Question 1

Congress adjourns during a ten-day period after presenting the president with a bill, and the president takes no action. This is known as a

Accepted Answer

A)  procrastination veto. 
B)  pocket veto. 
C)  line-item veto. 
D)  silent veto. 
E)  expiration veto. 
A)  procrastination veto. 
B)  pocket veto. 
C)  line-item veto. 
D)  silent veto. 
E)  expiration veto.

Question 2

Which of the following is not a task of congressional staff members?

Accepted Answer

A)  dealing with administrative agencies 
B)  drafting legislative proposals 
C)  organizing hearings 
D)  debating and voting in subcommittee meetings 
E)  negotiating with lobbyists 
A)  dealing with administrative agencies 
B)  drafting legislative proposals 
C)  organizing hearings 
D)  debating and voting in subcommittee meetings 
E)  negotiating with lobbyists

Question 3

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Party leaders frequently demand that representatives vote in a particular way even if it conflicts with the representative's district and may hurt their re-election efforts. 
B)  Representatives are always above constituency pressures when they vote on laws in Congress. 
C)  Many states have strict laws that require representatives to vote in accordance with what their constituents want. 
D)  On many issues, constituents do not have very strong views and representatives are free to act as they think best without fear of electoral reprisals. 
E)  On many issues, constituents have very strong views and representatives feel compelled to do exactly what their constituents demand. 
A)  Party leaders frequently demand that representatives vote in a particular way even if it conflicts with the representative's district and may hurt their re-election efforts. 
B)  Representatives are always above constituency pressures when they vote on laws in Congress. 
C)  Many states have strict laws that require representatives to vote in accordance with what their constituents want. 
D)  On many issues, constituents do not have very strong views and representatives are free to act as they think best without fear of electoral reprisals. 
E)  On many issues, constituents have very strong views and representatives feel compelled to do exactly what their constituents demand.

Question 4

Three factors related to the American electoral system affect who is elected to office in this country and what they do once they get there. Those factors are

Accepted Answer

A)  party affiliation, family connections, and the substance of issues raised during a campaign. 
B)  who decides to run for office, incumbency, and the drawing of district lines. 
C)  incumbency, franking, and party affiliation. 
D)  military service, professional connections, and religious beliefs. 
E)  race, religious beliefs, and the region of the country the district falls within. 
A)  party affiliation, family connections, and the substance of issues raised during a campaign. 
B)  who decides to run for office, incumbency, and the drawing of district lines. 
C)  incumbency, franking, and party affiliation. 
D)  military service, professional connections, and religious beliefs. 
E)  race, religious beliefs, and the region of the country the district falls within.

Question 5

Which of the following best explains the small number of women in Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  More men than women vote, and men tend not to vote for women candidates. 
B)  Women do not have organizations or PACs supporting their candidacy. 
C)  Incumbency is a very powerful resource, and most incumbents have been men. 
D)  Women do not make very effective representatives. 
E)  Women do not want to run for Congress. 
A)  More men than women vote, and men tend not to vote for women candidates. 
B)  Women do not have organizations or PACs supporting their candidacy. 
C)  Incumbency is a very powerful resource, and most incumbents have been men. 
D)  Women do not make very effective representatives. 
E)  Women do not want to run for Congress.

Question 6

The vice president also serves as Speaker of the House of Representatives and breaks tie votes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which of the following is not a service often provided by representatives to their constituents?

Accepted Answer

A)  attempting to influence the decision of a regulatory commission on behalf of a constituent 
B)  presenting a special bill for constituents 
C)  offering constituents legal advice regarding new administrative laws 
D)  writing and mailing out newsletters 
E)  talking to constituents 
A)  attempting to influence the decision of a regulatory commission on behalf of a constituent 
B)  presenting a special bill for constituents 
C)  offering constituents legal advice regarding new administrative laws 
D)  writing and mailing out newsletters 
E)  talking to constituents

Question 8

When the House and the Senate coordinate two versions of the same bill, they will often use a ______ to obtain a single unified bill.

Accepted Answer

A)  joint committee 
B)  conference committee 
C)  reconciliation committee 
D)  standing committee 
E)  select committee 
A)  joint committee 
B)  conference committee 
C)  reconciliation committee 
D)  standing committee 
E)  select committee

Question 9

A standing committee usually has a parallel department or agency within the executive branch.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The need to divide the labor of legislation is best exemplified in what formal structure of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  the establishment of party whips 
B)  the establishment of standing committees 
C)  the strict control over floor time in Congress 
D)  the use of conference committees 
E)  the establishment of minority and majority leaders 
A)  the establishment of party whips 
B)  the establishment of standing committees 
C)  the strict control over floor time in Congress 
D)  the use of conference committees 
E)  the establishment of minority and majority leaders

Question 11

Organizational reforms instituted by Congress in the 1970s

Accepted Answer

A)  fragmented power by reducing the power of committee chairs. 
B)  centralized power into the hands of party leaders. 
C)  sped up legislation by reducing the number of committees to which a bill was referred. 
D)  reduced the scrutiny of the media by closing hearings to the public. 
E)  replaced issue networks with iron triangles. 
A)  fragmented power by reducing the power of committee chairs. 
B)  centralized power into the hands of party leaders. 
C)  sped up legislation by reducing the number of committees to which a bill was referred. 
D)  reduced the scrutiny of the media by closing hearings to the public. 
E)  replaced issue networks with iron triangles.

Question 12

Agencies in Congress designed to oversee administrative agencies and evaluate presidential proposals are called

Accepted Answer

A)  committee agencies. 
B)  oversight committees. 
C)  staff agencies. 
D)  review offices. 
E)  iron triangles. 
A)  committee agencies. 
B)  oversight committees. 
C)  staff agencies. 
D)  review offices. 
E)  iron triangles.

Question 13

How can a president's veto be overridden by Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  by a two-thirds vote in either house 
B)  by a two-thirds vote in both houses 
C)  by a simple majority vote in both houses 
D)  by a majority vote in the Veto Override Committee in the House and the Senate 
E)  A president's veto cannot be overridden. 
A)  by a two-thirds vote in either house 
B)  by a two-thirds vote in both houses 
C)  by a simple majority vote in both houses 
D)  by a majority vote in the Veto Override Committee in the House and the Senate 
E)  A president's veto cannot be overridden.

Question 14

Oversight can best be described as

Accepted Answer

A)  the efforts of Congress to supervise the manner in which its laws are implemented by the executive branch. 
B)  the organizational control exercised by party whips over members of Congress. 
C)  the authority of committee chairs over the hearings and investigations conducted by the subcommittees. 
D)  the informal power of the president to set the legislative agenda for Congress. 
E)  the approval that the Senate must give to all presidential appointments to the federal judiciary. 
A)  the efforts of Congress to supervise the manner in which its laws are implemented by the executive branch. 
B)  the organizational control exercised by party whips over members of Congress. 
C)  the authority of committee chairs over the hearings and investigations conducted by the subcommittees. 
D)  the informal power of the president to set the legislative agenda for Congress. 
E)  the approval that the Senate must give to all presidential appointments to the federal judiciary.

Question 15

The four joint committees in Congress are

Accepted Answer

A)  budget, veterans' affairs, labor, and health. 
B)  economic, taxation, library, and printing. 
C)  foreign affairs, welfare, currency, and trade. 
D)  globalization, human rights, employment, and citizenship. 
E)  justice, agriculture, education, and technology. 
A)  budget, veterans' affairs, labor, and health. 
B)  economic, taxation, library, and printing. 
C)  foreign affairs, welfare, currency, and trade. 
D)  globalization, human rights, employment, and citizenship. 
E)  justice, agriculture, education, and technology.

Question 16

In general, members of the House seek committee assignments that will

Accepted Answer

A)  bring them the largest number of campaign donations. 
B)  give them greater media exposure. 
C)  allow them to influence decisions that are of special importance to voters in their districts. 
D)  allow them more personal contact with the president. 
E)  allow them to avoid issues that are important and controversial to voters in their districts. 
A)  bring them the largest number of campaign donations. 
B)  give them greater media exposure. 
C)  allow them to influence decisions that are of special importance to voters in their districts. 
D)  allow them more personal contact with the president. 
E)  allow them to avoid issues that are important and controversial to voters in their districts.

Question 17

Which of the following statements concerning the representation of women and minorities in the U.S. Congress is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Representation of women and minorities has decreased by one-third since the 1970s. 
B)  Representation of women and minorities has increased over the past two decades but is not comparable to their proportions in the general population. 
C)  Women are underrepresented in Congress, but there is a disproportionate representation of minorities in Congress. 
D)  Since the mid-1990s, the number of women and minorities in Congress roughly reflects their proportions in the general population. 
E)  Women and minorities are overrepresented in the House but underrepresented in the Senate. 
A)  Representation of women and minorities has decreased by one-third since the 1970s. 
B)  Representation of women and minorities has increased over the past two decades but is not comparable to their proportions in the general population. 
C)  Women are underrepresented in Congress, but there is a disproportionate representation of minorities in Congress. 
D)  Since the mid-1990s, the number of women and minorities in Congress roughly reflects their proportions in the general population. 
E)  Women and minorities are overrepresented in the House but underrepresented in the Senate.

Question 18

Constituency service and private bills are common forms of patronage.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

A senator or representative running for re-election is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  constituent. 
B)  incumbent. 
C)  elector. 
D)  trustee. 
E)  delegate. 
A)  constituent. 
B)  incumbent. 
C)  elector. 
D)  trustee. 
E)  delegate.

Question 20

Which of the following statements concerning the process of reapportionment is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  In order for one state to gain a seat, another state must lose a seat. 
B)  States that grow in size may gain extra seats, but the Constitution forbids reducing the number of representatives for any state. 
C)  States that fall below a minimum number of inhabitants are represented in the House by a nonvoting delegate. 
D)  States that grow in size may gain extra seats, but the Constitution forbids any state from having more than 35 representatives. 
E)  States that grow in population can refuse to accept further seats and instead give them to another state. 
A)  In order for one state to gain a seat, another state must lose a seat. 
B)  States that grow in size may gain extra seats, but the Constitution forbids reducing the number of representatives for any state. 
C)  States that fall below a minimum number of inhabitants are represented in the House by a nonvoting delegate. 
D)  States that grow in size may gain extra seats, but the Constitution forbids any state from having more than 35 representatives. 
E)  States that grow in population can refuse to accept further seats and instead give them to another state.

Exam 12: Congress

Congress adjourns during a ten-day period after presenting the president with a bill, and the president takes no action. This is known as a

Which of the following is not a task of congressional staff members?

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Three factors related to the American electoral system affect who is elected to office in this country and what they do once they get there. Those factors are

Which of the following best explains the small number of women in Congress?

The vice president also serves as Speaker of the House of Representatives and breaks tie votes.

Which of the following is not a service often provided by representatives to their constituents?

When the House and the Senate coordinate two versions of the same bill, they will often use a ______ to obtain a single unified bill.

A standing committee usually has a parallel department or agency within the executive branch.

The need to divide the labor of legislation is best exemplified in what formal structure of Congress?

Organizational reforms instituted by Congress in the 1970s

Agencies in Congress designed to oversee administrative agencies and evaluate presidential proposals are called

How can a president's veto be overridden by Congress?

Oversight can best be described as

The four joint committees in Congress are

In general, members of the House seek committee assignments that will

Which of the following statements concerning the representation of women and minorities in the U.S. Congress is true?

Constituency service and private bills are common forms of patronage.

A senator or representative running for re-election is called the

Which of the following statements concerning the process of reapportionment is correct?

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