Question 1

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 2

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 3

About 50 percent of incumbents win re-election.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

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 5

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 6

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 7

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 8

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

Question 9

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 10

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

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 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

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 14

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 15

Congress may overturn a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote by each house.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

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 17

The House Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over which of the following areas?

Accepted Answer

A)  taxes, trade, and entitlement programs 
B)  foreign relations and national security 
C)  rules governing debate on the floor and committee assignments 
D)  highways and waterways 
E)  agricultural and food issues 
A)  taxes, trade, and entitlement programs 
B)  foreign relations and national security 
C)  rules governing debate on the floor and committee assignments 
D)  highways and waterways 
E)  agricultural and food issues

Question 18

Cloture is:

Accepted Answer

A)  the ability of a senator to speak for as long as he or she wishes to prevent action 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 which 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 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 which 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 19

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 20

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

Approximately what percentage of proposed bills die in committee?

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

About 50 percent of incumbents win re-election.

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

In 2006,______ became the Speaker of the House.

A filibuster allows members of the Senate to:

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:

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

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

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

Conference committees are:

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

Congress may overturn a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote by each house.

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

The House Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over which of the following areas?

Cloture is:

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

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

Introduction: The Citizen and the Government

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Parties,Participation,and Elections

Interest Groups

The Presidency

Bureaucracy

The Federal Courts

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 9: Congress

Approximately what percentage of proposed bills die in committee?

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

About 50 percent of incumbents win re-election.

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

In 2006,______ became the Speaker of the House.

A filibuster allows members of the Senate to:

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:

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

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

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

Conference committees are:

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

Congress may overturn a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote by each house.

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

The House Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over which of the following areas?

Cloture is:

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

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

Introduction: The Citizen and the Government

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Parties,Participation,and Elections

Interest Groups

The Presidency

Bureaucracy

The Federal Courts

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

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