Question 1

One reason why redistricting is controversial is that

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.F) None of the above
G) B) and E)

Question 2

What is the organizational structure of Congress? Describe some of the main differences between the House and the Senate. What are some of the leadership positions in both houses, and what are their functions? What are some of the types of committees? What role do political parties play in the distribution of congressional power?

Accepted Answer

The organizational structure of Congress...

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Agencies in Congress designed to oversee administrative agencies and evaluate presidential proposals are called

Accepted Answer

A)   committee agencies.
B)   oversight committees.
C)   staff agencies.
D)   review offices.
E)   iron triangles.F) A) and C)
G) B) and C)

Question 5

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)   rulesF) C) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 6

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.F) A) and E)
G) None of the above

Question 7

Constituency service is so important that

Accepted Answer

A)   representatives spend about three-quarters of their time aiding constituents.
B)   party leaders will not ask any member to vote in a way that conflicts with the interests or opinions of the member's district.
C)   the House and Senate have recently created a Committee on Constituency Service.
D)   the Constitution explicitly lists "constituent service" as the most important responsibility of Congress.
E)   members of Congress have been impeached for not devoting enough attention to constituency service.F) C) and D)
G) None of the above

Question 8

In the House of Representatives, the majority leader

Accepted Answer

A)   is subordinate to the Speaker of the House.
B)   is the same office as the Speaker of the House.
C)   is superior in formal powers to the Speaker of the House.
D)   has the same powers as the Speaker of the House but is a different office.
E)   There is no majority leader in the House of Representatives.F) A) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 9

Cloture is

Accepted Answer

A)   the ability of a senator to speak for as long as he or she wishes to prevent action from being taken on legislation that he or she opposes.
B)   the process by which three-fifths of the Senate can end a filibuster.
C)   the rule that allows one house of Congress to circumvent the other during the legislative process.
D)   the process by which the president can end a filibuster.
E)   a lawsuit filed by a member of the Senate against a member of the House or vice versa.F) None of the above
G) A) and C)

Question 10

The power of impeachment is located entirely in the Senate, as part of its advice and consent powers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

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)   Unlike the House, all senators are equal in power.F) C) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 12

Which of the following best explains the small number of women in Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)   More men than women vote, and men tend not to vote for women candidates.
B)   Women do not have organizations or PACs supporting their candidacy.
C)   Incumbency is a very powerful resource, and most incumbents have been men.
D)   Women do not make very effective representatives.
E)   Women do not want to run for Congress.F) A) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 13

Which of the following would not constitute an example of patronage?

Accepted Answer

A)   a senator from Virginia adding a project for a $3.5 million horse trail in Virginia to a highway bill
B)   a senator from New York voting in favor of a law to eliminate earmarks
C)   a member of the House helping a senior citizen who lives in their district overcome problems with their Social Security benefit eligibility
D)   a member of the House securing an appointment to one of the military academies for the child of a constituent
E)   a member of the House sponsoring a bill to obtain legal status for an undocumented couple whose son had died as a marine in IraqF) A) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 14

The filibuster is likely to remain a feature of legislative politics in the United States because

Accepted Answer

A)   the House, the Senate, and the president all must agree to eliminate it.
B)   it makes majority rule in the Senate much easier.
C)   a sixty-seven vote majority is required to eliminate it.
D)   a constitutional amendment is required to eliminate it.
E)   it is universally regarded as an essential part of every legislative assembly.F) B) and C)
G) C) and E)

Question 15

One problem with the delegate model of representation is that

Accepted Answer

A)   few people are well informed about all political issues.
B)   members of Congress may not bring back enough pork-barrel projects.
C)   representatives may be excessively deferential to the executive branch in the area of national security.
D)   it does not account for the role of the federal judiciary.
E)   it fails to address the important role that congressional committees play in the legislative process.F) B) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 16

Who decides which committee assignments members of the 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 whipF) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 17

Which of the following statements about Congress's role in foreign policy is not accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)   Congress has sometimes supported the president's foreign policy and sometimes opposed it.
B)   The Constitution directs Congress to stay out of foreign affairs and concentrate solely on domestic politics.
C)   Congress is more likely than the president to adopt a short-term, politicized view of foreign affairs.
D)   Congress is more likely than the president to put domestic concerns ahead of foreign policy priorities.
E)   Due to their access to the national security apparatus, presidents are better equipped than Congress to know what needs to be done to conduct a successful foreign policy.F) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Question 18

Which of the following is a key assumption of the sociological model of representation?

Accepted Answer

A)   Because similarity helps promote good representation, the composition of legislative bodies should mirror the composition of society.
B)   The composition of legislative bodies need not mirror society because all members of Congress are equally well-equipped to represent the views and interests of their constituents.
C)   The government that governs least governs best.
D)   The government that governs most governs best.
E)   All representatives should have extensive educations and degrees in the social sciences before taking office in order to ensure the best government.F) A) and B)
G) A) and E)

Question 19

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 committeeF) A) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 20

Congressional organization is influenced by all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)   parliamentary rules of the House and Senate.
B)   presidential directives.
C)   political parties.
D)   the committee system.
E)   congressional staff.F) B) and D)
G) B) and C)

Exam 12: Congress

The filibuster is likely to remain a feature of legislative politics in the United States because

Correct Answer
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Cloture is

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following is a key assumption of the sociological model of representation?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following would not constitute an example of patronage?

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

Who has the most real power in the Senate?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following statements about Congress's role in foreign policy is not accurate?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Correct Answer
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Which of the following best explains the small number of women in Congress?

Correct Answer
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In the House of Representatives, the majority leader

Correct Answer
verified

Agencies in Congress designed to oversee administrative agencies and evaluate presidential proposals are called

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The organizational structure of Congress...
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Constituency service is so important that

Correct Answer
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Congressional organization is influenced by all of the following except

Correct Answer
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The power of impeachment is located entirely in the Senate, as part of its advice and consent powers.

Correct Answer
verified

One problem with the delegate model of representation is that

Correct Answer
verified

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.

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

One reason why redistricting is controversial is that

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 12: Congress

The filibuster is likely to remain a feature of legislative politics in the United States because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Cloture is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is a key assumption of the sociological model of representation?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following would not constitute an example of patronage?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Who has the most real power in the Senate?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements about Congress's role in foreign policy is not accurate?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following best explains the small number of women in Congress?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the House of Representatives, the majority leader

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Agencies in Congress designed to oversee administrative agencies and evaluate presidential proposals are called

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe organizational structure of Congress...View AnswerShow Answer

Constituency service is so important that

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Congressional organization is influenced by all of the following except

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The power of impeachment is located entirely in the Senate, as part of its advice and consent powers.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One problem with the delegate model of representation is that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One reason why redistricting is controversial is that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The organizational structure of Congress...
View Answer

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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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