote their own best judgment than do members of Congress. 
C)  Congress has more substantial powers independent of the executive than does the British Parliament. 
D)  Congress has no control over treaties negotiated by the president, whereas the British Parliament has the power to reject treaties. 
E)  Congressional party leadership is much stronger. 
A)  Congress is a less powerful body than the British Parliament. 
B)  Individual members of Parliament have more freedom to vote their own best judgment than do members of Congress. 
C)  Congress has more substantial powers independent of the executive than does the British Parliament. 
D)  Congress has no control over treaties negotiated by the president, whereas the British Parliament has the power to reject treaties. 
E)  Congressional party leadership is much stronger.

Question 5

If a legislator is guaranteed to win reelection, we might anticipate him or her to practice the trustee form of representation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

PACs can contribute an unlimited amount to any one congressional candidate.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

How many members of the Senate are up for election every two years?

Accepted Answer

A)  one-fourth 
B)  one-third 
C)  half 
D)  two-thirds 
E)  all 
A)  one-fourth 
B)  one-third 
C)  half 
D)  two-thirds 
E)  all

Question 8

What kind of representation is it when congressional makeup is similar to the demographic makeup of the nation as a whole

Accepted Answer

A)  substantive representation 
B)  approximate representation 
C)  descriptive representation 
D)  delegate representation 
E)  trusteeship representation 
A)  substantive representation 
B)  approximate representation 
C)  descriptive representation 
D)  delegate representation 
E)  trusteeship representation

Question 9

The process of taking full partisan advantage of the redistricting process is called

Accepted Answer

A)  gerrymandering. 
B)  dilution. 
C)  one man, one vote. 
D)  malapportionment. 
E)  an ex post facto law. 
A)  gerrymandering. 
B)  dilution. 
C)  one man, one vote. 
D)  malapportionment. 
E)  an ex post facto law.

Question 10

In Hunt v. Cromartie (2001) the Supreme Court ruled that congressional districts

Accepted Answer

A)  could not be drawn in irregular forms unconnected to traditional political jurisdictions. 
B)  must be drawn so that minority representation is increased. 
C)  race can be a significant, but not the dominant factor in drawing district lines. 
D)  must be drawn to guarantee districts of equal size. 
E)  could not be drawn by partisan legislatures. 
A)  could not be drawn in irregular forms unconnected to traditional political jurisdictions. 
B)  must be drawn so that minority representation is increased. 
C)  race can be a significant, but not the dominant factor in drawing district lines. 
D)  must be drawn to guarantee districts of equal size. 
E)  could not be drawn by partisan legislatures.

Question 11

Which position in Congress is created by the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Speaker of the House 
B)  president of the Senate 
C)  the House majority and minority leaders 
D)  the party whip 
E)  the ranking majority member 
A)  Speaker of the House 
B)  president of the Senate 
C)  the House majority and minority leaders 
D)  the party whip 
E)  the ranking majority member

Question 12

Prior to the Wesberry v. Sanders ruling, congressional districts tended to overrepresent

Accepted Answer

A)  small states. 
B)  large states. 
C)  urban areas. 
D)  rural areas. 
E)  eastern states. 
A)  small states. 
B)  large states. 
C)  urban areas. 
D)  rural areas. 
E)  eastern states.

Question 13

The direct election of Senators

Accepted Answer

A)  will probably be passed in the next several decades. 
B)  was part of the original Constitution. 
C)  was passed in 1913 in the form of a constitutional amendment. 
D)  makes Senators the only members of Congress directly responsible to their constituents. 
E)  has made Congress work more quickly. 
A)  will probably be passed in the next several decades. 
B)  was part of the original Constitution. 
C)  was passed in 1913 in the form of a constitutional amendment. 
D)  makes Senators the only members of Congress directly responsible to their constituents. 
E)  has made Congress work more quickly.

Question 14

Legislative oversight involves

Accepted Answer

A)  maintaining control over expenditures by congressional staff. 
B)  keeping an eye on how the executive branch carries out the provisions of congressional statutes. 
C)  regulating the activities of lobbyists and political action committees (PACs). 
D)  establishing procedures for implementation of congressional codes of conduct. 
E)  voting on congressional rules and procedures. 
A)  maintaining control over expenditures by congressional staff. 
B)  keeping an eye on how the executive branch carries out the provisions of congressional statutes. 
C)  regulating the activities of lobbyists and political action committees (PACs). 
D)  establishing procedures for implementation of congressional codes of conduct. 
E)  voting on congressional rules and procedures.

Question 15

If Senators are generally more inclined than House members to adopt the "trustee" role, it is probably due to the

Accepted Answer

A)  size of their constituency. 
B)  fact that they are elected statewide. 
C)  fact that they have six-year terms. 
D)  fact that they are older. 
E)  fact that they are more responsible for issues of national security. 
A)  size of their constituency. 
B)  fact that they are elected statewide. 
C)  fact that they have six-year terms. 
D)  fact that they are older. 
E)  fact that they are more responsible for issues of national security.

Question 16

Demographic representation in Congress may not matter much because, for example, a

Accepted Answer

A)  representative from a farm district could be a lawyer. 
B)  non-farmer representing a farm district might well be out of touch with his or her constituents. 
C)  lawyer representing a farm district might well sit on the Agricultural Committee. 
D)  black representing a farm district might well sit on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  representative from a farm district could be a lawyer. 
B)  non-farmer representing a farm district might well be out of touch with his or her constituents. 
C)  lawyer representing a farm district might well sit on the Agricultural Committee. 
D)  black representing a farm district might well sit on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee. 
E)  none of the above

Question 17

Restrictions on congressional action include

Accepted Answer

A)  no ex post facto laws. 
B)  no bills of attainder. 
C)  the bill of rights. 
D)  a bicameral legislature. 
E)  all of the above 
A)  no ex post facto laws. 
B)  no bills of attainder. 
C)  the bill of rights. 
D)  a bicameral legislature. 
E)  all of the above

Question 18

What four sources give money to congressional candidates? Which source gives the greatest proportion of all such monies?

Accepted Answer

The four sources of congressio

Question 19

The "Great Compromise" during the constitutional convention created an arrangement

Accepted Answer

A)  that greatly enhanced the power of the large states. 
B)  that greatly enhanced the power of the small states. 
C)  where members of the House of Representatives were appointed by state legislators. 
D)  where Senators were elected by ordinary citizens. 
E)  that severely undermined the power of southern states. 
A)  that greatly enhanced the power of the large states. 
B)  that greatly enhanced the power of the small states. 
C)  where members of the House of Representatives were appointed by state legislators. 
D)  where Senators were elected by ordinary citizens. 
E)  that severely undermined the power of southern states.

Question 20

What is a standing committee?

Accepted Answer

A)  one that always takes a position on a bill before reporting it out of committee 
B)  a permanent committee 
C)  a temporary committee 
D)  one that always takes roll calls by having members stand 
E)  a committee that resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill. 
A)  one that always takes a position on a bill before reporting it out of committee 
B)  a permanent committee 
C)  a temporary committee 
D)  one that always takes roll calls by having members stand 
E)  a committee that resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Lawmakers generally try to get on committees

How often does reapportionment of House seats occur?

African-American representation in the Congress reached its peak during the post-Civil War Reconstruction period.

How does the U.S. Congress differ from the British parliamentary system?

If a legislator is guaranteed to win reelection, we might anticipate him or her to practice the trustee form of representation.

PACs can contribute an unlimited amount to any one congressional candidate.

How many members of the Senate are up for election every two years?

What kind of representation is it when congressional makeup is similar to the demographic makeup of the nation as a whole

The process of taking full partisan advantage of the redistricting process is called

In Hunt v. Cromartie (2001) the Supreme Court ruled that congressional districts

Which position in Congress is created by the Constitution?

Prior to the Wesberry v. Sanders ruling, congressional districts tended to overrepresent

The direct election of Senators

Legislative oversight involves

If Senators are generally more inclined than House members to adopt the "trustee" role, it is probably due to the

Demographic representation in Congress may not matter much because, for example, a

Restrictions on congressional action include

What four sources give money to congressional candidates? Which source gives the greatest proportion of all such monies?

The "Great Compromise" during the constitutional convention created an arrangement

What is a standing committee?

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

Lawmakers generally try to get on committees

How often does reapportionment of House seats occur?

African-American representation in the Congress reached its peak during the post-Civil War Reconstruction period.

How does the U.S. Congress differ from the British parliamentary system?

If a legislator is guaranteed to win reelection, we might anticipate him or her to practice the trustee form of representation.

PACs can contribute an unlimited amount to any one congressional candidate.

How many members of the Senate are up for election every two years?

What kind of representation is it when congressional makeup is similar to the demographic makeup of the nation as a whole

The process of taking full partisan advantage of the redistricting process is called

In Hunt v. Cromartie (2001) the Supreme Court ruled that congressional districts

Which position in Congress is created by the Constitution?

Prior to the Wesberry v. Sanders ruling, congressional districts tended to overrepresent

The direct election of Senators

Legislative oversight involves

If Senators are generally more inclined than House members to adopt the "trustee" role, it is probably due to the

Demographic representation in Congress may not matter much because, for example, a

Restrictions on congressional action include

What four sources give money to congressional candidates? Which source gives the greatest proportion of all such monies?

The "Great Compromise" during the constitutional convention created an arrangement

What is a standing committee?

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