Question 1

How is the Speaker of the House determined?

Accepted Answer

A)   The vice president of the United States is also Speaker of the House.
B)   The representative with the longest tenure in the House is the Speaker of the House.
C)   The elected leader of the majority party in the House is the Speaker.
D)   The president selects the Speaker of the House from the majority party in the House.

Question 2

How can Congress override a president's veto?

Accepted Answer

A)   A president's veto can be overridden with a two-thirds vote in either chamber.
B)   A president's veto can be overridden with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
C)   A president's veto can be overridden with a simple majority vote in both chambers.
D)   A president's veto cannot be overridden, according to the U.S. Constitution.

Question 3

A bill's supporters in the House of Representatives generally prefer ________, while opponents generally prefer ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   an open rule; a closed rule
B)   a closed rule; an open rule
C)   cloture; a filibuster
D)   a committee markup; a closed rule

Question 4

The filibuster

Accepted Answer

A)   has never been a frequently used tactic in the U.S. Senate.
B)   was rarely used throughout most of American history, but has become a frequently used tactic in the U.S. Senate during the last 20 years.
C)   was a frequently used tactic in the U.S. Senate throughout most of American history, but has almost never been used during the last 20 years.
D)   has always been a frequently used tactic in the U.S. Senate.

Question 5

A number of states have responded to concerns about partisan gerrymandering by

Accepted Answer

A)   banning redistricting.
B)   taking redistricting power away from their state legislature and giving it to independent commissions.
C)   taking redistricting power away from independent commissions and giving it to their state legislature.
D)   taking redistricting power away from independent commissions and giving it to their state governor.

Question 6

The session in which a congressional committee rewrites legislation to incorporate changes discussed during hearings on a bill is called the

Accepted Answer

A)   logrolling stage.
B)   oversight phase.
C)   roll call vote.
D)   committee markup.

Question 7

Many political observers have identified a strong "incumbency advantage" in congressional elections. Describe what this term means and explain the reasons behind it. In particular, discuss some of the ways members of Congress can provide patronage to their districts and the role that redistricting plays in congressional elections.

Accepted Answer

There are three components to this quest...

Question 8

Congressional organization is influenced by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   parliamentary rules of the House and Senate
B)   political parties
C)   the committee system
D)   All of these are correct

Question 9

Following the 2012 elections, there were ________ women serving in the U.S. Senate.

Accepted Answer

A)   5
B)   20
C)   33
D)   45

Question 10

The Senate's constitutional power of advice and consent extends to the president's power to

Accepted Answer

A)   make treaties with foreign nations.
B)   make executive agreements.
C)   issue executive orders.
D)   issue pardons.

Question 11

The frequency with which they must seek re-election makes members of the U.S. House of Representatives

Accepted Answer

A)   more responsive to the needs of the elites in the states they represent.
B)   less responsive to the needs of the elites in the states they represent.
C)   less responsive to the needs of local interest groups in the districts they represent.
D)   more responsive to the needs of local interest groups in the districts they represent.

Question 12

The role that the U.S. House of Representatives plays in impeachments can best be compared with that of a ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   judge
B)   grand jury
C)   prosecuting attorney
D)   defense attorney

Question 13

Which is the best description of the K Street Project?

Accepted Answer

A)   an attempt to place former Republican staffers in key lobbying positions to help ensure a large flow of corporate donations to the Republican Party
B)   an attempt by Democrats to place party loyalists in key positions in the administrative agencies that line K Street in Washington, D.C.
C)   orchestrated by the Federalist Society, it has the goal of placing conservatives on the federal courts.
D)   a bipartisan movement to get the offices of congressional staffers expanded beyond Capitol Hill to K Street.

Question 14

What did the Supreme Court justices declare in Miller v. Johnson (1995) ?

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)   It was not unconstitutional for states to use an unelected, nonpartisan committee to redistrict.
D)   The use of computer technologies to draw districts that will favor one party over another is unconstitutional.

Question 15

The so-called bridge to nowhere was important because it became a symbol of

Accepted Answer

A)   the problems with Congress's lack of racial diversity.
B)   the Supreme Court's increasing willingness to overturn acts of Congress.
C)   wasteful congressional spending through earmarks.
D)   the federal government's ability to effectively respond to infrastructure problems.

Question 16

One reason some people support the establishment of term limits in the House and Senate is that it will

Accepted Answer

A)   decrease the power and influence of interest groups.
B)   decrease turnover in Congress and lead to more experienced legislators.
C)   increase turnover and get new faces into Congress.
D)   limit the power and influence of the judiciary.

Question 17

How can congressional party leaders secure the unity and cooperation of their members?

Accepted Answer

A)   through committee assignments
B)   by providing access to the floor
C)   through the whip system
D)   All of these are correct

Question 18

A congressional caucus is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)   formal substructure of congressional parties oriented toward fund-raising.
B)   unofficial group of representatives or senators sharing similar interests or opinions.
C)   formal committee that has the power to propose and write legislation.
D)   vote by members of the House to determine who the Speaker of the House will be.

Question 19

Approximately ________ percent of members of Congress have university degrees.

Accepted Answer

A)   33
B)   50
C)   75
D)   90

Question 20

Race became a major factor in drawing congressional district lines as a result of

Accepted Answer

A)   Title IX of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
B)   Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
C)   the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder.
D)   the 1982 amendments to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Exam 12: Congress

Congressional organization is influenced by which of the following?

Correct Answer
verified

What did the Supreme Court justices declare in Miller v. Johnson (1995) ?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
There are three components to this quest...
View Answer

A congressional caucus is a(n)

Correct Answer
verified

The session in which a congressional committee rewrites legislation to incorporate changes discussed during hearings on a bill is called the

Correct Answer
verified

One reason some people support the establishment of term limits in the House and Senate is that it will

Correct Answer
verified

How can congressional party leaders secure the unity and cooperation of their members?

Correct Answer
verified

The Senate's constitutional power of advice and consent extends to the president's power to

Correct Answer
verified

The role that the U.S. House of Representatives plays in impeachments can best be compared with that of a ________.

Correct Answer
verified

The filibuster

Correct Answer
verified

Which is the best description of the K Street Project?

Correct Answer
verified

A number of states have responded to concerns about partisan gerrymandering by

Correct Answer
verified

The frequency with which they must seek re-election makes members of the U.S. House of Representatives

Correct Answer
verified

Race became a major factor in drawing congressional district lines as a result of

Correct Answer
verified

How can Congress override a president's veto?

Correct Answer
verified

The so-called bridge to nowhere was important because it became a symbol of

Correct Answer
verified

A bill's supporters in the House of Representatives generally prefer , while opponents generally prefer .

Correct Answer
verified

Following the 2012 elections, there were ________ women serving in the U.S. Senate.

Correct Answer
verified

How is the Speaker of the House determined?

Correct Answer
verified

Approximately ________ percent of members of Congress have university degrees.

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 12: Congress

Congressional organization is influenced by which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What did the Supreme Court justices declare in Miller v. Johnson (1995) ?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedThere are three components to this quest...View AnswerShow Answer

A congressional caucus is a(n)

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The session in which a congressional committee rewrites legislation to incorporate changes discussed during hearings on a bill is called the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One reason some people support the establishment of term limits in the House and Senate is that it will

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How can congressional party leaders secure the unity and cooperation of their members?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Senate's constitutional power of advice and consent extends to the president's power to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The role that the U.S. House of Representatives plays in impeachments can best be compared with that of a ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The filibuster

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which is the best description of the K Street Project?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A number of states have responded to concerns about partisan gerrymandering by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The frequency with which they must seek re-election makes members of the U.S. House of Representatives

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Race became a major factor in drawing congressional district lines as a result of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How can Congress override a president's veto?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The so-called bridge to nowhere was important because it became a symbol of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A bill's supporters in the House of Representatives generally prefer ________, while opponents generally prefer ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Following the 2012 elections, there were ________ women serving in the U.S. Senate.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How is the Speaker of the House determined?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Approximately ________ percent of members of Congress have university degrees.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
There are three components to this quest...
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
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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

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

A bill's supporters in the House of Representatives generally prefer , while opponents generally prefer .

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified