Question 1

About 50 percent of incumbents win re-election.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Approximately what percentage of proposed bills die in committee?

Accepted Answer

A)  40 percent 
B)  50 percent 
C)  60 percent 
D)  75 percent 
E)  95 percent 
A)  40 percent 
B)  50 percent 
C)  60 percent 
D)  75 percent 
E)  95 percent

Question 3

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 4

Constituency service is a key aspect of agency representation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

The frequency with which they must seek re-election makes members of the House

Accepted Answer

A)  more responsive to the needs of the elites in the states they represent. 
B)  less responsive to the needs of elites in the states they represent. 
C)  less responsive to the needs of local interest groups in the districts they represent. 
D)  more responsive to the needs of local interest groups in the districts they represent. 
E)  less responsive to the needs of both elites and interest groups in the districts they represent. 
A)  more responsive to the needs of the elites in the states they represent. 
B)  less responsive to the needs of elites in the states they represent. 
C)  less responsive to the needs of local interest groups in the districts they represent. 
D)  more responsive to the needs of local interest groups in the districts they represent. 
E)  less responsive to the needs of both elites and interest groups in the districts they represent.

Question 6

The House of Representatives has 335 members, and the Senate has 100 members.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

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 9

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 10

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.

Question 11

A vote on which 50 percent or more of the members of one party take one position while at least 50 percent of the members of the other party take the opposing position is called

Accepted Answer

A)  an ideological split. 
B)  congressional gridlock. 
C)  a party unity vote. 
D)  a pocket veto. 
E)  cloture. 
A)  an ideological split. 
B)  congressional gridlock. 
C)  a party unity vote. 
D)  a pocket veto. 
E)  cloture.

Question 12

Conference committees are

Accepted Answer

A)  permanent and involve members from both the House and the Senate, but they do not have the power to report legislation. 
B)  temporary and are created to take up an issue that falls between the jurisdiction of existing committees, to highlight an issue, or to investigate a particular problem. 
C)  permanent and have the power to write and propose legislation. 
D)  temporary, involve members from both houses of Congress, and are charged with reaching a compromise on legislation once it has been passed by both the House and the Senate. 
E)  informal committees composed of members from both political parties and both houses of Congress that are designed to promote bipartisanship. 
A)  permanent and involve members from both the House and the Senate, but they do not have the power to report legislation. 
B)  temporary and are created to take up an issue that falls between the jurisdiction of existing committees, to highlight an issue, or to investigate a particular problem. 
C)  permanent and have the power to write and propose legislation. 
D)  temporary, involve members from both houses of Congress, and are charged with reaching a compromise on legislation once it has been passed by both the House and the Senate. 
E)  informal committees composed of members from both political parties and both houses of Congress that are designed to promote bipartisanship.

Question 13

The determination of the time and structure of floor debate on a bill, in the House of Representatives, is up to the

Accepted Answer

A)  bill's authors. 
B)  Rules Committee. 
C)  Ways and Means Committee. 
D)  majority leader. 
E)  congressional staff. 
A)  bill's authors. 
B)  Rules Committee. 
C)  Ways and Means Committee. 
D)  majority leader. 
E)  congressional staff.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

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 17

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 18

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 19

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 20

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.

About 50 percent of incumbents win re-election.

Approximately what percentage of proposed bills die in committee?

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

Constituency service is a key aspect of agency representation.

The frequency with which they must seek re-election makes members of the House

The House of Representatives has 335 members, and the Senate has 100 members.

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

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

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

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

A vote on which 50 percent or more of the members of one party take one position while at least 50 percent of the members of the other party take the opposing position is called

Conference committees are

The determination of the time and structure of floor debate on a bill, in the House of Representatives, is up to the

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

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

In each House district there are approximately ______ people.

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

The four joint committees in Congress are

Organizational reforms instituted by Congress in the 1970s

A bicameral legislature is one that has

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

About 50 percent of incumbents win re-election.

Approximately what percentage of proposed bills die in committee?

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

Constituency service is a key aspect of agency representation.

The frequency with which they must seek re-election makes members of the House

The House of Representatives has 335 members, and the Senate has 100 members.

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

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

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

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

A vote on which 50 percent or more of the members of one party take one position while at least 50 percent of the members of the other party take the opposing position is called

Conference committees are

The determination of the time and structure of floor debate on a bill, in the House of Representatives, is up to the

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

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

In each House district there are approximately ______ people.

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

The four joint committees in Congress are

Organizational reforms instituted by Congress in the 1970s

A bicameral legislature is one that has

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

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