ap gov test 10/21

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 categories accounted for the majority of spending in 2017, according to the chart? A Mandatory B Net interest C Discretionary D Pork-barrel

A Mandatory

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.

Much of the steady increase in federal government expenditures since 1960 has been caused by A increases in entitlement programs B higher interest rates caused by an increase in the discount rate C the provisions of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act D increased purchases of United States government securities by foreign investors E the growth of the United States trade imbalance

A increases in entitlement programs

A first term member of the House of Representatives from North Dakota who wished to maximize opportunities for constituent service would be most likely to seek placement on which of the following committees? A Judiciary B Agriculture C Rules D Foreign Affairs E Science and Technology

B Agriculture

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 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.

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

Federal benefits that must be funded by Congress and must be paid to all citizens who meet eligibility criteria are called A discretionary appropriations B individual entitlements C tax expenditures D distributive benefits E continuing appropriations

B individual entitlements

An example of a discretionary item in the federal budget is A interest on the public debt B spending on national parks C Social Security payments D veterans' pensions E liquidation of prior obligations

B spending on national parks

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

If Congress wanted to effect a change in the Social Security payroll tax, to what congressional committee would the task initially be assigned? A House Appropriations Committee B Senate Appropriations Committee C House Ways and Means Committee D House Rules Committee E Senate Finance Committee

C House Ways and Means Committee

A new president has been elected after running on a campaign of lowering taxes and reducing spending on discretionary programs but now must work with Congress to ensure legislation passes which achieves those goals. Which of the leaders in the diagram plays the most crucial role in shaping the legislation that the president wants passed? A President pro-tempore B Vice president C Speaker of the House D House majority leader

C Speaker of the House

Which of the following clauses serves as the constitutional basis for the federal Real ID Act of 2005, a law that established uniform standards for state-issued identification cards and provided regulation of a state function? A The due process clause B The establishment clause C The necessary and proper clause D The commerce clause

C The necessary and proper clause

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 E Veterans' Affairs

D Rules

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 largest source of federal revenue is the A capital gains tax B Social Security tax C property tax D income tax E sales tax

D income tax

The 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

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 statements about rules of procedure in the House and Senate is correct? A Debate by a determined minority in either chamber cannot be halted. B The rules in each chamber are determined by the majority whip. C The rules are specified in Article I of the Constitution. D The rules can be changed by the President during a national emergency. E The House operates more by formal rules, while the Senate operates more on informal understandings.

E The House operates more by formal rules, while the Senate operates more on informal understandings.

Which of the following is true of the seniority system of Congress in relation to committee leadership and committee staffing? A Members of Congress with the longest continuous service are assured the chairmanship of major congressional committees. B Members of Congress must be elected from safe seats to accrue committee seniority. C Members of congressional committees are the most senior members of the body's majority party. D The oldest members of Congress have the most seniority. E The chairs of congressional committees tend to be senior members of the body's majority party.

E The chairs of congressional committees tend to be senior members of the body's majority party.

The 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