US Chapter 11. Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

Which of the following makes a Senate challenger more likely to be successful? Check all that apply. -having access to large sums of money to fund the campaign -having an existing campaign organization -having not held elective office previously -having strong public recognition

-Gavin access to large sums of money to fund the campaign -having an existing campaign organization -having strong public recognition

Which of the following statements are true of bills that are killed in committee? Check all that apply. -They can be brought back to life by a vote of the full House or Senate. -They can be resurrected by the president if they are for the greater good. -Most are poorly conceived or of little interest to anyone. -Some bills are not supported by the members who introduced them.

-They can be brought back to life by a vote of the full House or Senate. -Most are poorly conceived or of little interest to anyone. -Some bills are not supported by the members who introduced them.

Which of the following statements about congressional committees are true? Check all that apply. -They each specialize in a certain area of legislation. -They are key to getting presidential initiatives through Congress. -They are only necessary during presidential election years. -They make it possible for Congress to consider a high volume of bills.

-They each specialize in a certain area of legislation. -They make it possible for Congress to consider a high volume of bills.

Which of the following are true concerning women and minorities who run for congressional office? Check all that apply. -Women and minorities have a winning percentage that is roughly the same as nonincumbent white males. -Women and minorities are more likely to run for congressional office than for local or state legislative positions. -Women and minorities account for approximately a third of the membership of Congress. -Women and minorities are less likely to run for Congress than white males.

-Women and minorities have a winning percentage that is roughly the same as nonincumbent white males -Women and minorities are less likely to run for Congress than white males.

Which of the following oversight tools help Congress to ensure that the executive branch is administering the laws properly? Check all that apply. -apportionment -redistricting and reapportionment -congressional hearing -budgetary appropriations

-congressional hearings -budgetary appropriations

On major bills, it is increasingly typical for the majority party's leaders to Check all that apply. -prevent the minority party from participating. -step back and allow committees to take the lead. -direct the floor debate after the bill leaves the committee. -shape the bill's broad content.

-direct the floor debate after the bill leaves the committee. -shape the bill's broad content.

Among the reasons why Congress has difficulty taking the lead on broad issues are that facts that Check all that apply. -members of Congress come from different districts and often have conflicting views on national policy. -members of Congress are generally unaware of the broader policy issues. -Congress has two chambers, and they are not always in agreement on policy issues. -Congress lacks the constitutional authority to assume such leadership.

-members of Congress come from different districts and often have conflicting views on national policy. -Congress has two chambers, and they are not always in agreement on policy issues.

Which of the following are duties of the Speaker of the House? Check all that apply. -recognizing members who will be allowed to speak on the floor -scheduling legislation for floor consideration -making minority party committee assignments -ending filibusters in the House

-recognizing members who will be allowed to speak on the floor -scheduling legislation for floor consideration

In terms of the budget to hire office staff, Check all that apply. -senators receive varying amounts of money, depending on the population of their state. -House members receive identical amounts of money. -senators receive identical amounts of money. -House members get different amounts, depending on where their district is located.

-senators receive varying amounts of money, depending on the population of their state. -House members receive identical amounts of money.

When does a bill become a law? Check all that apply: -when it passed either the House or the Senate -when Congress overrides a presidential veto -when the president signs it -when it passes both the House and Senate

-when Congress overrides a presidential veto -when the president signs it

Put in order the following steps that a bill must pass through in order to become law. •The bill is submitted to a committee for consideration. •A majority of members in the House and Senate approve the bill. •The president signs the bill. •A member of the House of Representatives or the Senate formally proposes the bill.

1. A member of the House of Representatives or the Senate formally proposes the bill. 2. The bill is submitted to a committee for consideration. 3. A majority of members in the House and Senate approve the bill. 4. The president signs the bill.

The Speaker of the House is effectively chosen by the a. majority party. b. minority party. c. Senate. d. president.

a. majority party.

The House and the Senate each elect _______ to lead their party's efforts in the chamber. a. party leaders b. presidents c. speakers d. caucuses

a. party leaders

Redistricting consists of a. redrawing congressional district boundaries within a state. b. making a district's boundaries larger to allow for urban growth. c. redrawing legislative district boundaries to benefit an incumbent, a political party, or another group. d. reallocating the number of seats that a state has in the House of Representatives.

a. redrawing congressional district boundaries within a state

Which of the following is a legislative power the president does NOT possess? a. the power to sign only part of a bill into law b. the power to pocket-veto a bill c. the power to sign a bill into law d. the power to veto a bill

a. the power to sign only part of a bill into law

A committee that is composed of members of both chambers of Congress is known as a ________ committee. a. joint b. lead c. select d. standing

b. joint

Which of the following is the most powerful leadership position in the Senate? a. vice president b. majority leader c. party member d. president pro tempore

b. majority leader

The framers of the Constitution granted Congress the power to ________, the greatest of all powers of government. a. oversee the government b. make laws c. represent states d. elect the president

b. make laws

The process of determining how many House seats each state is allowed as a result of population change since the last census is known as a. filibustering b. reapportionment c. redistricting d. cloture

b. reapportionment

What is one reason why incumbents have a fundraising advantages over challengers? a. Incumbents are always have more personal wealth than challengers. b. Law limits how much challengers, but not incumbents, may raise through fundraising. c. Incumbents have a ready list of potential contributors from past campaigns. d. Challengers face time limits on how long they may raise funds.

c. Incumbents have a ready list of potential contributors from past campaigns.

Which function is the main responsibility of Congress, which all other functions of Congress are related to? a. supporting the president b. oversight c. lawmaking d. agenda setting

c. lawmaking

Who has the power to preside over the Senate and vote in case of a tie but otherwise has little real authority in the Senate? a. the Speaker of the House of Representatives b. the majority whips c. the vice president of the United States d. the majority leader

c. the vice president of the United States

Memebers of Congress give various interests a voice in the legislative process as part of Congress's ________ function. a. partisan b. vocalization c. oversight d. representative

d. Representatives

What occurs after a conference committee reconciles differences in the House and Senate versions of a bill? a. The bill automatically becomes a law. b. The bill is sent to the President for signature or veto. c. The bill is presented to citizens so they can vote on it. d. The bill goes back to both chambers for a vote.

d. The bill goes back to both chambers for a vote.

Members of Congress usually serve on congressional committees that concentrate on policy areas that affect the members' a. financial interests. b. image. c. intended career upon leaving Congress. d. constituency.

d. constituency.

Elections held in the years between presidential elections are called _______ elections. a. primary b. November c. local d. midterm

d. midterm

In the House of Representatives, debate is limited on the congressional floor by a. filibusters. b. unanimous consent agreements. c. subcommittee vote. d. the Rules Committees.

d. the Rules Committees.

When members of the Senate wish halt or delay the passage of a bill, a _________ may take place.

filibuster

When a committee or subcommittee holds a ________, they are trying to gather information about a proposed bill.

hearing

Every bill must be approved by both the House and the Senate in _________ form before it can be sent to the president.

identical

Redistricting can diminish the advantages of being an _________ because the candidate will have a lower name recognition among the district's voters than before the redistricting.

incumbent

The party that controls the rules and has the most powerful leadership position in the House is the ________ party.

majority

When there is no incumbent running in an election it is called an _________-__________ election and usually sparks heavier spending by the two political parties.

open-seat

When Congressional district boundaries are redrawn within a state, it is known as _______.

redistricting.

The trend toward party unity in Congress can clearly be seen in voting records of members Congress when their votes are officially recorded during a _________-__________ vote.

roll-call

Choosing committee chairs based on which men ever has the longest continuous tenure on a standing committee is an example of the ___________ __________.

seniority system

A permanent committee in Congress is known as a _______ committee.

standing