AP Gov- Chapter 6 Test

Which example best demonstrates a legislator acting as a trustee of his or her constituency? a. A legislator considers public opinion, refining it with information and careful thought. b. A legislator does whatever is best for his or her reelection. c. A legislator follows the public opinion of his or her constituency. d. A legislator heeds public opinion in every case, except in matters of personal conscience. e. A legislator may follow his or her conscience unless public opinion is clear.

a.A legislator considers public opinion, refining it with information and careful thought.

Why were Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton impeached but not removed from office? a. A simple majority in the House led to charges of wrongdoing, but a Senate trial failed to impeach. b. A simple majority in the Senate led to charges of wrongdoing, but a House trial failed to impeach. c. A supermajority in the House led to charges of wrongdoing, but a Senate trial failed to impeach. d. A supermajority in the Senate led to charges of wrongdoing, but a House trial failed to impeach. e. Neither chamber of Congress secured enough votes for a trial.

a.A simple majority in the House led to charges of wrongdoing, but a Senate trial failed to impeach.

__________ is the process of allotting congressional seats to each state according to its proportion of the population. a. Apportionment b. Appropriations c. Delegation d. Gerrymandering e. Redistricting

a.Apportionment

What occurs during the appropriations process? a. Congress grants funds to federal agencies and programs. b. Congress makes laws. c. Congress acquires requested oversight material from the executive. d. Congress instructs the president to eliminate federal agencies. e. Congress creates new federal agencies.

a.Congress grants funds to federal agencies and programs.

Which statement about incumbency is most accurate? a. Incumbents have a huge advantage in reelection. b. Incumbents have a small advantage in reelection. c. Incumbents have no advantage in reelection. d. Incumbents only leave office when pressured by party leadership. e. Incumbents only leave office when they choose.

a.Incumbents have a huge advantage in reelection.

The Constitutional Convention resulted in what form of legislature? a. bicameral b. direct c. trilateral d. unicameral e. unified

a.bicameral

A __________ is a special committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate. a. conference committee b. joint committee c. select committee d. special committee e. standing committee

a.conference committee

During an election, an incumbent representative might point to local allocations of a federal highway bill as a reason to be re-elected. This is an example of __________. a. credit claiming b. gerrymandering c. passing the buck d. redistricting e. spin control

a.credit claiming

Packing and cracking both draw district lines to the favor of the majority party, and thus, are two types of __________. a. gerrymandering b. lawmaking c. oversight d. reapportionment e. redistricting

a.gerrymandering

Charged with the responsibility to __________, the __________ is almost certainly the most powerful committee in either chamber of Congress. a. grant and set procedural rules, House Committee on Rules b. investigate the performance of government, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee c. make decisions about money for authorized programs, the Senate Appropriations Committee d. set targets for spending and taxes, the House Budget Committee e. oversee nominations and the Department of Justice, Senate Judiciary Committee

a.grant and set procedural rules, House Committee on Rules

The role of Senate minority leader is important because __________. a. he or she represents the opposition in negotiations with the majority leader b. he or she serves as chief assistant to the majority leader c. he or she serves as the national spokesperson for the party d. the House does not have this position e. the Senate is more hierarchically driven than the House

a.he or she represents the opposition in negotiations with the majority leader

In the House of Representatives, who is second in authority to the Speaker of the House? a. majority leader b. majority whip c. minority leader d. minority whip e. president pro tempore (or pro tem)

a.majority leader

The true leader of the Senate is the __________, elected by the majority party. a. majority leader b. president pro tempore c. Senate Chair d. Speaker e. vice president

a.majority leader

What is the purpose of a discharge petition? a. to force a vote on a House bill within an opposing committee b. to force a vote on a Senate bill within an opposing committee c. to force a vote on a Senate or House bill within an opposing committee d. to force the end of a filibuster in the House e. to force the end of a filibuster in the Senate

a.to force a vote on a House bill within an opposing committee

A lobbyist for the NRA would be most effective when targeting a legislator ___________. a. whose voting behavior supports gun control b. whose voting behavior opposes gun control c. with a large and mostly unoccupied support staff d. who wants cash for personal trips to gun shows e. who has likely never been to a gun show

a.whose voting behavior supports gun control

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between Congress and the Judiciary? a. Congress has the ability to review the constitutionality of Supreme Court decisions. b. Congress must be increasingly mindful of the Supreme Court's reaction when it enacts new laws for the nation. c. Congress sets the jurisdiction of federal and state courts. d. In recent years, the Supreme Court has struck down congressional legislation at a rate of five laws per term. e. The Supreme Court has typically had an antagonistic relationship with Congress.

b.Congress must be increasingly mindful of the Supreme Court's reaction when it enacts new laws for the nation.

Which statement is true of the House of Representatives? a. Members are elected every two years and apportioned to states based on geographic size. b. Members are elected every two years and apportioned to states based on population. c. Members are elected every four years and apportioned to states based on geographic size. d. Members are elected every four years and apportioned to states based on population. e. Members are elected every six years and apportioned to states based on population.

b.Members are elected every two years and apportioned to states based on population.

A committee report is written __________. a. after going to the Committee on Rules, but before a measure is marked up b. before going to the Committee on Rules, but after a measure is marked up c. only if requested by the minority leader d. only if requested by the president pro tempore e. only when a bill is reintroduced following a presidential veto

b.before going to the Committee on Rules, but after a measure is marked up

Successful members of Congress share the same policy interests as voters, according to the __________. a. conscience model of representation b. delegate model of representation c. majority-minority model of representation d. politico model of representation e. trustee model of representation

b.delegate model of representation

A __________ is one tactic to signal the leadership that a Senate member may have objections to a bill. a. cloture b. hold c. markup d. pocket veto e. referral

b.hold

"Pork" legislation may aid the district of a member of Congress by __________. a. diverting unallocated funds to the service sector b. increasing jobs and revenue with federally funded projects c. increasing revenue through private market investment d. taxing corporations less so they provide health insurance for employees e. taxing waste producers more to pay for environmental cleanup

b.increasing jobs and revenue with federally funded projects

How are committee chairs selected in the House? a. a subject knowledge test b. interviews to determine party loyalty c. joint decision of the majority and minority leaders d. seniority within the committee e. seniority within the party

b.interviews to determine party loyalty

What is the typical trajectory of a bill in the Senate? a. introduction, committee referral, subcommittee, full committee report, rules committee, conference committee, send to president, full Senate vote b. introduction, committee referral, subcommittee, full committee report, full Senate debate and vote, conference committee, send to president c. introduction, committee referral, subcommittee, rules committee, full committee report, conference committee, full Senate vote, send to president d. introduction, committee referral, rules committee, subcommittee, full committee report, full Senate vote, conference committee, send to president e. introduction, subcommittee, committee referral, full committee report, rules committee, full Senate vote, conference committee, send to president

b.introduction, committee referral, subcommittee, full committee report, full Senate debate and vote, conference committee, send to president

What is the typical trajectory of a bill in the House of Representatives? a. introduction, committee referral, subcommittee, full committee report, rules committee, conference committee, send to president, full House vote b. introduction, committee referral, subcommittee, full committee report, rules committee, full House vote, conference committee, send to president c. introduction, committee referral, subcommittee, rules committee, full committee report, conference committee, full House vote, send to president d. introduction, committee referral, rules committee, subcommittee, full committee report, full House vote, conference committee, send to president e. introduction, subcommittee, committee referral, full committee report, rules committee, full House vote, conference committee, send to president

b.introduction, committee referral, subcommittee, full committee report, rules committee, full House vote, conference committee, send to president

Although Congress authorized the expenditure of funds for many social problems, President Nixon refused to spend money appropriated for them. Frustrated by Nixon, Congress solidified its role in the budgetary process by __________. a. opening an inquiry into presidential malfeasance b. passing the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 c. passing the War Powers Resolution in 1973 d. using its power of oversight to censure the president e. using it power of oversight to impeach the president

b.passing the Congressional Budget Act of 1974

On average, each member of the House represents __________ voters. a. 7,000 b. 107,000 c. 700,000 d. 1,700,000 e. 7,000,000

c.700,000

__________ committees exist in both the House and Senate, may be temporary or permanent, and usually have a focused responsibility. a. Conference b. Joint c. Select/Special d. Standing e. Temporal

c.Select/Special

In the event of a major scandal, which kind of committee would be convened to conduct a special investigation? a. a conference committee b. an investigative committee c. a joint committee d. a select/special committee e. a standing committee

c.a joint committee

What best describes the purpose of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), established in 1921 as an independent agency? a. auditing the financial expenditures of the legislative and executive branches b. auditing the financial expenditures of state governments with federal monies c. auditing the financial expenditures of the executive branch and federal agencies d. monitoring congressional ethics and submitting findings to the Ethics Committee chair e. monitoring congressional ethics and submitting findings to the judiciary

c.auditing the financial expenditures of the executive branch and federal agencies

What advantage does a subcommittee offer the legislative process? a. expedited approval of joint committee floor submissions b. expedited approval of standing committee floor submissions c. greater division of labor d. oversight of joint committees e. oversight of standing committees

c.greater division of labor

The president pro tempore __________. a. has the power to nullify legislation with a pocket veto b. has the power to select the majority leader c. is an honorific office awarded to the senior senator of the majority party d. is a role bequeathed to the vice president by the Constitution e. personally presides over the Senate floor when it is in session

c.is an honorific office awarded to the senior senator of the majority party

The House minority leader __________. a. has authority over the selection of the president pro tempore b. has joint authority over which legislation goes to the floor c. is elected by the minority party d. is selected by the majority leader e. is selected by the Speaker of the House

c.is elected by the minority party

This individual keeps close contact with all members of his or her party, counts votes for key legislation, prepares summaries of bills, and acts as a communications link within the party. a. committee chairperson b. majority/minority leader c. majority/minority whip d. president pro tempore e. Speaker of the House

c.majority/minority whip

Each state has __________ senators elected every __________ years. a. two, two b. two, four c. two, six d. four, two e. four, four

c.two, six

__________ is a good example of Congressional casework. a. Analysis of an incumbent's policy positions prior to a debate b. Analysis of police force effectiveness c. Analysis of water quality within a district d. Assistance to a constituent in obtaining a Social Security check e. Assistance to a federal agency operating within a member's district

d.Assistance to a constituent in obtaining a Social Security check

How have Americans rated members of Congress in recent years? a. Americans are increasingly supportive of congressional members. b. Americans are ambivalent about the performance of Congress. c. Individual members of Congress and Congress as a whole have received high approval ratings. d. Individual members of Congress rate slightly higher than Congress as a whole, but approval ratings are at an all-time low. e. Ratings are low across the board, but individual members of Congress receive the lowest approval ratings.

d.Individual members of Congress rate slightly higher than Congress as a whole, but approval ratings are at an all-time low.

What occurs at a congressional party conference? a. Democrats meet to select leaders and determine objectives. b. Democrats review bills passed at the end of a session of Congress. c. Republicans and Democrats meet to build rapport and plan bills. d. Republicans meet to select leaders and determine objectives. e. Republicans review bills passed at the end of a session of Congress.

d.Republicans meet to select leaders and determine objectives.

How might a bill become law if it has been pocket vetoed? a. Congress may override the pocket veto with a three-fourths vote in each chamber. b. Congress may override the pocket veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber. c. The bill can never become law. d. The bill must be reintroduced in the next session of Congress. e. The president may sign the bill at his or her discretion

d.The bill must be reintroduced in the next session of Congress.

Which of the following groups would be most likely to have influence over non-ideological legislation? a. party, constituents, and congressional staff b. party, constituents, and special interest groups c. party, constituents, and colleagues in Congress d. congressional staff and colleagues in Congress e. congressional staff and party

d.congressional staff and colleagues in Congress

Over the past century, partisan polarization has __________ along with __________. a. decreased; gender equality b. decreased; income equality c. increased; gender inequality d. increased; income inequality e. remained constant; income inequality

d.increased; income inequality

What best explains the overwhelming advantage incumbents possess in seeking reelection over opposition candidates? a. additional financial support from constituent taxes b. additional financial support from the federal government campaign fund c. demonstrated ability to lead and public record of votes d. name recognition, access to media, and franking privilege e. name recognition and access to district taxes

d.name recognition, access to media, and franking privilege

The __________ is where congressional Democrats gather to select their leadership at the beginning of each term. a. conference committee b. electoral college c. leadership conference d. party caucus e. party conference

d.party caucus

Congressional whips serve what main function? a. act as official spokespersons for their chambers b. help the Speaker schedule proposed legislation for debate c. meet with members of the executive cabinet d. persuade party members to toe the party line e. serve as personal assistants to the majority and minority leaders

d.persuade party members to toe the party line

Which is an example of logrolling in Congress? a. awarding a government contract to a campaign supporter b. introducing and sponsoring a bill c. sponsoring a bill in exchange for federal monies d. supporting a bill in exchange for support of one's own bill e. working to get federal monies for an interstate highway

d.supporting a bill in exchange for support of one's own bill

What demonstrates the Founders' desire to insulate the Senate from popular displeasure? a. terms of two years, with all seats open for each election b. terms of four years, with one-third of seats open for election every two years c. terms of four years, with two-thirds of seats open for election every two years d. terms of six years, with one-third of seats open for election every two years e. terms of six years, with two-thirds of seats open for election every two years

d.terms of six years, with one-third of seats open for election every two years

According to the trustee model of representation, legislators are __________. a. obligated to follow a strict interpretation of the Constitution b. obligated to present the views of their constituents c. obligated to use their own opinions in decision making d. trusted by their constituents because they are natives of their home districts e. trusted to choose between their own opinions and the views of their constituents

d.trusted by their constituents because they are natives of their home districts

Members of Congress differ from the larger American population in they are disproportionately__________. a. socially conservative and fiscally liberal b. socially liberal and fiscally conservative c. socially and fiscally moderate d. white, upper-middle-class, middle-aged, and male e. white, upper-middle-class, Protestant, and female

d.white, upper-middle-class, middle-aged, and male

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is administered by the __________, which tracks bill status and conducts research on behalf of Congress. a. Congressional Budget Office b. Congressional Research Department c. Government Accountability Office d. Government Printing Office e. Library of Congress

e.Library of Congress

Which statement best characterizes the hearing process of a formal bill? a. A formal bill receives a hearing and goes to the floor when the vice president requests it. b. A formal bill receives a hearing or floor time only when extensively marked up. c. A formal bill receives a hearing when pocket vetoed, but seldom goes to the floor. d. Few formal bills receive a hearing, but many are marked up and sent to the floor. e. Most formal bills receive a hearing, but few are marked up and sent to the floor.

e.Most formal bills receive a hearing, but few are marked up and sent to the floor.

What best represents the trend of party polarization over the last three decades? a. Both Republicans and Democrats have become more conservative. b. Both Republicans and Democrats have become more liberal. c. Both Republicans and Democrats have become more moderate. d. Party polarization has decreased as bipartisanship has increased. e. Party polarization has increased as bipartisanship has decreased.

e.Party polarization has increased as bipartisanship has decreased.

Which response best reflects the dilemma of pork in legislation? a. Programmatic requests are always wasteful expenditures but are useful to politicians. b. Programmatic requests are beneficial to taxpayers but detrimental to reelection. c. Programmatic requests are typically beneficial to districts but allow the federal government to collect an undue share of tax revenue. d. Programmatic requests favor federal employees at the expense of state employees. e. Programmatic requests favor one district at the expense of all American taxpayers.

e.Programmatic requests favor one district at the expense of all American taxpayers.

What can be inferred from the current demographic composition of the Senate? a. It is more descriptively representative of African Americans than the House. b. It is more descriptively representative of women than the House. c. Senators are better educated than their House counterparts. d. Senate members tend to be poorer than their House counterparts. e. Senate members tend to be wealthier than their House counterparts.

e.Senate members tend to be wealthier than their House counterparts.

In the House of Representatives, the __________ decides who will speak on the floor, and rules on points of order. a. majority leader b. majority whip c. minority leader d. president pro tempore e. Speaker

e.Speaker

Why are there currently 435 members in the House of Representatives? a. The Constitution requires a specific ratio of representatives to constituents. b. The Constitution stipulates this number. c. The number has changed to reflect gerrymandering. d. The number has grown each decade, according to census data. e. The number is fixed at this limit by a statute.

e.The number is fixed at this limit by a statute.

__________is the only formal method for ending a filibuster, and requires the approval of __________ senators. a. abrogation, fifty-one b. abrogation, sixty c. censure, sixty d. cloture, fifty-one e. cloture, sixty

e.cloture, sixty

One example of the Framers' intent to insulate the Senate from the tyranny of the majority was to __________. a. give members lifetime appointments b. give the Senate authority to overturn a presidential veto without House ratification c. give the Senate authority to overturn a Supreme Court decision d. have members appointed by incumbent senators e. have members appointed by their respective state legislatures

e.have members appointed by their respective state legislatures

A rise in party unity is indicative of __________. a. cooperation across party lines b. cooperation between Congress and the executive branch c. decreasing party polarization d. high bipartisanship levels e. low bipartisanship levels

e.low bipartisanship levels

What procedure or process limits debate of budget controversies to twenty hours, thereby ending the threat of a filibuster in the Senate? a. caucus b. cloture c. party conference d. programmatic requests e. reconciliation

e.reconciliation

Executive deference to senators in the appointment of judges to federal courts is __________. a. appointee preeminence b. committee referral c. congressional review d. reconciliation e. senatorial courtesy

e.senatorial courtesy

In which event was there congressional oversight? a. the approval of President Obama's 2008 budget b. the financial audit of Ohio in 2010 c. the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 d. the Supreme Court nomination of Clarence Thomas e. the Watergate scandal

e.the Watergate scandal