AP GOV term 2 mp 1 test
Which of the following Supreme Court cases involved the principle of "one person, one vote"? A) Baker v. Carr B) Roe v .Wade C) Mapp v. Ohio D) Korematsu v United States E) Gideon v Wainwright
A) Baker v. Carr
Which of the following statements accurately summarizes the reasoning for the decision in Baker v. Carr (1962) ? A) Because rural districts had fewer people, representation was unevenly distributed; thus, Baker was denied equal protection under the law. B) To ensure equal protection under the law, there should be an equal number of rural and urban districts in a state. C) There should be redistricting every ten years at the federal level, but the state can choose not to redistrict at the state and local levels. D) Congressional redistricting must involve traditionally excluded groups in the process or it violates the equal protection clause.
A) Because rural districts had fewer people, representation was unevenly distributed; thus, Baker was denied equal protection under the law.
When a bill passes the House and the Senate in different versions, the bill is resolved by which of the following types of committee? A) Conference B) Select C) Reconciliation D) Rules E) Standing
A) Conference
Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the graphs? A) Political efficacy is a major factor in shaping political views about government, but political ideology also plays a role. B) Regardless of party, there is a great deal of ideological agreement about the role of government among those with greater political efficacy. C) While trust in government has declined over time, this is due to a decrease in political efficacy. D) Republicans promote trust in government, which increases political efficacy.
A) Political efficacy is a major factor in shaping political views about government, but political ideology also plays a role.
The largest amount of political coverage in newspapers during presidential campaigns is devoted to A) day-to-day campaign activities B) the platforms of the major parties C) candidates' policy stands on domestic issues D) candidates' stands on foreign policy issues E) candidates' experience and qualifications
A) day-to-day campaign activities
A 2017 study in The American Economic Review found that watching Fox News during an election cycle increased a Democrat's chances of voting Republican by 28 percent. Conversely, by watching MSNBC Republicans were more inclined to vote Democrat by 8 percent. This scenario best illustrates which of the following about the media? A) Increased media choices tend to reinforce existing beliefs when citizens are offered ideological choices in programming. B) Cable news programming is oftentimes ideologically driven and effective in persuading citizens to adopt their point of view. C) The consumption of news tends to increase voter participation for Republicans but is less effective in increasing participation for Democrats. D) Modern political parties have launched air campaigns to persuade voters by purchasing advertisements on 24-hour news networks.
B) Cable news programming is oftentimes ideologically driven and effective in persuading citizens to adopt their point of view.
A "cloture motion" passed in the Senate does which of the following? A) Returns a bill to committee. B) Cuts off debate on a bill. C) Criticizes a senator guilty of improprieties. D) Removes a President who has been impeached by the House. E) Brings a bill directly to a vote without formal committee approval.
B) Cuts off debate on a bill.
Which of the following committees plays a major role in the House in shaping tax policy? A- Finance B- Ways and Means C- Commerce D- Appropriations E- Governmental Affairs
B- Ways and Means
to study the impact of global climate change on manatees in Florida. This is an example of A- the free rider problem B- pork barrel legislation C- an issue network D- gerrymandering
B- pork barrel legislation
Congressional district boundaries are usually redrawn every ten years by the A- Bureau of the Census B- state legislatures C- President D- House Rules Committee E- Federal Election Commission
B- state legislatures
"Pork barrel" legislation helps the reelection chances of a member of Congress because such legislation A-gives the member of Congress national standing and coverage on national television news B-helps earn the member of Congress a reputation for service to his or her district C-attracts campaign contributions from ideological political action committees (PACs) D-prevents other candidates from claiming that the member of Congress is too liberal for his or her district E-requires the member of Congress to travel extensively
B-helps earn the member of Congress a reputation for service to his or her district
Based on the data, which of the following is the most likely consequence for the legislative process in Congress? A) More competitive races for House seats in the general election B)A decrease in party-line voting on important legislation introduced in the House C) An increase in gridlock and failure to compromise on legislation D) Greater cooperation between Congress and the president on nominations
C) An increase in gridlock and failure to compromise on legislation
Which of the following accurately describes the composition of congressional committees? A) Committees are organized by the executive branch to ensure that both branches can communicate and negotiate policy goals. B) The United States Constitution requires that Congress organize itself into committees, with each party having equal access to committee seats. C) Committees are organized by the majority party to maintain control of the policy-making process. D)Committees are organized by state delegations so that each state has some role in deciding which bills get passed.
C) Committees are organized by the majority party to maintain control of the policy-making process.
Which of the following 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 best reflects the holding in the case Baker v. Carr (1962) ? A) Declared that racial gerrymandering was a violation of the due process clause. B) Stated that the Tenth Amendment exclusively reserves the power to review congressional districts to the states. C) Created a one-person, one-vote standard for reviewing congressional districts. D) Stated that the Seventeenth Amendment requires regular review of the constitutionality of congressional districts.
C) Created a one-person, one-vote standard for reviewing congressional districts.
Which of the following is 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.
Which of the following identifies the formal procedure for ending a filibuster? A)Oversight B)Logrolling C)Pocket veto D) Cloture E) Discharge petition
D) Cloture
A member of the House of Representatives who wishes to be influential in the House itself would most likely seek a place on which of the following committees? A) Agriculture B)International Relations C) Transportation and Infrastructure D) Rules
D) Rules
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
An important Senate race takes place in the state of Georgia. Rather than focus on the issue positions taken by the candidates, a 24-hour cable news station instead focuses primarily on poll results and campaign strategies using a "big board" to show the counties where each candidate has the most support. Which of the following is an effect of this type of new coverage? A) The electorate will be increasingly divided along partisan lines. B) The electorate will be more likely to turn out to vote on Election Day. C) The electorate will be more likely to have expanded knowledge of the electoral process. D) The electorate will be less able to accurately compare the policy platforms of candidates running in the election.
D) The electorate will be less able to accurately compare the policy platforms of candidates running in the election.
"Voting is partly a matter of habit: the more frequently a person has voted in the past, the more likely she or he is to vote in the current election." All of the following support the observation above EXCEPT: A) Immediately after the Twenty-Sixth Amendment in 1971 gave 18-21 year olds the vote, the proportion of eligible voters who actually voted declined. B) Immediately after the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 gave women the vote, the proportion of eligible voters who actually voted declined. C) Immediately after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the participation rate of Black voters in the South was lower than that of White voters in the South. D) Unmarried persons over the age of 65 are less likely to vote than are married persons in that age group E) Newly naturalized citizens may need special inducements to vote.
D) Unmarried persons over the age of 65 are less likely to vote than are married persons in that age group
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
Which of the following most accurately describes media coverage of elections? A) Coverage of presidential primaries gives relatively equal power to states regardless of when they hold their primaries. B) Coverage tends to focus on issues rather than on which candidate is ahead in public opinion polls. C) Reporters who use secret sources in their campaign coverage are shielded by federal law from having to reveal those sources. D) Radio and television stations must provide on their news broadcasts equal time for and equal coverage of major party candidates. E) Network news coverage is usually dominated by reporters who offer relatively short sound bites from the candidates.
E) Network news coverage is usually dominated by reporters who offer relatively short sound bites from the candidates.
Which of the following statements about voting behavior in national elections is most accurate? A) Men are more likely to vote than are women. B) Blue-collar workers are more likely to vote than are professionals. C) Those with less than a high school education are more likely to vote than are college graduates. D) Democrats are more likely to vote than are Republicans. E) Senior citizens are more likely to vote than are college students.
E) Senior citizens are more likely to vote than are college students.
Which of the following statements most accurately compares elections in the United States with those in most other Western democracies? A) United States citizens have fewer opportunities to vote in elections. B) Political parties exert a stronger influence over voting in the United States C) There are fewer obstacles to voting in the United States D) There are more political parties in the United States E) Te voter turnout rate in the United States is usually lower
E) Te voter turnout rate in the United States is usually lower
Most of the work of legislating in Congress takes place in A) joint committees B) ad hoc committees C) select committees D) conference committees E) standing committees
E) standing committees
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of procedures in the House of Representatives and procedures in the Senate?
House of Representatives:The Rules Committee decides how long debate will be on most bills. Senate: The minority can use the filibuster to defeat a bill.
Which of the following makes a correct comparison between political parties and interest groups in the United States?
Political Parties: Political parties recruit and run candidates in elections. Interest Groups: Interest groups seek to influence public policy.
Which of the following activities by interest groups best illustrates attempts to educate members of Congress on public policy? a) A green energy group sending a research report to congressional offices b) A law-reform group sending alerts to its members encouraging them to contact their representatives c) A single-issue group holding a rally in Washington to show support for their cause d) A PAC giving contributions to the reelection campaigns of members of Congress
a) A green energy group sending a research report to congressional offices
An interest group would likely have the greatest influence on policy matters involving a) narrow issues, only a few interest groups, and technical information b) broad, highly visible national issues c) broad foreign policy issues d) major constitutional questions about civil rights and liberties e) areas in which members of Congress have considerable expertise and commitment
a) narrow issues, only a few interest groups, and technical information
Which of the following provides the most accurate explanation of how consumer-driven media increases partisan polarization? a) Consumer-driven media tends to avoid discussing controversial political topics. b) Consumer-driven media reinforces existing political biases in individuals. c) Consumer-driven media relies heavily on corporate advertising. d) Consumer-driven media is overwhelmingly conservative.
b) Consumer-driven media reinforces existing political biases in individuals.
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?
c) House of Representatives:Debate is limited. Senate: Members can filibuster.
Two interest groups are competing for influence in Congress. One group represents banking institutions, while the other advocates for consumer protections. A critic of the influence of interest groups would make which of the following claims? a) The interest groups will nominate a slate of candidates for office to compete against each other in the next election in order to determine which interests prevail. b) The consumer protection group will appeal only to Republican leaders, while the banking interests will appeal only to Democratic leaders. c) The banking interest group likely has greater financial resources and access to policy makers than the consumer protection group. d) The consumer protection group is prohibited by federal regulations from direct lobbying.
c) The banking interest group likely has greater financial resources and access to policy makers than the consumer protection group.
Which of the following is most frequently reported in the media during a presidential election? A) Results from public opinion polls that indicate which candidates are most likely to win B) The official platforms of each of the major political parties C) Financial strategies and management of the campaigns D) Comparisons of candidates' positions on foreign and domestic policy issues E) Information about the candidates' experience in government and record in office
A) Results from public opinion polls that indicate which candidates are most likely to win
If a bill reaches the floor for debate and a member of the minority party opposes the bill, which of the following provides greater leverage to a senator than to a member of the House to block passage of the bill? A) The Senate allows for unlimited floor debate that can hold up a vote, while the House has strict limits on debate. B) The Senate is more collegial than the House, so members can easily gain support from the opposing party. C) The Senate allows for discharge petitions that force the bill out of committee, while the House does not. D) The Senate is much less likely than the House to have party-line votes, so nonpartisan coalitions are more likely to form.
A) The Senate allows for unlimited floor debate that can hold up a vote, while the House has strict limits on debate.
Based on your knowledge and the diagram, which of the following is true regarding the leadership structure of Congress? A) The role of the minority leader in both the House of Representatives and the Senate is to coordinate a strategy for the minority party. B) The vice president is responsible for creating and setting the legislative agenda for the Senate. C) The Speaker of the House has very little power to control members of the majority party in the House of Representatives. D)The majority leaders in both chambers work to ensure that a bipartisan agenda is passed in the Congress.
A) The role of the minority leader in both the House of Representatives and the Senate is to coordinate a strategy for the minority party.
Which of the following best describes the holding in Baker v. Carr (1961) ? A) Unequal representation of citizens in legislative districts is unconstitutional and may be reviewed by the courts. B) Political issues such as reapportionment, redistricting, and gerrymandering are to be resolved by the legislative branch. C) Racial gerrymandering is a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause. D) Gerrymandering that favors a single party is not subject to legal action because there is no standard to determine how a state legislative district map should be drawn.
A) Unequal representation of citizens in legislative districts is unconstitutional and may be reviewed by the courts.
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
All of the following are examples of a linkage institution influencing the policy process EXCEPT A) the president delivering the State of the Union speech B) the Sierra Club lobbying the Environmental Protection Agency C) the outcome of a congressional election D) an exposé by the national media on the housing crisis E) the Republican Party pursuing a balanced budget amendment
A) the president delivering the State of the Union speech
A difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate is that in the House A- legislative activity on the floor is more constrained by rules B- committees are less important in the decision-making process C- junior members have more influence over legislative decisions D- party leaders are less powerful E- bills are more likely to be amended on the floor
A- legislative activity on the floor is more constrained by rules
The boundaries of United States congressional districts are usually determined by A- the Federal Election Commission (FEC) B- the state legislatures C- the House Rules Committee D- a conference committee of the House and Senate E- the director of the United States Census Bureau
A- the Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Which of the following is a true statement about the role of the media in providing citizens with information? A)Investigative reporting dominates the news because it is less expensive than political commentary. B) Demand for instantaneous news reporting has led to the growth of 24-hour news operations and a shift to online media consumption. C) The media is increasingly controlled by the major political parties, who determine which stories are covered by the press. D) There has been an increase in social media and Internet news consumption by the public, causing the top five media conglomerates to have greater control over public opinion.
B) Demand for instantaneous news reporting has led to the growth of 24-hour news operations and a shift to online media consumption.
Which of the following statements about Congress is true? A) Members of Congress only occasionally are interested in and pay attention to constituents. B) The legislative process is frequently lengthy, decentralized, and characterized by compromise and bargaining. C) Lobbyists and political action committees (PAC's) successfully induce most members of Congress to trade their votes for campaign contributions. D) The growth in the size of Congress as an organization is the principal cause of growth in the federal budget deficit. E) Debate in both houses is structured by elaborate rules enacted by leaders of the majority party
B) The legislative process is frequently lengthy, decentralized, and characterized by compromise and bargaining.
Considering all elections at all levels of government, which of the following best describes electoral behavior in the United States? A) Primary elections tend to elicit a higher voter turnout than do general elections. B) The majority of the electorate does not vote in most elections. C) Voter turnout plays an insignificant role in election outcomes. D) Adult citizens under the age of 30 tend to have the highest rate of voter turnout. E) Voters with strong party identification vote less regularly than do independents.
B) The majority of the electorate does not vote in most elections.
Considering all elections at all levels of government, which of the following best describes electoral behavior in the United States? A) Primary elections tend to elicit a higher voter turnout than do general elections. B) The majority of the electorate does not vote in most elections. C) Voter turnout plays an insignificant role in election outcomes. D) Adult citizens under the age of 30 tend to have the highest rate of voter turnout. E)Voters with strong party identification vote less regularly than do independents.
B) The majority of the electorate does not vote in most elections.
Supporters of voting restrictions are most likely to make which of the following arguments? A) Voting restrictions are needed to reduce the length of time it takes to vote. B) Voting restrictions are needed to prevent voter fraud. C) Voting restrictions help reduce the cost of elections. D) Voting restrictions increase the accuracy of tracking polls.
B) Voting restrictions are needed to prevent voter fraud.
The term "horse-race journalism" refers to the tendency of the media to A) cover Congress by focusing on committee chairs rather than on the work of the committees B) cover campaigns by emphasizing the relative standings of the candidates in the polls rather than the issues they discuss C) cover politics by concentrating on scandal and corruption rather than on instances of integrity and honorable action D) compete for access to sources rather than to cooperate in gathering news E) compete to be first with major breaking stories rather than trying to present full, accurate accounts of such stories
B) cover campaigns by emphasizing the relative standings of the candidates in the polls rather than the issues they discuss
Of the following, which is the most powerful figure in Congress? A-The Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee B- The Speaker of the House C-The Minority Whip of the Senate D-The Majority Whip of the House E-The Chair of the Senate Finance Committee
B- The Speaker of the House
Advocates of shifting the task of drawing United States House districts from state legislatures to independent commissions are likely to claim which of the following as an advantage of independent commissions? A)House districts drawn by independent commissions are immune from challenges by the United States Department of Justice. B) Independent commissions are more likely to create majority-minority districts where they are appropriate. C) Independent commissions significantly reduce the influence of partisan gerrymandering in the redistricting process. D) Independent commissions are more likely to create districts where minor parties can be victorious. E)Independent commissions are more able to draw legislative districts that comply with the one person, one vote standard.
C) Independent commissions significantly reduce the influence of partisan gerrymandering in the redistricting process.
Which of the following statements about gerrymandering is true? A) It has been banned by United States Supreme Court decisions beginning with Baker v. Carr. B) It was used traditionally to maintain urban control of the House of Representatives. C) It can be used by a political party to draw boundary lines to control as many districts as possible. D) It guarantees greater constituency control over elected representatives. E) It ensures liberal control of the House of Representatives.
C) It can be used by a political party to draw boundary lines to control as many districts as possible.
Which of the following statements about gerrymandering is true? A) It has been banned by United States Supreme Court decisions beginning with Baker v.Carr. B) It was used traditionally to maintain urban control of the House of Representatives. C) It can be used by a political party to draw boundary lines to control as many districts as possible. D) It guarantees greater constituency control over elected representatives. E) It ensures liberal control of the House of Representatives.
C) It can be used by a political party to draw boundary lines to control as many districts as possible.
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 most directly related to the large amount of money spent by outside groups in the 2012 election? A)The reliance on professional consulting firms to help run candidate-centered campaigns B) The emergence of social media as a campaign tool to mobilize supporters to make large donations C)The use of super PACs as a mechanism to raise money and influence elections D)Strict regulations on campaign spending by political parties
C) The use of super PACs as a mechanism to raise money and influence elections
Of the following, which best predicts the likelihood that citizens will vote? A) Their race B) Their religion C) Their educational level D) Their gender E) Their region of residence
C) Their educational level
The House Rules Committee is an important part of the legislative process because it A) determines ethics rules for members' conduct B) determines whether a bill should be referred to a policy committee for consideration C) determines the terms and conditions of debate when a bill goes to the House floor D) has the authority to limit the Speaker and Minority leader in their use of patronage E) negotiates compromises on bills with the Senate Rules Committee
C) determines the terms and conditions of debate when a bill goes to the House floor
Most of the bills introduced in the House and the Senate are then A) passed by one chamber but not the other B) passed by both chambers but vetoed by the President C) referred to committee but never sent to the full Congress D) voted down during the amendment stage of the floor debate E) killed in the Rules Committee
C) referred to committee but never sent to the full Congress
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a member of Congress supporting pork-barrel legislation? A- A senator from a coal-producing state voting against a job-training program for coal miners B- A member of the House voting for urban renewal in exchange for increased funding for roads C- A senator from an agricultural state amending legislation to establish a potato research institute in his or her state D- A member of the House Armed Services Committee marking up a bill that will increase funding for military bases
C- A senator from an agricultural state amending legislation to establish a potato research institute in his or her state
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.
The Supreme Court's decision in Shaw v. Reno (1993) is most applicable to which of the following scenarios? A-A public school expels students for protesting school policy. B- A state establishes a ban on carrying firearms near schools and churches. C-A state legislature approves a redistricting plan that draws district lines on basis of race. D-A group of state officials refuse to comply with federal legislation.
C-A state legislature approves a redistricting plan that draws district lines on basis of race.
Which of the following statements is true regarding political advertisements in 2012 based on the information graphic? A) Taxpayers paid over 2 billion dollars for political advertisements. B) Political action committees aired 3 million political ads. C) Fewer than 2 million advertisements were aired in 2012. D)Few advertisements appealed to positive emotions.
D) Few advertisements appealed to positive emotions.
Which of the following is generally true of the gerrymandering of congressional districts? A) It results in more Democrats being elected to the House. B) It results in more Republicans being elected to the House. C) It guarantees that all minority parties will be equally represented. D) It creates districts that favor one political party over another. E) It violates the principle of one-person, one-vote.
D) It creates districts that favor one political party over another.
Which of the following is an accurate statement about the voter turnout rate in the United States? A) It is high because of the large numbers of elective offices. B) It is significantly higher among men than among women. C)It is lower than in most other Western democracies. D) It increased sharply when eighteen year olds were given the right to vote. E) It has been steady over the last 30 years.
D) It increased sharply when eighteen year olds were given the right to vote.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance to it, and to insist upon the institution of a new government . . ." ". . . Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled. The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world. He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise. He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice. He has withheld from her rights which are given to the most ignorant and degraded men. . . . Having deprived her of this first right of a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides. He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead. He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns." Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Seneca Falls Convention, 1848 Which of the following amendments to the United States Constitution addresses the grievance that a woman is not permitted "to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise"? A) Fourteenth Amendment B) Fifteenth Amendment C)Seventeenth Amendment D) Nineteenth Amendment
D) Nineteenth Amendment
Which of the following statements about motions for cloture is true? A)They force a bill out of committee so that the full House can vote on it. B) They are applied to bills that failed in the previous session of Congress. C) They are applied only to appropriation bills. D) They are used by senators to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote. E) They occur whenever a bill is reported out of committee.
D) They are used by senators to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote.
A committee chair in the House of Representatives is always A) the member with the longest service on the committee B) the member with the longest service in the House C) a representative of the Speaker D) a member of the majority party in the chamber E) a trusted ally of the President
D) a member of the majority party in the chamber
The committee that resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill is called a A) joint committee B) select committee C) special committee D) conference committee E) standing committee
D) conference committee
Establishing the boundaries of United States congressional districts to give one party an advantage over another party is referred to as A) raiding B) apportionment C) reapportionment D) gerrymandering E) filibustering
D) gerrymandering
he 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
The committee system is more important in the House than in the Senate because A) the seniority system plays no role in the House and therefore committees must play a larger role B) the Constitution mandates the type of committee structure in the House C) committee members are appointed by the President D) the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor E) the majority party in the House prefers to give priority to the work of the committees
D) the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor
The Constitution states that all revenue bills must originate in A) a White House budget resolution B) the Congressional Budget Office C)the United States Senate D) the United States House of Representatives E) the Office of Management and Budget
D) the United States House of Representatives
A person claiming that the House can pass legislation with a simple majority, but the Senate is unlikely to pass legislation unless a bill has the support of a 60-vote supermajority is most likely to cite which of the following institutional differences as the cause of this trend? A) The House has fewer legislative committees than the Senate does. B) Members of the House often represent a much narrower constituency than senators do. C) Party leadership in the House is highly formalized, while leadership in the Senate is much more informal. D)The House has strict limits on debate, while the Senate allows unlimited debate.
D)The House has strict limits on debate, while the Senate allows unlimited debate.
Which of the following types of committee deals with broad areas of public policy and can be found in both houses of Congress? A- Rules B- Select C- Joint D- Standing E- Conference
D- Standing
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
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.
Which of the following describes a consequence of the growing concentration of ownership of the news media? A) Newspaper prices have gone down. B) Coverage of political events has gotten more liberal over time. C) Prices for televised campaign ads have gone down. D) Candidates get more free airtime. E) There is increased similarity of network news coverage.
E) There is increased similarity of network news coverage.
If legislation passes in both the House of Representatives and the Senate but each version is slightly different, the conflicting bills are sent to A) a standing committee of each house for a vote B) an ad hoc committee for judicial review C) the Rules Committee of each house for reconciliation and compromise D) the majority and minority leaders of both houses for compromise E) a conference committee for review and compromise
E) a conference committee for review and compromise
Compared to voters in a general election, voters in presidential primary elections are A) less likely to be members of political parties B) less likely to be well educated C) likely to be a larger percentage of the voting-age population D) more likely to be members of ethnic or racial minority groups E) more likely to be affluent
E) more likely to be affluent
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
The boundary lines of congressional districts are drawn by A) the United States House of Representatives B) The United States Senate C) United States district courts D) state governors E) state legislatures
E) state legislatures
The most common form of political activity undertaken by United States citizens is A) lobbying to influence decisions by public officials B) campaigning for candidates for office C) contributing money to a political party D) voting in local elections E) voting in political elections
E) voting in political elections
A major difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate is that A-filibusters are possible only in the House B- revenue bills must originate in the Senate C- judicial nominations originate in a House committee D-each state has equal representation in the House but not in the Senate E- there is unlimited debate in the Senate but not in the House
E- there is unlimited debate in the Senate but not in the House
The National Education Association (NEA) is an organization of teachers, administrators, and other educators who work together to advance the interests and impact of public education. One of the NEA's goals is to support public education by ending government funding of voucher programs that promote school privatization. Vouchers give parents financial incentives to send their children to private schools rather than having children attend local public schools. Which of the following strategies would be the most effective way to achieve the NEA's goal of furthering the interest of public education? a) Lobby members of congressional committees to vote against all legislation that would support school voucher programs. b) Petition Congress to hold an oversight hearing of the Department of Education on private and public school funding. c) Increase membership in the NEA by offering new members financial benefits. d) Request that the Supreme Court to declare the school voucher and privatization programs unconstitutional.
a) Lobby members of congressional committees to vote against all legislation that would support school voucher programs.
Which of the following is true of amicus curiae briefs? a) They are used by interest groups to lobby courts. b) They are used exclusively by liberal interest groups. C) They are used exclusively by conservative interest groups. d) They are now unconstitutional. e) They are the means by which a litigant seeks Supreme Court review of a lower court decision.
a) They are used by interest groups to lobby courts.
An interest group is most likely to have influence in Congress when the issue at stake a) is narrow in scope and low in public visibility b) is part of the president's legislative package c) has been dramatized by the media d) engages legislators' deeply held convictions e) divides legislators along party lines
a) is narrow in scope and low in public visibility
The free rider problem occurs when a) interest groups seek public funding to advance their special interests b) people benefit from an interest group's efforts without making any contribution c) elected officials provide government services for those who have helped their campaigns d) political campaigns manipulate the news media in order to obtain free advertising e) congressional candidates win elections because they belong to the party of a popular president
b) people benefit from an interest group's efforts without making any contribution
Which of the following exemplifies the free-rider problem for interest groups? a) A supporter of the Second Amendment who is a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) b) A bird enthusiast who contributes to the Sierra Club to receive a free bird-watching guide c) A teacher who does not join the local teachers union but receives a salary negotiated by the union d) A 50-year-old woman who joins the AARP to get a discount card
c) A teacher who does not join the local teachers union but receives a salary negotiated by the union
For which of the following tasks would using the bar graph as currently designed be the LEAST helpful? a) Comparing whether the National Rifle Association (NRA) prefers Democrats or Republicans b) Tracking the campaign spending of the NRA over time c) Calculating the election cycle spending based on the intervals shown on the vertical axis d) Determining which years the NRA spent the most money on elections
c) Calculating the election cycle spending based on the intervals shown on the vertical axis
The media's effect on public opinion can best be described as a) influencing older citizens' opinions of incumbents b) affecting the public's views on domestic policy only c) influencing which issues the public sees as important changing well-educated people's views on foreign policy changing well-educated people's views on foreign policy influencing the public's views on controversial issues only
c) influencing which issues the public sees as important
All of the following are commonly used by interest groups to influence the political process EXCEPT a) lobbying b) contributing money to candidates c) nominating candidates d) filing lawsuits e) appealing to the public opinion
c) nominating candidates
A corporate lobbyist would be LEAST likely to have an informal discussion about a pending policy matter with which of the following? a) A member of the House in whose district the corporation has a plant b) A member of the White House staff concerned about the issue c) A member of the staff of the Senate committee handling a matter of concern to the corporation d) A federal judge in whose court a case important to the corporation is being heard e) A journalist for a major newspaper concerned about the issue
d) A federal judge in whose court a case important to the corporation is being heard
The agenda-setting function of the media refers to the power to a) endorse specific candidates for political office b) favor the position of one interest group over another c) counter the censorship activities of media watch groups d) mobilize economic interests in favor of a particular candidate e) decide which issues are important enough to bring to public attention
e) decide which issues are important enough to bring to public attention
Lobbyists try to influence legislators mainly through a) "wining and dining" legislators b) orchestrating petition drives and letter-writing campaigns c) placing persuasive advertisements in the media d) threatening to help the legislator's opponent in the next election e) providing legislators with information on technical issues
e) providing legislators with information on technical issues
Interest groups engage in all of the following activities EXCEPT a) testifying before congressional committees b) sponsoring issue advocacy ads c) lobbying federal agencies d) filing federal lawsuits e) using the franking privilege
e) using the franking privilege
