Govt #2
If a defendant is charged with burglary, but admits to a lesser charge of trespassing in exchange for the prosecution dismissing the burglary charge and forgoing the criminal trial, it is an example of a. a plea bargain. c. a pro bono settlement. b. a quid pro quo. d. an amicus curiae.
A. A plea bargain
________ powers are specifically established by the language of the Constitution. a. Expressed c. Implied b. Delegated d. Inherent
A. Expressed
________ occurs when the president directs administrative agencies to promulgate specific rules and regulations. a. Regulatory review c. Delegation b. Administrative oversight d. An executive agreement
A. Regulatory review
Normally, ________ judge(s) hear(s) a specific case on a federal circuit court of appeals. a. 1 c. 15 b. 3 d. all of them
B. 3
In each House district there are approximately ________ people. a.250,000 b.700,00 c.1,300,00 d.2,500,000
B. 700,000
A senator or representative running for reelection is called the a. constituent. c. trustee b. incumbent. d. delegate.
B. Incumbent
When President Lincoln issued a series of executive orders for which he had no clear legal authority during the start of the Civil War, it illustrated the a. delegated powers of the presidency. c. expressed powers of the presidency. b. inherent powers of the presidency. d. "going public" strategy.
B. Inherent powers of the presidency
Which sort of representation is based on the principle that if two individuals are similar in background, character, interests, and perspectives, then one could correctly represent the other's views? a. agency b.sociological c. trustee d.delegate
B. Sociological
If a legislative body was composed of 15 percent Latinos and 70 percent males in a state whose residents were 35 percent Latino and 50 percent male, the legislative body could be said to lack a. agency representation b.sociological representation c.delegate representation d.trustee representation
B. Sociological representation
The first court to hear a criminal case involving a violation of state law is called a(n) ________ court. a. supreme c. advisory b. trial d. appellate
B. Trial
Who were the only two presidents to be impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives? a. Andrew Johnson and Richard Nixon c. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton b. Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover d. Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford
C. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton
Compared to the rest of American history, recent congresses have been ________ polarized and ________ productive in terms of passing laws. a. less; equally c. more; less b. less; less d. more; more
C. More; less
1. A U.S. senator has a ________-year term. a.two b.four c. six d.eight
C. six
In all of American history, the Supreme Court has concluded that fewer than ________ acts of Congress have directly violated the Constitution. a. 18 c. 100 b. 50 d. 160
D. 160
More than ________ percent of all cases in the United States are heard in state courts. a. 33 c. 68 b. 50 d. 97
D. 97
The process of allocating congressional seats among the 50 states is called a. redistricting. c.redlining. b. gerrymandering. d. apportionment.
D. Apportionment
During the Constitutional Convention, a "departmentalist" was someone who believed that a. each branch of the new government would interpret the Constitution as it applied to its own actions rather than having the Supreme Court be the sole interpreter of the Constitution. b. the Supreme Court should be the sole interpreter of the Constitution and that each branch of the new government would have its actions subjected to strict judicial scrutiny. c. the new government should have only two branches, the executive and the legislative, and no judiciary. d. the judiciary should appoint its own justices and the president should not be empowered to nominate Supreme Court justices.
a. each branch of the new government would interpret the Constitution as it applied to its own actions rather than having the Supreme Court be the sole interpreter of the Constitution
The number of cases filed in the Supreme Court a. has increased dramatically since 1940. b. has remained the same since 1940. c. increased between 1940 and 1965 but has decreased since 1965. d. decreased between 1940 and 1965 but has increased since 1965.
a. has increased dramatically since 1940.
Congress's tendency in recent years to give executive agencies fewer clear guidelines for implementing laws is the result of a. the greater scope and complexity of the tasks that the federal government has undertaken. b. the reduced scope and complexity of the tasks that the federal government has undertaken. c. frequent requests made by state governments to transfer more power to the executive branch. d. numerous initiatives passed by voters that require less legislative specificity.
a. the greater scope and complexity of the tasks that the federal government has undertaken.
The Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Peace Corps were established a. by laws passed in Congress. c. by Supreme Court decisions. b. By executive orders from the president d. by federal ballot initiatives.
b. By executive orders from the president
After the Civil War, why was it considered inappropriate for President Andrew Johnson to make a series of speeches seeking public support for his policies? a. President Johnson traveled with his own press secretary, the first time a president had used public relations officials. b. During the nineteenth century, it was perceived to be undignified for a president to campaign on his own behalf. c. President Johnson did not speak to the general public but instead spoke only to handpicked audiences in places where he knew he would be favorably received. d. President Johnson's speeches were delivered only in the former Confederate states and ignored the North, where he most needed support.
b. During the nineteenth century, it was perceived to be undignified for a president to campaign on his own behalf.
The ________ is the name given to the group of designated cabinet officials and other military, diplomatic, and intelligence officials who meet regularly with the president to give advice on national security matters. a. State Department c. Council on Foreign Relations b. National Security Council d. War Council
b. National Security Council
Which of the following cases would always be heard in federal court? a. a case related to a drunk-driving accident b. a case involving the citizens of more than one state and in which $150,000 is at stake c. a case related to an accusation of sexual harassment in the workplace d. a case involving the state of New York suing the state of New Hampshire over state highway maintenance
b. a case involving the citizens of more than one state and in which $150,000 is at stake
What are the most common private bills proposed in Congress? a. bills giving individuals or corporations tax relief b. bills for permanent visas or citizenship for foreign nationals c. bills for defense contracts in a representative's district d. bills that declare certain foreign nationals enemies of the United States
b. bills for permanent visas or citizenship for foreign nationals
When President Lincoln raised an army after the fall of Fort Sumter despite having no clear legal authority to do so, it illustrated the a. delegated powers of the presidency. c. expressed powers of the presidency. b. inherent powers of the presidency. d. "going public" strategy.
b. inherent powers of the presidency.
Senators' longer terms of office and larger, more heterogeneous constituencies makes them more a. attuned to the needs of groups and interests organized on a city or countywide basis. b. likely to consider new ideas and better able to act as the agents for groups and interests organized on a statewide or national basis. c. likely to serve existing interests than to bring together new coalitions of interests. d. likely to spend their time thinking about and running for reelection.
b. likely to consider new ideas and better able to act as the agents for groups and interests organized on a statewide or national basis.
The U.S. Supreme Court has been composed of a. nine justices throughout American history. b. nine justices since 1869. c. nine justices since 1937. d. seven justices throughout American history.
b. nine justices since 1869.
A certiorari pool describes the a. computerized lottery system by which the Supreme Court selects its cases each year. b. practice by which Supreme Court law clerks work together to evaluate each petition. c. method used to appoint the chief justice. d. nickname for the water fountain in the courtyard of the Supreme Court building.
b. practice by which Supreme Court law clerks work together to evaluate each petition.
In addition to gerrymandering, a major reason why so many members of Congress are elected from safe districts is a. local newspapers and television stations typically provide very favorable coverage to the incumbent party's candidates. b. the natural geographic clustering of people who share a political ideology. c. that once people move into a district that is very liberal or very conservative they tend to switch their ideology to match that of their new districts. d. candidates for Congress usually change their partisan affiliation to match that of their districts.
b. the natural geographic clustering of people who share a political ideology.
President Abraham Lincoln's justified his 1861 decision to suspend the writ of habeas corpus by pointing to which constitutional provision? a. the "take care clause" of Section 3 of Article II b. the oath of office at the end of Section 1 of Article II c. the "vesting clause" of Section 1 of Article II d. the Tenth Amendment
b. the oath of office at the end of Section 1 of Article II
If a president claimed that he possessed the authority to execute acts of Congress according to his own understanding of the law and the nation's interests, he would be operating under the theory of a. pluralism. c. elite pluralism. b. the unitary executive. d. absolutism.
b. the unitary executive.
What is the primary constitutional task of the vice president, besides succeeding the president in case of death, resignation, or incapacitation? a. to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives b. to cast tie-breaking votes in the Senate c. to represent the president overseas d. to run the day-to-day operations of the Executive Office of the President
b. to cast tie-breaking votes in the Senate
There are approximately ________ federal district court judges in the United States. a. 9 c. 678 b. 79 d. 1,002
c. 678
Which of the following statements about presidential vetoes is MOST accurate? a. Nearly all presidential vetoes are successfully overridden by Congress. b. Approximately half of presidential vetoes throughout American history have been successfully overridden by Congress. c. Fewer than 10 percent of all presidential vetoes throughout American history have been successfully overridden by Congress. d. A presidential veto has never been successfully overridden by Congress.
c. Fewer than 10 percent of all presidential vetoes throughout American history have been successfully overridden by Congress.
________ was the first U.S. first lady to win public office on her own. a. Dolley Madison c. Hillary Clinton b. Eleanor Roosevelt d. Laura Bush
c. Hillary Clinton
Which of the following statements about the presidential veto is MOST accurate? a. Presidents have used the veto only twice in American history. b. Use of the veto has remained constant across presidential administrations, and vetoes are frequently overridden. c. Use of the veto varies considerably across presidential administrations, and vetoes are seldom overridden. d. Use of the veto has remained constant across presidential administrations, and vetoes are seldom overridden.
c. Use of the veto varies considerably across presidential administrations, and vetoes are seldom overridden.
Prior cases whose principles are used by judges to decide current cases are called a. public law. c. precedents. b. en banc decisions. d. ex post facto cases.
c. precedents.
A filibuster allows members of the Senate to a. refer a bill to multiple committees. b. avoid a conference committee. c. prevent a vote on a bill by speaking continuously on the floor. d. add amendments to any bill at any time.
c. prevent a vote on a bill by speaking continuously on the floor.
Congressional leaders form ________ committees when they want to take up an issue that falls between the jurisdiction of existing committees, to highlight an issue, or to investigate a particular problem. a. conference c. select b. joint d. standing
c. select
The Senate and House Appropriations committees are important because a. they determine the number of seats on each congressional committee. b. they are placed in charge of redistricting after every census. c. they decide how much funding various programs will receive and how the money will be spent. d. they determine what conduct is ethically appropriate for elected representatives and what the penalties associated with inappropriate conduct will be.
c. they decide how much funding various programs will receive and how the money will be spent.
After more than four decades, President ________ restored the American diplomatic ties with Cuba that were severed by President ________. a. Obama; Kennedy c. Obama; Eisenhower b. George W. Bush; Kennedy d. George W. Bush; Eisenhower
c.Obama; Eisenhower
Which of the following statements about federal courts is MOST accurate? a. Federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, and their decisions are rarely important because they are not allowed to interpret the Constitution or the federal laws that govern all Americans. b. Although federal courts hear the vast majority of all civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, their decisions are rarely important because they are not allowed to interpret the Constitution or the federal laws that govern all Americans. c. Federal courts hear the vast majority of all civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, and their decisions are extremely important because they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans. d. Although the federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, their decisions are extremely important because they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans.
d. Although the federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, their decisions are extremely important because they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans.
In discussions of Congress, the term "whip" refers to a. a punishment party leaders give when a member of Congress does not vote with the rest of his or her party. b. a Senate rule that allows 60 senators to immediately end another senator's filibuster. c. the majority party leader's chief of staff. d. a party member in the House or Senate responsible for coordinating the party's legislative strategy, building support for key issues, and counting votes.
d. a party member in the House or Senate responsible for coordinating the party's legislative strategy, building support for key issues, and counting votes.
Joint committees a. are temporary, but have the power to present legislation. b. are permanent and have the power to present legislation. c. are temporary and do not have the power to present legislation. d. are permanent, but do not have the power to present legislation.
d. are permanent, but do not have the power to present legislation.
Activist judges believe that federal judges should a. always overrule state legislatures and governors when making decisions. b. interpret the U.S. Constitution according to the intentions of its framers and defer to the views of Congress when interpreting federal statutes. c. be more aggressive and ideological than the president when vacancies occur on the courts. d. go beyond the words of a constitution or statute to consider the broader societal implications of their decisions.
d. go beyond the words of a constitution or statute to consider the broader societal implications of their decisions.
In 2011, a. the House of Representatives dramatically increased the number of earmarks in their spending bills while the Senate dramatically decreased the number of earmarks in their spending bills. b. the Senate dramatically increased the number of earmarks in their spending bills while the House of Representatives dramatically decreased the number of earmarks in their spending bills. c. both the House of Representatives and the Senate dramatically increased the number of earmarks in their spending bills. d. the House and the Senate agreed to a two-year moratorium on earmarks in spending bills.
d. the House and the Senate agreed to a two-year moratorium on earmarks in spending bills.
If a man is arrested because his home was searched by police without a legal warrant, he could argue in court that he had been denied a. a writ of habeas corpus. c. judicial review. b. his Miranda rights. d. the due process of law.
d. the due process of law.
The president pro tempore of the Senate is usually a. the minority party leader with the greatest seniority. b. the minority party leader with the least seniority. c. selected directly by the president. d. the majority party member with the greatest seniority.
d. the majority party member with the greatest seniority.
The term "pork barrel" refers to a. any piece of legislation that changes the number of agricultural subsidies provided to farmers by the federal government. b. the collective set of law that regulates America's meat exports. c. bills that grant a special privilege to a person named in the bill. d. appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that are often not needed but that are created so that local representatives can win reelection in their home districts.
d.appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that are often not needed but that are created so that local representatives can win reelection in their home districts.