American Government and Politics Exam 3: Ch. 6, 7, 9

The first Hispanic Justice of the Supreme Court was appointed by President ______. A. Barack Obama B. George W. Bush C. Bill Clinton D. Ronald Reagan

A. Barack Obama

The order of presidential succession beyond the vice president has been established by ______. A. Congress B. Article II of the Constitution C. Supreme Court precedent D. tradition

A. Congress

The two most important functions of Congress are representation and lawmaking.

True

Executive orders ______. A. are widely publicized but do not have full legal effect B. may only be binding during a particular president's time in office C. describe presidential agreements with other heads of state D. exercise bureaucratic lawmaking power on Congress' behalf

B. may only be binding during a particular president's time in office

In order to be elected president, the Constitution mandates that candidates must be at least 35 years old, a resident of the United States for at least 14 years, and a ______. A. resident of the same state as the vice president B. natural-born citizen C. veteran of the American military D. member of a political party

B. natural-born citizen

One effect of the Twelfth Amendment on the selection of the president and vice president has been ______. A. greater interparty rivalry B. to encourage ticket balancing C. an improvement in status for the vice president D. an increased emphasis on attracting minority-party voters

B. to encourage ticket balancing

Senatorial courtesy refers to the ______. A. practice of allowing presidential appointees to serve up to 1 year without Senate approval B. tradition of granting senators considerable power over federal judicial appointments in their home states C. common law practice of senators not asking questions of presidential appointees to the federal courts but approving them on the basis of their record D. willingness to allow presidents to make all judicial appointments from within his political party

B. tradition of granting senators considerable power over federal judicial appointments in their home states

In the United States, treaties are negotiated by the president and require ______. A. two-thirds approval from Congress B. two-thirds approval from the Senate C. no endorsement from any other government agency D. review by the Supreme Court before they can be implemented

B. two-thirds approval from the Senate

The idea of an independent judiciary as created by the founders was ______. A. adopted from the French model B. unique at the time of our country's founding C. less independent than later amendments would make it D. adopted from the Roman model

B. unique at the time of our country's founding

The conflict over whether Marbury had a right to his judicial appointment in Marbury v. Madison (1803) was overshadowed by John Marshall ______. A. determining that the president's power of appointment transcends politics B. using the conflict as an occasion to overrule an act of Congress C. establishing the Supreme Court's power over judicial appointments D. appointing several judges to federal courts as midnight appointments

B. using the conflict as an occasion to overrule an act of Congress

The term "constituency" refers to the ______. A. majority of people in a geographic area B. voters in a district who elect a representative C. largest minority population represented by a politician D. primary urban area within a particular district

B. voters in a district who elect a representative

Most of the hard work of considering legislative alternatives and drafting legislation occurs ______. A. at the discretion of the executive branch B. within congressional standing committees C. only after the Supreme Court reviews it D. on the floor of both chambers

B. within congressional standing committees

Justice Juarez strongly disputes the finding and reasoning of the majority of her colleagues in a particular case that the Supreme Court has decided. In this situation, she would be very likely to ______. A. lead a demonstration outside the Supreme Court B. write a dissenting opinion in this case C. resign from her post in protest D. appeal directly to citizens for a referendum

B. write a dissenting opinion in this case

A U.S. Department of Agriculture law on how much coloring or other additives can be in food is an example of administrative law or regulation.

True

A violation of civil law is called a tort.

True

According to the textbook, Congress is rarely able to override a presidential veto.

True

After the census every 10 years, House seats are reapportioned among the states to ensure that districts maintain population equality.

True

After the census every 10 years, House seats are reapportioned among the states to ensure that districts maintains population equality.

True

Congressional oversight refers to a congressional committee's monitoring of the executive branch and government agencies to ensure they are acting as Congress intends.

True

If the Chief Justice is in the majority on a particular case, it is up to him to assign who will write the majority opinion for the Court.

True

In most advanced industrial democracies, the role of head of government is performed by the prime minister.

True

In their role as commander in chief, presidents act as the civilian head of the military.

True

Laws whose actual content defines what we can and cannot legally do are substantive laws.

True

Pacts made by the president with another head of state that do not require Senate approval are called executive agreements.

True

Pacts/agreements made by the president with another head of state that do not require Senate approval are called executive agreements.

True

Presidents can try to influence the judiciary by having the solicitor general argue cases before the court.

True

Redrawing congressional district boundaries to favor a particular group or party is known as gerrymandering.

True

Senatorial courtesy refers to the tradition of granting senators considerable power over federal judicial appointments in their home states.

True

The Senate shares with the president the power to approve members of the Supreme Court.

True

The modern presidency refers to the era after 1930.

True

The modern presidency refers to the era after 1930s and FDR and the Great Depression.

True

The number of representatives with voting privileges in the House of Representatives is currently set at 435 members.

True

The only limitation on what statutes may do in the American system is found in the Constitution.

True

The power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of laws is called judicial review.

True

The significance of the president's inherent powers is that they have been used to expand the powers of the presidency beyond what is explicitly stated in the Constitution.

True

Confirmation of a presidential nominee for a particular executive or judicial branch position occurs when the ______. A. Senate endorses her by a simple majority vote B. public supports him in a valid referendum C. FBI completes a thorough background check on her D. House approves of his nomination by a two-thirds majority

A. Senate endorses her by a simple majority vote

It is so difficult for Congress to pass laws because ______. A. a bill can be defeated at many points in the process B. the sheer size of the institution hampers it C. the rivalry that exists between the House and the Senate interferes with the process D. the lack of legislative leadership demonstrated by recent presidents interferes with the process

A. a bill can be defeated at many points in the process

According to James David Barber's typology of presidential personalities, ______ perform best in office. A. active-positive presidents B. active-negative presidents C. passive-positive presidents D. passive-negative presidents

A. active-positive presidents

Laws or regulations established by bureaucratic agencies on behalf of Congress are known as ______ laws or regulations. A. administrative B. criminal C. regulatory D. statutory

A. administrative

Barbour and Wright relate that the congressional term "whip" is derived from ______. A. an old English hunting expression B. a colonial folk song C. James Madison's tactics for keeping his legislators in line D. the Athenian goddess who monitored their assembly

A. an old English hunting expression

The Senate shares with the president the power to ______. A. approve members of the Supreme Court B. declare war C. impeach executive branch officials D. approve constitutional amendments

A. approve members of the Supreme Court

Congress often delegates administrative rule writing to the bureaucracy because legislators ______. A. are not experts on most political issues but particular bureaucrats are B. know that bureaucrats will always perform this task admirably C. are required by the Constitution to take this step D. are much less efficient than the bureaucracy

A. are not experts on most political issues but particular bureaucrats are

The Vietnam War and Watergate affected Congress by ______. A. causing Congress to take steps to increase its independence from the information sources of the executive branch B. causing Congress to reduce its dependence on information sources outside of the executive branch C. causing Congress to increase the power of committee chairs to strengthen the institution D. causing Congress to reduce the power of the leadership

A. causing Congress to take steps to increase its independence from the information sources of the executive branch

Congress finds it difficult to make policy that solves national problems because ______. A. constituents reward them for taking care of their individual interests B. they are in debt to special interests C. government is inefficient D. they are too interested in scoring political points

A. constituents reward them for taking care of their individual interests

James David Barber is famous for ______. A. creating a method for classifying presidents B. his active role as solicitor general under Clinton C. his research into the politics of New Deal economics D. writing a philosophical justification for judicial review

A. creating a method for classifying presidents

Partisan gerrymandering is the process in a particular state legislature whereby the majority party ______. A. draws districts to maximize the number of House seats their party can win B. promotes candidates who will most likely vote Republican C. favors candidates who believe in a patriarchy D. tries to keep the opposition party from voting

A. draws districts to maximize the number of House seats their party can win

Which of the following types of law is a clarification of congressional policy issued by the president and having the full force of the law? A. executive order B. administrative law C. constitutional amendment D. act of Congress

A. executive order

Most civil and criminal cases in the United States ______. A. fall under state jurisdiction B. are presided over by international jurists C. possess joint state and federal jurisdiction D. fall under federal jurisdiction

A. fall under state jurisdiction

Most of the strength of the modern presidency is based on the ______. A. inherent powers of the president B. increased media pressures on the president C. special powers delegated to the president by Congress D. explicit constitutional roles assigned to the president

A. inherent powers of the president

The number of representatives with voting privileges in the House of Representatives ______. A. is currently set at 435 members B. will expand to 500 members in 2016 C. changes every 10 years following the census D. was frozen by the Twenty-Sixth Amendment

A. is currently set at 435 members

In most advanced industrial democracies, the role of head of government ______. A. is performed by the prime minister B. is united with the role of head of state C. is performed by the president D. is shared among a set of executive-branch officials

A. is performed by the prime minister

The role of the judge in the common law tradition differs from the role of the judge in the civil law tradition in that ______. A. judges in the common law tradition have much more discretion to interpret the law B. judges in the common law tradition are charged with finding the truth C. judges in the common law tradition play a much more active role in trials D. judges in the common law tradition do not rely on precedent as much as judges in the civil law tradition

A. judges in the common law tradition have much more discretion to interpret the law

Barbour and Wright maintain that the determination of where cases end up in the American judicial system is ______. A. largely a function of established statutory and constitutional law B. almost exclusively within the discretion of federal and state prosecutors C. difficult to decipher ahead of time given overlapping federal and state jurisdiction D. based mostly on the media attention garnered by individual cases

A. largely a function of established statutory and constitutional law

The legal system of the United States is ______. A. a pure common law tradition B. largely a common law tradition with elements of the civil law tradition C. an equity-based tradition D. largely a civil law tradition with elements of the common law tradition

B. largely a common law tradition with elements of the civil law tradition

One feature of the Supreme Court's politics that has changed in recent years is that ______. A. more interest groups are trying to sway the Court's decisions by filing amicus briefs B. the justices can no longer find ways of working together as professional colleagues C. interest groups have been barred from bringing test cases before the Court D. presidential appointments are approved by the Senate much more quickly

A. more interest groups are trying to sway the Court's decisions by filing amicus briefs

The influence of interest groups on roll call voting decisions by members of Congress is ______. A. much less than is usually thought B. greater than any other factor C. more important than party affiliation D. more important than constituency influences

A. much less than is usually thought

It is clear from Barbour and Wright's table of recent presidential vetoes that Congress can ______. A. override relatively few presidential vetoes B. avoid pocket vetoes by passing legislation late in their sessions C. limit the impact of the line-item veto by passing omnibus budget bills D. ignore the contents of presidential signing statements

A. override relatively few presidential vetoes

Congress balances responsibilities to voters, national problems, and ______. A. party B. the president C. symbolic representation D. the Supreme Court

A. party

According to the text, presidents take ______ into account when selecting their cabinets? A. pleasing relevant interests B. personal loyalty to the president C. ideological agreement with Congress D. demographic similarity to the president

A. pleasing relevant interests

The recent increase in ideological distance between the two main parties in Congress can be best described as party ______. A. polarization B. discipline C. activism D. identification

A. polarization

The legislative agenda is influenced strongly by which factor? A. policy proposals of newly elected presidents B. obscure events that are of little interest to the electorate C. the ability of presidents to avoid press attention D. the ease of passing a law

A. policy proposals of newly elected presidents

When a member of Congress from a farming state consistently favors legislation that benefits the dairy industry, this is an example of ______. A. policy representation B. national lawmaking C. pork barreling D. partisanship

A. policy representation

Inherent powers are the ______. A. powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution B. congressional powers to control the budget process C. powers granted to Congress by the necessary and proper clause D. unwritten abilities of judges to issue contempt citations and bench warrants

A. powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution

The Latin phrase stare decisis references American courts' respect for ______. A. precedents B. writs of certiorari C. ex post facto rulings D. bills of attainder

A. precedents

According to Barbour and Wright, the primary purpose of courts in a democracy is to ______. A. resolve conflicts B. protect freedom and liberty C. make laws that are fair to all D. enforce the government's vision

A. resolve conflicts

The power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of laws is called judicial ______. A. review B. mandate C. supremacy D. authority

A. review

A poor White American with little money who wants to take her landlord to court over a housing dispute would most likely ______. A. seek the aid of the Legal Services Corporation B. be able to bring a civil case with no problem C. face indirect racial profiling through stop and frisk D. easily find a lawyer to provide services pro bono

A. seek the aid of the Legal Services Corporation

As commander in chief, the president ______. A. serves as the civilian head of the military B. distributes patronage to loyal party members C. has the power to grant pardons and commutations D. negotiates treaties with Senate approval

A. serves as the civilian head of the military

A clear example of allocative representation would be when a member of Congress ______. A. slips an entry into an appropriations bill granting his constituents a new dam project B. filibusters a bill whose passage would be damaging to an employer in her state C. tracks down a missing veteran's benefit payment for a constituent D. sends out an "informational mailer" that is really a reelection advertisement

A. slips an entry into an appropriations bill granting his constituents a new dam project

In his contributions to The Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton forcefully argues in favor of a(n) ______. A. strong president B. larger House of Representatives C. unicameral legislature D. weaker Senate

A. strong president

A president's ______ symbolically represents the president's identity both at home and abroad. A. style B. power to persuade C. honeymoon period D. weakness or strength

A. style

A law that makes it illegal to use steroids is an example of a ______ law. A. substantive B. procedural C. constitutional D. administrative

A. substantive

During the constitutional process of removing a president from office, ______. A. the House impeaches and the Senate tries the president B. the Senate impeaches and the House tries the president C. either house can impeach but then the Supreme Court must decide if the president is to be removed D. the two houses convene together in joint session for all impeachment votes

A. the House impeaches and the Senate tries the president

According to the text, which of these is a criterion used by presidents in choosing Supreme Court nominees? A. the candidate's political ideology B. the candidate's results in a general election C. endorsements received by national news media D. personal loyalty to the president

A. the candidate's political ideology

It is generally most difficult to win the nomination of your party, but easiest to win the general election, when ______. A. the seat is open B. an incumbent of your party is running for reelection C. an incumbent of the other party is running for reelection D. a president of your party is very unpopular

A. the seat is open

Presidents' authority over foreign and defense policy comes from the ______. A. War Powers Act B. Bill of Rights C. power to negotiate treaties D. position of chief administrator

C. power to negotiate treaties

According to the textbook, President Bush's use of signing statements ______. A. threatened the system of separation of powers B. was a strictly ceremonial act with no significance C. helped to clarify for executive agencies how they are to implement laws D. created agreements between presidents and the heads of foreign governments

A. threatened the system of separation of powers

A violation of civil law is called a ______. A. tort B. felony C. crime D. misdemeanor

A. tort

How many American presidents have been impeached? A. two: Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton B. two: Warren Harding and Richard Nixon C. three: Ulysses Grant, Lyndon Johnson, and Benjamin Harrison D. three: James Buchanan, Herbert Hoover, and Martin van Buren

A. two: Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton

The importance of a president's relationship with voters was well illustrated by the support ______. A. Nixon discovered during Watergate B. Clinton relied on during his impeachment trial C. Carter tried to use during the Iranian hostage crisis D. Reagan exploited during the Iran-Contra scandal

B. Clinton relied on during his impeachment trial

Which of these is a true statement concerning congressional committee chairs? A. Committee chairs have gained even more power in the past 30 years. B. Committee chairs serve at the pleasure of the party caucus and party leaders. C. The seniority system is a relatively new creation. D. The seniority system gives the chairmanship to the member with the longest service on the committee.

B. Committee chairs serve at the pleasure of the party caucus and party leaders.

According to the textbook, what has happened to the coattail effect in recent years? A. It has been ignored by mainstream political scientists. B. It has decreased in importance due to declining party ties. C. It has become completely nonexistent because of declining party ties. D. It has remained roughly as powerful as before.

B. It has decreased in importance due to declining party ties.

Which of the following statements is true about the dual court system? A. All federal judges are appointed, and all state judges are elected. B. Most cases are heard in the state courts. C. The state supreme courts have final say when a case includes a federal question. D. In most states, the Supreme Court is the only court with appellate jurisdiction.

B. Most cases are heard in the state courts.

After Speaker of the House John Boehner resigned in 2015, ______ took his place. A. Mitch McConnell B. Paul Ryan C. Barack Obama D. John McCain

B. Paul Ryan

Which of the following is an example of national law making? A. the president endorsing a candidate in a state senate race B. The Civil Rights Act was passed by Congress in 1964. C. when Texas or California adopts new educational standards other states usually follow D. when the Supreme Court hears a case and determines a verdict

B. The Civil Rights Act was passed by Congress in 1964.

Which of the following statements about the differences between legislative procedure in the House and Senate is true? A. The House Rules Committee is much weaker than its counterpart in the Senate. B. The Speaker of the House has much more power to shape legislation than does the Senate majority leader. C. The Senate's germaneness rule makes the process in that chamber much more efficient than the one in the House. D. There are far more places to halt legislation in the House than in the Senate.

B. The Speaker of the House has much more power to shape legislation than does the Senate majority leader.

Which of these is a likely action of a strategic politician? A. They run for office in districts where an incumbent is already running. B. They think through why they want to run for office and how they are going to do it. C. They refuse to run for office in years where their party is likely to do well. D. They try to run for office in districts where their ideology does not match that of their potential constituents.

B. They think through why they want to run for office and how they are going to do it.

The American legal tradition can best be described as ______. A. a strictly common law tradition B. a mixed system based on common law practice but with a body of written, codified laws C. a mixed system based on a civil law tradition but with a tendency to rely on precedent D. a system that is moving rapidly from a common law tradition to a civil law tradition

B. a mixed system based on common law practice but with a body of written, codified laws

An often overlooked feature of Federalist 78 is that its author ______. A. contends that the Bill of Rights can only be defended by the judiciary B. makes an argument in favor of judicial review C. asserts that the judiciary should be more accountable to average citizens D. argued for the establishment of congressional oversight

B. makes an argument in favor of judicial review

A writ of certiorari is ______. A. a brief filed by interested parties to encourage the court to make a certain decision B. a petition by the losing side in a lower court for the Supreme Court to hear an appeal C. an order that a defendant be brought into court to hear the charges against him or her D. an order by the Supreme Court to a lower court to rehear a case

B. a petition by the losing side in a lower court for the Supreme Court to hear an appeal

Barbour and Wright utilize the term judicial ______ to describe the idea that courts should be both lawmaking and policymaking bodies. A. positivism B. activism C. interpretivism D. restraint

B. activism

Typically highways, post offices, and research institutes are funded by ______. A. franking B. allocative representation C. casework D. gerrymandering

B. allocative representation

Congress can influence the judiciary through which method? A. reducing the salaries of judges B. amending the constitution C. creating joint committees D. partisan gerrymandering

B. amending the constitution

James David Barber classified presidents ______. A. by the office they held previous to the presidency B. based on their energy level and their orientation toward life C. by region and party to predict how they would succeed as president D. based on their morals and whether or not they would be positive leaders

B. based on their energy level and their orientation toward life

Which of these is a role of the President of the United States? A. chief legislator B. chief administrator C. tiebreaker in the senate D. chief of staff

B. chief administrator

Laws that regulate relations between individuals are called ______. A. criminal laws B. civil laws C. regulatory laws D. constitutional laws

B. civil laws

Legally mandated payments from a defendant to a successful plaintiff that are designed to provide restitution for injuries inflicted by the former upon the latter are called ______ damages. A. allocative B. compensatory C. punitive D. criminal

B. compensatory

When the Senate convened a select committee in the 1970s to investigate alleged abuses by the FBI and CIA, that legislative body was engaging in ______. A. hyper-partisanship B. congressional oversight C. symbolic representation D. partisan gerrymandering

B. congressional oversight

Judicial activism has become an important political issue because ______. A. when judges engage in judicial activism, it is an indication that they are above politics B. conservatives have argued that judges are acting as legislators on issues such as same-sex marriage C. only liberals have engaged in judicial activism D. when judges engage in judicial activism, the rights of the minority are rarely protected

B. conservatives have argued that judges are acting as legislators on issues such as same-sex marriage

The purpose of the War Powers Act of 1973 was to ______. A. permit the president to mobilize the National Guard in wartime B. curtail the president's ability to engage U.S. forces in hostile action C. prohibit the judiciary from involving itself in questions of war and peace D. enshrine the president's role as commander in chief

B. curtail the president's ability to engage U.S. forces in hostile action

The president's power to pardon ______. A. must only be used to excuse innocent people from punishment B. exempts an individual from the consequences of committing a crime C. was established to provide the president unfiltered advice from her aides D. is usually controversial and a source of major public disapproval

B. exempts an individual from the consequences of committing a crime

The cycle effect refers to the tendency for presidents to ______. A. undergo rapid changes in their popularity regardless of conditions in the nation B. experience predictable shifts in their popularity over the course of their presidency C. depend heavily on national emergencies to push their legislative agenda through Congress D. start their first term with low popularity, which then increases as their legislative program is enacted

B. experience predictable shifts in their popularity over the course of their presidency

The Rule of Four is significant to the balance of power among Supreme Court justices because it ______. A. is the rule used to determine whether a case will make the discuss list B. gives some power to the minority on the Court C. means that many of the cases on appeal to the Court are heard D. shows that justices rarely agree on which cases should be heard

B. gives some power to the minority on the Court

Recent presidents have responded to the intent of the War Powers Act by ______. A. sending troops abroad only upon a congressional declaration of war B. ignoring it, because public opinion rallies around the president in wartime C. limiting their foreign adventures to instances involving imminent foreign invasion D. challenging the constitutionality of the law in court

B. ignoring it, because public opinion rallies around the president in wartime

Law enforcement practices such as "stop-and-frisk" that disproportionately affect racial minorities have been ______. A. essential to rule of law B. indirect racial profiling C. not ideal but acceptable D. pro bono publico

B. indirect racial profiling

According to the textbook, the framers adopted the Electoral College as a way to ______. A. override the power of the judiciary B. insulate the president from the masses C. control unrestrained presidential power D. make the president more dependent on Congress

B. insulate the president from the masses

According to the textbook, Congress ______. A. overrides a majority of presidential vetoes B. is rarely able to override a presidential veto C. overrides a presidential veto about half of the time D. has not overridden a veto in the past 15 years

B. is rarely able to override a presidential veto

The two main approaches to interpreting the Constitution are ______. A. judicial interpretivism and stare decisis B. judicial interpretivism and strict constructionism C. judicial activism and strict constructionism D. judicial interpretivism and judicial restraint

B. judicial interpretivism and strict constructionism

In U.S. district courts, ______. A. decisions are made by a rotating panel of judges B. juries are responsible for returning verdicts on cases C. lawyers argue their cases in front of multiple judges simultaneously D. defendants answer questions put to them by judges rather than lawyers

B. juries are responsible for returning verdicts on cases

Barbour and Wright observe that a problem with procedural due process is that ______. A. substantive laws can never come into conflict with it B. not all judges interpret procedural guarantees identically C. it represents a violation of the rights of criminal defendants D. the Bill of Rights does not guarantee due process rights

B. not all judges interpret procedural guarantees identically

Barbour and Wright assert that the relationship between the president and Congress is usually ______. A. a close partnership based on agreement on pressing social problems B. one of conflict, with the president taking a wider view of the national interest C. one where Congress is more liberal on domestic issues D. one of the president following the lead of Congress, especially in foreign policy

B. one of conflict, with the president taking a wider view of the national interest

The chief of staff ______. A. plans the first lady's activities B. oversees operations of all White House staff C. coordinates the president's commander-in-chief duties D. coordinates the activities of the entire federal bureaucracy

B. oversees operations of all White House staff

Loyalty to a political cause or party is known as ______. A. representation B. partisanship C. lawmaking D. constituency

B. partisanship

The Executive Office of the President was formed to ______. A. control the president B. provide expert advice C. control the cabinet D. replace the cabinet

B. provide expert advice

Among other reasons, laws are important in a democratic society because they ______. A. deny political power to criminals and noncitizens B. provide predictability for the people who live under them C. can be used by the powerful to oppress the weak D. lock in discriminatory practices that would otherwise remain private

B. provide predictability for the people who live under them

According to Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, the primary function of law is to ______. A. create a more just society B. provide security, order, and predictability in life C. secure the advantages of the dominant class in society D. increase equality of opportunity

B. provide security, order, and predictability in life

Strategic politicians are politically experienced nonincumbents who ______. A. challenge incumbents only when their party controls the presidency B. rationally and carefully weigh key considerations before they decide to run for Congress C. base their appeals on a strategic issue rather than personal image D. lean on their ability to provide a fresh voice in Congress

B. rationally and carefully weigh key considerations before they decide to run for Congress

The reallocation of congressional seats among the states every 10 years, following the census, is known as ______. A. malapportionment B. reapportionment C. gerrymandering D. franking

B. reapportionment

Decisions of the U.S. circuit courts are made by ______. A. federal grand juries B. rotating panels of three judges C. a panel of nine judges, just like on the Supreme Court D. panels composed of four circuit judges and one Supreme Court justice

B. rotating panels of three judges

Laws whose actual content defines what we can and cannot legally do are ______ laws. A. criminal B. substantive C. procedural D. common

B. substantive

Barbour and Wright argue that one difficulty that all modern presidents must contend with is the ______. A. impossibility of working with a Congress that is run by the president's party B. tension between the president's partisan head of government functions and apolitical head of state role C. existence of an activist Supreme Court dedicated to stifling the president's political agenda D. decline in their favorability ratings during the honeymoon period

B. tension between the president's partisan head of government functions and apolitical head of state role

The only limitation on what statutes may do in the American system is found in ______. A. the Declaration of Independence B. the Constitution C. precedent D. common law

B. the Constitution

A representative who sought power within the House would likely want a seat on ______. A. a select committee B. the Rules Committee C. the Standards of Official Conduct Committee D. as many conference committees as possible

B. the Rules Committee

Barbour and Wright claim that a great deal of the president's executive powers is contained in ______. A. the ability to veto legislation B. the chief administrator role C. Article III of the Constitution D. the commander-in-chief function

B. the chief administrator role

In Federalist 78, Alexander Hamilton refers to the judiciary as ______. A. a serious threat to the liberties of all Americans B. the least dangerous branch of government C. Americans' only bulwark against mobocracy D. an ineffective check on the power of the energetic president

B. the least dangerous branch of government

An insinuation of the seniority system in Congress is that ______. A. a good strategy for becoming a powerful member of Congress is to serve on committees that do not help one's constituents B. the longer one serves on a committee, the more powerful one becomes C. freshman members of Congress are prohibited from serving on committees D. members of Congress should serve on as many committees as possible

B. the longer one serves on a committee, the more powerful one becomes

The opinion of the Supreme Court in a case is ______. A. the least important element of the Court's decision B. the most important element of the Court's decision C. important because it tells us which side won the case D. usually unimportant, but in some instances it takes on importance

B. the most important element of the Court's decision

Barbour and Wright characterize the post-honeymoon period of a president as a time when ______. A. the president's poll numbers typically fall B. the president is most effective with Congress C. the president and Congress struggle for dominance D. presidential-congressional relations settle into a period of normalcy

B. the president is most effective with Congress

Amicus curiae briefs are significant because ______. A. interest groups aren't allowed to file them, which in turn limits their influence B. they may influence whether the Supreme Court decides to hear a case C. only the government may file them, giving added weight to the government's positions D. the Supreme Court uses them to "call up" a case

B. they may influence whether the Supreme Court decides to hear a case

______ refers to a congressional committee's monitoring of the executive branch and of government agencies to ensure they are acting as Congress intends. A. A congressional witch hunt B. A markup C. Congressional oversight D. Committee interference with executive prerogative

C. Congressional oversight

Which statement is true concerning the president's veto power? A. Presidents have had the power of the line-item veto since 1995. B. Congress is often successful at overturning presidential vetoes. C. George W. Bush was the third president not to veto a bill in his first term D. Presidents use the veto more frequently when their party controls Congress.

C. George W. Bush was the third president not to veto a bill in his first term

The legal system of the United States is based on a system developed in ______. A. France B. Germany C. Great Britain D. the Netherlands

C. Great Britain

When comparing the House of Representatives and Senate, which of the following statements is true? A. Taxing and spending legislation must be introduced into the Senate before the House. B. House members have a higher age requirement than members of the Senate. C. Members of the Senate, but not the House, may filibuster legislation they do not like. D. During presidential impeachment proceedings, the Senate must impeach the president before the House conducts his trial.

C. Members of the Senate, but not the House, may filibuster legislation they do not like.

Which of the following statements is true about the modern use of treaties and executive agreements? A. Executive agreements have been held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in favor of treaties. B. The percentage of completed interstate negotiations that end in treaties and executive agreements is about the same each year. C. Most completed international negotiations (over 90%) end in executive agreements rather than treaties. D. Most completed international negotiations (over 90%) end in treaties rather than executive agreements.

C. Most completed international negotiations (over 90%) end in executive agreements rather than treaties.

Which statement best describes Barack Obama's use of signing statements in comparison to that of George W. Bush? A. Obama signed more statements than Bush. B. Obama signed only slightly fewer statements Bush. C. Obama signed many fewer statements than Bush. D. Obama and Bush both signed the same number of statements.

C. Obama signed many fewer statements than Bush.

______ are important in Congress because they organize the chambers. A. Presidents B. Senior staff C. Parties D. Standing committees

C. Parties

Which statement concerning presidents' judicial power is true? A. Presidential judicial power is very weak in the long term. B. Presidential pardons are common early on in a new president's term. C. Presidents can try to influence the judiciary by having the solicitor general argue cases before the court. D. Senior senators of the president's party have a great deal of power over all of the president's judicial appointments.

C. Presidents can try to influence the judiciary by having the solicitor general argue cases before the court.

When different versions of the same bill pass in the House and the Senate, ______. A. the chamber that considered the bill originally should take the lead in resolving the differences B. it dies immediately and both chambers must start over C. a conference committee is formed to bridge the gap between the bills D. the president appoints a mediator to negotiate an acceptable compromise

C. a conference committee is formed to bridge the gap between the bills

A U.S. Department of Agriculture law on how much coloring or other additives can be in food is an example of ______ law or regulation. A. regulatory B. statutory C. administrative D. constitutional

C. administrative

The president's cabinet is composed of the ______. A. president's party leadership B. chairs of the congressional standing committees C. appointees heading each of the 15 major departments in the executive branch D. Joint Chiefs of Staff and state-level policy advisers

C. appointees heading each of the 15 major departments in the executive branch

The powers of the Supreme Court listed in the Constitution ______. A. are the same as for British courts under common law B. need to be reviewed every 10 years by Congress C. are not clearly spelled out D. do not enable the Court to overrule decisions made by lower courts

C. are not clearly spelled out

The greatest importance of standing committees is that they ______. A. permit the leadership to control the legislative process B. control the influence of lobbyists on the legislative process C. are so powerful due to the fact that they scrutinize, hold hearings on, amend, and often times kill legislation D. give the president more power in the legislative process than he would have otherwise

C. are so powerful due to the fact that they scrutinize, hold hearings on, amend, and often times kill legislation

A major assumption that the founders had concerning the Electoral College was that electors would ______. A. be chosen by the state legislatures B. further the democratic goal of popular government C. be leading citizens who could be trusted to exercise good judgment D. represent the average citizen when picking a president

C. be leading citizens who could be trusted to exercise good judgment

In recent years, the filibuster has ______. A. been used much less frequently than in the past B. become more likely to be used by bipartisan groups of opponents of civil rights legislation C. become a tactic regularly used by the minority party to block proposals of the majority party D. become a tactic regularly used by the majority party to block proposals of the minority party

C. become a tactic regularly used by the minority party to block proposals of the majority party

The vast majority of the cases that are heard by the U.S. Supreme Court ______. A. result in the overturning of precedent B. fall under its original jurisdiction C. come to it through their appellate jurisdiction D. are cases in which a state is a party

C. come to it through their appellate jurisdiction

A document written by a Supreme Court justice expressing agreement with a majority opinion but for different legal reasoning is a ______. A. writ of certiorari B. writ of mandamus C. concurring opinion D. dissenting opinion

C. concurring opinion

Strict constructionists argue that there is no such thing as ______. A. constitutionally protected right to free speech B. constitutional basis for executive privilege C. constitutionally protected right to privacy D. constitutionally protected individual right to bear arms

C. constitutionally protected right to privacy

When presidents "go public" on an issue, their purpose in taking that action is generally to ______. A. receive support from other heads of state B. raise money to address a specific public policy problem C. cultivate constituent pressure on vulnerable members of Congress D. inform Congress about an issue through the legislative liaison office

C. cultivate constituent pressure on vulnerable members of Congress

President Truman famously employed an executive order to ______. A. initiate affirmative action programs at the federal level B. prohibit federal money from being used to pay for abortions C. desegregate the American armed forces D. commit federal funds to protecting the environment

C. desegregate the American armed forces

Barbour and Wright contend that laws in a democratic country should ______. A. provide security for only the members of the wealthiest classes B. ignore the societal consensus on values like individual liberties C. distribute societal benefits, like civil rights protections, to its citizens D. ensure that the government budget is balanced

C. distribute societal benefits, like civil rights protections, to its citizens

The term legislative liaison refers to ______. A. congressional leaders who have a close relationship with the president B. the congressional party leadership who work closely with the committee chairs C. executive personnel who seek congressional support for the president's agenda D. reporters who have a close working relationship with leading members of Congress

C. executive personnel who seek congressional support for the president's agenda

The cycle effect on presidential popularity is caused by the ______. A. fact that presidents inevitably turn out to be just politicians B. fickle nature of the American public C. fact that the number of people angry with the president grows over time as he makes more decisions D. fact the presidents always promise one thing while running but do something different when governing

C. fact that the number of people angry with the president grows over time as he makes more decisions

Redrawing congressional district boundaries to favor a particular group or party is known as ______. A. reapportionment B. redistricting C. gerrymandering D. franking

C. gerrymandering

Many of the efforts by states to create majority-minority districts ______. A. did not produce the desired effect of electing more minority members B. are disliked by both Republicans and Democrats C. have been held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court D. were massively expanded in the 1990s

C. have been held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court

The norm in Congress today is ______. A. traditional norms B. conservativism C. hyper-partisanship D. bipartisanship

C. hyper-partisanship

Citizens view Congress with ______. A. increasing approval B. increasing support as a whole but with growing disapproval for individual representatives and senators C. increasing disapproval D. approval only during election seasons

C. increasing disapproval

Activist 19th-century presidents tended to claim that they were exercising ______. A. the will of the people B. emergency powers granted by Congress C. inherent powers implied in the Constitution D. powers granted to them explicitly in the Constitution

C. inherent powers implied in the Constitution

Federal judges' terms consist of ______. A. two terms at eight years each B. retention elections every seven years C. life appointment until death, resignation, or impeachment D. 10 years for district court judges but life for all appellate court justices

C. life appointment until death, resignation, or impeachment

Barbour and Wright claim that all modern presidents face an expectations gap between their ______. A. party and constituency demands B. chief administrator and chief foreign policy-maker roles C. limited constitutional authority and high visibility D. professional lives and personal demands

C. limited constitutional authority and high visibility

Congress is likelihood of engaging in vigorous oversight is ______. A. greater when the presidency and Congress are controlled by the same party B. greater when the public is not interested in the work of an agency C. lower when the presidency and Congress are controlled by the same party D. lower in an election year

C. lower when the presidency and Congress are controlled by the same party

Many critical observers of the American justice system, including Barbour and Wright, would argue that ______. A. defendants accused of drug crimes are treated too leniently by the system B. too many lawyers are willing to provide their services to defendants pro bono C. money plays a large role in determining a defendant's likelihood of being convicted D. Americans of all ethnic backgrounds can receive a fair shake from the courts

C. money plays a large role in determining a defendant's likelihood of being convicted

If a member of Congress secures federal funding for new highway construction in their state, this is an example of ______ benefits. A. policy representation B. national lawmaking C. pork barrel D. partisanship

C. pork barrel

Policy entrepreneurship is defined as the ______. A. rare instances in which members of Congress change committees in midcareer B. creation of coalitions that support pork barrel legislation C. practice among legislators of becoming expert leaders in specific policy areas D. legislative norm by which members of Congress swap votes

C. practice among legislators of becoming expert leaders in specific policy areas

The modern cabinet reports to the ______. A. Executive Office of the President B. National Security Council C. president D. White House Office

C. president

Which of these is among the president's legislative powers? A. line-item veto B. inaugural address C. presidential veto D. executive agreements

C. presidential veto

The process of redrawing congressional districts to match population shifts in states with more than one representative is called ______. A. restructuring B. franking the membership C. redistricting D. gerrymandering

C. redistricting

The two major roles of members of Congress are ______. A. agenda setting and lawmaking B. policymaking and agenda setting C. representation and lawmaking D. constituency service and budget approval

C. representation and lawmaking

If Americans want Congress to quit creating pork barrel projects (also known as earmarks), they have to ______. A. insist that their individual representatives be more responsive to local needs B. pay closer attention to what their representatives are doing in Congress C. reward their representatives more for engaging in national lawmaking and less for acts of representation D. give more money to congressional campaigns

C. reward their representatives more for engaging in national lawmaking and less for acts of representation

Barbour and Wright conclude that it is vitally important for members of Congress to ______. A. serve on as many committees and subcommittees as possible B. change committees regularly to get a broad base of leadership experience C. serve on committees that deal with issues of concern to their constituents D. avoid too much committee work

C. serve on committees that deal with issues of concern to their constituents

The founders created the congressional decision-making process to be ______. A. speedy B. responsive to the president C. slow and deliberative D. strictly controlled by elites

C. slow and deliberative

Criminal law deals with harm to ______, whereas civil law involves harm to ______. A. individuals; society B. individuals; groups C. society; individuals D. society; government

C. society; individuals

Congress makes use of ______ to increase its independence from the executive branch of government. A. the Legislative Budget Board B. conference committees C. the Government Accountability Office D. the Joint Authorization Task Force

C. the Government Accountability Office

Which of the following is the extremely powerful congressional committee that determines when debate on a bill will take place? A. the House Government Reform Committee B. the House Ways and Means Committee C. the House Rules Committee D. the House Appropriations Committee

C. the House Rules Committee

According to some political observers, the different reaction of many Blacks versus most Whites to the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, can be linked to ______. A. the fact that Blacks are more likely to be football fans than Whites B. the fact that Whites do not trust the legal system and assumed it would find a Black man guilty C. the fact that Blacks' experience with the legal system leads them not to trust it D. the fact that Whites expected public opinion to influence the jury more than it did

C. the fact that Blacks' experience with the legal system leads them not to trust it

Leaders in Congress obtain their power from ______. A. the Constitution B. seniority C. the members D. the president

C. the members

The president's power to act as chief executive of the federal government comes from which constitutional provision? A. the provision giving the president the power to declare war B. the provision stating that the president is chief foreign policy maker C. the provision stating the president should ensure "the laws are faithfully executed" D. the provision determining how ties are broken in the Senate

C. the provision stating the president should ensure "the laws are faithfully executed"

One reason dissenting opinions are significant to U.S. common law is ______. A. justices rarely want to write them, indicating that a judge might not vote the way he or she believes in order to fall in the majority B. they are usually written by the chief justice C. they may have a lasting impact if the Court later changes its mind D. they provide different reasons why a justice supported the majority ruling than was written in the opinion

C. they may have a lasting impact if the Court later changes its mind

The solicitor general's ongoing success in gaining writs of certiorari from the Supreme Court can best be explained by the ______. A. relative lack of job experience that recent solicitor generals have held B. justices' disinterest in legal questions involving federal legislation C. trust that the justices have in the holder of that position D. large proportion of in forma pauperis petitions filed by that position

C. trust that the justices have in the holder of that position

In the United States, treaties are negotiated by the president and require ______. A. simple majority approval by the Senate B. three-fifths approval from the House C. two-thirds approval from the Senate D. two-thirds approval from Congress

C. two-thirds approval from the Senate

The main legislative power that the Constitution grants to the president is the ______. A. pardon B. signing statement C. veto D. executive order

C. veto

Which of these is a true statement concerning the U.S. court system? A. Juries in appeals courts typically consist of six citizens. B. In most cases, appeals courts have original jurisdiction. C. Most cases end at the appeal level after many years. D. Appeals courts examine questions of law, not questions of fact.

D. Appeals courts examine questions of law, not questions of fact.

Barbour and Wright suggest that weak congressional oversight was at least partially responsible for the ______. A. success of the September 11 terrorist attacks B. slow response of the federal government to Hurricane Katrina C. complete failure of the 2009 stimulus bill D. BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

D. BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

Due to his expansion of executive power to combat the Great Depression and World War II, most scholars aver that the transitional period between the traditional and modern presidency was during the administration of ______. A. Woodrow Wilson B. Dwight Eisenhower C. Calvin Coolidge D. Franklin Roosevelt

D. Franklin Roosevelt

Barbour and Wright relate that a president who frequently used reward as an important criterion for determining who he nominated to the Supreme Court was ______. A. Bill Clinton B. Dwight Eisenhower C. Ronald Reagan D. Harry Truman

D. Harry Truman

Which of these is a true statement concerning Senate confirmation of presidential Supreme Court nominees? A. The minority party has little power to influence the success of nominations. B. Due to senatorial courtesy, the confirmation process is primarily a formality. C. The nomination process is nonpartisan and unaffected by ideology. D. Interest groups can heighten the conflict over a nomination.

D. Interest groups can heighten the conflict over a nomination.

The chief justice who was most responsible for the doctrine of judicial review was ______. A. William Taft B. Roger Taney C. John Jay D. John Marshall

D. John Marshall

The program that greatly increased the role of the federal government in the economy and the size of the federal budget was Franklin Roosevelt's ______. A. Patriot Act B. Work Opportunity Act C. War on Poverty D. New Deal

D. New Deal

The major reason presidents are not as successful in a divided government is ______. A. Congress takes control of the legislative agenda B. Congress has less control over its members C. members of one party simply want to defeat a president of the other party D. Republicans and Democrats stand for different approaches to the nation's problems

D. Republicans and Democrats stand for different approaches to the nation's problems

Barbour and Wright argue that an example of a strict constructionist Supreme Court nominee was ______. A. John Paul Stevens B. Earl Warren C. Elena Kagan D. Robert Bork

D. Robert Bork

The job of confirming presidential appointments belongs to the ______. A. judiciary B. cabinet C. House of Representatives D. Senate

D. Senate

According to the textbook, why does Congress have to be unified and motivated in order to pass legislation? A. The parties are too strong, which leads to more delays and compromise. B. The president has no ability to affect the agenda of Congress. C. This approach puts more emphasis on representation. D. The founders designed the legislative process to have many possible disruptions and stagnations.

D. The founders designed the legislative process to have many possible disruptions and stagnations.

In general, what is the condition that leads to the president's party losing midterm elections? A. The president is not respected among other world leaders. B. The Supreme Court will aggressively rule against the president's positions. How aggressively the Supreme Court has ruled against or for the president's positions. C. The Senate engaged in gerrymandering. D. The president's unpopularity with the public and the perceived state of the economy.

D. The president's unpopularity with the public and the perceived state of the economy.

During the constitutional process of dismissing a president from office, ______. A. the members of the House and Senate work together as part of a special joint committee to consider the impeachment and removal of the president B. a three-fourths majority of the state legislatures must vote to impeach her, followed by two thirds of the Senate members voting to remove her from office C. the Supreme Court must approve the impeachment before it goes to trial in the Senate D. a majority of House members must vote to impeach her, followed by two thirds of the members of the Senate voting to remove her from office

D. a majority of House members must vote to impeach her, followed by two thirds of the members of the Senate voting to remove her from office

A violation of civil law is called ______. A. an infraction B. a felony C. a crime D. a tort

D. a tort

Since the 1970s, the use of the filibuster has ______. A. been shifted over to the House as well B. become much less common than during World War II C. been restricted to only apply to judicial nominations D. become much more frequent than before

D. become much more frequent than before

Overall, the Supreme Court's power of judicial review has ______. A. been rejected as unconstitutional by every president who has occupied the office B. remained hypothetical as the Court has not used it since the Marbury case C. left the Supreme Court as the weakest branch of the federal government D. been used to strike down state laws more often than laws passed by Congress

D. been used to strike down state laws more often than laws passed by Congress

Senator Smith directing a staffer to track down a wayward Social Security check for a constituent is an instance of ______. A. earmarking B. symbolic representation C. franking D. casework

D. casework

Presidents are limited to two full terms in office by ______. A. an act of Congress B. a Supreme Court decision C. custom set by Washington D. constitutional amendment

D. constitutional amendment

What is the role of the solicitor general? A. serving as head of the Department of Justice B. filing amicus curiae briefs with the Senate C. representing the government before the court of public opinion D. deciding which cases to file with the Supreme Court for the government

D. deciding which cases to file with the Supreme Court for the government

According to the text, the congressional process is slow and involves a great deal of bickering and arguing because ______. A. politics breeds competitiveness B. each side is more interested in partisan advantage than in solving the nation's problems C. politics draws self-interested men and women D. democracy is a messy process that involves bargaining and compromise

D. democracy is a messy process that involves bargaining and compromise

Theoretically, executive orders are ______. A. accords between two heads of state B. directives on what legislation the president would like Congress to pass C. rules issued by an international organization like the United Nations D. directions to bureaucratic agencies on how laws are to be implemented

D. directions to bureaucratic agencies on how laws are to be implemented

Pacts/agreements made by the president with another head of state that do not require Senate approval are called ______. A. executive orders B. treaties C. interstate protocols D. executive agreements

D. executive agreements

The significance of the president's inherent powers is that they ______. A. are unconstitutional according to the Supreme Court B. were commonly used by 19th-century presidents C. allow the president to fulfill the office of president as the founders intended D. expand the president's powers beyond what is explicitly stated in the Constitution

D. expand the president's powers beyond what is explicitly stated in the Constitution

The Constitution grants the president only limited formal powers because the Founders ______. A. were distrustful of the leading presidential candidates B. believed the president would inherit all the powers of the British monarch C. believed Congress could add to the president's power as necessary D. had fears of a strong executive because of their colonial experiences

D. had fears of a strong executive because of their colonial experiences

Presidents must play their role as ______ in order to solve problems but that requires them to behave in ways that conflict with their role as ______. A. head of state; chief administrator B. head of government; party chief C. commander in chief; head of state D. head of government; head of state

D. head of government; head of state

Among other reasons, parties are important in Congress because they ______. A. assist the vice president in running the House B. limit the temptation for members to take bribes from lobbyists C. counter the baleful influence of constituents D. help to organize both chambers

D. help to organize both chambers

The U.S. courts of appeals are arranged ______. A. in the major cities of the United States (New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix, and Los Angeles) B. in four circuits, with one each in the north, south, east, and west C. in 50 courts with one in every state D. in 12 circuits covering the District of Columbia and geographical groupings of states

D. in 12 circuits covering the District of Columbia and geographical groupings of states

It has been increasingly difficult for the parties to work together in Congress in recent years because of ______. A. the decreasing willingness of members to follow their party leaders B. an increasing number of members who refuse to identify with either party C. increasing hostility toward presidential leadership D. increasing party polarization and hyper-partisanship

D. increasing party polarization and hyper-partisanship

The majority of staff members in Congress work for ______. A. the Speaker of the House's office B. the legislative liaison's office C. the majority party's caucus D. individual members or committees

D. individual members or committees

The major source of power for the Senate majority leader is ______. A. control over the choice of committee chairs B. the strict party discipline expected of members in floor voting C. the ability to put holds on legislation favored by individual members D. influence over the scheduling of legislation for floor consideration

D. influence over the scheduling of legislation for floor consideration

Barbour and Wright contend that Congress only moves haltingly, and is accompanied by considerable rowdiness, because it ______. A. has deliberations that are now fully open to public inspection and monitoring B. is wholly insulated from public control by a thick layer of interest group donations C. contains many politicians with enormous egos and aspirations for higher political office D. is a representative body and reflects the splits within the American body politic

D. is a representative body and reflects the splits within the American body politic

The role of the vice president ______. A. is not mentioned in the Constitution B. has been significantly reduced in the modern age C. is limited to presiding over the Senate and exercising ceremonial duties D. is, with the exception of presiding over the Senate, determined by the president

D. is, with the exception of presiding over the Senate, determined by the president

Marshall justified the claim that the Court has the power of judicial review on the grounds that ______. A. the founders explicitly gave the power to the Supreme Court B. British tradition gave this power to the Court C. as a practical matter, the power had to rest somewhere D. it is within the province of the courts to say what the law is

D. it is within the province of the courts to say what the law is

Many observers have concluded that impeachment is not an effective check on presidents because ______. A. it is too easy for presidents to rally public opinion against the process B. members of Congress will not use the process C. the Supreme Court would probably overturn a president's conviction D. it would bring governing to a halt and would not be popular with the public

D. it would bring governing to a halt and would not be popular with the public

According to the textbook, presidential ______. A. legislative success is unrelated to partisan control of Congress B. poll numbers are not an accurate guide to a president's popularity C. image is immune to the effects of various news events D. media appearances are more frequent in the modern era

D. media appearances are more frequent in the modern era

The Supreme Court has ruled that House districts ______. A. need not be changed if a state has not gained or lost seats since the previous census B. may not be gerrymandered to benefit one political party C. must be gerrymandered to protect incumbent members of Congress D. must adhere to the "one person, one vote" standard

D. must adhere to the "one person, one vote" standard

Divided government occurs when ______. A. the presidency and the Supreme Court are controlled by different parties B. the vice president must cast the deciding vote as president of the Senate C. the three branches of government are unable to work together to solve problems D. one party controls the presidency while the other controls at least one house of Congress

D. one party controls the presidency while the other controls at least one house of Congress

The Supreme Court has tended to use its power of judicial review ______. A. against acts of Congress only about 10 times B. frequently against both state legislation and acts of Congress C. much more frequently early in American history than in recent generations D. only sparingly

D. only sparingly

To pass their legislative agendas, presidents must ______ members of Congress to get Congress to support their proposals. A. intimidate B. threaten C. bribe D. persuade

D. persuade

The different public assessments of President George W. Bush's and President Bill Clinton's characters show us that ______. A. Bush ranked higher on all traits than did Clinton B. Bush and Clinton share the same presidential character C. Clinton ranked higher on all traits than did Bush D. presidents have different styles and project different images to the public

D. presidents have different styles and project different images to the public

Presidents have been able to ignore the restrictions on their ability to go to war contained in the War Powers Act because ______. A. Congress has no power under the War Powers Act B. the provisions of the act are very vague and make it easy to ignore C. Congress can never agree on a course of action when it comes to military decisions D. public opinion tends to rally around presidents when they deem military action necessary abroad

D. public opinion tends to rally around presidents when they deem military action necessary abroad

According to the textbook, ______ gerrymandering is highly controversial. A. partisan B. incumbent C. geographic D. racial

D. racial

Barbour and Wright note that pro-law enforcement narratives are harder to maintain because ______. A. law enforcement enjoys universal support from NFL players B. all Americans experience the criminal justice system in the same ways C. police officers who violate civil rights are overwhelmingly indicted D. recordings of law enforcement violations of civil rights often go viral online

D. recordings of law enforcement violations of civil rights often go viral online

The ______ dates from the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. A. lowering of public demands on presidents B. rise of corruption in the presidency C. growth of power in state governments D. rise of public expectations of the president

D. rise of public expectations of the president

The primary responsibility for gathering information, taking testimony, and revising legislation in Congress falls to ______. A. the committee of the whole B. the rules committee C. the majority party leadership D. standing committees

D. standing committees

The Supreme Court is deeply involved in politics through ______. A. overseeing the validity of elections B. deciding cases of civil law C. impeachment proceedings D. the effects of its decisions

D. the effects of its decisions

Which of these influences Supreme Court decision-making? A. direct lobbying by interest groups B. international public opinion C. senatorial courtesy D. the justices' relationships with each other

D. the justices' relationships with each other

The White House staff and the president's cabinet often conflict because ______. A. staff members are often holdovers from previous administrations B. cabinet members' loyalties are divided between the president and Congress C. cabinet members are unlikely to have the same party affiliations as the staff D. the staff serves the president's interests, while cabinet members seek support for their policy initiatives

D. the staff serves the president's interests, while cabinet members seek support for their policy initiatives

When it comes to running for Congress, Barbour and Wright contend that ______. A. Americans should not vote for anyone who would voluntarily stand for election B. ideology is becoming a less important inspiration for participating in the process C. most members of Congress are motivated to stand for election for idealistic reasons D. there are genuine advantages and disadvantages to this activity

D. there are genuine advantages and disadvantages to this activity

A ______ majority vote is necessary in order to invoke cloture in the Senate. A. simple B. three-fourths C. two-thirds D. three-fifths

D. three-fifths

The presidential impeachment process is intended to remove sitting presidents for ______. A. ineffective leadership B. waning public popularity C. immoral behavior D. treason, bribery, and high crimes and misdemeanors

D. treason, bribery, and high crimes and misdemeanors

Based on the discussion in the textbook, we can conclude that getting a case before the U.S. Supreme Court is ______. A. very easy B. easy C. difficult D. very difficult

D. very difficult

An effective head of government is expected to ______. A. take a hard line against America's foreign foes B. manage the military with an iron fist C. perform his ceremonial tasks with aplomb D. work with Congress to pass legislation

D. work with Congress to pass legislation

A law that makes it illegal to use steroids is an example of a procedural law.

False

An executive agreement is a clarification of congressional policy issued by the president and having the full force of law.

False

In the United States, treaties are negotiated by the president and require two-thirds approval from the judiciary.

False

Laws or regulations established by bureaucratic agencies on behalf of Congress are known as criminal laws or regulations.

False

Laws that regulate relations between individuals are called criminal laws.

False

Presidents must play their role as head of state in order to solve problems but that requires them to behave in ways that conflict with their role as head of government.

False

The founders created the congressional decision making process to be fast.

False

The founders created the congressional decision-making process to be fast.

False

The job of confirming presidential appointments belongs to the judiciary.

False

The process of redrawing congressional districts to match population shifts in states with more than one representative is called reapportionment.

False

The reallocation of congressional seats among the states every 10 years, following the census, is known as gerrymandering.

False