ap government test
Which of the following is NOT an example of a caucus in Congress? A The House Republicans B Congressional Black Caucus C NAACP Caucus D House Freedom Caucus
C NAACP Caucus
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
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
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
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
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
The primary responsibility for determining monetary policy in the United States rests with the A International Monetary Fund B World Bank C Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System D Treasury Department E Comptroller of the Currency
C Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Policy that describes the impact of the federal budget (including taxes, spending, and borrowing) on the economy is referred to as which of the following? A Monetary policy B Trade policy C Fiscal policy D Antitrust policy E Capitalist policy
C Fiscal policy
Which of the following describes the ruling in Shaw v. Reno (1993) ? A The Voting Rights Act was ruled unconstitutional. B The poll tax was eliminated. C Racial gerrymandering was ruled unconstitutional. D It was decided that congressional districts needed to be equal in size.
C Racial gerrymandering was ruled unconstitutional.
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? A President pro-tempore B Vice president C Speaker of the House D House majority leader
C Speaker of the House
Which of the following is a unique power held by members of the Senate? A Control of the veto B Control of the appropriations process C The ability to filibuster D The ability to impeach the president E The ability to work with a clearly defined constituency
C The ability to filibuster
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate? A House of Representatives (Led by the president pro tempore) Senate (Led by the vice president) B House of Representatives (Initiates revenue bills) Senate (Nominates cabinet members) C House of Representatives (Must approve Supreme Court nominees) Senate (Must approve treaties) D House of Representatives (Debate on bills is limited) Senate (Debate on bills can be unlimited)
D House of Representatives (Debate on bills is limited) Senate (Debate on bills can be unlimited)
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 details of legislation are usually worked out in which of the following settings? A a party caucus B The majority leader's office C The floor of the House D Legislative hearings E A subcommittee
E A subcommittee
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
Percent of Spending Bills Passed On Time (On or Before October 1) by Congress for Each Fiscal Year Source: Congressional Research Service, 2017 In which year did Congress pass all stand-alone appropriations (spending) bills on time? A 1977 B 1980 C 1993 D 2012
A 1977
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.
Percent of Budget by Type of Spending, 1977-2017 Source: Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 2018 Which of the following categories accounted for the majority of spending in 2017, according to the chart? A Mandatory B Net interest C Discretionary D Pork-barrel
A Mandatory
The activities of the Federal Reserve Board have the most direct influence on A bank interest rates B government spending C oil prices D troop-strength levels of the armed services E availability of scarce minerals
A bank interest rates
The Great Compromise (a.k.a. Connecticut Compromise) provided for A equal representation for all states in the Senate and population-based representation in the House. B equal representation for all states in both houses. C equal representation for all states in the House and population-based representation in the Senate. D population-based representation in both houses.
A equal representation for all states in the Senate and population-based representation in the House.
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
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
Which of the following is an accurate description of the powers of the House of Representatives and the Senate? A House of Representatives (Conducts impeachment trials) Senate (Passes articles of impeachment) B House of Representatives (Initiates all revenue bills) Senate (Confirms presidential appointments) C House of Representatives (Ratifies treaties submitted by the president) Senate (Ratifies executive orders submitted by the president) D House of Representatives (Deploys troops for foreign combat) Senate (Negotiates treaties with foreign countries)
B House of Representatives (Initiates all revenue bills) Senate (Confirms presidential appointments)
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate? A House of Representatives (The majority and minority parties control legislative scheduling and rules equally) Senate (Minority party members can threaten to filibuster a bill the majority party wants to pass.) B House of Representatives (The Constitution's framers intended it to reflect the will of the people.) Senate (The Constitution's framers designed it to represent the interests of the states.) C House of Representatives(Most legislative work takes place in the standing committees.) Senate (Based on its size, it tends to have stricter rules affecting the legislative process.) D House of Representatives (Members serve two-year terms with a term limit of up to twelve years.) Senate (Members serve six-year terms with no term limits.)
B House of Representatives (The Constitution's framers intended it to reflect the will of the people.) Senate (The Constitution's framers designed it to represent the interests of the states.)
Which of the following actions by a congressional representative is an example of "pork barreling"? A Misusing campaign contributions B Directing federal funds into the representative's district through legislation C Accepting money from a political action committee (PAC) D Attempting to kill a bill with unacceptable amendments E Voting for a salary increase
B Directing federal funds into the representative's district through legislation
The largest portion of "uncontrollable spending" in the federal budget is designated for which of the following? A Interest on the national debt B Entitlement spending C Defense spending D Environmental programs E Salaries of federal bureaucrats
B Entitlement spending
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
Senate Vote on S.J. Res 7: A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress Which of the following conclusions can be drawn based on the table? A Forty-six Republicans voted against the bill, which led to a successful filibuster. B The bill was able to pass because some Republicans and Independents voted for it along with all Democrats. C Independents align most strongly with Republicans in the Senate. D The smaller chamber size of the Senate made this bill easier to pass in the Senate than in the House of Representatives.
B The bill was able to pass because some Republicans and Independents voted for it along with all Democrats.
According to the United States Constitution, all revenue bills must A be passed by a conference committee B originate in the House of Representatives C be passed by two-thirds of the Senate D be reviewed by the Supreme Court
B originate in the House of Representatives
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? A House of Representatives (Debate is unlimited.) Senate (Debate is unlimited.) B House of Representatives (Members can filibuster.) Senate (Members cannot filibuster.) C House of Representatives (Debate is limited.) Senate (Members can filibuster.) D House of Representatives (Members cannot filibuster.) Senate (Only the majority leader can filibuster.)
C House of Representatives (Debate is limited.) Senate (Members can filibuster.)
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 is an example of Congress using its implied powers? A Congress changing the tax code so that individuals making more than $350,000 per year have to pay higher taxes B Congress requesting that the Supreme Court review the constitutionality of a state gun-control law C Congress passing occupational safety regulations for the private sector D Congress ratifying a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada
C Congress passing occupational safety regulations for the private sector
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.
The statesman who should attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to [operate their business] would not only load himself with a most unnecessary attention, but assume authority which could safely be trusted, not to no single person, but to no council or senate whatever, and which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who [was so arrogant to think] himself fit to exercise it. To . . . direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals . . . in almost all cases [is] a useless or hurtful regulation. If the produce of domestic [industry] can be brought there as cheap as that of foreign industry, the regulation is evidently useless. If it cannot, it must generally be hurtful. Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, 1776 Which of the following positions on the government's role in the marketplace is most influenced by the idea expressed in the passage? A Economic equality should be the goal of public policy. B Government should use its fiscal powers to address economic cycles. C Government intervention in the free market should be avoided. D A central banking system or federal reserve is necessary to control the money supply.
C Government intervention in the free market should be avoided.
A member of Congress who advocates for a more Keynesian approach to solving a recession will likely support which of the following policies? A Lowering taxes on the wealthy to increase business investment B Doing nothing and letting the recession work itself out C Increasing federal spending on infrastructure programs D Increasing interest rates and reducing the money supply
C Increasing federal spending on infrastructure programs
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
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
The legislative process at the national level of government reflects the intent of the framers of the Constitution to create a legislature that would be A able to ensure that all citizens are equally represented B able to involve as many citizens as possible in the law making process C slow and cautious in the law-making process D less powerful than the executive
C slow and cautious in the law-making process
Refer to the diagram for the following question. Which of the following is true according to the diagram? A The Senate minority leader is as powerful as the Senate majority whip. B The Speaker of the House, in coordination with the House majority leader, appoints the House minority leader. C Unlike the House of Representatives, the Senate does not recognize political parties. D Both chambers make use of a system of majority and minority whips.
D Both chambers make use of a system of majority and minority whips.
Source: Cato Institute, 2017. Which of the following descriptions is the information on the line graph too limited to support? A The more conservative an individual is, the less likely he or she is to believe that the Federal Reserve helps to stabilize the economy. B The more liberal an individual is, the more likely he or she is to believe that the Federal Reserve helps stabilize the economy. C About half of those who identify as very liberal believe that the Federal Reserve helped stabilize the economy. D Most who identify as very conservative believe that the Federal Reserve should be abolished.
D Most who identify as very conservative believe that the Federal Reserve should be abolished.
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
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.
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 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
Federal spending for which of the following is determined by laws that lie outside the regular budgetary process? A Military procurement B Regulatory agency funding C Government-subsidized housing programs D Educational assistance programs such as student loans E Entitlement programs such as Social Security
E Entitlement programs such as Social Security
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.
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
