Question 1

President Obama’s decision to make recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board and the Consumer Protection Agency __________.

Accepted Answer

angered Senate Republicans because the Senate has the duty to accept or reject presidential nominations
for “Officers of the United States”

Answer

was opposed by the Supreme Court because the president had failed to get their approval before the positions were filled

Answer

was stopped by a federal court because they violated the Constitution

Answer

outraged Democrats in the House because the House of Representatives has the duty to confirm presidential appointments to departments and agencies of the federal government

Question 2

Which of the following statements about gerrymandering is true?

Accepted Answer

Although the Supreme Court has been willing to review the constitutionality of redistricting plans, the most recent decisions have upheld redistricting plans in Pennsylvania and Texas.

Answer

Partisan redistricting almost inevitably works to the detriment of incumbents.

Answer

The strategy of dividing the opposing party’s supporters into different districts is known as “packing.”

Answer

One of the few states in which gerrymandering no longer occurs is New York, where the state legislature
prohibits such practices.

Question 3

Following the 2010 census, Ohio lost two seats in the House of Representatives due to __________.

Accepted Answer

reapportionment

Answer

redistricting

Answer

a caucus

Answer

a filibuster

Question 4

Which of the statements accurately describes the legislative process?

Accepted Answer

Filibusters in the Senate are used to stop bills from coming to a floor vote.

Answer

The Rules Committee in the House of Representatives can call for a floor vote at any time once a bill is introduced.

Answer

Cloture in the Senate is used to send a bill into committee for further discussion and review.

Answer

The House of Representatives and the Senate both all of the same amount of time for party leaders to present their arguments.

Question 5

The job of a conference committee is to __________.

Accepted Answer

reconcile House and Senate versions of a bill

Answer

set the rules of debate for a bill

Answer

determine the committee path of a bill

Answer

override a presidential veto

Question 6

Which statement about redistricting is true?

Accepted Answer

Only 30 to 50 of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives are open for real competition in the most recent elections.

Answer

The concept of “one person, one vote” applies to presidential election, not the apportionment of U.S. congressional districts.

Answer

Gerrymandering allows districts to be redrawn in such a way as to ensure one political party’s continued strength in the state legislature, not Congress.

Answer

Partisan redistricting aids challengers because most voters distrust incumbents.

Question 7

A temporary law that Congress passes when an appropriations bill has not been decided by the beginning of the fiscal year is __________.

Accepted Answer

a continuing resolution

Answer

a spring review

Answer

a Second Temporary Budget Resolution

Answer

the Emergency Revenue Generation Act

Question 8

Techniques like “packing” and “cracking” may be used during redistricting to __________.

Accepted Answer

maximize a political party’s chances of winning seats in the state legislature and Congress

Answer

increase voter turnout of minority groups

Answer

decrease the voting power of undecided voters in national elections

Answer

confuse voters about their polling location or the candidates on their ballot

Question 9

Congress under the “necessary and proper” clause has __________.

Accepted Answer

expanded the role of the national government relative to that of the states

Answer

served to limit the expansion of national authority

Answer

limited their own ability to amend the Constitution

Answer

increased the powers of the state governments at the expense of Congress’ powers

Question 10

Which statement about gerrymandering is true?

Accepted Answer

During the early 1990s, the federal government encouraged gerrymandering that made possible the election of a minority representative from areas where minority voters were the majority.

Answer

The Supreme Court in 1996 and 2001 held that North Carolina has drawn districts with race being the dominant factor and ordered that they be redrawn to remedy the racial gerrymandering.

Answer

Gerrymandering is a relatively new tactic, originating in the 1960 congressional elections, that is used to
increase the likelihood of an incumbent being reelected with minimal opposition.

Answer

The Supreme Court has supported the creation of congressional districts based solely on race or ethnicity and stated that in no way do they undermine the equal protection clause of the Constitution.

Question 11

Which of the following steps in the legislative process is in the correct order?

Accepted Answer

proposal, referral to subcommittee, floor vote, conference committee is convened

Answer

floor vote, conference committee is convened, referral to subcommittee, proposal

Answer

conference committee is convened, floor vote, proposal, referral to subcommittee

Answer

conference committee is convened, proposal, referral to subcommittee, floor vote

Question 12

Which of the following is true concerning leadership in the House of Representatives?

Accepted Answer

In the past two decades, leadership of the House has held significant power to control the agenda.

Answer

The foremost power holder in the House of Representatives is the president pro tempore.

Answer

The Speaker of the House has to perform duties in a nonpartisan fashion.

Answer

An important function of the House majority leader is to report all progress of legislation to the president.

Question 13

According to the cue-taking model, __________.

Accepted Answer

members of Congress make decisions by checking how key colleagues intend to vote on a bill

Answer

the majority party normally prevails because of cues provided by the whips

Answer

members of Congress “cross over to the other side” when the interests of their district differ from the interests of their party

Answer

the Rules Committee sets rules according to cues from the minority leader

Question 14

After a bill has been introduced and referred to a committee, the committee __________.

Accepted Answer

may hold hearings to explore the merits of the bill

Answer

is required to pass the bill on to the entire house

Answer

is required to refer the bill to a subcommittee

Answer

is required to consult with the president’s official legislative liaison

Question 15

Which statement about the powers of Congress as granted by the U.S. Constitution is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

The founders envisioned Congress as having a leading role in the new government, which is evidenced by
the powers of the legislative body being outlined in Article I of the Constitution.

Answer

Congress is a unitary body because the two separate assemblies, the House of Representatives and the Senate, convene under one roof as one united legislature.

Answer

The principal and most obvious function of Congress is the carrying out of laws that have been created by the president and the executive branch.

Answer

The Connecticut Compromise resulted in Congress becoming a parliamentary body that reflects the social- class biases of the founders.

Question 16

The most important committees in Congress are __________ committees, permanent bodies that possess an expertise due to their jurisdiction over certain policy areas.

Accepted Answer

standing

Answer

legislative

Answer

joint

Answer

conference

Question 17

Redistricting is __________.

Accepted Answer

the redrawing of district boundaries within each state to ensure equal district populations

Answer

normally a bipartisan exercise

Answer

the alteration of a legislative formula that apportions spending among the states

Answer

a court order to hold new elections because of voting irregularities

Question 18

Which statement regarding the steps taken for a bill to become a law is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Bills are introduced in Congress but they may face disapproval by the president using the veto.

Answer

A  joint resolution is required for all bills to move from Congress to the president.

Answer

Following the signing of a bill into law by the president, two-thirds of the states must approve the law.

Answer

If chambers pass a bill and it contains different provisions, the bill must move to the compromise committee to be resolved.

Question 19

Following the introduction of a bill in the House of Representatives, what is the next step in the legislative process?

Accepted Answer

The bill is referred to a committee.

Answer

The bill dies unless a committee chair decides to “mark up” the bill.

Answer

The Speaker of the House decides whether to ignore the bill or take action.

Answer

The majority-party caucus votes whether or not to support the bill.

Question 20

A majority of the bills on which Congress acts originates __________.

Accepted Answer

in the executive branch

Answer

from members of Congress

Answer

from Supreme Court decisions

Answer

among the bureaucracy

Question 21

A __________ committee is established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.

Accepted Answer

select

Answer

joint

Answer

standing

Answer

conference

Question 22

The federal government’s fiscal year runs from __________.

Accepted Answer

October through September

Answer

April through March

Answer

January through December

Answer

July through June

Question 23

When a member chooses to “cross the aisle,” he or she is __________.

Accepted Answer

choosing to vote with members of the opposing political party

Answer

opting to run for reelection in the other house of Congress

Answer

changing his or her party affiliation for future elections

Answer

switching his or her party affiliation for future votes

Question 24

The representation function of a member of Congress varies because __________.

Accepted Answer

the interests of constituents in a district may be in conflict with the demands of national policy

Answer

a member might feel more compelled to conduct oversight through enforcement and administration

Answer

the member might be torn between serving as a trustee or instructed delegate

Answer

the member might be focused on his or her reelection campaign and potential challengers

Question 25

One major difference between the House and Senate is the total number of members, ensuring that __________.

Accepted Answer

a greater number of formal rules are needed to govern activity in the House

Answer

the House will spend much more time on a bill on the floor than will the Senate

Answer

House members must sit on more committees than senator

Answer

that a constitutional amendment has been proposed to increase the size of the House and to reduce the numbers in the Senate

Question 26

The __________ is the only part of the government that has always been elected by the people.

Accepted Answer

House of Representatives

Answer

Senate

Answer

Supreme Court

Answer

president

Question 27

The use of the filibuster and cloture in the Senate has occurred because __________.

Accepted Answer

the rules governing debate in the Senate are not as limited as in the House of Representatives

Answer

the majority party in the Senate is reacting to the use of the “nuclear option” by the minority party

Answer

the greater size of the Senate requires procedures to limit the debate on the floor of the Senate

Answer

the leadership in the Senate does not have the same authority to set the agenda like in the House of
Representatives

Question 28

Which statement about the functions provided by members of Congress is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Oversight is the process in which Congress follows up on the laws it has enacted.

Answer

Conflict resolution involves holding public hearings to allow Congress to hear a range of viewpoints on pressing national questions.

Answer

Congress performs the representation function when it decides what issues it will discuss through agenda
setting.

Answer

The public-education function permits Congress to resolve differences among competing perspectives through compromise on legislation.

Question 29

After being reported by a committee, but before being sent to the House floor, bills are given to the __________ Committee, which defines the conditions under which the bills are to be considered by the House.

Accepted Answer

Rules

Answer

Appropriations

Answer

Ways and Means

Answer

Select

Question 30

Which of the statements best describes reapportionment?

Accepted Answer

The reallocation of seats in the House of Representatives to the states following a census.

Answer

The redrawing of congressional districts by state governments based on a new census.

Answer

The redrawing of congressional districts by the House of Representatives based on a new census.

Answer

The reallocation of seats on committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate between the two parties based on the most recent election.

Question 31

The seniority system provides that __________.

Accepted Answer

the committee member of the majority party with the longest continuous service normally becomes the committee chairperson

Answer

members become party whips in order of seniority

Answer

members of the House can be appointed to the Senate to fill vacancies

Answer

the Speaker of the House is the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service

Question 32

All of the following steps are part of the process for passing the annual federal budget except __________.

Accepted Answer

the federal agencies submit their budget requests directly to Congress

Answer

the proposed budget is considered by the appropriations committees in the House and the Senate

Answer

the proposed budget is considered by the budget committees in the House and Senate

Answer

the Office of Management and Budget reviews the budget requests of the various federal agencies

Question 33

The House of Representatives and the Senate are most similar to each other in the __________.

Accepted Answer

power standing committees have in the legislative process

Answer

power of the Rules Committee to set the rules for floor debate

Answer

way they select their presiding officer

Answer

checks they have on the power of the president

Question 34

A unanimous consent agreement __________.

Accepted Answer

is needed for legislation to reach the floor and debate to occur in the Senate

Answer

describes a vote taken in the Senate that ends a filibuster on a bill by demanding an immediate vote

Answer

is a vote taken in both houses of Congress that moves a bill directly to the president for his approval

Answer

establishes the rules for debates, amendments, and votes in the House of Representatives

Question 35

A congressional earmark allows __________.

Accepted Answer

the government to spend money on a specific project

Answer

a tax loophole for a specific corporation

Answer

f or deficit spending rather than balancing the federal budget

Answer

the funding required for entitlement programs

Question 36

The most important foreign policy power is the power to __________.

Accepted Answer

declare war

Answer

borrow money from other countries

Answer

raise an army

Answer

punish piracy on the high seas

Question 37

The House of Representatives has a more formal, complex, and centralized leadership structure compared to the Senate because __________.

Accepted Answer

the membership of the Senate is less than one-fourth the size of the House of Representatives

Answer

the members in the House tend to be younger and more inexperienced, requiring more detailed procedures for the legislative process

Answer

the Senate has six years to pass the same laws that the House must address in only two years

Answer

the Senate was originally supposed to be composed of more elite members of society who would have not
required procedural rules to maintain order

Question 38

The most important of the domestic powers of Congress are the right to collect taxes, to __________.

Accepted Answer

spend, and to regulate commerce

Answer

establish post offices, and to regulate copyrights and patents

Answer

coin money, and to borrow money

Answer

establish the federal court system, and to coin money

Question 39

A bill passes through both chambers and will then __________.

Accepted Answer

go to a conference committee

Answer

be reported on in the House and Senate floors by the conference committee

Answer

become law

Answer

be sent to the president for his consideration

Question 40

Most of the actual work of legislating is __________.

Accepted Answer

performed by the committees and subcommittees within Congress

Answer

undertaken through a series of floor votes in the respective chambers

Answer

performed by interest groups and then acted on by Congress

Answer

accomplished in state legislatures and then acted upon by Congress

Question 41

A representative who is performing the role of a trustee is __________.

Accepted Answer

acting on conscience or representing the broad interests of the entire society

Answer

representing only the needs of his or her constituents

Answer

supporting all of the president’s legislative programs

Answer

representing other members of Congress

Question 42

The Office of Management and Budget is one of the most powerful agencies in Washington because it __________.

Accepted Answer

assists in the preparation of the federal budget and monitors federal agencies throughout the year

Answer

appropriates funds to other departments and agencies

Answer

audits the expenses of all other agencies to ensure fiscal responsibility

Answer

authorizes all budget resolutions and guides the budget through approval in Congress

Question 43

__________ reinforced the logic of separate constituencies and separate interests underlying the bicameral Congress.

Accepted Answer

Differences in length of tenure

Answer

The methods of amending the Constitution

Answer

State governments

Answer

The Bill of Rights

Question 44

Every two years, the Senate __________.

Accepted Answer

has one-third of its members elected

Answer

permits a territory to rotate into the membership

Answer

redraws the House districts for the following election

Answer

prepares for a new census

Question 45

The conservative coalition __________.

Accepted Answer

has weakened because most Southern conservative congresspersons are now Republican

Answer

was a faction of the Republican Party

Answer

was created by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election

Answer

was a faction of the Democratic Party

Question 46

Before Congress can appropriate money to an agency, __________.

Accepted Answer

an authorization bill must have been passed

Answer

the Senate must have waived the ability to filibuster

Answer

the House of Representatives must wait two weeks

Answer

all unauthorized appropriations must be returned

Question 47

According to the Constitution, all bills for raising revenue __________.

Accepted Answer

must originate in the House

Answer

must receive a two-thirds vote in both houses

Answer

must originate in conference committee

Answer

are introduced by the president

Question 48

In the House of Representatives, the discharge petition is used to __________.

Accepted Answer

force a bill out of committee so that the entire House can vote on it

Answer

adjourn for the remainder of the session

Answer

force the Speaker to take action on a bill

Answer

delay action on a bill that has the support of the majority

Question 49

A representative who is performing the role of an instructed delegate is __________.

Accepted Answer

primarily representing the wishes of his or her constituents

Answer

representing the broad interests of the entire society

Answer

supporting all of the president’s legislative programs

Answer

supporting his or her political party

Question 50

Democratic members of Congress from moderate districts who sometimes vote with Republicans and who are frequently pursued by Republican leaders are known as __________.

Accepted Answer

Blue Dog Democrats

Answer

logrolling democrats

Answer

pork barrelers

Answer

fence sitters

Question 51

Research has shown that __________ districts are more competitive because they have not been drawn to favor one party over the other.

Accepted Answer

nonpartisan

Answer

gerrymandered

Answer

packed

Answer

malapportioned

Question 52

The greater size of the House of Representatives means that __________.

Accepted Answer

a member must become an expert to attain recognition

Answer

the level of prestige is higher than the Senate

Answer

recognition is easily attained

Answer

the members will have a greater number of committee assignments

Question 53

A power that is unique to the Senate permits the __________.

Accepted Answer

ratification of treaties

Answer

ability to break a tie in the electoral college

Answer

power to declare war

Answer

right to collect taxes

Question 54

Which statement about leadership in the Senate is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

The real leadership power in the Senate rests in the hands of the Senate majority leader.

Answer

The president pro tempore is the chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate.

Answer

The Senate Rules Committee controls the rules related to the schedule and floor debate.

Answer

The president of the Senate is the leader of the majority party in the Senate.

Question 55

Most people who study the decision-making process in Congress agree that the single best predictor for how a member will vote is his or her __________.

Accepted Answer

party affiliation

Answer

region

Answer

affiliation with organized interest groups

Answer

age

Question 56

In order to actually fund programs established by authorization bills, Congress must pass __________.

Accepted Answer

an appropriations bill

Answer

authorization vouchers

Answer

a continuing resolution

Answer

a budget reconciliation

Question 57

The Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 requires ____________.

Accepted Answer

the president to spend the funds that Congress has appropriated

Answer

budgets to receive the approval of the American people before they go into effect

Answer

the president to present an executive budget

Answer

a balanced budget by the 1993 fiscal year

Question 58

One major problem with the role of the instructed delegate is that __________.

Accepted Answer

the constituents may not actually have well-formed views on many issues

Answer

the president’s program may not have public support

Answer

few members of Congress are knowledgeable about most legislation

Answer

members of Congress find it difficult to cooperate

Question 59

The whips assist the party leaders by __________.

Accepted Answer

passing information to members of Congress from the leadership of the party

Answer

voting to support the party platform at the national convention

Answer

gathering research information to use in committee

Answer

pressuring them to take positions popular among the party rank-and-file

Question 60

Gerrymandering is __________.

Accepted Answer

the drawing of legislative district boundaries for the purpose of gaining partisan advantage

Answer

an attempt to prevent the passage of a bill through the use of unlimited debate

Answer

a process that attempts to limit debate on a bill in the Senate

Answer

unconstitutional following an 1812 ruling by the Supreme Court

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