Question 1

The powers and resources available to government officials that are used to favor supporters are called

Accepted Answer

A)  trusteeships. 
B)  expenditures. 
C)  patronage. 
D)  clotures. 
E)  filibusters. 
A)  trusteeships. 
B)  expenditures. 
C)  patronage. 
D)  clotures. 
E)  filibusters.

Question 2

What is the organizational structure of Congress? Describe some of the main differences between the House and the Senate. What are some of the leadership positions in both houses, and what are their functions? What are some of the types of committees? What role do political parties play in the distribution of congressional power?

Accepted Answer

The organizational structure of Congress

Question 3

Which of the following statements about Congress's role in foreign policy is not accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Congress has sometimes supported the president's foreign policy and sometimes opposed it. 
B)  The Constitution directs Congress to stay out of foreign affairs and concentrate solely on domestic politics. 
C)  Congress is more likely than the president to adopt a short-term, politicized view of foreign affairs. 
D)  Congress is more likely than the president to put domestic concerns ahead of foreign policy priorities. 
E)  Due to their access to the national security apparatus, presidents are better equipped than Congress to know what needs to be done to conduct a successful foreign policy. 
A)  Congress has sometimes supported the president's foreign policy and sometimes opposed it. 
B)  The Constitution directs Congress to stay out of foreign affairs and concentrate solely on domestic politics. 
C)  Congress is more likely than the president to adopt a short-term, politicized view of foreign affairs. 
D)  Congress is more likely than the president to put domestic concerns ahead of foreign policy priorities. 
E)  Due to their access to the national security apparatus, presidents are better equipped than Congress to know what needs to be done to conduct a successful foreign policy.

Question 4

A bill's supporters in the House of Representatives generally prefer ______ while opponents generally prefer ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  an open rule; a closed rule 
B)  a closed rule; an open rule 
C)  a filibuster; cloture 
D)  cloture; a filibuster 
E)  a committee markup; a closed rule 
A)  an open rule; a closed rule 
B)  a closed rule; an open rule 
C)  a filibuster; cloture 
D)  cloture; a filibuster 
E)  a committee markup; a closed rule

Question 5

Over the past several decades, the ______ and the ______ have benefited most from apportionment.

Accepted Answer

A)  Northeast; Midwest 
B)  Northeast; South 
C)  Northeast; West 
D)  South; West 
E)  South; Midwest 
A)  Northeast; Midwest 
B)  Northeast; South 
C)  Northeast; West 
D)  South; West 
E)  South; Midwest

Question 6

Describe some of the different ways members of Congress can represent the American people. What are the principles behind sociological and agency representation? What are some examples of each type? Describe the difference between a trustee and a delegate. Which type of representation do you believe is the best?

Accepted Answer

Members of Congress can represent the Am

Question 7

What are the greatest dangers associated with a trustee model of representation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Members of the Congress may not bring back enough pork-barrel projects to their districts. 
B)  Representatives may become inattentive to the wishes and opinions of their constituents. 
C)  Members of Congress may give inadequate deference to the executive branch in the area of national security. 
D)  The representatives who adopt this model are too influenced by special interest groups. 
E)  Members of Congress may become too polarized, and bipartisanship will decrease significantly. 
A)  Members of the Congress may not bring back enough pork-barrel projects to their districts. 
B)  Representatives may become inattentive to the wishes and opinions of their constituents. 
C)  Members of Congress may give inadequate deference to the executive branch in the area of national security. 
D)  The representatives who adopt this model are too influenced by special interest groups. 
E)  Members of Congress may become too polarized, and bipartisanship will decrease significantly.

Question 8

A bicameral legislature is one that has

Accepted Answer

A)  laws forbidding private hearings or conferences. 
B)  two chambers or houses. 
C)  authority to overrule state governments. 
D)  a prime minister. 
E)  equal representation for each state. 
A)  laws forbidding private hearings or conferences. 
B)  two chambers or houses. 
C)  authority to overrule state governments. 
D)  a prime minister. 
E)  equal representation for each state.

Question 9

The power of impeachment is located entirely in the Senate, as part of its advice and consent powers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

In 2006, ______ became the Speaker of the House.

Accepted Answer

A)  Harry Reid 
B)  Dennis Hastert 
C)  Kay Bailey Hutchinson 
D)  Nancy Pelosi 
E)  Rahm Emanuel 
A)  Harry Reid 
B)  Dennis Hastert 
C)  Kay Bailey Hutchinson 
D)  Nancy Pelosi 
E)  Rahm Emanuel

Question 11

A proposed piece of legislation is called a

Accepted Answer

A)  bill. 
B)  referendum. 
C)  proposal. 
D)  cloture. 
E)  filibuster. 
A)  bill. 
B)  referendum. 
C)  proposal. 
D)  cloture. 
E)  filibuster.

Question 12

According to the text, which of the following is not an important influence on the legislative agenda of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  constituents 
B)  lobbyists 
C)  the president 
D)  the federal courts 
E)  party leadership 
A)  constituents 
B)  lobbyists 
C)  the president 
D)  the federal courts 
E)  party leadership

Question 13

Which idea of representation says that a legislator should be viewed as someone whom voters hire to represent their interests?

Accepted Answer

A)  agency representation 
B)  sociological representation 
C)  mirroring representation 
D)  trustee representation 
E)  contract representation 
A)  agency representation 
B)  sociological representation 
C)  mirroring representation 
D)  trustee representation 
E)  contract representation

Question 14

Under the original Constitution, senators

Accepted Answer

A)  served four-year terms. 
B)  had the authority to choose the president's cabinet ministers. 
C)  were appointed by state legislatures. 
D)  were selected by the federal judiciary. 
E)  could serve only two terms. 
A)  served four-year terms. 
B)  had the authority to choose the president's cabinet ministers. 
C)  were appointed by state legislatures. 
D)  were selected by the federal judiciary. 
E)  could serve only two terms.

Question 15

Pork-barrel legislation

Accepted Answer

A)  deals with specific projects and their location within a particular congressional district. 
B)  deals with specific agricultural subsidies. 
C)  funds efforts to increase the levels of America's meat exports. 
D)  grants a special privilege to a person named in the bill. 
E)  orders state governments to implement a program without providing funding for doing so. 
A)  deals with specific projects and their location within a particular congressional district. 
B)  deals with specific agricultural subsidies. 
C)  funds efforts to increase the levels of America's meat exports. 
D)  grants a special privilege to a person named in the bill. 
E)  orders state governments to implement a program without providing funding for doing so.

Question 16

How long is the term of office for a U.S. senator?

Accepted Answer

A)  two years 
B)  four years 
C)  six years 
D)  eight years 
E)  ten years 
A)  two years 
B)  four years 
C)  six years 
D)  eight years 
E)  ten years

Question 17

In recent years, approximately what percentage of House members seeking re-election won their race?

Accepted Answer

A)  50 percent 
B)  60 percent 
C)  75 percent 
D)  80 percent 
E)  95 percent 
A)  50 percent 
B)  60 percent 
C)  75 percent 
D)  80 percent 
E)  95 percent

Question 18

Oversight is an important legislative check on the executive branch.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Members of Congress who act on the express wishes of their constituents are called trustees.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

The role the House of Representatives plays in impeachments can best be compared with that of a

Accepted Answer

A)  judge. 
B)  grand jury. 
C)  prosecuting attorney. 
D)  defense attorney. 
E)  defense witness. 
A)  judge. 
B)  grand jury. 
C)  prosecuting attorney. 
D)  defense attorney. 
E)  defense witness.

Exam 12: Congress

The powers and resources available to government officials that are used to favor supporters are called

Which of the following statements about Congress's role in foreign policy is not accurate?

A bill's supporters in the House of Representatives generally prefer ______ while opponents generally prefer ______.

Over the past several decades, the ______ and the ______ have benefited most from apportionment.

What are the greatest dangers associated with a trustee model of representation?

A bicameral legislature is one that has

The power of impeachment is located entirely in the Senate, as part of its advice and consent powers.

In 2006, ______ became the Speaker of the House.

A proposed piece of legislation is called a

According to the text, which of the following is not an important influence on the legislative agenda of Congress?

Which idea of representation says that a legislator should be viewed as someone whom voters hire to represent their interests?

Under the original Constitution, senators

Pork-barrel legislation

How long is the term of office for a U.S. senator?

In recent years, approximately what percentage of House members seeking re-election won their race?

Oversight is an important legislative check on the executive branch.

Members of Congress who act on the express wishes of their constituents are called trustees.

The role the House of Representatives plays in impeachments can best be compared with that of a

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Parties and Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Local Government in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Filters

A bill's supporters in the House of Representatives generally prefer while opponents generally prefer .

Over the past several decades, the and the have benefited most from apportionment.