Unit 8

Which of the following scenarios is an example of the trustee model of representation?

A member of Congress votes to close a popular tax loophole based on the belief that the money would be better spent paying down the national debt.

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a member of Congress engaging in "log-rolling"?

A member of the House voting for a colleague's urban renewal bill in exchange for that colleague's support for a bill increasing funding for roads.

Which of the following is true according to the diagram?

Both chambers make use of a system of majority and minority whips.

Which of the following is true according to the information in the diagram?

Both the majority and minority parties use whips.

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates "delegated discretionary authority"?

Congress giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to establish national pollution standards based upon broad guidelines.

On February 9, 2016, President Barack Obama released his budget proposal for the 2017 fiscal year. Facing a Republican Congress, many declared the plan "dead on arrival." Among the cited issues was Obama's request for $582.7 billion in discretionary spending for defense, which many Republicans believed was not enough. Which of the following most accurately explains the interaction between the president and the Congress regarding the defense budget?

Congress passes a budget for the entire federal government, including defense, but it must consider the president's proposal because the president may veto the bill.

A member of Congress votes in favor of a bill as a result of receiving many letters of support for the bill from constituents. Which form of democratic representation best describes this voting decision?

Delegate

After extensive polling, a member of the House of Representatives learns that her constituents favor universal background checks for all gun purchases. Based on this information, the representative votes in favor of background checks in a criminal justice bill, although she personally opposes the provision. In doing so, she is acting as a:

Delegate

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the rules for debate used by the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate?

House of Representatives - Debate is limited. Senate - Members can filibuster.

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate?

House of Representatives - Debate on bills is limited by time. Senate - Less time constraints on debate length.

In 2013 a parliamentary procedure was implemented in the Senate that allowed a simple majority vote to end debate on Cabinet member confirmations. Which of the following best explains how the procedural change relates to the information in the graphic?

If the procedural change had not occurred, Republican senators would not have been able to immediately invoke cloture of a filibuster.

The Web site healthcare.gov was launched on October 1, 2013, to help citizens purchase health insurance for themselves in accordance with the Affordable Care Act. Within two hours of launch the site crashed. Once it was restored, problems continued, leading to difficulty for users. The following year, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius was called to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss the issue. The committee held this hearing as part of which of the following functions?

Legislative oversight

To get a reluctant Representative to support a bill in the House, a provision is added that allocates $500 million to study the impact of global climate change on manatees in Florida. This is an example of:

Pork barrel legislation

Which of the following is an example of the executive branch implementing a public policy passed by Congress?

The Department of Health and Human Services determines specific eligibility requirements for government assistance.

Which of the following is most likely to occur as a result of new federal legislation regarding automobile safety?

The Department of Transportation will be given discretionary authority by Congress to create auto regulations.

A person claiming that the House can pass legislation with a simple majority, but the Senate is unlikely to pass legislation unless a bill has the support of a 60-vote supermajority is most likely to cite which of the following institutional differences as the cause of this trend?

The House has strict limits on debate, while the Senate allows nearly unlimited debate.

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a check on the power of the bureaucracy?

The Secretary of Defense is called to testify before a congressional committee to discuss financial waste in the military.

Which of the following is NOT an accurate description of either the United States House of Representatives or the United States Senate?

The Senate - Based on its large size, it tends to have stricter limitations affecting the length of debate.

A new president has been elected after running on a campaign of lowering taxes and reducing spending on discretionary programs but now must work with Congress to ensure legislation passes which achieves those goals. Which of the leaders in the diagram plays the most crucial role in shaping the legislation that the president wants passed?

The Speaker of the House

Which of the following best explains a reason that a president might use a signing statement to express displeasure with a bill as opposed to issuing a veto?

The president may have objections to provisions of a bill but does not want to risk Congress overriding a veto.

Based on your knowledge and the diagram, which of the following is true regarding the leadership structure of Congress?

The role of the Minority Leader in both the House of Representatives and the Senate is to coordinate a strategy and act as a spokesperson for the minority party.