Module 4 Quiz Question Bank
How many years does a House of Representatives member serve before seeking re-election?
2
How many years is a U.S. Senator elected to serve for before seeking re-election?
6
___________ determines the structure of the federal courts.
Congress
__________ is a rule or order issued by the president without the cooperation of Congress..
Executive order
Each state receives 2 electoral college votes.
False
In California, local governments have a great deal of autonomy from the state government.
False
Presidents may still use a line-item veto to veto specific aspects of bills passed by Congress.
False
Stopping a filibuster requires a simple majority of senators to agree on a bill.
False
The Court of Appeals is also known as the District Courts.
False
The President appoints federal judges and justices who must be approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
False
The Supreme Court's power of judicial review establishes the three-tiered court system.
False
The term "bully pulpit" means that Senate can deny Presidential appointments.
False
Today the state governments have more power than the federal government.
False
there are currently term-limits for Congress people.
False
___________ is a system of government in which power is shared between the local/state governments and the national/federal government.
Federalism
Which case gave the courts' their power known as "judicial review"
Marbury v Madison
_________ is federal spending intended to benefit a particular district or set of constituents.
Pork-barrel spending
In the absence of the Vice President, who is the presiding officer of the Senate?
President pro tempore
What happens if the popular vote for the President is different than the electoral college vote for the President?
The Electoral College always decides the winner
Which of the following is not a normal step for a bill to become a law?
The courts find the bill constitutional
A conference committee is a special type of joint committee that reconciles different bills passed in the House and Senate so a single bill results.
True
A politician represents a body of voters, also known as her/his constituents.
True
A trustee model of representation is a model of representation in which representatives feel at liberty to act in the way they believe is best for their constituents.
True
Both the federal and California state governments have a bicameral legislature.
True
California created a lifetime term limit of 12 years, permitting a legislator to serve these 12 years in either the California State Senate or State Assembly.
True
California is the most populated state in the US and as such has the largest number of Electoral College votes.
True
In Congress, a joint committee is made of members from both the House of Representatives and Senate
True
James Madison defends the concept of checks and balances in Federalist #51.
True
One problem with a bicameral legislature is that it is very difficult to push through large-scale reforms.
True
So called "liberal" justices support a loose constructionist interpretation of the Constitution
True
The President can be impeached by the House of Representative; the Senate votes to remove the President from office
True
The clause of Article I, Section 8, which enables the national government "to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying" out all its constitutional responsibilities is an example of an elastic clause.
True
The judicial branch has little power over the implementation of enforcing its rulings.
True
The state of California has a three tier state court system.
True
There are a total of 9 justices on the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice who is the highest-ranking justice on the Supreme Court.
True
Unfunded mandates are federal laws and regulations that impose obligations on state and local governments without fully compensating them for the costs of implementation.
True
WWII created an economic boom in California.
True
Water was and still is a central issue and major political divide in California
True
When a vacancy occurs in the federal courts, the President makes a nomination which must be approved by Senate.
True
What is the minimum number of Electoral College votes a candidate must win in order to become the next President?
a majority of the whole which is 270 votes
A select committee is different from a standing committee because ___________________
a select committee is converged for a specific and temporary purpose, while a standing committee is permanent.
While each state has two senators, members of the House are apportioned ________
according to the state's population
Which of the following factors help explain why it is difficult to oust incumbents
all of the above
Which of the following have presidents used to increase their power while in office?
all of the above
Which of the following is a check that the legislative branch has over the courts?
all of the above
Which of the following is an enumerated power of Congress?
all of the above
Which of the following is/are problems with the Electoral College?
all of the above
Senate races tend to inspire _________
broad discussion of policy issues
How is the number of electoral college votes each state receives calculated?
by adding both the number of Representatives and Senators
Of all the federal court cases in the US, the majority are handled ______________
by the federal district courts
Saying a bill is being marked up is just another way to say it is being ___________________.
changed
Besides the US Supreme Court, there are lower courts in the federal system called ________.
district and appeallate courts
The problem with Congressional districts known as "gerrymandering" refers to which of the following
districts are often drawn to benefit one political party
___________________ is the division of the courts into two separate systems, one federal and one state.
dual courts system
The President is elected by ___________ and serves for a term of ___________ years.
electoral college; 4
A filibuster can be used in the House of Representatives to extend debate on a piece of legislation as long as possible, with the intended purpose of obstructing or killing it.
false
The State Assembly is the upper house in California and has 40 elected members
false
The saying "all politics is local" roughly means a local candidate will always win.
false
A congressperson who pursues a strict delegate model of representation would seek to ____________
legislate in the way they believe their constituents want often regardless of the anticipated outcome
The justices of the US Supreme Court are _____________.
nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate
The US Supreme Court today consists of ______
one chief justice and eight associate justices
The courts' power known as judicial review allows the courts to
rule that a law or action by members of the government is unconstitutional
Stopping a filibuster requires that _________.
the Senate votes for cloture
Who is elected as the leader of the House of Representatives?
the Speaker of the House
If there is a tie vote in Senate, who gets to cast the deciding vote?
the Vice President
__________ is a common phrase when the President uses his/her position and power to focus media attention on an issue.
the bully pulpit
Which of the following is an implied power of Congress
the power to regulate the sale of tobacco in the states
What does Campbell's surge and decline theory suggest about the outcome of midterm elections?
the president's party in Congress will lose seats during midterm time
Checks and balances is a system that allows one branch of government to limit the exercise power by another branch.
true
Most of the work done in Congress is done by committees.
true
