Question 1

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 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 Senate.

Question 2

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 3

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 4

One reason some people support the instatement of term limits in the House and Senate is:

Accepted Answer

A)  that it will decrease the power and influence of interest groups 
B)  that it will decrease turnover in Congress and lead to more experienced legislators 
C)  that it will increase turnover and get new faces into Congress 
D)  that it will limit the power and influence of the judiciary 
E)  that it will limit the use of patronage by representatives 
A)  that it will decrease the power and influence of interest groups 
B)  that it will decrease turnover in Congress and lead to more experienced legislators 
C)  that it will increase turnover and get new faces into Congress 
D)  that it will limit the power and influence of the judiciary 
E)  that it will limit the use of patronage by representatives

Question 5

The House Ways and Means Committee is one of the most important 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 6

The number of seats in Congress changes as the population of the United States changes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

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 8

The Senate's constitutional power of advice and consent extends to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  the president's power to make treaties with foreign nations 
B)  the president's power to make executive agreements 
C)  the president's power to issue executive orders 
D)  the president's power to issue pardons 
E)  all federal court decisions regarding the separation of powers 
A)  the president's power to make treaties with foreign nations 
B)  the president's power to make executive agreements 
C)  the president's power to issue executive orders 
D)  the president's power to issue pardons 
E)  all federal court decisions regarding the separation of powers

Question 9

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 10

Which statement about a party unity vote is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  In 2005, party unity voting was close to an all-time high. 
B)  Party unity voting was disallowed by the organizational reforms of the 1970s. 
C)  The decline of party unity voting reflects the increasing strength of party discipline. 
D)  Party unity voting has been increasingly rare since the 1970s. 
E)  Party unity voting is usually higher in the Senate than in the House. 
A)  In 2005, party unity voting was close to an all-time high. 
B)  Party unity voting was disallowed by the organizational reforms of the 1970s. 
C)  The decline of party unity voting reflects the increasing strength of party discipline. 
D)  Party unity voting has been increasingly rare since the 1970s. 
E)  Party unity voting is usually higher in the Senate than in the House.

Question 11

Oversight is an important legislative check on the executive branch.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Constituency service is a key aspect of agency representation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

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 14

Who decides which committee assignments members of 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 15

Pork-barrel legislation:

Accepted Answer

A)  deals with specific projects and their location within a particular congressional district 
B)  deals with specific agricultural subsidies 
C)  funds efforts to increase the levels of America's meat exports 
D)  grants a special privilege to a person named in the bill 
E)  orders state governments to implement a program without providing funding for doing so 
A)  deals with specific projects and their location within a particular congressional district 
B)  deals with specific agricultural subsidies 
C)  funds efforts to increase the levels of America's meat exports 
D)  grants a special privilege to a person named in the bill 
E)  orders state governments to implement a program without providing funding for doing so

Question 16

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 17

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

The four joint committees in Congress are:

Accepted Answer

A)  budget, veteran's 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, veteran's 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

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 20

Which idea of representation says that a legislator should be viewed as someone whom voters hire to represent their interests?

Accepted Answer

A)  agency representation 
B)  sociological representation 
C)  mirroring representation 
D)  trustee representation 
E)  contract representation 
A)  agency representation 
B)  sociological representation 
C)  mirroring representation 
D)  trustee representation 
E)  contract representation

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

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 jurisdiction of standing committees:

One reason some people support the instatement of term limits in the House and Senate is:

The House Ways and Means Committee is one of the most important because:

The number of seats in Congress changes as the population of the United States changes.

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

The Senate's constitutional power of advice and consent extends to which of the following?

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

Which statement about a party unity vote is true?

Oversight is an important legislative check on the executive branch.

Constituency service is a key aspect of agency representation.

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

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

Pork-barrel legislation:

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

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

The four joint committees in Congress are:

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

Which idea of representation says that a legislator should be viewed as someone whom voters hire to represent their interests?

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

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

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 jurisdiction of standing committees:

One reason some people support the instatement of term limits in the House and Senate is:

The House Ways and Means Committee is one of the most important because:

The number of seats in Congress changes as the population of the United States changes.

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

The Senate's constitutional power of advice and consent extends to which of the following?

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

Which statement about a party unity vote is true?

Oversight is an important legislative check on the executive branch.

Constituency service is a key aspect of agency representation.

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

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

Pork-barrel legislation:

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

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

The four joint committees in Congress are:

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

Which idea of representation says that a legislator should be viewed as someone whom voters hire to represent their interests?

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