Question 1

The idea of ______ identifies the best representative as the one who shares a similar racial,ethnic,religious,or occupational background with those he or she represents.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

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.

Question 3

A proposed piece of legislation is called a:

Accepted Answer

A)  bill 
B)  referendum 
C)  proposal 
D)  cloture 
E)  filibuster

Question 4

Which of the following is the best definition of a congressional caucus?

Accepted Answer

A)  a formal substructure of congressional parties, oriented toward fund-raising 
B)  unofficial groups of representatives or senators sharing similar interests or opinions 
C)  informal lobbying groups, organized around similar interests such as agriculture or maritime affairs 
D)  a formal committee that has the power to propose and write legislation 
E)  a vote by members of the House in order to determine who the Speaker of the House will be

Question 5

When the House and the Senate coordinate two versions of the same bill,they will often use a ______ to obtain a single unified bill.

Accepted Answer

A)  joint committee 
B)  conference committee 
C)  reconciliation committee 
D)  standing committee 
E)  select committee

Question 6

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 their campaign.

Question 7

In addition to pressuring members of Congress to vote a certain way on a bill,interest groups also have substantial influence in:

Accepted Answer

A)  setting the legislative agenda 
B)  getting senators to filibuster debates on bills that they oppose 
C)  determining whether a member of Congress will run for re-election 
D)  deciding committee assignments for members of Congress 
E)  determining whether a bill will receive an open rule or a closed rule

Question 8

Which of the following best describes a way in which the House differs from the Senate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The House is more centralized and organized than the Senate. 
B)  The House is a looser and more deliberative body than the Senate. 
C)  The House's representatives are much less specialized than the Senate's members. 
D)  The House has a much greater level of turnover in its membership than the Senate. 
E)  Only the House has the authority to approve the president's appointments to the federal judiciary.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Congress is a ______ legislature with ______ members.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

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)  no one; unlike in the House, all Senators are equal in power

Question 12

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 only two years in office 
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 13

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 answer of Describe the process by which a bill...

Question 14

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Party leaders frequently demand that representatives vote in a particular way even if it conflicts with the representative's district and may hurt their re-election efforts. 
B)  Representatives are always above constituency pressures when they vote on laws in Congress. 
C)  Many states have strict laws that require representatives to vote in accordance with what their constituents want. 
D)  On many issues, constituents do not have very strong views and representatives are free to act as they think best without fear of electoral reprisals. 
E)  On many issues, constituents have very strong views and representatives feel compelled to do exactly what their constituents demand.

Question 15

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

Question 16

Gerrymandering refers to:

Accepted Answer

A)  the resources that elected officials use to reward their supporters 
B)  the manipulation of electoral districts to serve the interests of a particular group 
C)  the practice where legislators trade their support or opposition on one bill to get the support of another legislator on a different bill 
D)  the investigations of the executive branch that Congress frequently engages in 
E)  the tactic used by members of the Senate to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down

Question 17

What did the Supreme Court declare in Miller v.Johnson?

Accepted Answer

A)  Districts could not be drawn to favor the incumbent candidate. 
B)  The racial composition of a district could not be the predominant factor when redistricting. 
C)  Incumbents could not begin fundraising more than nine months before the general election. 
D)  It was not unconstitutional for states to use an unelected, nonpartisan committee to redistrict. 
E)  The use of computer technologies to draw districts that will favor one party over another is unconstitutional.

Question 18

Describe some of the different ways members of Congress can represent the American people.What are the principles behind sociological and agency representation? What are some examples of each type? Which type of representation do you believe is the best?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe some of the different ways members...

Question 19

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

Question 20

One reason why redistricting is controversial is:

Accepted Answer

A)  computer technologies allow legislatures to know statistically what kinds of people live where and this can be used to give one party an advantage over the other 
B)  it is unclear whether state legislatures or the federal government has the authority to redraw districts 
C)  incumbents never lose when districts are redrawn 
D)  it is unclear whether districts have to be drawn in such a way that each district includes roughly the same number of people 
E)  interest groups and PACs exert a great deal of influence over the specific shape of each district

Exam 9: Congress