Chapters 10 to 12 US Gov.
"Rightly or wrongly, we have become the link between the frustrated citizen and the very involved federal government in citizens' lives. We continually use more and more of our staff time to handle citizens' complaints." House Member The Congressional responsibility this House member is referring to is known as: a. casework b. logrolling. c. gerrymandering d. public works bills. e. pork-barrel legislation.
a
A politician who is currently serving in office and is running again is called the __________. He or she has many advantages over the challenger. a. incumbent b. speaker c. lame duck d. recumbent e. gerrymander
a
Assume the top executives of the major airlines meet and agree to reduce the number of flights as a means of reducing the supply of available seats, thereby allowing them to charge higher fares for those seats. What type of regulatory problem does this example most clearly represent? a. restraint of trade b. inequity c. moral hazard d. negative externalities
a
Before both houses of Congress pass it and the president signs it a proposed law is a a. bill b. quorum c. rule d. cloture e. fillibuster
a
Congress' authority to levy an income tax comes from which of the following? a. Sixteenth Amendment b. Marbury v. Madison c. Budget Act (1974) d. Interstate Commerce Clause e. Bill of Rights
a
Congressional committees may punish people who refuse to testify by a. holding them in contempt. b. arresting them for perjury. c. giving them immunity. d. issuing a subpoena.
a
In 1974 Congress passed the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act in an effort to increase a. its role in planning the budget. b. the budget. c. impoundment. d. federal spending.
a
Legislation whose tangible benefits are targeted solely at a particular legislator's constituency is a. pork-barrel legislation. b. public interest legislation. c. private legislation. d. logrolling. e. gerrymandering
a
The Senate elects the ______________, who is from the majority party and usually its most senior member. a. president pro tempore b. Speaker of the House c. The Vice President d. The Majority Whip
a
The US Congress and the British Parliament are both ___________ legislatures. a. bicameral b. unicameral c. equally powerful d. bipartisan
a
The largest contribution to federal revenue comes from a. individual income taxes. b. entry fees at national packs. c. capital gains taxes. d. interest on foreign debt. e. taxes on businesses.
a
These meetings are sessions at which a committee listens to testimony. a. hearings b. first reading c. public bill d. pigeonholing
a
This is NOT a way lawmakers provide services for their constituents. a. fixing speeding tickets b. pork-barrel legislation c. keeping federal projects d. federal grants and contracts
a
This is a formal accusation of misconduct against a public official. a. impeachment b. writ of habeas corpus c. ex post facto d. appropriation
a
This is a law written by the legislative branch of government. a. statute b. ordinance c. administrative law d. common law e. bill
a
This is an example of an entitlement. a. Social Security b. the military c. property taxes d. taxes e. license plate fees
a
This system makes it likely that the president and Congress will always compete for power. a. checks and balances b. impoundment c. national electorate d. national budget
a
Which factor best predicts the reelection of members of Congress? a. incumbency b. members' positions on legislative issues c. closeness of members' ties to the president d. members' committee assignments
a
Campaign spending tends to be greatly more important a. for candidates in urban areas than candidates in rural areas. b. for challengers and non-incumbents rather than incumbents. c. for men rather than women. d. for Democratic candidates. e. for Republican candidates.
b
Compared to House incumbents, Senate incumbents are more likely to face the problem of a. an electorate which is inclined to judge their fitness for reelection in the context of pork-barrel legislation and other favors for the local community. b. a strong challenger. c. raising enough money to run a strong campaign. d. name recognition.
b
Congreession actions and laws that appropriate money for local federal projects is often called a. logrolling b. pork-barrel legislation c. federalism d. casework duty
b
For years, the firms that make cigarettes marketed their product without telling cigarette users of the health hazards associated with smoking even though the firms' research studies indicated that smoking is hazardous. What type of regulatory problem does this example most clearly represent? a. restraint of trade b. inequity c. moral hazard d. negative externalities
b
In Congress, the role of political parties is illustrated by all of the following except: a. selection of top Senate and House leaders b. importance that members of Congress place on pork-barrel legislation c. Republicans aligned against Democrats on votes in committee d. Republicans aligned against Democrats on votes in the full chamber
b
James Burns, a political historian, argues that checks and balances result in a. desirable public policy. b. deadlock. c. equality for the people. d. an efficient government.
b
Members of Congress can be arrested for this offense even while attending Congress. a. tax evasion b. treason c. bribery d. murder
b
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. a. 21; 25 b. 25; 30 c. 35; 45 d. 18; 21 e. 40; 50
b
One reason incumbents are reelected is that they have a. Republican support b. name recognition with voters c. parliamentary procedure d. debate skills
b
Presiding officer of the House a. The Whip b. The Speaker c. The Chaplain d. The bailiff e. The President Pro Tem
b
Representatives of interest groups that work to influence Congress are called a. partisans b. lobbyists c. Democrats d. Republicans e. packers
b
Senators are elected for a. life b. six-year terms c. four-year terms d. five-year terms e. two-year terms
b
Spending requests for the general welfare of the United States generally come from the a. House of Representatives b. Executive branch c. Supreme Court d. Senate e. people
b
The Senate conducts most of its business through a. the majority leader's rule b. unanimous consent c. a calender of scheduled bills d. strict rules and procedures
b
The ______________ decides which bills move ahead for consideration. a. constituents b. Rules Committee c. caucus d. majority whip e. Speaker of the House
b
The institution responsible for compiling the president's budget proposal is the a. Congressional Budget Office. b. Office of Management and Budget. c. Council of Economic Advisors. d. Department of the Treasury. e. Senate Appropriations Committee.
b
The process that uses the census to determine the number of representatives to which each state is entitled. a. census b. reapportionment c. redistricting d. realignment
b
This committee is set up when the House and the Senate have passed different versions of the same bill. a. joint committee b. conference committee c. select committee d. standing committee
b
Through this power, Congress can check on how the executive branch is administering the law. a. subpoena b. legislative oversight c. immunity d. perjury
b
To ratify a treaty, ____________________ of the senators present must vote for it. a. Fifty percent b. Two Thirds c. One third d. 3/5
b
Two conditions associated with the dramatic government growth in the United States over the past half century are a. increased immigration and a growing birth rate. b. growth in the national security state and growth in the social service state. c. growth in the number of cabinet offices and growth in the number of unfunded mandates. d. increased use of presidential vetoes and new public works projects. e. accelerated global warming and the rising cost of energy.
b
Which of the following factors usually plays the largest role in the reelection of members of Congress? a. gender b. incumbency c. positions taken on issues d. popularity with the president e. education
b
Which of the following powers is shared by the House of Representatives and the Senate? a. Holding trials of impeachment b. Establishing Federal courts c. Approving treaties d. Holding confirmation hearings e. Approving major presidential appointments
b
"Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States." Article I, Section 8 Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress the power to collect taxes and a. the power to make laws. b. the power to declare wars. c. the power to pay debts. d. the right to quarter troops.
c
"In the old days, you had the ward heeler who cemented himself in the community by taking care of everyone. Now the Congressman plays the role of ward heeler - wending his way through bureaucracy, helping to cut through red tape and confusion." Congressman Sam Rayburn Rayburn stated that the Congressman plays the role of ward heeler. Responsibilities associated with this role might include a. ignoring phone calls and e-mail from average citizens. b. creating a committee aimed at reducing voter participation in elections. c. helping a citizen work through a government process. d. establishing close ties to top executives in corporations.
c
A job of the _______ in the House is to persuade party members to vote with the party. a. Speaker b. Vice President c. Whip d. constituent
c
All bills for raising money start in the ____________________. a. Supreme Court b. Executive Branch c. House of Representatives d. Senate
c
Almost all the important work on tax laws occurs in the a. House floor b. appropriations bill. c. House Ways and Means Committee. d. Senate chambers.
c
Assume that Congress is considering a bill that would authorize development of a new weapons system for the U.S. Army. Which statement about that bill is most likely to be true? a. The bill would have originated in the House before being taken up by the Senate. b. The bill would have had its strongest support among members of Congress from states and districts whose economies depend heavily on U.S. Army installations or weapons contractors. c. The bill would have been delegated to the House and Senate appropriations committees for consideration because a new weapons program requires funding.
c
Assume that some automobile owners take risks while driving, knowing that the cost of that risk taking, if it results in an accident, will be borne by the insurance company. What type of regulatory problem does this example most clearly represent? a. restraint of trade b. inequity c. moral hazard d. negative externalities
c
Congress differs in significant ways from the national legislatures of most democracies. Which of the following is not one of these differences? a. Congress has two co-equal chambers whereas most national legislatures do not. b. Congress operates in a system of constitutionally divided executive and legislative power whereas most national legislatures operate in a system where executive and legislative power is not constitutionally divided. c. Congress chooses its top leaders on a non-partisan basis whereas most national legislatures chose their top leaders on the basis of the political party they represent. d. Members of Congress are relatively free to vote as they chose on legislative bills whereas members of most national legislatures are required in most instances to support their political party's position on legislative bills.
c
Formal disapproval of a senator's actions. a. privilege b. foul c. censure d. penalty e. session
c
General characteristics of the U.S. Congress include all except which one of the following? a. Congress is a fragmented institution. d. Influence in Congress is widely dispersed. c. Congress rather than the president usually takes the lead in addressing broad national issues. d. Both the House and the Senate are directly elected by the voters.
c
In Congress, the role of representation of the nation through political parties is illustrated by all except which one of the following? a. conflicts over national goals primarily along party lines. b. a common division of votes along party lines in committee voting. c. the emphasis that members of Congress place on pork-barrel legislation. d. Republicans aligned against Democrats on roll-call votes.
c
In the House, the most important position is the a. president pro tempore. b. floor leader. c. Speaker. d. majority leader. e. manager.
c
In the nation's first century a. service in Congress was restricted by the imposition of term limits in many states. b. service in Congress was even more a lifetime career than it is now. c. service in Congress was not seen as a lifetime career for most of its members. d. members of Congress would move from House to Senate and back with little concern for the relative power and prestige of the chambers. e. service in Congress was greatly preferred to service in state government.
c
Redistricting power can be abused by creating congressional districts of unequal power and by a. census b. censure c. gerrymandering d. bicameral legislature
c
Representatives are elected by a. presidential appointments b. gerrymandering c. congressional districts d. Congress e. the states
c
Standing, select, joint and conference are all types of congressional a. sessions b. agencies c. committees d. hearings
c
The "Committee of the Whole" refers to a. a collection of committee chairs in the House. b. freshmen members of both the House and the Senate. c. members of the House who happen to be on the floor d. when a bill is discussed. e. the senior sponsors of a piece of legislation.
c
The 2013 government shutdown that resulted from the inability of Congress to reach agreement on the federal budget was caused by: a. rivalry between the House and Senate over control of the budget. b. failure of President Obama to exercise leadership during budget negotiations. c. starkly opposing views of congressional Republicans and congressional Democrats on issues of taxing and spending. d. failure of House and Senate leaders to properly manage the congressional schedule; they did not allow sufficient time for floor debate in the lead-up to the budget deadline. e. disagreements between the chair of the House Budget Committee and the chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
c
The biggest category of federal expenditures is spending for a. national defense. b. foreign aid. c. aid to the elderly and the poor. d. interest on the national debt. e. salaries and benefits for public employees.
c
The major source of a committee's power is: a. its support from political action committees (PACs). b. the political skill of its chairperson. c. its jurisdiction over a particular policy area. d. its relationship to the president. e. its support in the mass media.
c
The modern Congress is different from the nineteenth century Congress in that;<o:p> a. most members are now amateur politicians who want only to spend a short time in Congress. b. most members are now amateur politicians who want only to spend a short time in Congress. c. most members are now career politicians who want to stay in Congress. d. most members are now minorities or women. e. most members now have previously been governors of their home states.
c
The most important party leadership position in the Senate is that of: a. Speaker b. vice president of the United States c. majority leader d. Majority Whip e. president pro tempore
c
This congressional power provides for the nation's growth. a. waging war b. confirming a president c. naturalization d. choosing a president
c
This power enables Congress to regulate working conditions across the nation. a. to initiate national defense protection b. to enforce civil rights laws c. to regulate commerceves d. to pass bankruptcy laws
c
When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill, the differences are resolved by a a. joint committee. b. standing committee. c. conference committee. d. rules committee. e. select committee.
c
Which of the following conclusions may be drawn from the graph on p. 463 of your textbook? a. The federal deficit decreased significantly between 1975 and 1980. b. Between 1972 and 1992, the deficit grew by about five times the 1972 deficit. c. The Clinton administration closed the budget deficit to reach a balanced budget in 1998. d. The federal deficit decreased dramatically during the Reagan administration. e. The administration of George W. Bush is primarily responsible for reversing the deficit and balancing the federal budget.
c
Which of the following is not a consequence of the higher level of party polarization in the U.S. Congress? a. higher level of party unity on legislative votes b. higher likelihood of deadlock on legislative issues c. higher likelihood that members of Congress will support the president's policy initiatives d. higher likelihood that party members will support the policy initiatives of their party's legislative leader (e.g., Speaker, majority leader) e. higher likelihood that incumbents will face a primary election challenger
c
Which of the following statements is true about U.S. budget deficits? a. The Democratic and Republican parties have agreed that the deficit issue should not become an issue in presidential campaigns. b. Budget deficits have no practical effect on individual citizens. c. Large budget deficits make the U.S. government more financially dependent on foreign investors. d. The Constitution requires a balanced federal budget. e. The first federal budget deficit did not occur until the 1990s.
c
Which of these is NOT a method of senatorial voting. a. voice vote b. standing vote c. secret ballot d. roll calls
c
A discharge petition is rarely used in the House of Representatives because a. it is unconstitutional to use a discharge petition in the House of Representatives b. the House is too large for a discharge petition to be effective c. a two-thirds majority is required to issue a discharge petition d. it is a challenge to majority leadership and informal rules of behavior e. the unscheduled use of a discharge petition could offend members of the Senate
d
A member of the House of Representatives who wishes to be influential in the House itself would most likely seek a place on which of the following committees? a. Agriculture b. International Relations c. Transportation and Infrastructure d. Rules e. Veterans' Affairs
d
All of the following are examples of entitlement programs EXCEPT a. Medicare. b. Social Security. c. agricultural subsidies. d. defense contracts. e. veterans' benefits.
d
Although they might never admit it the highest priority for most members of Congress is a. working with the president to get things done. b. gaining a reputation among other members of Congress as an effective legislator. c. supporting his or her party's legislative platform. d. getting reelected. e. ensuring that the constitutional system of checks and balances works properly.
d
Assume a firm allows the byproduct of its production process to seep into a nearby stream, thereby polluting its water. What type of regulatory problem does this example most clearly represent? a. restraint of trade b. inequity c. moral hazard d. negative externalities
d
Congress may not suspend this court order that releases a person accused of a crime a. bills of attainder b. ex post facto laws c. revenue bills d. writ of habeas corpus
d
Giving this to a witness means that he or she is free from the threat of prosecution. a. perjury b. contempt c. subpoena d. immunity
d
Gridlock between the president and Congress can occur because of a. federal government shutdowns. b. cooperation between the two. c. overriding a presidential veto. d. partisan political differences.
d
Matters requiring the action of both the House and Senate, but on which a law is not needed are called a. Conference resolutions. b. hearings. c. joint resolutions. d. concurrent resolutions. e. resolutions.
d
Most bills that are introduced in Congress: a. are passed in committee and defeated on the floor. b. are passed and become law. c. are sent to executive agencies for review. d. are defeated in committee.
d
Much of the work in Congress takes place in its standing committees. Which of the following statements about these committees is not true? a. Members of Congress tend to be assigned to a standing committee that handles policy issues important to their constituency. b. Each standing committee has a defined jurisdiction (the policy area in which it is authorized to act). c. Standing committees have the power to alter ("mark up") the bills they handle. d. Once a standing committee finishes its work on a bill, the bill is automatically referred to the full House or Senate for a vote.
d
Necessary and Proper Clause a. Commerce Clause b. Revenue Bills c. Enumerated Powers d. Elastic Clause
d
Special-interest groups that raise money to help elect lawmakers are called a. political leaders' committee. b. policymakers. c. presidential councils. d. PACs.
d
Standing, select, joint and conferance are all types of congressional a. sessions b. agencies c. hearings d. committees
d
The Constitution requires that "all bills for raising revenue shall ... a. originate in Conference Committee." b. require a unanimous vote." c. be exempt from the veto of the President." d. originate in the House of Representatives." e. originate in the Senate."
d
The _____________ may cast a vote in the Senate in case of a tie. a. Speaker of the House b. President of the USA c. President Pro Temp d. Vice President of the USA e. The Majority Whip
d
The congressional lawmaking process is biased toward a. foreign policy issues at the expense of domestic policy issues. b. bold new initiatives rather than small adjustments in existing legislative programs. c. the enactment of big social programs. d. blocking legislation rather than passing it. e. national interests at the expense of local ones.
d
The main task of each house of Congress is to a. write procedures b. get reelected c. legislate the executive branch d. make laws
d
The process of drawing boundary lines for each congressional district. a. realignment b. reapportionment c. census d. redistricting
d
The real leadership in the Senate rests with the a. vice president. b. president pro tempore. c. managers. d. majority leader. e. Senate whip.
d
These men and women make sure their party members are present for key votes a. Speakers b. minority leaders c. majority leaders d. whips e. filibusters
d
This Senator drew condemnation for his smear tactics during investigations. a. Oliver North b. Sam Ervin c. Richard Nixon d. Joseph McCarthy
d
This congressional oversight power was found unconstitutional. a. GAO monitoring b. appropriations of funds c. 1946 Employment Act d. legislative veto
d
This is required for a legislative body to take official action a. caucus b. censure c. calender d. quorum
d
This person's main job is to steer the party's bills through the Senate. a. vice president b. Speaker of the House c. minority leader d. majority leader
d
Which statement is not true of congressional parties? a. At one time, congressional Democrats included a substantial number of conservatives b. At one time, congressional Republicans included a substantial number of progressives c. Shared partisanship (Republicans aligning with other Republicans, Democrats aligning with other Democrats) is the primary source of unity in today's Congress d. Committee chair positions are rotated between the parties. e. The majority party holds a majority of seats on each standing committee.
d
Bills Congress passes require this before they become law. a. agreement by the states b. a presidential veto c. congressional override d. Supreme Court approval e. president's signature
e
In the House, a stalled bill can be extracted from a committee and brought to the floor by means of a. cloture. b. an extraction bill. c. a committee rule. d. a unanimous consent vote. e. a discharge petition.
e
The flow of legislative work in congress is controlled by the a. Supreme Court b. Democratic Party c. President d. Republican Party e. majority party
e
Which one of the following statements about the seniority principle is most accurate?<o:p> a. Seniority is no longer used at all in the choice of committee chairs. b. Seniority is used in the Democratic party, but not the Republican party. c. The seniority principle is based on length of time the member has spent in Congress. d. Because of seniority, committee chairs exercise absolute power over their committees. e. Seniority is no longer absolute in selection of committee chairs, but it is usually followed.
e
