Legislative Branch (MCQ)

C) (6 years)

A Senator's term of office: A) 2 years B) 4 years C) 6 years D) 8 years

C) (Independent commissions significantly reduce the influence of partisan gerrymandering in the redistricting process)

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 independence 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 one person, one vote standard

C) (start wars)

All of the following are the rights to given to individual States except? A) every state must recognize other states' laws B) extradition of criminals C) start wars D) to sue other states

E) (pardoning felons)

Congressional legislative powers include all of the following EXCEPT: A) legislating federal appropriations B) approval of treaties C) establishing a lower court system D) passing federal laws E) pardoning felons

B) (House Rules Committee)

Decides if a Bill is acceptable for a vote in the House of Representatives A) Speaker of the House B) House Rules Committee C) President Pro Tempore D) Speaker of the Senate

C) (27)

How many Amendments have been officially added to the constitution? A) 33 B) 57 C) 27 D) 300

E)(a conference committee for review and compromise)

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

A) (The preferences of the majority of their constituents)

Members of Congress who have adopted the delegate role of representation normally cast their votes based on which of the following? A) The preferences of the majority of their constituents B) Their judgment of which is best for their constituency C) The instructions of their political party's leadership D) Their political party's most recent policy platform E) The advice of congressional staffers and political consultants

A) (2 years)

Term of office for House of Representatives: A) 2 years B) 4 years C) 6 years D) 8 years

D) (the US House of Representatives)

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 US House of Representatives E) the Office of Management and Budget

A) (an enumerated power)

The United States Constitution says that Congress has the power to coin money. This is an example of: A) an enumerated power B) an implied power C) an inherent power D) a reserved power E) a concurrent power

E) (state legislatures)

The boundary lines of congressional districts are drawn by: A) the US House of Representatives B) The US Senate C) US district courts D) state governors E) state legislatures

D) (the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor)

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

E) (A subcommittee)

The details of legislation are usually worked out in which of the following setting? A) a party caucus B) The majority leader's office C) The floor of the House D) Legislative hearings E) A subcommittee

D) (make laws)

The primary responsibility of the Legislative Branch is to: A) enforce laws B) interpret laws C) judge criminal cases D) make laws

A) (establishment of two legislative chambers that have different structures and rules)

The term bicameralism refers to the: A) establishment of two legislative chambers that have different structures and rules B) members of the House of Representatives having two-year terms C) president having veto power over both chambers of Congress D) members of the House and Senate having to appease their mutual constituencies E) checks that Congress has over the federal bureaucracy

A) (when a member of the senate talks for an unlimited time to kill a bill)

What is a filibuster? A) when a member of the senate talks for an unlimited time to kill a bill B) when a member of the house of representatives talks for a limited time to kill a bill C) a strategy used by the president pro tempore to end debates D) when the speak of the house wants to shape a bill

A) ( Conference)

When a bill passes the House and the Senate in different versions, the bill resolved by which of the following types of committee? A) Conference B) Select C) Reconciliation D) Rules E) Standing

C) (Vice President)

When the senate has a tie has the deciding vote? A) The President B) President Pro Tempore C) Vice President D) Speaker of the House

B) (The House of Representatives)

Which house of Congress contains the most members? A) The Senate B) The House of Representatives C) The Supreme Court D) The Legislature

B) (House of Representatives: The Constitution's framers intended it to reflect the will of the people Senate: The Constitution's framers interests of the states)

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the US House of Representatives and the US Senate? A) House of Representative: The majority and minority parties parties control legislative scheduling and rules equally Senate: Minority party members can threaten to filibuster a bill the majority party wants to pass B) House of Representatives: The Constitution's framers intended it to reflect the will of the people Senate: The Constitution's framers interests of the states C) House of Representatives: Most legislative work takes place in the standing committees Senate: Based on its size, it tends to have stricter rules affecting the legislative process D) House of Representatives: Members serve two year terms with a term limit of up to twelve years. Senate: Members serve six years terms with no term limits

C) (House of Representatives: Debate is limited Senate: Members can filibuster)

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the rules for debate used by the US House of Representatives and the US Senate? A) House of Representatives: Senate: Debate is unlimited. B) House of Representatives: Members can filibuster Senate: Debate is limited C) House of Representatives: Debate is limited Senate: Members can filibuster D)House of Representatives: Members cannot filibuster Senate: Only the majority leader can filibuster

C) (Congress passing occupational safety regulations for the private sector)

Which of the following is an example of Congress using its implied powers? A)Congress changing the tax code so that individuals making more than $350,000 per year have to pay higher taxes B) Congress requesting that the Supreme Court review the constitutionality of a state gun control law C) Congress passing occupational safety regulations for the private sector D) Congress ratifying a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada

D) (Both chambers make use of a system of majority and minority whips)

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

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

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

D) (They are used by senators to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote)

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 appropriate 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

A) (Because rural districts had fewer people, representation was unevenly distributed; thus, Baker was denied equal protection under the law)

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

D) (congress has to approve executive agreements)

Which of the following was NOT a power given to the Legislative Branch in the Constitution? A) Can override a presidential Veto B) Can impeach and remove the president C) Can impeach judges D)congress has to approve executive agreements

A) (There are no limits to the number of amendments)

Why is the Convention method of approving new amendments controversial? A) There are no limits to the number of amendments B) The Supreme Court ruled it is unconstitutional C) It has only been done once D) It requires the president to call on a convention

A) (Article I)

which article of the Constitution deals with the Legislative Branch? A) Article I B) Article 2 C) Article 3 D) Article 4