Question 1

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 E

Question 2

Most members of the House attempt to stay on good terms with the Speaker of the House because

Accepted Answer

A)  the Speaker has the authority to call all party unity votes. 
B)  the Speaker possesses the power of recognition. 
C)  the Speaker controls all committee assignments. 
D)  the Speaker approves all requests for logrolling. 
E)  the Speaker makes all decisions regarding how leadership PACs will distribute their funds. 
A)  the Speaker has the authority to call all party unity votes. 
B)  the Speaker possesses the power of recognition. 
C)  the Speaker controls all committee assignments. 
D)  the Speaker approves all requests for logrolling. 
E)  the Speaker makes all decisions regarding how leadership PACs will distribute their funds. B

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

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.

Question 5

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 6

What unusual action did Texas take after the 2000 census?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Texas legislature refused to change the congressional districts from what they were during the 1990s. 
B)  Texas redistricted twice, in 2001 and 2003. 
C)  The Texas legislature established a nonpartisan redistricting board to draw new districts. 
D)  The Texas legislature permitted the Department of Justice to draw the new district boundaries, in conformity with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 
E)  The Texas legislature allowed citizens to vote directly on how each of the new districts should be drawn. 
A)  The Texas legislature refused to change the congressional districts from what they were during the 1990s. 
B)  Texas redistricted twice, in 2001 and 2003. 
C)  The Texas legislature established a nonpartisan redistricting board to draw new districts. 
D)  The Texas legislature permitted the Department of Justice to draw the new district boundaries, in conformity with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 
E)  The Texas legislature allowed citizens to vote directly on how each of the new districts should be drawn.

Question 7

The Supreme Court has ruled that race could not be the predominant factor in creating electoral districts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

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 9

Which of the following does not typically affect an individual's decision to run for elected office?

Accepted Answer

A)  the strength of the individual's connections with interest groups and the national party organization 
B)  the way state legislative districts overlap with congressional districts. 
C)  the individual's ability to meet the extensive list of educational requirements defined by local, state, and federal laws 
D)  the individual's level of personal ambition. 
E)  the individual's ability to raise money for his or her campaign 
A)  the strength of the individual's connections with interest groups and the national party organization 
B)  the way state legislative districts overlap with congressional districts. 
C)  the individual's ability to meet the extensive list of educational requirements defined by local, state, and federal laws 
D)  the individual's level of personal ambition. 
E)  the individual's ability to raise money for his or her campaign

Question 10

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 11

When two members of Congress who share no common interests agree to support each other's bills, the practice is called

Accepted Answer

A)  filibustering. 
B)  delegating. 
C)  logrolling. 
D)  bargaining. 
E)  pork barreling. 
A)  filibustering. 
B)  delegating. 
C)  logrolling. 
D)  bargaining. 
E)  pork barreling.

Question 12

Making laws is frequently compared to making sausages because

Accepted Answer

A)  the result is always unhealthy. 
B)  it is such an easy and straightforward process. 
C)  almost everyone likes the result even if they do not know what went into making it. 
D)  it is such a complex and often ugly process. 
E)  there are no rules that need to be followed. 
A)  the result is always unhealthy. 
B)  it is such an easy and straightforward process. 
C)  almost everyone likes the result even if they do not know what went into making it. 
D)  it is such a complex and often ugly process. 
E)  there are no rules that need to be followed.

Question 13

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.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Which statement about the membership of Congress is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Senators and members of the House are much less likely to be Hispanic than the population on the whole. 
B)  Senators and members of the House are more likely than the population on the whole to be Jewish. 
C)  Senators and members of the House are much more likely than the population on the whole to hold a professional or law degree. 
D)  Senators and members of the House are less likely than the population on the whole to be Protestants. 
E)  Senators and members of the House are, on average, much older than the population. 
A)  Senators and members of the House are much less likely to be Hispanic than the population on the whole. 
B)  Senators and members of the House are more likely than the population on the whole to be Jewish. 
C)  Senators and members of the House are much more likely than the population on the whole to hold a professional or law degree. 
D)  Senators and members of the House are less likely than the population on the whole to be Protestants. 
E)  Senators and members of the House are, on average, much older than the population.

Question 16

The Congressional Research Service and the Government Accountability Office are examples of

Accepted Answer

A)  staff agencies. 
B)  executive-congressional liaison offices. 
C)  caucuses. 
D)  select committees. 
E)  conference committees. 
A)  staff agencies. 
B)  executive-congressional liaison offices. 
C)  caucuses. 
D)  select committees. 
E)  conference committees.

Question 17

Oversight is an important legislative check on the executive branch.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

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 19

The larger, more heterogeneous constituencies and longer terms of Senators means that they are

Accepted Answer

A)  more attuned to the needs of groups and interests organized on a city or countywide basis. 
B)  more likely to consider "new ideas" and are better able to act as the agents for groups and interests organized on a statewide or national basis. 
C)  more likely to serve existing interests than to bring together new coalitions of interests. 
D)  more likely to spend their time thinking about and running for re-election. 
E)  more concerned about reapportionment than members of the House. 
A)  more attuned to the needs of groups and interests organized on a city or countywide basis. 
B)  more likely to consider "new ideas" and are better able to act as the agents for groups and interests organized on a statewide or national basis. 
C)  more likely to serve existing interests than to bring together new coalitions of interests. 
D)  more likely to spend their time thinking about and running for re-election. 
E)  more concerned about reapportionment than members of the House.

Question 20

The process of allocating congressional seats among the fifty states is called

Accepted Answer

A)  redistricting. 
B)  gerrymandering. 
C)  redlining. 
D)  apportionment. 
E)  filibustering. 
A)  redistricting. 
B)  gerrymandering. 
C)  redlining. 
D)  apportionment. 
E)  filibustering.

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

Most members of the House attempt to stay on good terms with the Speaker of the House because

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

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

Congress is a legislature with members.

What unusual action did Texas take after the 2000 census?

The Supreme Court has ruled that race could not be the predominant factor in creating electoral districts.

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

Which of the following does not typically affect an individual's decision to run for elected office?

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

When two members of Congress who share no common interests agree to support each other's bills, the practice is called

Making laws is frequently compared to making sausages because

A filibuster allows members of the Senate to

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

Which statement about the membership of Congress is not true?

The Congressional Research Service and the Government Accountability Office are examples of

Oversight is an important legislative check on the executive branch.

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

The larger, more heterogeneous constituencies and longer terms of Senators means that they are

The process of allocating congressional seats among the fifty states is called

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

Filters

Exam 12: Congress

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

Most members of the House attempt to stay on good terms with the Speaker of the House because

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

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

Congress is a ______ legislature with ______ members.

What unusual action did Texas take after the 2000 census?

The Supreme Court has ruled that race could not be the predominant factor in creating electoral districts.

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

Which of the following does not typically affect an individual's decision to run for elected office?

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

When two members of Congress who share no common interests agree to support each other's bills, the practice is called

Making laws is frequently compared to making sausages because

A filibuster allows members of the Senate to

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

Which statement about the membership of Congress is not true?

The Congressional Research Service and the Government Accountability Office are examples of

Oversight is an important legislative check on the executive branch.

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

The larger, more heterogeneous constituencies and longer terms of Senators means that they are

The process of allocating congressional seats among the fifty states is called

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

Filters

Congress is a legislature with members.

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