POS Module 3 Test
________ bureaucrats regularly interact with the public.
"Street-level"
In 2016 constituents noticed Congress of a sudden 500% price hike in EpiPens (which are used to treat severe allergic reactions). In response, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee launched an inquiry and hold hearing on the issue. The committee's response was an example of _______ oversight.
"fire alarm"
When presidents use popular appeals in an attempt to create a mass base of support that will allow them to accomplish their goals, it is referred to as
"going public."
The majority of cases are heard by federal courts
False
Which of the following best illustrates an example of a "policy czar"?
In 2014, President Obama chose Ron Klain to serve as the Obama Administration's Ebola response coordinator.
Why is Marbury v. Madison (1803) an important case?
In this case the justices authorized the Supreme Court to exercise judicial review over law passed by Congress
Recent congresses are ________ polarized than other congresses within the last century.
More
Which of these statements is true?
Several vice presidents have had to take on the presidency after the president has died or resigned.
How can Congress override a president's veto?
a two-thirds vote in both chambers
The power to receive ambassadors is an example of
an expressed power
The term pork barrel refers to
appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that are often not needed but are created so that local representatives can win re-election in their home districts
The amount of money approved by Congress in bills that each agency of government can spend is called
appropriations.
Briefs submitted to the United States Supreme Court
are written documents in which attorneys explain why the Court should rule in favor of their clients.
Which of the following best describes the job of a law clerk who works in a federal court?
assist federal judges by researching legal issues and helping prepare opinions
In the House of Representatives, virtually all the time allotted by the Rules Committee for debate on a given bill is controlled by the
bill's sponsor and its leading opponent.
The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 attempted to pattern government hiring after practices found in
business
The data presented in this figure depict the growing caseload of the U.S. Supreme Court. The total number of cases filed in the Court has increased a great deal over the last 80 yearsFrom 1995 to 2000, by about how much did the number of cases filed increase?
by 2,000 cases
Under the rules of the U.S. Senate, the introduction of new amendments
can be stopped only by unanimous consent
The Senior Executive Service provides an opportunity for
career civil servants and sometimes individuals from outside of the government pursue managerial positions in the bureaucracy.
When Republicans gather in the House to elect their House leaders every two years, this is called a
conference
Suppose a defendant is convicted at trial but believes that the judge made an error that impacted the decision. She would first ask her case be tried again at _________. If she were to lose at that court, she could still try again, if her argument were accepted, at the _______.
court of appeals; supreme court
Trial courts in the federal judicial system are called
district courts.
Privatization is a way to
downsize government in that the workers provide good and services are no longer counted as government bureaucracy.
An emergency declaration relating to foreign threats allows the president to
embargo trade, seize foreign assets, and prohibit transactions with whatever foreign nations are involved.
In 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency charged Volkswagen with cheating on emissions tests of its diesel vehicles. This is an example of bureaucratic
enforcement
Which of the following employs the vast majority of the federal civilian workforce?
executive departments
One of the main resources and distinguishing characteristics of the federal bureaucracy is
expertise
When the president grants a pardon to someone convicted of a federal crime, this is an example of using one of their ________ powers.
expressed
When the president grants a pardon to someone convicted of a federal crime, this is an example of using one of their _________ powers
expressed
The powers of the president that are most clearly spelled out in the Constitution are ________ powers. On the other hand, ________ powers are not listed in the Constitution at all, and in fact derive their legitimacy from Congress, who have given those particular powers to the president over time.
expressed; delegated
In order for the Supreme Court to decide to grant certiorari,
four justices must vote in favor of certiorari.
Congress has assigned federal court jurisdictions on the basis of
geography
Senator Mitch McConnell is running for re-election; this means the senator is a(n)
incumbent
A filibuster allows members of the Senate to
prevent a vote on a bill
________ occurs when a criminal case is resolved through a negotiated agreement before a full trial is completed.
A plea bargain
The president's delegated powers come from
Congress
A ________ veto occurs when Congress adjourns during a 10-day period after presenting the president with a bill on which he or she takes no action.
Congress is a ________ legislature with ________ total members.
bicameral; 535
The president has the power to appoint which of the following positions?
cabinet secretaries
In a roll-call vote,
each legislator's yes or no vote is recorded.
An overwhelming majority of court cases in the United States are heard
in state courts
When filing an appeal, an appellant usually must show
the trial court made a legal error in deciding the case
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
the unitary executive
Which of the following are the most salient three factors related to the American electoral system that affect who is elected to office?
who decides to run for office, incumbency, and the drawing of district lines
Executive orders are a tool that presidents have for influencing policy. Their use has varied considerably over time. Each bar in the following graph shows the average number of executive orders each president issued per year in office. Which president issued the most executive orders per year, on average?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Why does the House typically have greater party unity than the Senate?
House rules grant greater control over the actions of representatives than Senate leaders
Which best characterizes the use of oversight powers in Congress in recent years?
It has an increasingly partisan tone.
The main difference between inherent and implied powers is that
implied powers can be traced to the powers expressed in the actual language of the Constitution while inherent powers derive from national sovereignty.
What is the most common occupation among members of Congress before coming to Congress?
lawyer
A legislative "hold" is a
stalling tactic used in the U.S. Senate to delay debate on a bill.
The Senate Watergate committee of 1973 is an example of a ________ committee
select
Presidential nominations go where for confirmation?
the Senate
The first court to hear a criminal case involving a violation of state law is called a(n) ________ court.
trial
The role that the U.S. Senate plays in impeachments can best be compared with that of a
trial jury
What is required for Congress to override a presidential veto?
two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress
The idea that all executive power inheres in the president except as explicitly limited by the Constitution is called the
unitary executive theory
Federal employees who report wrongdoing within agencies are often referred as
whistleblowers
Of the following, which is the most important factor in bureaucracies' ability to implement laws effectively?
administrative capacity
A proposed law that has been sponsored by a member of Congress is called a
bill
In 2019, Democrats impeached President Trump on
charges that he sought to pressure the Ukrainian government into investigating Joe Biden and his son.
A member of Congress who votes according to the preferences of his constituency is called
delegate
The 2014 Select Committee on Benghazi is an example of Congress's
oversight powers
If a member of Congress always votes according to the interests of the majority of her constituency, what kind of representation best describes her behavior?
Delegate
Who is a member of the National Security Council?
NOT SURE (?) The Secretary of Defense-The chairperson of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate -any living former president-the Chief Justice
The principal-agent problem occurs when one entity
NOT SURE (?) (the principal) gives decision making authority t another (the agent), but the agent makes decisions that are different that what the principal may have wanted.
When employees who work for Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration administer the skills test required for individuals to obtain a driver's license, these employees are
NOT SURE (?) carrying out their responsibilities, exercising discretion, and implementing public policy.
The number of state and local government employees has
NOT declined since 1950.
In 2017, Democrats called for investigations into allegations that Trump's campaign had colluded with Russian operatives to help him win in the 1016 election. This is an example of which power of Congress?
NOT filibustering
Which of the following is least likely to influence the thinking of federal judges?
NOT institutional interest
Civil cases involving the citizens of more than one state and in which more than $75,000 is at stake
NOT must always be heard in federal district court.
Which of the following characteristics is Congress least likely to give to an agency in order to increase its independence from politics?
NOT staggered terms
What is cloture?
NOT the rule that allows one house of Congress to circumvent the other during the legislative process
Executive orders are a tool that presidents have for influencing policy. Their use has varied considerably over time. Each bar in the following graph shows the average number of executive orders each president issued per year in office. Compared with the last five presidents, which statement best characterizes President Trump's use of executive orders?
Trump has used more executive orders than his immediate predecessors
Federal agencies provide important services to Americans, but different agencies have different approval levels, ones that often vary by party identification Which agency is mostly highly rated by Democrats?
U.S. Postal Service
The president's group of advisers and analysts is collectively called the
White House staff
Which of the following cases would always be heard in federal court?
a case involving the state of New York suing the state of New Hampshire over state highway maintenance
The practice of referring a bill to more than one committee for consideration is called
a multiple referral.
A person, agency, or interest group not directly a party to a case but with an interest in its outcome may file a(n) ________ brief.
amicus curiae
The process of allocating congressional seats among the states is called
apportionment
Most programs and agencies are subject to some oversight every year during the course of hearings on
appropriations
Imagine that you are one of the Framers of the Constitution and want to design a legislature with two chambers. Which type of legislature would that be?
bicameral
The complex structures of offices, tasks, rules, and principles that organize at large-scale institutions to coordinate the work
bureaucracy
The "nuclear option" refers to a
change to the filibuster rules enacted in 2013 that prevents the filibustering of nominees for positions in the executive branch and the federal courts.
Impeachment offenses are
charged by the House and tried in the Senate, with the Chief Justice presiding and a two-thirds vote needed for conviction.
The president's military powers can best be observed in their role as
commander in chief
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?
descriptive
Executive agreements are part of a president's ________ powers.
diplomatic
Executive agreements differ from formal treaties in that they
do not have to be approved by two-thirds vote of the Senate
Powers of the presidency not explicitly spelled out in the Constitution nor given to the executive branch through acts of Congress are best described as
inherent powers
When President Lincoln raised an army after the fall of Fort Sumter despite having no clear legal authority to do so, it illustrated the
inherent powers of the presidency
What is the vesting clause?
it is the part of the Constitution that gives the power to execute laws to the president
The Office of Management and Budget is important because
its personnel assist with overseeing regulatory proposals and preparing the national budget.
Which of the following is not a role the president typically plays?
judge on constitutional issues
The Supreme Court explains its decisions in terms of
law and precedent.
Which of the following areas is least related to the official jurisdiction of federal courts?
local ordinances
In the Senate, the most senior leadership role is ________. In the House, the most senior leadership role is ________.
majority leader; Speaker
Gerrymandering refers to the
manipulation of electoral districts to serve the interests of a particular group
One example of ________ is the fact that a lawsuit filed by Washington against Nevada over river pollution goes directly before the Supreme Court.
original jurisdiction
Over what policy areas does the House Ways and Means Committee have jurisdiction?
taxes, trade, and entitlement programs
Conference committees are
temporary, involve members from both houses of Congress, and are charged with reaching a compromise on legislation once it has been passed by both the House and the Senate.
The "sophomore surge" refers to the
tendency for candidates to win a higher percentage of the vote when seeking future terms in office
In 2019, the Supreme Court made which ruling on gerrymandering?
that it was a political question beyond the reach of the federal judiciary
Which congressional staff agency assesses the economic implications and likely costs of proposed federal programs?
the Congressional Budget Office
A major risk of the delegate model of representation is that
the voices of only a few active and informed constituents will be heard because most people do not pay close attention to every issue.
A subcommittee is helpful for members of Congress because
they specialize in particular aspects of the committee's work
What is the primary constitutional task of the vice president, besides succeeding the president in case of death, resignation, or incapacitation?
to cast tie-breaking votes in the Senate
Medical malpractice are good examples of ________ cases
tort
If the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a regularly scheduled hearing to receive updates on the implementation of health care laws by the Department of Health and Human Services, it would be an example of ________ oversight.
"police patrol"
The number of seats in the House of Representatives has been fixed at ________ since ________.
435; 1929
Executive orders are a tool that presidents have for influencing policy. Their use has varied considerably over time. Each bar in the following graph shows the average number of executive orders each president issued per year in office. Which of the following statements is best supported by the data presented in the chart?
After a major increase in their use in the first part of the twentieth century, the use of executive orders has decreased.
In recent decades, Democrats and Republicans in Congress have become increasingly polarized as Democrats have become more liberal and Republicans more conservative. This graph shows the difference between each party's average ideology in each chamber of Congress over time. Which statement is best supported by the data presented in the chart?
After a period of lower differences in party ideology in the middle of the 20th century, these differences have grown since about 1980
In recent decades, Democrats and Republicans in Congress have become increasingly polarized as Democrats have become more liberal and Republicans more conservative. This graph shows the difference between each party's average ideology in each chamber of Congress over time. Which statement is best supported by the data presented in the chart?
After a period of lower differences in party ideology in the middle of the 20th century, these differences have grown since about 1980.
The Secretary of Education, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of the Interior are all members of the
Cabinet.
______means that a case before a court must be between two truly adversarial parties. Which of the following areas is least related to the official jurisdiction of federal courts?
Case or controversy
The Executive Office of the President includes all of the following EXCEPT the
Chief of Staff
When a private individual brings a suit against a company for breaking a contract, this is an example of ________ law.
Civil
During the nineteenth century, ________was America's dominant institution of government
Congress
The size of the U.S. Supreme Court is set by
Congress
________ has the authority to change the number of justices who serve on the Supreme Court.
Congress
One difference between a veto and a pocket veto is that
Congress can override a regular veto but cannot override a pocket veto.
________ and ________ are the two most common types of civil law cases.
Contracts; torts
The Office of Management and Budget and the Council of Economic Advisers are both parts of the
Executive Office of the President.
________ powers are specifically established by the language of the Constitution.
Expressed
Because the number or justices on the Supreme Court is established in the Constitution, Congress would have to pass an amendment to change the Court's size.
False
The number of justices who should be on the Supreme Court is specified by the Constitution.
False
Federal agencies provide important services to Americans, but different agencies have different approval levels, ones that often vary by party identification. Which agency shows the greatest difference in approval between Democrats and Republicans?
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Imagine that all Republican members of Congress in the House vote to pass a bill to cut taxes. This action is known as a
Filibuster
The data presented in this figure depict the growing caseload of the U.S. Supreme Court. The total number of cases filed in the Court has increased a great deal over the last 80 years.The number of cases filed in 2015 was considerably lower than in previous years. How many fewer cases were filed in 2015 relative to the highest point? Answer:
NOT about 1,000 fewer cases
The president plays a major role early in the lawmaking process though the use of
NOT vetoes
The first female Speaker of the House was
Nancy Pelosi.
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.
National Security Council
Which of the following statements about presidential orders is most accurate?
Only a tiny percentage of presidential orders have ever been rescinded by congressional legislation.
How has going public evolved over time?
Presidents have found it easier to go directly to the people, especially with the advent of the internet.
What is the general tendency of a president's approval rating?
Presidents usually start out popular and decline over the next four years
________ occurs when an agency, rather than acting in the public interest, becomes too favorable toward the organized interests or corporations it is supposed to be regulating.
Regulatory capture
________ occurs when the president directs administrative agencies to promulgate specific rules and regulations.
Regulatory review
Which of the following statements best describes the representation of women and minorities in the U.S. Congress?
Representation of women and minorities has increased during the past two decades but is not comparable to their proportions in the general population.
Which of the following statements best describes the representation of women in the U.S. Congress?
Representation of women has increased over time but still lags behind the rest of the world.
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.
Select
The Senate Watergate committee of 1973 is an example of a ________ committee.
Select
Cabinet members must be approved by the
Senate but are not responsible to the Senate or to Congress at large
In the House of Representatives, what is the relationship between the majority leader and the Speaker of the House?
The majority leader is subordinate to the Speaker of the House.
All presidents have made an effort to select justices who share their political philosophies.
True
The Supreme Court is the only federal court established by the Constitution.
True
The Supreme Court's power to review acts of Congress is not specifically granted by the Constitution.
True
The essence of the "rule of law" is that "the state" and its officials must be judged by the same laws as the citizenry.
True
Federal agencies provide important services to Americans, but different agencies have different approval levels, ones that often vary by party identification. Which agency is mostly highly rated by Democrats?
U.S. Postal Service
The most visible indication of political oversight of the bureaucracy is the
Use of public hearings before congressional committees and subcommittees
Which of the following statements about the presidential veto is most accurate?
Use of the veto varies considerably across presidential administrations, and vetoes are seldom overridden.
The ________ asserted that the president could send American troops into action abroad only in the event of a declaration of war or other statutory authorization by Congress, or if American troops were attacked or directly endangered.
War Powers Resolution of 1973
What makes the White House staff different from the Executive Office of the President (EOP)?
White House staff usually provides advice that is more explicitly political than that coming from the EOP
The last time congress exercised its constitutional power to declare war was during
World War II
Which of the following is the most likely to involve administrative law?
a case in which John Smith alleges a regulation promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency is invalid
Which of the following would the Supreme Court likely refuse to hear because of "mootness"?
a case involving a student suing a state-run university for discrimination in the admissions process after the student was first rejected but then later admitted to the university
Which of the following would be Supreme Court likely refuse to hear because of "mootness"?
a case involving a student suing a state-run university for discrimination in the admissions process after the student was first rejected but then later admitted to the university.
In the federal court system, each circuit court of appeals has
a range of permanent judgeships depending on the workload of the circuit.
Most cases reach the Supreme Court through
a writ of certiorari.
The data presented in this figure depict the growing caseload of the U.S. Supreme Court. The total number of cases filed in the Court has increased a great deal over the last 80 years. What was the approximate number of cases filed with the Supreme Court in 2018?
about 6,500 cases
When a president "recognizes" a country, it means that the United States
acknowledges the legitimacy of that country's government
Cases in which the U.S government is a party are
always heard in a federal court
The president can influence the federal judicial process in several ways, including
appointing federal judges and issuing pardons and amnesties.
One of the major tools of bureaucratic control presidents possess is the
appointment power over political appointees atop the career civil service.
In 2014, a Department of Veterans Affairs audit and FBI investigation of the Veterans Health Administration found that over 120,000 military veterans were left waiting or never got appointments for health care. The scandal is an example of
bureaucratic failure.
When Democrats gather in the House to elect their House leaders every two years, this is called a
caucus
A provision by the House Rules committee limiting or prohibiting the introduction of amendments during debate is called a
closed rule.
In ________, legislators rewrite bills to reflect changes discussed during hearings.
committee markup
Suppose that a major piece of legislation is being considered by Congress. The House and the Senate have passed similar versions of the bill, but important differences remain.Which committee would be in charge of working out a compromise between the two chambers?
conference committee
Cases in which the government charges an individual with violating a statute enacted to protect public health, safety, morals, or welfare fall under
criminal law
As part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress ________ implementation of the Paycheck Protection Program to the Small Business Administration.
delegated
Who decides which committee assignments members of the House of Representatives receive?
each party's own steering and policy committee
Three components of presidents' "administrative strategy" have been
enhancing the power of the Executive Office of the President, increasing White House control over the federal bureaucracy, and expanding the role of executive orders and other instruments of direct presidential governance.
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 set up new agencies and processes to
ensure that the recruitment and promotion of civil servants remained merit based.
The bureaucracy's hierarchical structures and standardized procedures are intended to foster
equal treatment of citizens
In order to get around the need for Senate approval of treaties, many contemporary presidents have made use of ________ in foreign affairs.
executive agreements
The annexation of Texas happened as a result of an
executive order.
In his attempt to manage the federal bureaucracy, the president can use all of the following tools EXCEPT
firing low-level civil service employees for failure to express loyalty to the president
In recent decades, Democrats and Republicans in Congress have become increasingly polarized as Democrats have become more liberal and Republicans more conservative. This graph shows the difference between each party's average ideology in each chamber of Congress over time. Which era had the least ideological difference between the two parties?
from the 76th to the 86th Congress
Since 1950, compared with the entire workforce, the number of federal employees has
gradually declined.
The president is America's presence on the global stage, representing America at official ceremonies and functions. In this role we would say that in the United States, the president is the
head of state
Presidential spouses are an important resource for the president in order to carry out the duty of
head of state.
In modern democracies, courts made up of judges and juries
hear the facts on both sides of a case and apply relevant law or constitutional principle to decide which side has the stronger argument.
The assignment of the opinion in a Supreme Court case is
important because differences in wording and emphasis can have important implications for how the decision is interpreted in future litigation.
Cases ________ are NOT part of the original jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court.
in which more than $1 million is at stake
The Freedom of Information Act is designed to
increase bureaucratic transparency and oversight of the executive branch.
One cause of party unity voting in recent Congresses is
increased polarization
Holding the political office for which one is running is known as
incumbency
Which of the following is usually run by a small group of individuals appointed by the president for fixed terms?
independent regulatory commissions
Senators' longer terms of office, and larger, more heterogeneous constituencies makes them more
insulated from the pressures of individual, narrow, and immediate interests
Through the exercise of ________, the Supreme Court has held actions or laws of the executive and legislative branches unconstitutional.
judicial review
If the Supreme Court were to decide to review a case that alleges President Trump's antiterrorism initiatives violated a citizen's civil liberties, the case likely would be an example of
judicial review of executive power
One of the most important ways Congress can check presidential control of the bureaucracy is by
limiting the president's ability to remove agency officials.
One advantage of seniority in Congress is that it makes it
more likely to get leadership in a committee
The Office of Management and Budget is an important instrument of presidential control because it reviews
most rules promulgated by federal agencies and helps the president put together the federal budget submitted annually to Congress.
In general, presidents
must state the constitutional or statutory basis for their use of executive orders.
Historically, the power of the federal courts was subject to a number of limitations. One such limitation is that courts are "passive" institutions in that they
must wait until a case is brought to them before they can make authoritative decisions.
The powers of Congress have declined dramatically in which of the following areas over the last 50 years?
national defense and the federal budget
The powers of Congress have declined dramatically in which of the following areas over the last 50 years?
national defense and the federal budget
Congress designed inspectors generals to be
nonpartisan, independent organizations which investigate bureaucratic activities.
Emily Green seeks to file a class action lawsuit in federal court alleging that, as taxpayers, she and other citizens are concerned about the government's failure to protect the environment. The lawsuit would likely
not be heard by the court because Emily lacks standing
The merit system
nsures that civil service jobs are awarded to individuals who are qualified for the job and protects them from political interference after they are hired.
One way the majority leader and minority leader in the Senate exert power is through control
of the calendar
A bill that deals with such a diverse set of unrelated issues, tax issues, and criminal justice issues is likely to be a(n)
omnibus appropriations bill
In a typical tort case,
one individual charges that he or she has been injured by another's negligence or malfeasance.
The written explanation of the Supreme Court's decision in a particular case is known as the
opinion
In ________, an attorney for each side appears before the Supreme Court to present her client's position and answer the justices' questions.
oral argument
Imagine that there is a roll-call vote on a bill on Medicare in the Senate and 50% of Republicans vote against it and 50% of Democrats vote in favor. This is known as a(n)
party unity vote.
Joint committees are
permanent, but do not have the power to present legislation.
In court cases the ________ is the party that brings charges and the ________ is the party accused of a violation of the law.
plaintiff; defendant
if a defendant is in charge with burglary, but admits to a lesser charge of trespassing in exchange for the prosecution dismissing the burglary and forgoing the criminal trial it is an example of
plea barging
When Senator Robert Byrd steered brought federal money to build highways, dams, and government facilities to his state of West Virginia, he was doing which of the following?
pork barreling
A certiorari pool describes the
practice by which Supreme Court law clerks work together to evaluate each petition.
Prior cases whose principles are used by judges to decide current cases are called
precedents
When Dwight Eisenhower sent federal troops into Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, it demonstrated that the
president may make unilateral use of the emergency powers to protect states against domestic disorder.
While the Constitution does not specify that presidents have the power to remove those they appointed to office from their positions,
presidents have long claimed that the power is implied by those expressed powers they have in the Constitution.
Which of the following is least important to a member of Congress when deciding how to vote on a bill?
previous court decisions
If the federal government decided to hire Google to provide email services to all of its employees rather than maintaining its own, in-house email services, this would be an example of
privatization
If President Trump were to appoint an individual to fill a vacant position in the Department of Health and Human Services when the Senate was adjourned, it would be an example of a(n)
recess appointment.
Conference committees
reconcile differences between a bill passed by the House and Senate
A presidential emergency declaration
remains in force for only one year unless it is renewed by the president.
The mission of the National Performance Review was to
reorganize the federal bureaucracy to make it more efficient, more accountable, and less wasteful.
Environmental impact statements are
reports demonstrating that a proposed rule or agency action will not have an unacceptably large negative impact on the human or physical environment.
The 2015 House of Representatives committee that held hearings to investigate Hillary Clinton's use of private email services during her tenure as secretary of state is an example of a
select committee.
In addition to pressuring members of Congress to vote a certain way on a bill, interest groups also have substantial influence in
setting the legislative agenda.
A U.S. senator has a ________-year term.
six
Which of the following are set up by Congress to provide the legislative branch with resources and expertise independent of the executive branch?
staff agencies
The Congressional Research Service and the Government Accountability Office are examples of Selected
staff agencies.
A ________ committee remains in existence from one session of Congress to the next, and has the power to write legislation that covers a particular subject, in most cases paralleling a major department or agency of the executive branch.
standing
a range of permanent judgeships depending on the workload of the circuit.
standing
The doctrine of ________ requires courts to follow authoritative prior decisions when ruling on a case.
stare decisis
The Constitution attempts to restrain the president's use of domestic force by
stating that a state government must request federal troops before the president can deploy them within that state to provide public order
In District of Columbia v. Heller, the United States Supreme Court held that the District of Columbia's handgun ban was an unconstitutional violation of the Second Amendment. In writing the majority opinion, the late Justice Antonin Scalia looked predominantly to the words of the Second Amendment of the Constitution in interpreting its meaning. This judicial philosophy can be described as
strict construction.
Race became a major factor in drawing congressional district lines as a result of
the 1982 amendments to the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Which of the following would be an example of how federal bureaucrats make rules while engaging in implementation?
the Supreme Court ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency has no authority to regulate auto emissions under the Clean Air Act
The development of the internet by ________ is an example of bureaucratic ________.
the U.S. Department of Defense; innovation
Which of the following constitutional provisions provides the least groundwork for a federal bureaucracy?
the ability of the president to "receive Ambassadors" from other countries
The framers gave the power to introduce "money bills" to the House of Representatives but not the Senate because they believed that
the chamber closest to the people should exercise greater authority over taxing and spending.
Which of the following best summarizes the legality of executive privilege?
the court has acknowledged that the concept is legal, though the president may not be able to claim it in every case
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
the due process of law.
A writ of habeas corpus declares that
the government must show a legal cause for holding someone in detention.
Congress's tendency in recent years to give executive agencies fewer clear guidelines for implementing laws is the result of
the greater scope and complexity of the tasks that the federal government has undertaken
The disagreement between President Obama and Congressional Republicans over the design of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau illustrates
the importance of agency structure, funding, and location for bureaucratic control.
Who elects the minority leader?
the minority party
Once the president has formally nominated an individual for a federal judgeship,
the nominee must be confirmed by a majority vote in the full Senate.
A signing statement is an announcement
the president makes about his or her interpretation of a congressional enactment he or she is signing into law.
The Senate's constitutional power of advice and consent extends to which of the following?
the president's power to make treaties with foreign nations
Before the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, government appointments were made
to political supports as part of a spoils system
Agencies like the Departments of State, Department of Defense, and Homeland Security
work to maintain national security and protect American interests at home and abroad
Justice Stephen Breyer has been assigned to write the Supreme Court's opinion in a case. After Justice Breyer drafted the opinion and circulated it to the other justices, Justice Elena Kagan decides that she wanted to emphasize a particular point in the majority opinion. For that purpose, Justice Kagan will likely
write a concurring opinion.
A senator or representative running for reelection is called the
incumbent
The ________ is the only federal court established by the Constitution
U.S. Supreme Court
Approximately ________ of the ________ bills introduced in a typical congressional session die in committee.
85%; 10,000
How many justices currently serve on the Supreme Court?
9
In 2018, about ________ of U.S. House incumbents won reelection.
90%
Senator Mitch McConnell (KY) is running for re-election. Which of the following advantages would he have over his rivals?
All of these answer choices are correct
Which of the following statements is true about the bureaucracy and illustrates Richard Neustadt's claim that the Constitution creates "separated institutions sharing powers"?
Both the president and Congress have influence over the bureaucracy.
The ________ is the informal designation for the heads of the major federal government departments.
Cabinet
Which of the following illustrates a member of Congress acting as a delegate?
During a town hall, constituents of Senator Ted Cruz (TX) urge him to vote in favor of an upcoming tax cut, which he does.
The office of the presidency was established by Article ________ of the Constitution.
II
What is the purpose of the National Security Council?
It assimilates and analyzes data from various government sources and makes recommendations about protecting the country.
Which of the following statements about the impeachment process is most accurate?
It is a political exercise.
What is a government corporation?
It is an agency that performs and charges for services usually provided by the private sector.
Over the past several decades, the ________ and the ________ have benefited most from apportionment.
South; West
The ________ is established by the Constitution and cannot be abolished by a congressional law.
Supreme Court
________ is largest employer in the country and the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world.
The U.S. federal government
What is the main function of the chief justice of the Supreme Court?
The chief justice presides over the Court's public sessions and private conferences.
How is the Speaker of the House determined?
The elected leader of the majority party in the House is the Speaker
Which of the following best describes the role of the solicitor general?
The solicitor general is the lawyer who represents the United States before the Supreme Court in cases where the federal government is a party
When filing an appeal, appellant usually must show
The trial court made a legal error in deciding the case.
What role does a whip play in the House of Representatives?
The whip keeps members informed of what party leadership thinks about issues.
Executive orders are a tool that presidents have for influencing policy. Their use has varied considerably over time. Each bar in the following graph shows the average number of executive orders each president issued per year in office. Which president increased the use of executive orders the most, relative to his immediate predecessor?
Theodore Roosevelt
Why did the length of time required to develop an administrative rule grow from an average of 15 months to an average of more than 35 months over the last four decades?
There are now new procedures requiring more public notice, more public hearings, more cost-benefit analysis, and stronger legal obligations to prepare "environmental impact statements."
If a member of Congress directs a great deal of federal funding to build dams that are not really necessary in her state but create a lot of jobs, the member of Congress is engaged in which of the following?
pork barreling
A pocket veto is used by the
president.
