Government test 11, 12, 13, 14

House leaders are more powerful than Senate leaders because of ________. a. the majoritarian nature of the House—a majority can run it like a cartel b. the larger size of the House c. the constitutional position of the House d. the State of the Union address being delivered in the House chamber

a

In standing by precedent, a judge relies on the principle of ________. a. stare decisis b. amicus curiae c. judicial activism d. laissez-faire

a

Senate races tend to inspire ________. a. broad discussion of policy issues b. narrow discussion of specific policy issues c. less money than House races d. less media coverage than House races

a

The Great Compromise successfully resolved differences between ________. a. large and small states b. slave and non-slave states c. the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution d. the House and the Senate

a

The lawyer who represents the federal government and argues cases before the Supreme Court is the ________. a. solicitor general b. attorney general c. U.S. attorney d. chief justice

a

The passage of the Tenure of Office Act of 1867 was just one instance in a long line of ________. a. struggles for power between the president and the Congress b. unconstitutional presidential power grabbing c. impeachment trials d. arguments over presidential policy

a

The people who make up the modern president's cabinet are the heads of the major federal departments and ________. a. must be confirmed by the Senate b. once in office are subject to dismissal by the Senate c. serve two-year terms d. are selected base on the rules of patronage

a

Under the mayor-council system, the ________. a. legislative and executive responsibilities are separated b. political and administrative functions are separated c. mayor chairs the city council d. city council selects the mayor

a

Which of the following is an implied power of Congress? a. the power to regulate the sale of tobacco in the states b. the power to increase taxes on the wealthiest one percent c. the power to put the president on trial for high crimes d. the power to override a presidential veto

a

Many at the Continental Congress were skeptical of allowing presidents to be directly elected by the legislature because ________. a. they were worried about giving the legislature too much power b. they feared the opportunities created for corruption c. they knew the weaknesses of an electoral college d. they worried about subjecting the commander-in-chief to public scrutiny

b

Of all the court cases in the United States, the majority are handled ________. a. by the U.S. Supreme Court b. at the state level c. by the circuit courts d. by the U.S. district courts

b

The Supreme Court consists of ________. a. nine associate justices b. one chief justice and eight associate justices c. thirteen judges d. one chief justice and five associate justices

b

The Supreme Court's power of judicial review ________. a. is given to it in the original constitution b. enables it to declare acts of the other branches unconstitutional c. allows it to hear cases d. establishes the three-tiered court system

b

Under a ________ political culture, citizens will tend to be more tolerant of corruption from their political leaders and less likely to see politics as a noble profession in which all citizens should engage. a. moralistic b. individualistic c. traditionalistic d. nativistic

b

A very challenging job for new presidents is to ______. a. move into the White House b. prepare and deliver their first State of the Union address c. nominate and gain confirmation for their cabinet and hundreds of other officials d. prepare their first executive budget

c

Both state and federal courts hear matters that involve ________. a. civil law only b. criminal law only c. both civil and criminal law d. neither civil nor criminal law

c

In Federalist No. 78, Alexander Hamilton characterized the judiciary as the ________ branch of government. a. most unnecessary b. strongest c. least dangerous d. most political

c

In a ________ political culture, the government is seen as a mechanism for maintaining the existing social order or status quo. a. moralistic b. individualistic c. traditionalistic d. nativistic

c

One of the main ways interest groups participate in Supreme Court cases is by ________. a. giving monetary contributions to the justices b. lobbying the justices c. filing amicus curiae briefs d. protesting in front of the Supreme Court building

c

President Theodore Roosevelt's concept of the bully pulpit was the office's ________. a. authority to use force, especially military force b. constitutional power to veto legislation c. premier position to pressure through public appeal d. ability to use technology to enhance the voice of the president

c

Stopping a filibuster requires that ________. a. a majority of senators agree on the bill b. the speaker steps away from the podium c. the chamber votes for cloture d. the Speaker or majority leader intervenes

c

The Tenth Amendment created a class of powers exclusive to state governments. These powers are referred to as ________. a. enumerated powers b. implied powers c. reserved powers d. none of the above

c

The increasing value constituents have placed on descriptive representation in Congress has had the effect of ________. a. increasing the sensitivity representatives have to their constituents demands b. decreasing the rate at which incumbents are elected c. increasing the number of minority members in Congress d. decreasing the number of majority minority districts

c

The key means of advancing modern legislation is now ________. a. committees b. the actions of the leadership c. the budget process d. the filibuster

c

The most common term limit across the states that have imposed them is ________ years. a. four b. six c. eight d. twelve

c

When using judicial restraint, a judge will usually ________. a. refuse to rule on a case b. overrule any act of Congress he or she doesn't like c. defer to the decisions of the elected branches of government d. make mostly liberal rulings

c

Which of the following is an example of an executive agreement? a. The president negotiates an agreement with China and submits it to the Senate for ratification. b. The president changes a regulation on undocumented immigrant status without congressional approval. c. The president signs legally binding nuclear arms terms with Iran without seeking congressional approval. d. The president issues recommendations to the Department of Justice on what the meaning of a new criminal statute is.

c

Which of the following is not one of the three forms of county government? a. the commission system b. the council-elected executive system c. the mayor-council system d. the council-administrator system

c

While each state has two senators, members of the House are apportioned ________. a. according to the state's geographic size b. based on the state's economic size c. according to the state's population d. based on each state's need

c

A select committee is different from a standing committee because ________. a. a select committee includes member of both chambers, while a standing committee includes only members of the House b. a select committee is used for bill reconciliation, while a standing committee is used for prosecutions c. a select committee must stay in session, while a standing committee goes to recess d. a select committee is convened for a specific and temporary purpose, while a standing committee is permanent

d

How did the election of 1824 change the way presidents were selected? a. Following this election, presidents were directly elected. b. Jackson's supporters decided to create a device for challenging the Electoral College. c. The election convinced many that the parties must adopt the king caucus as the primary method for selecting presidents. d. The selection of the candidate with fewer electoral votes triggered the rise of party control over nominations.

d

Saying a bill is being marked up is just another way to say it is being ________. a. tabled b. neglected c. vetoed d. amended

d

A ________ is an officeholder who represents the will of those who elected him or her and acts in constituents' expressed interest. a. delegate b. trustee c. politico d. citizen

a

A case will be placed on the Court's docket when ________ justices agree to do so. a. four b. five c. six d. all

a

A congressperson who pursued a strict delegate model of representation would seek to ________. a. legislate in the way he or she believed constituents wanted, regardless of the anticipated outcome b. legislate in a way that carefully considered the circumstances and issue so as to reach a solution that is best for everyone c. legislate in a way that is best for the nation regardless of the costs for the constituents d. legislate in the way that he or she thinks is best for the constituents

a

A state case is more likely to be heard by the federal courts when ________. a. it involves a federal question b. a governor requests a federal court hearing c. it involves a criminal matter d. the state courts are unable to come up with a decision

a

Which of the following is an unintended consequence of the rise of the primary and caucus system? a. Sometimes candidates unpopular with the party leadership reach the top. b. Campaigns have become shorter and more expensive. c. The conventions have become more powerful than the voters. d. Often incumbent presidents will fail to be renominated by the party.

a

________ dictate the terms and conditions state governments would have to meet in order to qualify for financial assistance in a specific policy area. a. Categorical grants b. Block grants c. Unfunded mandates d. Crossover sanctions

a

A(n) ________ veto allows the governor to cross out budget lines in the legislature-approved budget, while signing the remainder of the budget into law. a. amendatory b. line-item c. reduction d. Frankenstein

b

Besides the Supreme Court, there are lower courts in the national system called ________. a. state and federal courts b. district and circuit courts c. state and local courts d. civil and common courts

b

Dillon's Rule gives local governments the freedom and flexibility to make decisions for themselves. a. True b. False

b

In a ________ legislature, members tend to have low salaries, shorter sessions, and few staff members to assist them with their legislative functions. a. professional b. citizen c. hybrid d. unicameral

b

Term limits have produced a statistically significant increase in the number of women serving in state legislatures. a. True b. False

b

Under consecutive term limits, legislators can serve one time for the number of years allotted and are not permitted to ever compete for the office again. a. True b. False

b

When term limits have been overturned, the most common method was ________. a. a bill passed by the state legislature b. a decision by the state Supreme Court c. a voter referendum d. a governor's decree

b

Which of the following is a way George Washington expanded the power of the presidency? a. He refused to run again after serving two terms. b. He appointed the heads of various federal departments as his own advisors. c. He worked with the Senate to draft treaties with foreign countries. d. He submitted his neutrality proclamation to the Senate for approval.

b

________ was the first state to institute all mail-in voting and automatic voter registration. a. California b. Oregon c. Washington d. New York

b

Currently, ________ states have term limits in place. a. five b. ten c. fifteen d. twenty

c

The process of redistricting can present problems for congressional representation because ________. a. districts must include urban and rural areas b. states can gain but never lose districts c. districts are often drawn to benefit partisan groups d. states have been known to create more districts than they have been apportioned

c

The saying "All politics is local" roughly means ________. a. the local candidate will always win b. the local constituents want action on national issues c. the local constituents tend to care about things that affect them d. the act of campaigning always occurs at the local level where constituents are

c

The Supreme Court most typically functions as ________. a. a district court b. a trial court c. a court of original jurisdiction d. an appeals court

d

The justices of the Supreme Court are ________. a. elected by citizens b. chosen by the Congress c. confirmed by the president d. nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate

d

When a Supreme Court ruling is made, justices may write a ________ to show they agree with the majority but for different reasons. a. brief b. dissenting opinion c. majority opinion d. concurring opinion

d

Which of the following is a check that the legislative branch has over the courts? a. Senate approval is needed for the appointment of justices and federal judges. b. Congress may rewrite a law the courts have declared unconstitutional. c. Congress may withhold funding needed to implement court decisions. d. all of the above

d