AP Classroom practice

Which of the following Supreme Court cases involved the principle of "one person, one vote"? A Baker v. Carr B Roe v .Wade C Mapp v. Ohio D Korematsu v United States E Gideon v Wainwright

A Baker v. Carr

Members of Congress who have adopted the delegate role of representation normally cast their votes based on which of the following? A The preferences of the majority of their constituents B Their judgment of what is best for their constituency C The instructions of their political party's leadership D Their political party's most recent policy platform E The advice of congressional staffers and political consultants

A The preferences of the majority of their constituents

Nominations to the Supreme Court must be approved by a A simple majority vote in the Senate only B simple majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate C two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives only D two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate E two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives and the Senate and a majority of the sitting justices on the Supreme Court

A simple majority vote in the Senate only

To get an important bill passed 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... A the free rider problem B pork barrel legislation C an issue network D gerrymandering

B

A first term member of the House of Representatives from North Dakota who wished to maximize opportunities for constituent service would be most likely to seek placement on which of the following committees? A Judiciary B Agriculture C Rules D Foreign Affairs E Science and Technology

B Agriculture

Which of the following accurately compares the powers of Congress and the president? A Congress Has Greater Control:Judicial appointments President Has Greater Control Foreign policy B Congress Has Greater Control: Budgetary policy President Has Greater Control: Cabinet appointments

B Congress Has Greater Control: Budgetary policy President Has Greater Control:Cabinet appointments

A "cloture motion" passed in the Senate does which of the following? A Returns a bill to committee. B Cuts off debate on a bill. C Criticizes a senator guilty of improprieties. D Removes a President who has been impeached by the House. E Brings a bill directly to a vote without formal committee approval.

B Cuts off debate on a bill.

Which of the following is an example of a power exclusively granted to the Senate in Article II of the Constitution? A Declaring war B Overriding a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority veto C Confirming ambassadors D Creating spending bills

C Confirming ambassadors

Which of the following statements about the Senate is true? A Each state is represented in the Senate according to its population. B The Senate, unlike the House, has a Rules Committee. C Individual senators can exercise substantial influence over the legislative process. D The Senate has a strict time limit on debates.

C Individual senators can exercise substantial influence over the legislative process.

Which of the following clauses serves as the constitutional basis for the federal Real ID Act of 2005, a law that established uniform standards for state-issued identification cards and provided regulation of a state function? A The due process clause B The establishment clause C The necessary and proper clause D The commerce clause

C The necessary and proper clause

Which of the following enumerated powers would permit Congress to stimulate the economy by hiring unemployed citizens? A The power to create immigration policies B The power to regulate interstate commerce C The power to pass a federal budget D The power of legislative oversight

C The power to pass a federal budget

Despite concerns raised by her constituents, a member of the House of Representatives votes in favor of a bill, believing that in the long term it is in the best interest of her constituents. This is an example of which of the following models of representation? A Delegate B Politico C Trustee D Virtual

C Trustee

The practice in Congress whereby Representative A promises to vote for Representative B's legislation, provided that Representative B will support Representative A's legislation, is referred to as A personal casework and services B partisan discipline C logrolling D pork barrel legislation E filibustering

C logrolling

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 Rules

The committee that resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill is called a A joint committee B select committee C special committee D conference committee E standing committee

D conference committee

The boundary lines of congressional districts are drawn by A the United States House of Representatives B The United States Senate C United States district courts D state governors E state legislatures

E state legislatures

The United States Constitution says that Congress has the power to coin money.This is an example of A an enumerated power B an implied power C an inherent power D a reserved power E a concurrent power

A an enumerated power

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 Establishing federal courts

To which of the following congressional committees would a proposal to reform the national income-tax system initially be sent? A House Appropriations Committee B House Ways and Means Committee C House Budget Committee D Senate Budget Committee E Senate Finance Committee

B House Ways and Means Committee

Of the following, which is the most powerful figure in Congress? A The Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee B The Speaker of the House C The Minority Whip of the Senate D The Majority Whip of the House E The Chair of the Senate Finance Committee

B The Speaker of the House

Congressional legislative powers include all of the following EXCEPT A legislating federal appropriations B approval of treaties C establishing a lower-court system D passing federal laws E pardoning felons

E pardoning felons

FRQ In the United States Congress, the majority party exerts a substantial influence over lawmaking. However, even when one party has a numerical majority in each chamber of the United States Congress, there is no guarantee that legislation supported by that majority party will be passed by both chambers. Rules of each chamber independently influence the likelihood that legislation will pass in that chamber; legislation passed by one chamber is not always passed by the other. (a) Describe two advantages the majority party in the United States House of Representatives has in lawmaking, above and beyond the numerical advantage that that majority party enjoys in floor voting. (b) Describe two differences between House and Senate rules that may make it likely that legislation may pass in one chamber but not in the other. (c) Explain how the differences identified in (b) can lead to the passage of a bill in one chamber but not in the other.

...

Which of the following statements accurately summarizes the reasoning for the decision in Baker v. Carr (1962) ? A Because rural districts had fewer people, representation was unevenly distributed; thus, Baker was denied equal protection under the law. B To ensure equal protection under the law, there should be an equal number of rural and urban districts in a state. C There should be redistricting every ten years at the federal level, but the state can choose not to redistrict at the state and local levels. D Congressional redistricting must involve traditionally excluded groups in the process or it violates the equal protection clause.

A Because rural districts had fewer people, representation was unevenly distributed; thus, Baker was denied equal protection under the law.

When a bill passes the House and the Senate in different versions, the bill is resolved by which of the following types of committee? A Conference B Select C Reconciliation D Rules E Standing

A Conference

Which of the following best describes the holding in Baker v. Carr (1961) ? A Unequal representation of citizens in legislative districts is unconstitutional and may be reviewed by the courts. B Political issues such as reapportionment, redistricting, and gerrymandering are to be resolved by the legislative branch. C Racial gerrymandering is a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause. D Gerrymandering that favors a single party is not subject to legal action because there is no standard to determine how a state legislative district map should be drawn.

A Unequal representation of citizens in legislative districts is unconstitutional and may be reviewed by the courts.

Elections for the House of Representative provide A approximately equal representation for every voter B an equal chance of getting elected for both incumbents and challengers C a system in which only those candidates who receive a majority of the votes cast win on the first ballot D proportional representation based on the percentage of votes cast for each party E proportional representation of racial and ethnic minorities

A approximately equal representation for every voter

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 A delegate B trustee C politico D committee chair

A delegate

The term "bicameralism" refers to the A establishment of two legislative chambers that have different structures and rules B members of the House of Representatives having two-year terms C president having veto power over both chambers of Congress D members of the House and Senate having to appease their mutual constituencies E checks that Congress has over the federal bureaucracy

A establishment of two legislative chambers that have different structures and rules

The congressional system of standing committees is significant because it... A fosters the development of expertise by members B helps Congress reduce staff costs C insulates decision-making from the influence of special interests D weakens Congress in its dealings with the President E prevents Congress from effectively processing its large legislative workload

A fosters the development of expertise by members

A difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate is that in the House A legislative activity on the floor is more constrained by rules B committees are less important in the decision-making process C junior members have more influence over legislative decisions D party leaders are less powerful E bills are more likely to be amended on the floor

A legislative activity on the floor is more constrained by rules

Advocates of shifting the task of drawing United States House districts from state legislatures to independent commissions are likely to claim which of the following as an advantage of independent commissions? A House districts drawn by independent commissions are immune from challenges by the United States Department of Justice. B Independent commissions are more likely to create majority-minority districts where they are appropriate. C Independent commissions significantly reduce the influence of partisan gerrymandering in the redistricting process. D Independent commissions are more likely to create districts where minor parties can be victorious. E Independent commissions are more able to draw legislative districts that comply with the one person, one vote standard.

B Independent commissions are more likely to create majority-minority districts where they are appropriate

Which of the following statements about Congress is true? A Members of Congress only occasionally are interested in and pay attention to constituents. B The legislative process is frequently lengthy, decentralized, and characterized by compromise and bargaining. C Lobbyists and political action committees (PAC's) successfully induce most members of Congress to trade their votes for campaign contributions. D The growth in the size of Congress as an organization is the principal cause of growth in the federal budget deficit. E Debate in both houses is structured by elaborate rules enacted by leaders of the majority party.

B The legislative process is frequently lengthy, decentralized, and characterized by compromise and bargaining.

In the last years presidential primacy, so indispensable to the political order, has turned into presidential supremacy. The constitutional Presidency—as events so apparently disparate as the Indochina War and the Watergate affair showed, has become the imperial Presidency and threatens to be the revolutionary Presidency. . . . The imperial Presidency was essentially the creation of foreign policy. A combination of doctrines and emotions—belief in the permanent and universal crisis, fear of communism, faith in the duty and right of the United States to intervene swiftly in every part of the world—had brought about the unprecedented centralization of decisions. Prolonged war in Vietnam strengthened the tendencies toward both centralization and exclusion. So the imperial Presidency grew at the expense of the constitutional order. Like the cowbird, it hatched its own eggs and pushed the others out of the nest. And, as it overwhelmed the traditional separation of powers in foreign affairs, it began to aspire toward an equivalent centralization of power in the domestic polity. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Imperial Presidency, 1973 Which of the following situations best reflects the author's concern about an "imperial" presidency? A The Senate ratifying treaties without executive approval B The president issuing an increasing number of executive agreements C Congress declaring war independent of the president D The president appointing a new secretary of education

B The president issuing an increasing number of executive agreements

"Pork barrel" legislation helps the reelection chances of a member of Congress because such legislation A gives the member of Congress national standing and coverage on national television news B helps earn the member of Congress a reputation for service to his or her district C attracts campaign contributions from ideological political action committees (PACs) D prevents other candidates from claiming that the member of Congress is too liberal for his or her district E requires the member of Congress to travel extensively

B helps earn the member of Congress a reputation for service to his or her district

Federal benefits that must be funded by Congress and must be paid to all citizens who meet eligibility criteria are called A discretionary appropriations B individual entitlements C tax expenditures D distributive benefits E continuing appropriations

B individual entitlements

An example of a discretionary item in the federal budget is A interest on the public debt B spending on national parks C Social Security payments D veterans' pensions E liquidation of prior obligations

B spending on national parks

Fiscal policies refer to the government's power to A regulate specific industries B tax and spend C reapportion congressional seats D control the supply of money E enforce treaties

B tax and spend

The House Appropriations Committee disagrees with a proposal in the president's annual budget request to increase the number of people eligible for food stamps, consequently leading to the House of Representatives passing a budget that does not increase funding for the program. This ability to check presidential actions is best described as A the bully pulpit B the power of the purse C the oversight function D the line-item veto

B the power of the purse

Which of the following scenarios is an example of the trustee model of representation? A The NAACP leadership sends representatives to Washington to lobby for changes to the Voting Rights Act. B Congress passes a bill allocating money to clean up nuclear waste sites after a wave of large-scale peaceful protests. C 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. D A presidential candidate advocates using an executive order to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors.

C 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 supporting pork-barrel legislation? A A senator from a coal-producing state voting against a job-training program for coal miners B A member of the House voting for urban renewal in exchange for increased funding for roads C A senator from an agricultural state amending legislation to establish a potato research institute in his or her state D A member of the House Armed Services Committee marking up a bill that will increase funding for military bases

C A senator from an agricultural state amending legislation to establish a potato research institute in his or her state

The Supreme Court's decision in Shaw v. Reno (1993) is most applicable to which of the following scenarios? A A public school expels students for protesting school policy. B A state establishes a ban on carrying firearms near schools and churches. C A state legislature approves a redistricting plan that draws district lines on basis of race. D A group of state officials refuse to comply with federal legislation.

C A state legislature approves a redistricting plan that draws district lines on basis of race.

Which of the following accurately describes the composition of congressional committees? A Committees are organized by the executive branch to ensure that both branches can communicate and negotiate policy goals. B The United States Constitution requires that Congress organize itself into committees, with each party having equal access to committee seats. C Committees are organized by the majority party to maintain control of the policy-making process. D Committees are organized by state delegations so that each state has some role in deciding which bills get passed.

C Committees are organized by the majority party to maintain control of the policy-making process.

Which of the following best reflects the holding in the case Baker v. Carr (1962) ? A Declared that racial gerrymandering was a violation of the due process clause. B Stated that the Tenth Amendment exclusively reserves the power to review congressional districts to the states. C Created a one-person, one-vote standard for reviewing congressional districts. D Stated that the Seventeenth Amendment requires regular review of the constitutionality of congressional districts.

C Created a one-person, one-vote standard for reviewing congressional districts.

Which of the following is the most likely consequence of divided government? A Reorganization of the federal bureaucracy B Conflicts between states C Delays in confirmation of federal court nominees D Conflicts between national government and states E Elimination of the seniority rule in Congress

C Delays in confirmation of federal court nominees

Most of the bills introduced in the House and the Senate are then A passed by one chamber but not the other B passed by both chambers but vetoed by the President C referred to committee but never sent to the full Congress D voted down during the amendment stage of the floor debate E killed in the Rules Committee

C referred to committee but never sent to the full Congress

Which of the following are differences between the legislative process in the House of Representatives and that in the Senate? Debate is more restricted on the House floor than on the Senate floor. The amendment process is more restricted in the House than in the Senate. Bills are more likely to bybass committee consideration in the House than in the Senate. A Rules Committee sets the guidelines for floor debate in the House but not in the Senate. A III only B I and II only C II and IV only D I, II, and IV only E I, II, III, and IV

D I, II, and IV only

Which of the following is generally true of the gerrymandering of congressional districts? A It results in more Democrats being elected to the House. B It results in more Republicans being elected to the House. C It guarantees that all minority parties will be equally represented. D It creates districts that favor one political party over another. E It violates the principle of one-person, one-vote.

D It creates districts that favor one political party over another.

Which of the following is true about divided party control of the presidency and Congress? A It is a natural occurrence due to the constitutional system of checks and balances. B It rarely occurs in United States elections, because of straight-ticket voting. C It promotes quick action by the President and Congress on such issues as the federal budget. D It reflects a frequent election pattern over the past three decades. E It results from the reapportionment of House seats after the decennial census.

D It reflects a frequent election pattern over the past three decades.

Which of the following best describes pork barrel politics? A The Office of Management and Budget negotiates with Congress to get the president's budget proposal passed. B Senators from states with agricultural economies promote farm price supports. C Voters in rural areas support different issue positions than do voters in metropolitan areas. D Members of Congress negotiate bills so that individual districts get money for projects that do not benefit the nation as a whole. E Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee refuse to endorse the president's nominees to the federal courts.

D Members of Congress negotiate bills so that individual districts get money for projects that do not benefit the nation as a whole.

Which of the following committees of the House of Representatives sets the conditions for debate and amendment of most legislation? A Ways and Means B Appropriations C Judiciary D Rules E Government Operations

D Rules

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? A The House has fewer legislative committees than the Senate does. B Members of the House often represent a much narrower constituency than senators do. C Party leadership in the House is highly formalized, while leadership in the Senate is much more informal. D The House has strict limits on debate, while the Senate allows unlimited debate.

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

Which of the following situations best illustrates the meaning of divided government in the United States political system? A The majority of Supreme Court justices are from one party, but the president is from another. B The majority of governors are from one party, but the president is from another. C The president and a majority of members of Congress are from one party, but the majority of governors are from another. D The majority of senators and the majority of representatives are from one party, but the president is from another. E The majority of Supreme Court justices are from one party, but the majority of senators and representatives are from another.

D The majority of senators and the majority of representatives are from one party, but the president is from another.

Which of the following statements about motions for cloture is true? A They force a bill out of committee so that the full House can vote on it. B They are applied to bills that failed in the previous session of Congress. C They are applied only to appropriation bills. D They are used by senators to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote. E They occur whenever a bill is reported out of committee.

D They are used by senators to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote.

A member of the United States Senate, Jane Smith, personally opposes a bill that calls for a single-payer system of healthcare, in contrast to the majority of her constituency, who are in favor of the legislation. Based on the trustee model of constituent accountability, which of the following actions will Senator Smith most likely take when it is time to vote on the piece of legislation?.... A Vote for the bill according to the desires of her constituency. B Vote for the bill to win favor with her party leadership C Vote against the bill to maximize support from interest groups that support her reelection campaign. D Vote against the bill according to her own conscience, which may cause her to lose support among her constituents.

D Vote against the bill according to her own conscience, which may cause her to lose support among her constituents.

A committee chair in the House of Representatives is always A the member with the longest service on the committee B the member with the longest service in the House C a representative of the Speaker D a member of the majority party in the chamber E a trusted ally of the President

D a member of the majority party in the chamber

Debate of a bill in the House of Representatives under a "closed rule" means that A the bill can only be amended by section B debate on the bill will consist of five-minute speeches, pro and con C only senior members are allowed to participate D amendments to the bill cannot be offered E the bill must be approved by two-thirds of the House

D amendments to the bill cannot be offered

The largest source of federal revenue is the A capital gains tax B Social Security tax C property tax D income tax E sales tax

D income tax

Congressional standing committees are best described as.... A specially appointed investigative bodies B joint committees of the two houses of Congress C committees created for each session D permanent subject-matter committees E advisory staff agencies

D permanent subject-matter committees

The term "pork barrel" refers to legislation specifically designed to A encourage a balanced federal budget B ensure the careful inspection of farm goods and other foodstuffs C distribute excess produce to the poor D provide funding for local projects that are intended to benefit constituents E equalize representation between farming and nonfarming states

D provide funding for local projects that are intended to benefit constituents

Enumerated powers of the federal government include all of the following EXCEPT the power to A coin money B declare war C regulate interstate commerce D regulate intrastate commerce E tax

D regulate intrastate commerce

The committee system is more important in the House than in the Senate because A the seniority system plays no role in the House and therefore committees must play a larger role B the Constitution mandates the type of committee structure in the House C committee members are appointed by the President D the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor E the majority party in the House prefers to give priority to the work of the committees

D the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor

The Constitution states that all revenue bills must originate in A a White House budget resolution B the Congressional Budget Office C the United States Senate D the United States House of Representatives E the Office of Management and Budget

D the United States House of Representatives

Which of the following is true of the seniority system of Congress in relation to committee leadership and committee staffing? A Members of Congress with the longest continuous service are assured the chairmanship of major congressional committees. B Members of Congress must be elected from safe seats to accrue committee seniority. C Members of congressional committees are the most senior members of the body's majority party. D The oldest members of Congress have the most seniority. E The chairs of congressional committees tend to be senior members of the body's majority party.

E The chairs of congressional committees tend to be senior members of the body's majority party.

If legislation passes in both the House of Representatives and the Senate but each version is slightly different, the conflicting bills are sent to A a standing committee of each house for a vote B an ad hoc committee for judicial review C the Rules Committee of each house for reconciliation and compromise D the majority and minority leaders of both houses for compromise E a conference committee for review and compromise

E a conference committee for review and compromise

The role of a conference committee in Congress is to A hold hearings on proposed legislation B oversee the actions of the executive branch of the government C decide which bills should be considered by the full Senate D conduct hearings that make information available to the public E reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

E reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

Most of the work of legislating in Congress takes place in A joint committees B ad hoc committees C select committees D conference committees E standing committees

E standing committees