Question 1

Who is the most powerful person in the Senate?

Accepted Answer

A)   president pro tempore
B)   the vice president
C)   Senate minority leader
D)   Senate majority leader
E)   None of these answers is correct.

Question 2

In what way does the House of Representatives determine the terms of debate and the scope of amendments that will be allowed on a bill?

Accepted Answer

A)   through the Rules Committee
B)   by unanimous consent
C)   through cloture
D)   by joint committee
E)   through markup

Question 3

Identify the correct chronological order of a legislative bill's passage.

Accepted Answer

A)   introduction, committee review, conference committee reconciliation, House and Senate approval, presidential approval
B)   introduction, conference committee reconciliation, committee review, House and Senate approval, presidential approval
C)   introduction, committee review, House and Senate approval, conference committee reconciliation, presidential approval
D)   committee review, introduction, conference committee reconciliation, House and Senate approval, presidential approval
E)   introduction, conference committee reconciliation, House and Senate approval, committee review, presidential approval C

Question 4

In many congressional districts, particularly in more populated areas, House members' constituencies tend to have fairly ________ positions on many issues.

Accepted Answer

A)   unified
B)   similar
C)   different
D)   diverse
E)   conflicted A

Question 5

What has been the result of the 2010 moratorium on earmarks?

Accepted Answer

A)   not effective, with only a small reduction
B)   effective for a short time, but members have now resumed the practice
C)   not effective, because legislators have been extremely successful in circumventing the moratorium
D)   not effective, because of problems caused by large loopholes
E)   effective, with a significant decrease in the amount of dollars appropriated

Question 6

Appropriations of funds by congressional legislators for projects in their districts are known as

Accepted Answer

A)   pork barrel.
B)   earmarks.
C)   preferred bills.
D)   block grants.
E)   categorical block grants.

Question 7

Within the instructed delegate model, elected representatives act

Accepted Answer

A)   according to their conscience at all times.
B)   mostly according to their conscience, and occasionally in line with constituents.
C)   equally according to conscience and in line with constituents.
D)   in line with constituents, unless constituents' views contradict representatives' personal views.
E)   in line with constituents, even if those views contradict representatives' personal views.

Question 8

Of the following, which would be the most important determinant in a successful congressional campaign?

Accepted Answer

A)   the candidate's policy specialization
B)   the candidate's personal wealth
C)   the candidate's party affiliation
D)   the candidate's prior experience
E)   the candidate's incumbency

Question 9

Because of the constitutional duties of the Senate, in which of the following policy sectors do many members of the Senate specialize?

Accepted Answer

A)   health care policy
B)   energy policy
C)   agriculture policy
D)   revenue policy
E)   foreign policy

Question 10

Which constitutional amendment shifted the power to elect senators from state legislators to popular elections?

Accepted Answer

A)   Fifteenth
B)   Sixteenth
C)   Seventeenth
D)   Eighteenth
E)   Nineteenth

Question 11

Identify the advantages of incumbency in congressional elections.

Accepted Answer

Incumbents, who are highly likely to be ...

Question 12

How often are House members elected?

Accepted Answer

A)   every two years, in even-numbered years
B)   every two years, in odd-numbered years
C)   every three years, in even-numbered years
D)   every three years, in odd-numbered years
E)   every four years, in even-numbered years

Question 13

Which of the following House leaders is responsible for developing party strategy, working with minority party leadership, and encouraging unity among majority party legislators?

Accepted Answer

A)   House majority leader
B)   Speaker of the House
C)   House majority whip
D)   House minority leader
E)   House minority whip

Question 14

When a member of Congress advocates on behalf of a constituent who has an issue with a bureaucratic agency, he or she is playing the role of

Accepted Answer

A)   legislator.
B)   caseworker.
C)   ombudsperson.
D)   trustee.
E)   instructed delegate.

Question 15

Both historically and continuing today, civically engaged citizens have a ________ influence on the outcome of the policy-making process.

Accepted Answer

A)   weak
B)   unilateral
C)   strong
D)   neutral
E)   precise

Question 16

Which branch of government was specifically created to closely represent the people's views?

Accepted Answer

A)   Senate
B)   House of Representatives
C)   Supreme Court
D)   president
E)   president of the Senate

Question 17

Outline the five sequential features of the congressional legislative process, or how a bill becomes law.

Accepted Answer

A bill must generally pass through five ...

Question 18

According to the Constitution, who is the president of the Senate?

Accepted Answer

A)   vice president
B)   president pro tempore
C)   Senate majority leader
D)   Senate majority whip
E)   Senate minority leader

Question 19

Identify the correct chronological sequence of subcommittee procedures in Congress.

Accepted Answer

A)   hearings, markup, agency review, report
B)   hearings, agency review, markup, report
C)   agency review, markup, hearings, report
D)   agency review, hearings, markup, report
E)   markup, agency review, hearings, report

Question 20

Under Supreme Court jurisprudence, the drawing of legislative district boundaries for the purpose of benefitting an incumbent, political party, or another group is unconstitutional

Accepted Answer

A)   whenever it is applied.
B)   when it is clearly partisan.
C)   when it creates a majority-minority district.
D)   when it eliminates the minority party's influence in the district.
E)   when it eliminates the minority party's influence statewide. E

Exam 12: Congress

Who is the most powerful person in the Senate?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In what way does the House of Representatives determine the terms of debate and the scope of amendments that will be allowed on a bill?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Identify the correct chronological order of a legislative bill's passage.

Correct AnswerverifiedC

In many congressional districts, particularly in more populated areas, House members' constituencies tend to have fairly ________ positions on many issues.

Correct AnswerverifiedA

What has been the result of the 2010 moratorium on earmarks?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Appropriations of funds by congressional legislators for projects in their districts are known as

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Within the instructed delegate model, elected representatives act

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Of the following, which would be the most important determinant in a successful congressional campaign?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Because of the constitutional duties of the Senate, in which of the following policy sectors do many members of the Senate specialize?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which constitutional amendment shifted the power to elect senators from state legislators to popular elections?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Identify the advantages of incumbency in congressional elections.

Correct AnswerverifiedIncumbents, who are highly likely to be ...View AnswerShow Answer

How often are House members elected?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following House leaders is responsible for developing party strategy, working with minority party leadership, and encouraging unity among majority party legislators?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When a member of Congress advocates on behalf of a constituent who has an issue with a bureaucratic agency, he or she is playing the role of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Both historically and continuing today, civically engaged citizens have a ________ influence on the outcome of the policy-making process.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which branch of government was specifically created to closely represent the people's views?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Outline the five sequential features of the congressional legislative process, or how a bill becomes law.

Correct AnswerverifiedA bill must generally pass through five ...View AnswerShow Answer

According to the Constitution, who is the president of the Senate?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Identify the correct chronological sequence of subcommittee procedures in Congress.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Under Supreme Court jurisprudence, the drawing of legislative district boundaries for the purpose of benefitting an incumbent, political party, or another group is unconstitutional

Correct AnswerverifiedE

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Incumbents, who are highly likely to be ...
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A bill must generally pass through five ...
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E