Question 1

Who has the most real power in the Senate?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Speaker of the Senate 
B)  the majority and minority leaders 
C)  the Senate president pro tempore 
D)  the chair of the Rules Committee 
E)  Unlike the House, all senators are equal in power. 
A)  the Speaker of the Senate 
B)  the majority and minority leaders 
C)  the Senate president pro tempore 
D)  the chair of the Rules Committee 
E)  Unlike the House, all senators are equal in power.

Question 2

In each House district there are approximately ______ people.

Accepted Answer

A)  200,000 
B)  700,000 
C)  1,000,000 
D)  1,500,000 
E)  2,000,000 
A)  200,000 
B)  700,000 
C)  1,000,000 
D)  1,500,000 
E)  2,000,000

Question 3

The "sophomore surge" refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  the fact that many members of Congress lose their re-election campaigns after their second term in office. 
B)  the tendency for college students to intern with their local members of Congress during the summer between their sophomore and junior years in college. 
C)  the fact that most members of Congress leave office after serving only two years. 
D)  the fact that many college sophomores choose to vote in midterm congressional elections but not in presidential elections. 
E)  the tendency for candidates to win a higher percentage of the vote when seeking future terms in office. 
A)  the fact that many members of Congress lose their re-election campaigns after their second term in office. 
B)  the tendency for college students to intern with their local members of Congress during the summer between their sophomore and junior years in college. 
C)  the fact that most members of Congress leave office after serving only two years. 
D)  the fact that many college sophomores choose to vote in midterm congressional elections but not in presidential elections. 
E)  the tendency for candidates to win a higher percentage of the vote when seeking future terms in office.

Question 4

Describe the process by which a bill becomes a law. What are some of the major steps and hurdles over which a bill must pass? What are the main differences in the legislative process between the two houses of Congress?

Accepted Answer

The process by which a bill becomes a la

Question 5

Cloture is

Accepted Answer

A)  the ability of a senator to speak for as long as he or she wishes to prevent action from being taken on legislation that he or she opposes. 
B)  the process by which three-fifths of the Senate can end a filibuster. 
C)  the rule that allows one house of Congress to circumvent the other during the legislative process. 
D)  the process by which the president can end a filibuster. 
E)  a lawsuit filed by a member of the Senate against a member of the House or vice versa. 
A)  the ability of a senator to speak for as long as he or she wishes to prevent action from being taken on legislation that he or she opposes. 
B)  the process by which three-fifths of the Senate can end a filibuster. 
C)  the rule that allows one house of Congress to circumvent the other during the legislative process. 
D)  the process by which the president can end a filibuster. 
E)  a lawsuit filed by a member of the Senate against a member of the House or vice versa.

Question 6

Which of the following is a key assumption of the sociological model of representation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because similarity helps promote good representation, the composition of legislative bodies should mirror the composition of society. 
B)  The composition of legislative bodies need not mirror society because all members of Congress are equally well-equipped to represent the views and interests of their constituents. 
C)  The government that governs least governs best. 
D)  The government that governs most governs best. 
E)  All representatives should have extensive educations and degrees in the social sciences before taking office in order to ensure the best government. 
A)  Because similarity helps promote good representation, the composition of legislative bodies should mirror the composition of society. 
B)  The composition of legislative bodies need not mirror society because all members of Congress are equally well-equipped to represent the views and interests of their constituents. 
C)  The government that governs least governs best. 
D)  The government that governs most governs best. 
E)  All representatives should have extensive educations and degrees in the social sciences before taking office in order to ensure the best government.

Question 7

As of 2012, how many women serve in the U.S. Senate?

Accepted Answer

A)  two 
B)  seven 
C)  twenty 
D)  twenty-one 
E)  twenty-nine 
A)  two 
B)  seven 
C)  twenty 
D)  twenty-one 
E)  twenty-nine

Question 8

Congressional leaders charged with lining up party members on important votes are known as sergeants-at-arms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The most common occupation among members of Congress before coming to Congress is

Accepted Answer

A)  business executive. 
B)  sales representative. 
C)  professor. 
D)  lawyer. 
E)  lobbyist. 
A)  business executive. 
B)  sales representative. 
C)  professor. 
D)  lawyer. 
E)  lobbyist.

Question 10

Congressional leaders form ______ committees when they want to take up an issue that falls between the jurisdiction of existing committees, to highlight an issue, or to investigate a particular problem.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

The two presidents to be impeached by the House of Representatives were Bill Clinton and

Accepted Answer

A)  Andrew Jackson. 
B)  Andrew Johnson. 
C)  Herbert Hoover. 
D)  Richard Nixon. 
E)  Warren Harding. 
A)  Andrew Jackson. 
B)  Andrew Johnson. 
C)  Herbert Hoover. 
D)  Richard Nixon. 
E)  Warren Harding.

Question 12

The jurisdiction of standing committees

Accepted Answer

A)  is related to a specific geographic region. 
B)  is defined by the subject matter of legislation, which often parallels the major cabinet departments or agencies. 
C)  is determined by the different political parties. 
D)  is determined by the U.S. Supreme Court. 
E)  often overlaps with the jurisdiction of select committees. 
A)  is related to a specific geographic region. 
B)  is defined by the subject matter of legislation, which often parallels the major cabinet departments or agencies. 
C)  is determined by the different political parties. 
D)  is determined by the U.S. Supreme Court. 
E)  often overlaps with the jurisdiction of select committees.

Question 13

The House Ways and Means Committee is one of the most important committees in Congress because

Accepted Answer

A)  it decides the order in which specific bills come up for a vote on the House floor and the specific rules that govern the length of debate. 
B)  it determines which representatives are assigned to which committees within the House. 
C)  it has the final vote on all foreign policy legislation moving through the House. 
D)  it has jurisdiction over taxes, trade, and entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. 
E)  it is placed in charge of voting on impeachment charges. 
A)  it decides the order in which specific bills come up for a vote on the House floor and the specific rules that govern the length of debate. 
B)  it determines which representatives are assigned to which committees within the House. 
C)  it has the final vote on all foreign policy legislation moving through the House. 
D)  it has jurisdiction over taxes, trade, and entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. 
E)  it is placed in charge of voting on impeachment charges.

Question 14

Why does the House have greater party unity than the Senate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Representatives have more partisan constituents than senators. 
B)  House leaders have more organizational control over the actions of representatives than Senate leaders. 
C)  Political parties donate more money to re-elect representatives than senators, who are more independent fund-raisers. 
D)  There is, in fact, no real difference in levels of party unity between the House and the Senate. 
E)  Interest groups are less influential in the House than in the Senate. 
A)  Representatives have more partisan constituents than senators. 
B)  House leaders have more organizational control over the actions of representatives than Senate leaders. 
C)  Political parties donate more money to re-elect representatives than senators, who are more independent fund-raisers. 
D)  There is, in fact, no real difference in levels of party unity between the House and the Senate. 
E)  Interest groups are less influential in the House than in the Senate.

Question 15

A(n) ______ has the same status as a treaty but does not require Senate approval.

Accepted Answer

A)  international accord 
B)  multilateral initiative 
C)  executive agreement 
D)  foreign policy position 
E)  executive order 
A)  international accord 
B)  multilateral initiative 
C)  executive agreement 
D)  foreign policy position 
E)  executive order

Question 16

Who decides which committee assignments members of the House of Representatives receive?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Speaker of the House 
B)  each party's own "steering and policy" committee 
C)  the president selects for members of his own party, and either the House majority or minority leader selects for opposition members 
D)  each party's National Committee 
E)  each party's whip 
A)  the Speaker of the House 
B)  each party's own "steering and policy" committee 
C)  the president selects for members of his own party, and either the House majority or minority leader selects for opposition members 
D)  each party's National Committee 
E)  each party's whip

Question 17

A filibuster is a parliamentary device found in the Senate but not the House.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

The filibuster is likely to remain a feature of legislative politics in the United States because

Accepted Answer

A)  the House, the Senate, and the president all must agree to eliminate it. 
B)  it makes majority rule in the Senate much easier. 
C)  a sixty-seven vote majority is required to eliminate it. 
D)  a constitutional amendment is required to eliminate it. 
E)  it is universally regarded as an essential part of every legislative assembly. 
A)  the House, the Senate, and the president all must agree to eliminate it. 
B)  it makes majority rule in the Senate much easier. 
C)  a sixty-seven vote majority is required to eliminate it. 
D)  a constitutional amendment is required to eliminate it. 
E)  it is universally regarded as an essential part of every legislative assembly.

Question 19

Congress is a ______ legislature with ______ members.

Accepted Answer

A)  unicameral; 342 
B)  bicameral; 535 
C)  bicameral; 100 
D)  unicameral; 630 
E)  unicameral; 750 
A)  unicameral; 342 
B)  bicameral; 535 
C)  bicameral; 100 
D)  unicameral; 630 
E)  unicameral; 750

Question 20

A filibuster allows members of the Senate to

Accepted Answer

A)  refer a bill to multiple committees. 
B)  avoid a conference committee. 
C)  prevent a vote on a bill by speaking continuously on the floor. 
D)  call into question any action of the executive branch. 
E)  add amendments to any bill at any time. 
A)  refer a bill to multiple committees. 
B)  avoid a conference committee. 
C)  prevent a vote on a bill by speaking continuously on the floor. 
D)  call into question any action of the executive branch. 
E)  add amendments to any bill at any time.

Exam 12: Congress

Who has the most real power in the Senate?

In each House district there are approximately ______ people.

The "sophomore surge" refers to

Describe the process by which a bill becomes a law. What are some of the major steps and hurdles over which a bill must pass? What are the main differences in the legislative process between the two houses of Congress?

Cloture is

Which of the following is a key assumption of the sociological model of representation?

As of 2012, how many women serve in the U.S. Senate?

Congressional leaders charged with lining up party members on important votes are known as sergeants-at-arms.

The most common occupation among members of Congress before coming to Congress is

Congressional leaders form ______ committees when they want to take up an issue that falls between the jurisdiction of existing committees, to highlight an issue, or to investigate a particular problem.

The two presidents to be impeached by the House of Representatives were Bill Clinton and

The jurisdiction of standing committees

The House Ways and Means Committee is one of the most important committees in Congress because

Why does the House have greater party unity than the Senate?

A(n) ______ has the same status as a treaty but does not require Senate approval.

Who decides which committee assignments members of the House of Representatives receive?

A filibuster is a parliamentary device found in the Senate but not the House.

The filibuster is likely to remain a feature of legislative politics in the United States because

Congress is a ______ legislature with ______ members.

A filibuster allows members of the Senate to

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