Question 1

One must be ________ years of age to serve in the U.S.House of Representatives,and ________ years of age to serve in the U.S.Senate.

Accepted Answer

A)  18; 21
B)  21; 25
C)  25; 30
D)  35; 45
E)  40; 50

Question 2

Which one of the following statements about the seniority principle is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The seniority principle is based on the length of time the member has spent in Congress.
B)  Because of seniority,committee chairs exercise absolute power over their committees.
C)  Seniority is no longer absolute in the selection of committee chairs,but it is usually followed.
D)  Seniority is no longer used at all in the choice of committee chairs.
E)  Seniority is used in the Democratic Party,but not in the Republican Party.

Question 3

Most of the legislative work of Congress is performed by

Accepted Answer

A)  the standing committees and their subcommittees with jurisdiction over particular policy areas.
B)  the joint committees chosen to coordinate actions between the two chambers of Congress.
C)  the select committees chosen to study special problems on a temporary basis.
D)  the steering committees that decide how the party stands on particular bills.
E)  party leaders in both chambers.

Question 4

Congress's inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is primarily due to

Accepted Answer

A)  the lack of talented leadership in Congress.
B)  the fragmented nature of Congress.
C)  constitutional restrictions on Congress's lawmaking powers.
D)  the constant threat of a presidential veto.
E)  opposition from the mass media.

Question 5

What is congressional oversight and how strongly is it pursued by Congress?

Accepted Answer

Congressional oversight is the responsib...

Question 6

If the Rules Committee applies the closed rule to a bill,

Accepted Answer

A)  no amendments will be permitted.
B)  the bill will not be allowed a vote.
C)  the bill will require a two-thirds majority for passage.
D)  no further floor debate is allowed.
E)  no filibusters will be allowed to prevent a vote.

Question 7

Senators are generally less likely to take directions from their leaders than House members because

Accepted Answer

A)  senators are prohibited by their state legislatures from taking orders from others.
B)  senators think of themselves as being equals and generally expect to have more autonomy.
C)  senators are more highly paid than House members and are thus immune from financial threats.
D)  House rules mandate that all party members on major bills vote according to the directions of their leaders.
E)  All of these answers are correct.

Question 8

The second-most powerful elected national official (after the president) is often said to be the

Accepted Answer

A)  chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
B)  president pro tempore of the U.S.Senate.
C)  Speaker of the U.S.House of Representatives.
D)  chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
E)  Senate majority leader.

Question 9

Compared to House incumbents,Senate incumbents are more likely to face the problem of

Accepted Answer

A)  raising enough money to run a strong campaign.
B)  an electorate that is inclined to judge their fitness for reelection in the context of pork-barrel legislation and other favors for the local community.
C)  a strong challenger.
D)  name recognition.
E)  All of these answers are correct.

Question 10

By and large,partisanship is

Accepted Answer

A)  irrelevant to the work of Congress.
B)  a huge source of both cohesion and division within Congress.
C)  relevant only in the context of local representation.
D)  important in lawmaking and representation but not in oversight.
E)  more important in foreign policy than in domestic policy.

Question 11

House incumbents have about a(n) ________ chance of winning reelection.

Accepted Answer

A)  57 percent
B)  65 percent
C)  74 percent
D)  82 percent
E)  92 percent

Question 12

Why do congressional incumbents have such a high rate of reelection?

Accepted Answer

Incumbents have a great advantage in congressional elections due to the various benefits that incumbency provides.Among these are the ability to claim credit for congressional achievements,provide pork-barrel legislation,perform constituent services,and garner publicity.Incumbents have the advantage of well-established mailing lists and support networks and the congressional privilege of the "frank," which affords them some free use of postal services.Incumbents have a decided advantage over their challengers in terms of ability to raise campaign funds; PACS are particularly kind to incumbents.House members,not senators,may also benefit from gerrymandering-the redrawing of election districts to make them less competitive.

Question 13

Briefly contrast the functions of standing committees with joint,select,and conference committees.

Accepted Answer

Standing committees are permanent and do...

Question 14

Committee staffs within Congress

Accepted Answer

A)  concentrate on constituency relations.
B)  perform an almost entirely legislative function.
C)  concentrate on public relations.
D)  split their time between legislative functions and public relations.
E)  are devoted to logistical functions and committee public relations.

Question 15

Congressional oversight is most likely to occur when it involves

Accepted Answer

A)  executive agency abuse of legislative authorization.
B)  congressional activities of a questionable nature.
C)  allegations of misconduct by individual low-level bureaucrats.
D)  allegations of misconduct by state governments.
E)  unpopular decisions of the Supreme Court.

Question 16

When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill,the differences are resolved by a

Accepted Answer

A)  conference committee.
B)  standing committee.
C)  select committee.
D)  rules committee.
E)  joint committee. A

Question 17

What is the biggest reason that Congress does not vigorously pursue its oversight function?

Accepted Answer

A)  the sheer magnitude of the task
B)  its inadequacy as a means of controlling the bureaucracy
C)  its inadequacy as a means of controlling the power of the president
D)  its inadequacy in generating publicity for members of Congress
E)  its inadequacy as a means of controlling the judiciary

Question 18

Senate incumbents have about a(n) ________ chance of winning reelection.

Accepted Answer

A)  57 percent
B)  65 percent
C)  74 percent
D)  84 percent
E)  98 percent

Question 19

The trading of votes between members of Congress so that each gets the legislation he or she wants is called

Accepted Answer

A)  gerrymandering.
B)  pandering.
C)  logrolling.
D)  pork-barreling.
E)  cloturing. C

Question 20

There are currently ________ voting members of the U.S.House of Representatives and ________ voting members of the U.S.Senate.

Accepted Answer

A)  535; 100
B)  435; 100
C)  150; 31
D)  300; 100
E)  600; 300

Exam 11: Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

One must be years of age to serve in the U.S.House of Representatives,and years of age to serve in the U.S.Senate.

Correct Answer
verified

Which one of the following statements about the seniority principle is most accurate?

Correct Answer
verified

Most of the legislative work of Congress is performed by

Correct Answer
verified

Congress's inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is primarily due to

Correct Answer
verified

What is congressional oversight and how strongly is it pursued by Congress?

Correct Answer
verified
Congressional oversight is the responsib...
View Answer

If the Rules Committee applies the closed rule to a bill,

Correct Answer
verified

Senators are generally less likely to take directions from their leaders than House members because

Correct Answer
verified

The second-most powerful elected national official (after the president) is often said to be the

Correct Answer
verified

Compared to House incumbents,Senate incumbents are more likely to face the problem of

Correct Answer
verified

By and large,partisanship is

Correct Answer
verified

House incumbents have about a(n) ________ chance of winning reelection.

Correct Answer
verified

Why do congressional incumbents have such a high rate of reelection?

Briefly contrast the functions of standing committees with joint,select,and conference committees.

Correct Answer
verified
Standing committees are permanent and do...
View Answer

Committee staffs within Congress

Correct Answer
verified

Congressional oversight is most likely to occur when it involves

Correct Answer
verified

When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill,the differences are resolved by a

Correct Answer
verified
A

What is the biggest reason that Congress does not vigorously pursue its oversight function?

Correct Answer
verified

Senate incumbents have about a(n) ________ chance of winning reelection.

Correct Answer
verified

The trading of votes between members of Congress so that each gets the legislation he or she wants is called

Correct Answer
verified
C

There are currently voting members of the U.S.House of Representatives and voting members of the U.S.Senate.

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 11: Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

One must be ________ years of age to serve in the U.S.House of Representatives,and ________ years of age to serve in the U.S.Senate.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which one of the following statements about the seniority principle is most accurate?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most of the legislative work of Congress is performed by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Congress's inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is primarily due to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is congressional oversight and how strongly is it pursued by Congress?

Correct AnswerverifiedCongressional oversight is the responsib...View AnswerShow Answer

If the Rules Committee applies the closed rule to a bill,

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Senators are generally less likely to take directions from their leaders than House members because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The second-most powerful elected national official (after the president) is often said to be the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Compared to House incumbents,Senate incumbents are more likely to face the problem of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

By and large,partisanship is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

House incumbents have about a(n) ________ chance of winning reelection.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do congressional incumbents have such a high rate of reelection?

Briefly contrast the functions of standing committees with joint,select,and conference committees.

Correct AnswerverifiedStanding committees are permanent and do...View AnswerShow Answer

Committee staffs within Congress

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Congressional oversight is most likely to occur when it involves

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill,the differences are resolved by a

Correct AnswerverifiedA

What is the biggest reason that Congress does not vigorously pursue its oversight function?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Senate incumbents have about a(n) ________ chance of winning reelection.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The trading of votes between members of Congress so that each gets the legislation he or she wants is called

Correct AnswerverifiedC

There are currently ________ voting members of the U.S.House of Representatives and ________ voting members of the U.S.Senate.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One must be years of age to serve in the U.S.House of Representatives,and years of age to serve in the U.S.Senate.

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified
Congressional oversight is the responsib...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified
Standing committees are permanent and do...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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A

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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C

There are currently voting members of the U.S.House of Representatives and voting members of the U.S.Senate.

Correct Answer
verified