Government Chapter 9-12 Review

The notion of a "living Constitution" is often associated with which of the following terms?

Broad construction

What does the monopolistic model of bureaucracy state?

Bureaucracies have no competitors and are therefore inefficient.

How are congressional district lines drawn in most states?

By a small group of party leaders in the state legislature

When a bank fails, how does the government protect customers?

By having the FDIC take over the bank

What is the relationship between oversight and partisan politics?

Oversight is conducted with greater intensity during periods of divided government.

Which of the following accurately describes the granting of release from punishment for a crime?

Pardon

"Fairness" does not seem to us a judicially manageable standard. . .. Some criterion more solid and more demonstrably met than that seems to us necessary to enable the state legislatures to discern the limits of their districting discretion, to meaningfully constrain the discretion of the courts, and to win public acceptance for the courts' intrusion into a process that is the very foundation of democratic decision-making.Which of the following most accurately describes why the Court ruled against the plaintiffs?

Partisan gerrymandering is not a justiciable question.

In the spring of 2020, President Trump appointed longtime ally and fundraiser Louis DeJoy to serve as the new postmaster general for the US Postal Service. This action is an example of which of the following?

Patronage

A judge rules a certain way on a case because prior cases of a similar nature were decided similarly. That judge is relying on which of the following?

Precedent

Which of the following mandates that the Speaker of the House of Representatives assumes the presidency when both the presidency and vice presidency are vacant?

Presidential Succession Act of 1947

Which of the following is not included in the powers of the Speaker of the House?

Presiding over the conference of the majority party

A representative who is performing the role of an instructed delegate is doing which of the following?

Primarily representing the wishes of his or her constituents

Which of the following terms correctly denotes when government services are replaced by services from the private sector?

Privatization

What was the Hatch Act, adopted by Congress in 1939, created to accomplish?

Prohibit federal employees from active involvement in political campaigns

Because of the Federal Employees Political Activities Act of 1993, which of the following may federal employees not do?

Run for office in partisan elections

Which of the following refers to a temporary legislative committee established for a limited time and for a special purpose?

Select committee

In 2013, which group exercised the "nuclear option" to accomplish which action?

Senate Democrats; allow confirmation of judicial nominees

A three-fifths majority of which house of Congress is required to accomplish which of the following?

Senate; invoke cloture and end a filibuster

Which of the following refers to a written declaration that a president may make when signing a bill into law?

Signing statement

Which of the following terms refers to permanent bodies that possess an expertise resulting from their jurisdiction over certain policy areas, also considered to be the most important committees in Congress?

Standing

Which of the following statements about standing to sue is most accurate?

Standing to sue is determined by whether a person or group has suffered harm because of the action that led to the dispute in question.

Which of the following statements regarding the doctrine of stare decisis is most accurate?

Stare decisis is the policy of following precedent established by past decisions to decide cases.

Which of the following statements about state constitutions is most accurate?

State constitutions are supreme within their own borders as long as they do not conflict with the United States Constitution.

Which of the following statements highlights a fact about state judges that differentiates them from federal judges?

State judges are often chosen through elections.

Most American law is based on which of the following?

The English common law tradition

The White House Office, the National Security Council, and the Office of Management and Budget are all part of which of the following?

The Executive Office of the President

Which of the following acts requires the federal government to release, at your request, any information it has about you or other subjects?

The Freedom of Information Act

A question that has to do with the U.S. Constitution, acts of Congress, or treaties is known as which of the following?

A federal question

Federal courts have jurisdiction when a case involves which of the following?

A federal question or diversity of citizenship

Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001, which of the following has NOT taken place?

The Freedom of Information Act was abolished.

Which of the following accurately refers to the rule under which a Republican Speaker of the House will not allow a bill to reach the floor for a vote unless it has the support of a majority of the majority party?

The Hastert rule

Which of the following statements regarding the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives is NOT correct?

The Speaker must be from the majority party in the House.

Which of the following individuals is not a part of the president's cabinet?

The Speaker of the House

Which of the following statements about the U.S. Constitution is most correct?

The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land

Which of the following statements is true about federal spending?

The U.S. Postal Service has been self-supporting for decades.

If a congressional district is challenged based on evidence that the lines were drawn as a racial gerrymander, which of the following is the most likely consequence?

The U.S. Supreme Court will determine whether the evidence is sufficient to order the district lines to be redrawn.

Which of the following is a model of bureaucracy in which bureaucrats are viewed as problem- solving specialists who use logic and reasoning?

The Weberian model

Which of the following statements regarding the armed forces is most accurate, generally speaking?

The armed forces have characteristics of bureaucracy.

Jurisdiction is best defined by which of the following?

The authority of a court to hear and decide a particular class of cases

Which of the following statements correctly differentiates two models of bureaucracy?

The belief that bureaucracies have no competitors and no reason to make themselves more efficient best describes the monopolistic model of bureaucracy, while the acquisitive model predicts that bureaucrats will try to "sell" their services by appealing to both Congress and public opinion.

Which of the following individuals directs the White House Office and advises the president?

The chief of staff

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the seniority system?

The committee member of the majority party with the longest continuous service normally becomes the committee chairperson.

Which of the following statements most accurately describes a bureaucracy?

A large organization, structured hierarchically, that carries out specific functions

Which of the following provisions of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment applies if a president's ability to discharge his or her normal functions is in question and he or she is unable to communicate?

A majority of the cabinet, including the vice president, can declare the president incapable

In all but unanimous cases, one of the justices who supported the winning side of a case will write which of the following?

A majority opinion

Which of the following accurately describes the concept of cloture?

A process that attempts to end debate on a bill in the Senate

A representative who is performing the role of a trustee votes in which of the following ways?

According to his or her own conscience in the broad interests of society

After the United States Supreme Court decides an issue, which of the following correctly describes what happens next among other courts or institutions?

All other courts are obligated to abide by the decision.

Which of the following accurately describes a filibuster?

An attempt to prevent the passage of a bill using unlimited debate

Which of the following statements correctly differentiates between types of bureaucratic agencies?

An independent executive agency is not part of a cabinet department but still reports directly to the president, while an independent regulatory agency exists outside the major departments and is tasked with making and implementing rules within a specific area.

Which of the following statements correctly describes the location and rulemaking responsibility of an independent regulatory agency?

An independent regulatory agency exists outside of a major cabinet department and is responsible for creating rules and regulations within a specific policy area.

Which of the following describes a group of individuals, including legislators and their staffs, bureaucrats, interest group leaders, and experts, all advocating for a policy position?

An issue network

What is the last step in the decision-making process of the Supreme Court?

Announcing its decision to the public and the reasons for it

What can you infer about the redistricting process from the power of incumbency?

Architects of congressional districts seek to create safe districts.

What did the founders seek to accomplish with the bicameral design of Congress?

Balance the interests of common citizens and the propertied elite

In which of the following circumstances would a vice president not become president?

Because Congress appoints the vice president to the office

In which of the following circumstances would a vice presidential pick not strengthen the ticket?

Being a major and powerful influence on the Senate by casting votes on every issue

Which of the following statements regarding executive privilege is most accurate?

Executive privilege involves the ability of the president and executive branch officials to withhold certain information from Congress and the courts.

What can the FISA court do?

Issue warrants without revealing the information used to justify the warrant

Where does the impeachment process begin with charges, and where does it conclude with a trial?

It begins in the House of Representatives, and it concludes in the Senate.

Which of the following statements about a pocket veto is most accurate?

It can only be used when Congress adjourns for the session within ten days of the bill being submitted to the president.

Which of the following statements regarding congressional control over the bureaucracy is most accurate?

It can result in congressional hearings.

Which of the following statements most accurately describes what the Pendleton Act accomplished?

It established the principle of employment on the basis of open competitive examinations.

The necessary and proper clause has provided both a basis for expansion and a check on expansion. Which of the following accurately describes this outcome?

It has allowed for an expanded national government and constituted a check on the expansion of presidential powers.

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the necessary and proper clause?

It has expanded the role of the national government relative to the states.

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the Office of Management and Budget?

It helps the president prepare the annual budget.

Why is it difficult to change the bureaucracy?

It is difficult to fire civil servants due to a lengthy appeals process.

Which of the following statements is correct about the Supreme Court's power to enforce its own decisions?

It is non-existent.

What does it mean if a case is remanded?

It is sent back to the court that originally heard the case

What can be said regarding the structure of a bureaucracy?

It is structured hierarchically.

What does a writ of certiorari by the Supreme Court accomplish?

It orders a lower court to send up the record of a case for review.

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the Whistleblower Protection Act?

It prohibits reprisals against whistleblowers by their superiors.

What did the Government in the Sunshine Act require?

It required all federal agencies run by committees to conduct their business regularly in public sessions.

What does the Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 require?

It requires the president to spend the funds that Congress has appropriated.

What did the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 accomplish?

It reset the statute of limitations for filing an equal-pay lawsuit each time an employer issues a discriminatory paycheck.

Which of the following individuals is constitutionally qualified to become President?

James, 37 years old, who was born in Texas to parents from Mexico

Which of the following statements about what happens in an appeals court is most accurate?

Judges review lower court case records to determine if there is evidence of an error.

Which of the following terms denotes a doctrine holding that the courts defer to the decisions of elected officials when possible?

Judicial restraint

Which of the following correctly denotes the power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of a law or action?

Judicial review

The National Security Council is a link between which of the following?

Key foreign and military advisors and the president

Which of the following functions of Congress most often interfere with each other?

Lawmaking and representation

What does the acquisitive model of bureaucracy hold?

Leaders of bureaucracies seek expanded budgets and a larger staff.

Refusal to fund a decision or passing a new constitutional amendment are examples of which of the following checks?

Legislative checks on the courts

What are the parts of government that are directly accountable to the president called?

Line organizations

Which of the following terms describes the process of compromise in which legislators offer to reciprocally trade support for each other's bills?

Logrolling

Although the president theoretically has considerable control over cabinet departments, why do these departments frequently disappoint the president?

The entire structure under the top political levels is staffed by permanent employees.

Where do most ideas for legislation originate?

The executive branch

Which of the following statements is not true about gerrymandering?

The issue of gerrymandering has been resolved.

The Constitution gives the vice president which of the following responsibilities?

The job of presiding over the Senate and voting in case of a tie

Which of the following statements correctly defines the concept of privatization?

The replacement of government services with services provided by private firms

Which of the following statements about executive agreements is most accurate?

They are agreements between the president and the head of a foreign government that do not have to be approved by the Senate.

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding judges and justices in the federal court system?

They are appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Which of the following statements about federal judges is most accurate?

They are appointed for life.

Which of the following accurately describes the bases of committee chairs and leadership positions in each house of Congress?

They are based on which party holds the majority in each chamber.

Which of the following statements is correct with respect to cabinet departments?

They are created by Congress but report directly to the president.

If Congress approves a trade agreement with another country despite the widely held view that it will cost American jobs, what is the most likely reason legislators are taking this action?

They are following the trustee view of representation.

Which of the following statements about U.S. district courts is most accurate?

They are the trial courts of the federal system.

Which of the following statements is accurate regarding the members of the cabinet?

They may include the vice president and other advisors if the president chooses to include them.

Which amendment to the Constitution requires the president and vice president to be chosen separately by the Electoral College?

Twelfth

Which amendment to the Constitution established procedures for filling presidential and vice-presidential vacancies and makes provisions for presidential incapacity?

Twenty-Fifth

Which of the following offices includes most of the key personal and political advisers to the president?

White House Office

Which feature that differentiates a government bureaucracy from a private corporation makes the efficient use of taxpayer dollars a challenge?

Without a profit motive, there is no force driving efficiency.

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding minority-majority districts?

They were allowed after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and are districts in which a racial minority is the majority of the voting population.

Which of the following is the required minimum age for serving as president according to the Constitution?

Thirty-five years

How were the major cabinet departments of the government created?

Through congressional legislation

What is the job of a conference committee?

To reconcile House and Senate versions of a bill

Why was negotiated rulemaking formally approved by Congress in 1990?

To reduce the costs of litigating government regulations

Which of the following word pairs correctly completes the following sentence: Seats in the House of Representatives are up for election every __________, while Senate seats are up for election every __________.

two years; six years

Which of the following statements regarding executive orders is most accurate?

Executive orders are part of a president's legislative power

When a regulatory agency like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes a newly proposed regulation, it must wait how many days before it can be enforced?

60

Which of the following refers to an opinion prepared by a judge who supports the court's decision but wishes to in some way clarify, emphasize, or offer different reasons?

A concurring opinion

Which of the following labels most accurately characterizes the Roberts Court?

A conservative court

Which of the following are considered to be line organizations because they report directly to the president?

Cabinet departments

State courts have jurisdiction when a case involves which of the following?

Cases arising within the geographic borders of the state

In which of the following cases may the Supreme Court serve as a trial court of original jurisdiction?

Cases in which a state is a party and in cases affecting foreign diplomats

In 2019, the Trump administration announced the United States' formal withdrawal from the Paris climate accord. In which role does President Trump have the authority to make such a decision?

Chief diplomat

In 2005, President George W. Bush was widely criticized for FEMA's response to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Bush was being held responsible for fulfilling which of the following roles?

Chief executive

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding common law and its origins?

Common law is a set of judge-made laws that originates in England.

Lawmaking is the major function of which of the following institutions?

Congress

Which of the following terms refers to the people a legislator represents and spends considerable time and effort serving?

Constituents

Which of the following terms correctly defines presidential powers expressly given to the president by the Constitution?

Constitutional powers

Staff members in the Executive Office of the President who oversee a particular policy area are commonly referred to as

Czars

Through negotiated rulemaking, federal agencies have begun encouraging businesses and public interest groups to become directly involved in which of the following?

Drafting the regulations that affect them

Which of the following accurately describes the powers used by President Lincoln in the suspension of civil liberties at the beginning of the Civil War and the calling into service of the state militias to preserve the Union?

Emergency powers

As chief executive, which of the following is the president constitutionally bound to do?

Enforce laws, treaties, and court orders

The president can issue a pardon in which of the following circumstances?

For all offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.

Which of the following describes the drawing of legislative district boundaries in order to give one side an advantage?

Gerrymandering

Which of the following statements correctly differentiates between government bureaucracies and private corporations?

Government bureaucracies are not organized to make a profit, while private corporations are.

In 2016, President Barack Obama attended the funeral of Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Israeli President Shimon Perez. Which of the following presidential roles was he fulfilling?

Head of state

Which of the following presidential powers are most like the "necessary and proper" clause?

Inherent powers

Where must all taxing and spending bills originate?

In the House of Representatives

Where does the real leadership power in the Senate rest?

In the hands of the Senate majority leader

Which of the following bureaucratic agency types combines the powers and functions of all three branches of government to some extent because they make, enforce, and resolve disputes over the rules?

Independent regulatory agencies

One of the legacies of President George W. Bush is his aggressive fight against al-Qaeda, including warrantless wiretaps, coercive interrogation tactics, and kidnappings of terror suspects. Which of the following presidential powers best distinguishes the type of powers on which President Bush expanded his authority under the Constitution?

Inherent powers

Presidential powers derived from the Constitution stating that "the executive power shall be vested in a President" are known as which of the following?

Inherent powers

The president may arguably be the most powerful chief executive in the country. Yet, many presidents find it difficult to tame the bureaucracy. Which of the following is the most likely reason for this ineffectiveness?

Most civil service employees owe the president no allegiance.

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding the early ending of a presidency in the history of the United States?

No president has ever been impeached and convicted.

Which of the following accurately describes the fiscal year used by the federal government?

October to September

What does enabling legislation do?

Provides authorization for new federal agencies

Which of the following statements is not true of bureaucracies?

Public bureaucracies are fully independent of Congress.

Which of the following is not included in an iron triangle?

Public opinion

Before treaties become legally binding, they are subject to which of the following?

Ratification by a two-thirds majority of the Senate

Which of the following refers to a special rule that can be applied to budget bills sent from the House to the Senate?

Reconciliation

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding redistricting?

Redistricting is the redrawing of district boundaries within each state to ensure equal district populations.

Which of the following statements about the civil service is not true?

Reform of the civil service first began under President Jimmy Carter in 1978.

The judge wrote in his decision, "The other Plaintiffs, the slate of Republican Presidential Electors for the State of Arizona (the 'Nominee-Electors'), allege an injury that is not fairly traceable to the Defendant, the Vice President of the United States, and is unlikely to be redressed by the requested relief."Which of the following accurately describe why the court dismissed the case?

Rep. Gohmert did not have the standing to sue.

Which of the following word pairs correctly completes the following sentence: In 2013, Congressional __________ refused to raise the debt ceiling, leading to __________.

Republicans; a government shutdown

Which of the following refers to the informal advisors to the president?

The kitchen cabinet

The founders of the American republic believed that most of the power exercised by a national government should be in the hands of which of the following?

The legislature

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the number of cases that the Supreme Court reviews each term?

The number of cases dropped significantly since the 1980s.

Which of the following most accurately describes the concept of senatorial courtesy?

The practice of allowing senators to veto candidates for federal district courts in their state

Which of the following statements is correct regarding the president's role as chief diplomat?

The president negotiates treaties, recognizes foreign governments, and makes executive agreements.

What happens if the office of vice president becomes vacant?

The president nominates a replacement who must be approved by both chambers of Congress.

Who presides over the Senate in the absence of the president of the Senate?

The president pro tempore of the Senate

Which of the following statements accurately describes how public opinion can serve as a check on the judiciary?

The public may pressure elected officials not to enforce an unpopular ruling.

Which of the following is true regarding the religious faith of elected presidents?

The religious faith of most presidents has been of the Protestant tradition.

If a federal circuit court declares a law unconstitutional, to which of the following does the ruling apply?

The ruling applies only within that court's jurisdiction.

If a United States senator makes a false allegation on the floor of the Senate, which of the following consequences is possible?

The senator cannot be sued and is not subject to any other legal action.

Having your case heard by the Supreme Court is normally a long shot. However, a 1992 study found that the Court granted 88 percent of petitions when a brief supporting the petitioner was filed by which of the following?

The solicitor general

The Supreme Court will often hear a case if asked to by which of the following?

The solicitor general

Which of the following terms is defined as the awarding of government jobs to political supporters?

The spoils system

Which of the following is the correct term for the annual process in which all federal programs are required to review their programs and submit requests for funding?

The spring review

Which of the following statements about the president's veto power is most accurate?

The threat of a veto gives the president significant influence over Congress and legislation.

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the role of the U.S. vice president in the Senate?

The vice-president serves as president of the Senate and casts tiebreaking votes in the Senate.

Which of the following statements is not true about political appointees?

Their major source of authority is the ease with which they can fire civil servants.

Which of the following most accurately describes the dual court system found in the United States?

There are state and federal courts.

Which of the following led to limitations on executive privilege by the Supreme Court?

Watergate

Which of the following statements accurately describes reliance on the advice of the cabinet, generally speaking?

b. In general, few presidents have relied heavily on the advice of the cabinet.

Which of the following word pairs correctly completes the following sentence: A representative who votes in accordance with the wishes of his or her constituency is acting as a(n) __________, while one who pursues the best national interest, regardless of public opinion in his or her constituency, is acting as a(n) __________.

instructed delegate; trustee

Which of the following word pairs correctly completes the following sentence: A ______________ is a permanent body established by a house of Congress, while a ______________ is appointed to reconcile the difference between two different versions of the same basic bill.

standing committee; conference committee