Question 1

What is constituency service and how is it important to the job of members of Congress?

Accepted Answer

Constituency service refers to the assistance and support that members of Congress provide to their constituents. This can include helping individuals and groups navigate federal agencies, advocating for specific policies or projects that benefit the district, and addressing concerns or complaints from constituents. Constituency service is important to the job of members of Congress because it allows them to directly engage with and address the needs of the people they represent. By providing assistance and support to their constituents, members of Congress can build trust and goodwill within their district, which can ultimately help them in their reelection efforts. Additionally, by staying connected to the needs and concerns of their constituents, members of Congress can better understand the issues facing their district and advocate for policies and projects that reflect the interests of the people they represent. Overall, constituency service is an essential aspect of the job of members of Congress as it allows them to effectively represent the needs and interests of their constituents in the federal government.

Question 2

A ________ committee is one appointed for a limited,specific purpose,such as that set up to investigate the Watergate scandal.

Accepted Answer

A) standing 
B) select 
C) conference 
D) joint 
E) special 
A) standing 
B) select 
C) conference 
D) joint 
E) special B

Question 3

A unanimous vote is necessary to halt a filibuster.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

The ____ is administered by the Library of Congress to provide nonpartisan studies and information to members of Congress.

Accepted Answer

A) Congressional Research Service 
B) Government Accountability Office 
C) Congressional Budget Office 
D) House Rules Committee 
E) House Ways and Means Committee 
A) Congressional Research Service 
B) Government Accountability Office 
C) Congressional Budget Office 
D) House Rules Committee 
E) House Ways and Means Committee

Question 5

Individual members of the House of Representatives have substantial opportunities for influence on policymaking as individuals.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The filibuster

Accepted Answer

A) is unique to the Senate. 
B) is unique to the House. 
C) is allowed in both the House and the Senate. 
D) has been ruled unconstitutional. 
E) has been prohibited in both the House and Senate. 
A) is unique to the Senate. 
B) is unique to the House. 
C) is allowed in both the House and the Senate. 
D) has been ruled unconstitutional. 
E) has been prohibited in both the House and Senate.

Question 7

The House still strictly follows the seniority system,wherein the majority party member of the committee who has served the longest automatically serves as chair.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Party leaders who work with the majority or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party are called

Accepted Answer

A) whips. 
B) speakers. 
C) pork barrellers. 
D) PACs. 
E) filibusterers. 
A) whips. 
B) speakers. 
C) pork barrellers. 
D) PACs. 
E) filibusterers.

Question 9

An example of casework by a member of Congress is

Accepted Answer

A) writing a newsletter to send out to constituents. 
B) helping a constituent gain citizenship. 
C) voting for a bill desired by constituents. 
D) working with a caucus on a public policy that affects his or her constituents. 
E) All of the above are true. 
A) writing a newsletter to send out to constituents. 
B) helping a constituent gain citizenship. 
C) voting for a bill desired by constituents. 
D) working with a caucus on a public policy that affects his or her constituents. 
E) All of the above are true.

Question 10

The fact that incumbents usually win reelection

Accepted Answer

A) creates stability in the membership of Congress. 
B) allows representatives and senators to gain some expertise in dealing with public policy. 
C) insulates members of Congress from political change. 
D) makes it more difficult for citizens to "send a message to Washington" with their votes. 
E) All of the above are true. 
A) creates stability in the membership of Congress. 
B) allows representatives and senators to gain some expertise in dealing with public policy. 
C) insulates members of Congress from political change. 
D) makes it more difficult for citizens to "send a message to Washington" with their votes. 
E) All of the above are true.

Question 11

Which of the following is a consequence of the fact that members of Congress feel "unsafe at any margin"?

Accepted Answer

A) Members of Congress spend more time raising campaign funds. 
B) Members of Congress spend more time at home in their states and districts. 
C) Members of Congress send more mail to their constituents. 
D) Members of Congress staff more local offices. 
E) All of the above are true. 
A) Members of Congress spend more time raising campaign funds. 
B) Members of Congress spend more time at home in their states and districts. 
C) Members of Congress send more mail to their constituents. 
D) Members of Congress staff more local offices. 
E) All of the above are true.

Question 12

The United States Senate has ________ members.

Accepted Answer

A) 50 
B) 100 
C) 435 
D) 438 
E) 535 
A) 50 
B) 100 
C) 435 
D) 438 
E) 535

Question 13

Anyone can draft a bill; only a member of the House or Senate can formally submit a bill for consideration.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The authors note that some argue that Congress is too responsive to constituents and especially to organized interests,while others argue that Congress is too insulated from ordinary citizens.Evaluate the evidence for each view from throughout the chapter.

Accepted Answer

Throughout the chapter, the authors prov

Question 15

Nebraska's legislature is the only one in the United States that is NOT

Accepted Answer

A) elected by the voters. 
B) unicameral. 
C) bicameral. 
D) tricameral. 
E) under term limits. 
A) elected by the voters. 
B) unicameral. 
C) bicameral. 
D) tricameral. 
E) under term limits.

Question 16

According to your textbook,the stronger constituency interests are on issues and the weaker partisan ideology is,the

Accepted Answer

A) more likely members are to deviate form their own positions and adopt those of their constituencies. 
B) less likely members are to deviate from their own positions and adopt those of their constituencies. 
C) less likely members are to be controlled by their constituencies. 
D) more likely members are to be swayed by interest groups and lobbyists in choosing a course of action. 
E) more likely members are to be swayed by the policymaking agenda of the presidency. 
A) more likely members are to deviate form their own positions and adopt those of their constituencies. 
B) less likely members are to deviate from their own positions and adopt those of their constituencies. 
C) less likely members are to be controlled by their constituencies. 
D) more likely members are to be swayed by interest groups and lobbyists in choosing a course of action. 
E) more likely members are to be swayed by the policymaking agenda of the presidency.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about the filibuster is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A) The filibuster is used in both houses. 
B) The filibuster can tie up the legislative agenda. 
C) The filibuster is used to talk a bill to death. 
D) Rules adopted over the years make it easier to close off debate and end a filibuster. 
E) All of these are true. 
A) The filibuster is used in both houses. 
B) The filibuster can tie up the legislative agenda. 
C) The filibuster is used to talk a bill to death. 
D) Rules adopted over the years make it easier to close off debate and end a filibuster. 
E) All of these are true.

Question 18

What are congressional caucuses? What role do they play,and how much influence do they have? Give examples to illustrate your answer.

Accepted Answer

Congressional caucuses are informal grou

Question 19

Which of the following statements regarding party politics and Congress is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A) Over the past three decades the distance between congressional parties has been growing. 
B) Differences between the parties are sharpest on questions of economic and social welfare policy. 
C) Democrats are more supportive of government action on social welfare policies than are Republicans. 
D) Republicans in Congress have become more conservative while Democrats in Congress have become more liberal. 
E) Bipartisan compromise has grown more frequent over the last three decades. 
A) Over the past three decades the distance between congressional parties has been growing. 
B) Differences between the parties are sharpest on questions of economic and social welfare policy. 
C) Democrats are more supportive of government action on social welfare policies than are Republicans. 
D) Republicans in Congress have become more conservative while Democrats in Congress have become more liberal. 
E) Bipartisan compromise has grown more frequent over the last three decades.

Question 20

A bicameral legislature is a legislature

Accepted Answer

A) with two houses,providing checks and balances on policymaking. 
B) in which each state has two senators,providing equal representation of the states. 
C) in which incumbents have a better chance of being reelected,providing continuity in policymaking. 
D) that must share power with a president,providing more efficient policymaking. 
E) in which there are only two political parties. 
A) with two houses,providing checks and balances on policymaking. 
B) in which each state has two senators,providing equal representation of the states. 
C) in which incumbents have a better chance of being reelected,providing continuity in policymaking. 
D) that must share power with a president,providing more efficient policymaking. 
E) in which there are only two political parties.

What is constituency service and how is it important to the job of members of Congress?

A ________ committee is one appointed for a limited,specific purpose,such as that set up to investigate the Watergate scandal.

A unanimous vote is necessary to halt a filibuster.

The ____ is administered by the Library of Congress to provide nonpartisan studies and information to members of Congress.

Individual members of the House of Representatives have substantial opportunities for influence on policymaking as individuals.

The filibuster

The House still strictly follows the seniority system,wherein the majority party member of the committee who has served the longest automatically serves as chair.

Party leaders who work with the majority or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party are called

An example of casework by a member of Congress is

The fact that incumbents usually win reelection

Which of the following is a consequence of the fact that members of Congress feel "unsafe at any margin"?

The United States Senate has ________ members.

Anyone can draft a bill; only a member of the House or Senate can formally submit a bill for consideration.

The authors note that some argue that Congress is too responsive to constituents and especially to organized interests,while others argue that Congress is too insulated from ordinary citizens.Evaluate the evidence for each view from throughout the chapter.

Nebraska's legislature is the only one in the United States that is NOT

According to your textbook,the stronger constituency interests are on issues and the weaker partisan ideology is,the

Which of the following statements about the filibuster is FALSE?

What are congressional caucuses? What role do they play,and how much influence do they have? Give examples to illustrate your answer.

Which of the following statements regarding party politics and Congress is FALSE?

A bicameral legislature is a legislature

Introducing Government in America

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties and Public Policy

Civil Rights and Public Policy

Public Opinion and Political Action

The Mass Media and the Political Agenda

Political Parties

Campaigns and Voting Behavior

Interest Groups

The Presidency

The Federal Bureaucracy

The Federal Courts

Congress,the President,and the Budget: the Politics of Taxing and Spending

Social Welfare Policymaking

National Security Policymaking

Filters

Exam 11: Congress

What is constituency service and how is it important to the job of members of Congress?

A ________ committee is one appointed for a limited,specific purpose,such as that set up to investigate the Watergate scandal.

A unanimous vote is necessary to halt a filibuster.

The ____ is administered by the Library of Congress to provide nonpartisan studies and information to members of Congress.

Individual members of the House of Representatives have substantial opportunities for influence on policymaking as individuals.

The filibuster

The House still strictly follows the seniority system,wherein the majority party member of the committee who has served the longest automatically serves as chair.

Party leaders who work with the majority or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party are called

An example of casework by a member of Congress is

The fact that incumbents usually win reelection

Which of the following is a consequence of the fact that members of Congress feel "unsafe at any margin"?

The United States Senate has ________ members.

Anyone can draft a bill; only a member of the House or Senate can formally submit a bill for consideration.

The authors note that some argue that Congress is too responsive to constituents and especially to organized interests,while others argue that Congress is too insulated from ordinary citizens.Evaluate the evidence for each view from throughout the chapter.

Nebraska's legislature is the only one in the United States that is NOT

According to your textbook,the stronger constituency interests are on issues and the weaker partisan ideology is,the

Which of the following statements about the filibuster is FALSE?

What are congressional caucuses? What role do they play,and how much influence do they have? Give examples to illustrate your answer.

Which of the following statements regarding party politics and Congress is FALSE?

A bicameral legislature is a legislature

Introducing Government in America

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties and Public Policy

Civil Rights and Public Policy

Public Opinion and Political Action

The Mass Media and the Political Agenda

Political Parties

Campaigns and Voting Behavior

Interest Groups

The Presidency

The Federal Bureaucracy

The Federal Courts

Congress,the President,and the Budget: the Politics of Taxing and Spending

Social Welfare Policymaking

National Security Policymaking

Filters