CH 11 congress

In order to be a member of the House of Representatives, a person must be Blank______ years of age. Multiple choice question. 25 35 30 20

25

incumbent

The current holder of a particular public office.

party unity

The degree to which a party's House or Senate members act as a unified group to exert collective control over legislative action.

party leaders

The members of the House and Senate who are chosen by the Democratic or Republican caucus in each chamber to represent the party's interests in that chamber and who give some central direction to the chamber's work.

representation function

The responsibility of a legislature to represent various interests in society. (See also lawmaking function; oversight function.)

A legislature that has two chambers (the House and the Senate, in the case of the United States).

bicameral legislature

Which of the following oversight tools help Congress to ensure that the executive branch is administering the laws properly? (Choose every correct answer.) Multiple select question. budgetary appropriations redistricting and reapportionment apportionment congressional hearings

budgetary appropriations congressional hearings

Positive aspects of party polarization include the fact that ______. Multiple choice question. the president has tended to step away from involvement in the legislative process lawmaker accountability has increased voters can more clearly see and understand party differences

voters can more clearly see and understand party differences

At present there are Blank______ standing committees in the House of Representatives. Multiple choice question. 20 16 10 8

20

In order to become a member of the Senate, a person must be at least years of age and have been a citizen for -_________at least ___________ years.

30,7

party caucus

A group that consists of a party's members in the House or Senate and that serves to elect the party's leadership, set policy goals, and plan party strategy.

Which of the following is a major reason why incumbents are reelected? Multiple choice question. Incumbents typically receive presidential endorsements, which voters respect. Incumbents generally do a better job enacting laws that are beneficial for the nation as a whole. Many congressional districts and some states are lopsidedly Democratic or Republican. Once elected, most incumbents make sure that their districts go through reapportionment to ensure homogeneity.

Many congressional districts and some states are lopsidedly Democratic or Republican.

Which of the following correctly describe protocol for committee membership? Multiple select question. Most vacancies occur after elections, either from retirements or incumbent defeats. Most newly elected members of Congress request committee assignments. A new member can be appointed to any committee at the discretion of the majority party's leadership. Committee assignments do not take a member's interests or policy areas into account.

Most vacancies occur after elections, either from retirements or incumbent defeats. Most newly elected members of Congress request committee assignments.

Which of the following describes the power of Congress relative to the other branches of government? Multiple choice question. Congress has the sole power to enact or veto a law. Congress is generally unchecked by the other branches of government. No executive agency or lower court can exist without congressional authorization. Rulings by the Supreme Court may be overruled by a three-fourths majority vote in both chambers of Congress.

No executive agency or lower court can exist without congressional authorization.

Which of the following are true concerning women and minorities who run for congressional office? (Choose every correct answer.) Multiple select question. There are more women than there are minorities in Congress. Women and minorities are more likely to run for congressional office than for local or state legislative positions. Women and minorities are less likely to run for Congress than white males. Women and minorities account for approximately half of the membership of Congress.

There are more women than there are minorities in Congress. Women and minorities are less likely to run for Congress than white males.

Which of the following correctly describes how committees and subcommittees serve to decentralize power in Congress? Multiple choice question. They serve party leadership goals at the expense of individual members' power needs. They dilute the power of the parties and increase bipartisan negotiations. They give the minority party's members the same power as the majority party's members. They allow more members to hold leadership positions.

They allow more members to hold leadership positions.

What holds party lawmakers together? Multiple choice question. They have far more in common with each other than they do with lawmakers of the other party. They're loyal to the party leadership. They're loyal to the party ideology. They're loyal to the ideals of democracy.

They have far more in common with each other than they do with lawmakers of the other party.

What holds party lawmakers together? Multiple choice question. They're loyal to the party ideology. They're loyal to the party leadership. They have far more in common with each other than they do with lawmakers of the other party. They're loyal to the ideals of democracy.

They have far more in common with each other than they do with lawmakers of the other party.

Polls indicate that voters' opinions of Donald Trump's performance had what effect in the 2018 midterms? Multiple choice question. Those who were discontented with Trump helped Democrats retake control of the House. Those who supported Trump helped Republicans retake control of the House. Trump was not on the ballot in the 2018 midterms; voters' opinions of him were not a factor.

Those who were discontented with Trump helped Democrats retake control of the House.

Members of Congress may experience conflict between their lawmaking responsibility and their responsibility to represent their constituency when Blank______. Multiple choice question. a policy that is good for the nation as a whole does not coincide with the needs of their constituency the policy matches their constituents' interests the president supports the legislation another representative is voting for the same policy despite representing a different constituency

a policy that is good for the nation as a whole does not coincide with the needs of their constituency

Which of the following is not a direct power of the committee chair? Multiple choice question. determines which bills are considered in which order directs the committee's majority staff changes party affiliation at will schedules committee meetings

changes party affiliation at will

Hearings are an effective way for committees to Blank______. Multiple choice question. gather information introduce new legislation in the House select committee heads vote on bills

gather information

If the majority of the members of the House of Representatives are Republican, then every committee and subcommittee in the House will Blank______. Multiple choice question. have a minority of Republican members be divided between Republican and Democratic members have a majority of Democratic members have a majority of Republican members

have a majority of Republican members

In the large majority of cases, the winner of a congressional campaign is the Blank______. Multiple choice question. youngest candidate incumbent most knowledgeable candidate challenger

incumbent

One reason standing committees are powerful is that by law they have Blank______. Multiple choice question. the authority to dictate the passage of a bill by the full chamber jurisdiction over bills in their designated policy area the ability to overrule a presidential veto the power to pass a bill without outside input

jurisdiction over bills in their designated policy area

Elections held two years after presidential elections are called Blank______ elections. Multiple choice question. midterm primary November local

midterm

A(n) rule allows members to propose amendments that are relevant to any section of the bill.

open

Which of the following are the functions of Congress? (Choose every correct answer.) Multiple select question. representation lawmaking watchdogging oversight

oversight representation lawmakingt

The House and the Senate each elect Blank______ to direct their party's efforts in the chamber. Multiple choice question. speakers presidents caucuses party leaders

party leaders

A vote where most members of one political party vote one way while most members of the other party vote the other way is categorized as a Blank______ vote. Multiple choice question. party unity toeing-the-line roll-call bipartisan

party unity

A limit of Blank______ exists for how long a Republican member can chair a particular committee. Multiple choice question. six years two years four years two terms

six years

A limit of Blank______ exists for how long a Republican member can chair a particular committee. Multiple choice question. two terms six years two years four years

six years

A permanent committee in Congress is known as a(n) ____________committee.

standing

Who helps the Speaker set the party's legislative agenda in the House? Multiple choice question. the president pro tempore the minority leader the majority leader the minority whip

the majority leader

Which of the following methods is most often used to select committee chairs? Multiple choice question. the committee system the minority system the lottery system the seniority system

the seniority system

Which of the following statements about midterm elections are generally true? Multiple select question. There is less media coverage of candidates and issues than in a presidential election. Voter turnout is lower than for presidential elections. The president's party usually loses seats. Senators are not elected in midterm elections because their terms coincide with the presidency.

There is less media coverage of candidates and issues than in a presidential election. Voter turnout is lower than for presidential elections. The president's party usually loses seats.

Which of the following is true of bills that emerge from committee with the full support of the committee members? Multiple choice question. They are usually treated with distrust by those not on the committee. They are typically passed by an overwhelming majority. Members typically want to give the bill a close look before voting. They are required to undergo a full debate on the floor.

They are typically passed by an overwhelming majority.

An example of Congress's Blank______ occurs when Congress passes legislation that creates incentives for the development of alternative energy sources. Multiple choice question. oversight function checks and balances lawmaking function executive function

lawmaking function

What has been one result of the decreasing number of moderates in Congress? Multiple choice question. fewer roll-call votes legislative deadlock legislative creativity more hard-line legislation

legislative deadlock

What occurs after a conference committee reconciles differences in the House and Senate versions of a bill? Multiple choice question. the bill automatically becomes law the bill goes back to both chambers for a vote the bill is sent to the president for signature or veto the bill is presented to citizens so they can vote on it

the bill goes back to both chambers for a vote

Congressional representatives must sometimes choose between the interests of people in their districts and Blank______. Multiple choice question. the interests of the judicial branch the interests of the nation as a whole the interests of diplomacy with other countries the interests of people in neighboring districts

the interests of the nation as a whole

Which of the following are the functions of Congress? (Choose every correct answer.) Multiple select question. representation lawmaking watchdogging oversight

representation lawmaking oversight

Members of Congress give various interests to a voice in the legislative process as part of Congress's Blank______ function. Multiple choice question. oversight partisan representative vocalization

representative

Whether or not Congress takes the lead in the making of laws usually depends on Blank______. Multiple choice question. the type of policy at issue how involved the president is in the legislative process if the Speaker of the House feels strong or weak in his or her position

the type of policy at issue

Which of the following terms describes a permanent committee in Congress that has a defined legislative jurisdiction? Multiple choice question. joint committee standing committee subcommittee select committee

standing committee

Which of the following terms describes a permanent committee in Congress that has a defined legislative jurisdiction? Multiple choice question. standing committee joint committee select committee subcommittee

standing committee

Members of Congress are most indebted to which of the following? Multiple select question. the wealthy donors who fund their campaigns party ideology party leadership hardcore partisan voters in their state or district

the wealthy donors who fund their campaigns hardcore partisan voters in their state or district

Members of the House of Representatives typically serve on Blank______ committees, while members of the Senate serve on Blank______. Multiple choice question. two; four three; two one; four four; two

two; four

Compared with their percentage of the overall population of the United States, women and minorities are Blank______ in Congress. Multiple choice question. equally represented overrepresented underrepresented

underrepresented