chapter 12/13 study guide (11/14)
48) Occasionally, a major political tidal wave rolls across the country and throws large numbers of incumbents of a given party out of office. When did this last occur? A) 1994 B) 1980 C) 1974 D) 1964 E) 1954
A) 1994
6) According to the Constitution, a president must be at least ________ years of age. A) 35 B) 30 C) 40 D) 25 E) 21
A) 35
69) Which of the following statements about the presidential veto is FALSE? A) Almost half of all vetoed bills have been overridden by Congress. B) Presidents can not veto only parts of a bill. C) Even the threat of a presidential veto can be an effective tool for persuading Congress to give more weight to presidentsʹ views. D) The presidential veto is an inherently negative resource. E) The president, unlike most governors, cannot use a line-item veto.
A) Almost half of all vetoed bills have been overridden by Congress.
47) Cabinet-level executive departments are created by A) Congress. B) the Constitution. C) the president. D) rarely held national referendums. E) all of the above
A) Congress.
94) Which of the following is responsible for responding to congressional requests for information and providing non-partisan studies? A) Congressional Research Service B) Congressional Budget Office C) General Accounting Office D) Ways and Means Committee E) Office of the Majority Leader
A) Congressional Research Service
4) ________ privileges refer to the free use of the mails enjoyed by Congress. A) Franking B) Conmail C) Junket D) Procurement E) E-mail
A) Franking
38) Which of the following statements about money in Congressional elections is FALSE? A) It costs more money to elect a president than to elect a member of Congress. B) Most of the money spent in congressional elections comes from individuals. C) About a quarter of the funds raised in general election contests come from PACs. D) Political Action Committees often make contributions after the election. E) PACs often switch sides and give money to the candidate they originally opposed.
A) It costs more money to elect a president than to elect a member of Congress.
16) As president, ________ launched the ʺGreat Societyʺ at home while escalating the Vietnam War abroad. A) Lyndon Johnson B) Harry Truman C) Richard Nixon D) Gerald Ford E) Dwight Eisenhower
A) Lyndon Johnson
7) All presidents but one have been A) Protestant. B) Catholic. C) Hare Krishna. D) atheist. E) Evangelical Christian.
A) Protestant.
67) ________ members present and voting can halt a filibuster by voting for cloture. A) Sixty B) Seventy C) Eighty D) Fifty-one E) Seventy-five
A) Sixty
71) Which of the following congressional offices is mandated by the Constitution? A) Speaker of the House B) House and Senate Majority Leader C) President of the House D) President of the United States E) all of the above
A) Speaker of the House
75) Which of the following statements about the majority leader of the House of Representatives is FALSE? A) The majority leader exercises substantial control over which bills get assigned to which committees. B) The majority leader is the main steppingstone to the job of Speaker of the House. C) The majority leader is responsible for scheduling bills in the House. D) The majority leader is responsible for rounding up votes on behalf of the partyʹs position on legislation. E) He or she is the principal ally of the Speaker.
A) The majority leader exercises substantial control over which bills get assigned to which committees
99) Which of the following statements about crises is FALSE? A) There were more immediate crises early in American history than there are today. B) Most crises occur in the realm of foreign policy. C) Crises are rarely the presidentʹs doing. D) The president has become more prominent in handling crises than other branches of government. E) It is easier for an individual president to manage crises than it is for congressional leaders to do so
A) There were more immediate crises early in American history than there are today.
36) Which of the following statements about those who challenge incumbent members of the House is TRUE? A) They are usually not well-known. B) They are usually experienced legislators. C) They usually have a well-established organizational backing. D) They tend to be well-financed. E) They usually conduct public opinion polls and only run if they have a good chance of winning.
A) They are usually not well-known.
11) ________ was widely regarded to be the worst and most ineffective president. A) Warren Harding B) Richard Nixon C) Ronald Reagan D) Bill Clinton E) Andrew Johnson
A) Warren Harding
70) In 1998, the Supreme Court ruled in Clinton v. City of New York that A) a 1996 law granting the president the authority to propose rescinding funds in appropriation bills was unconstitutional. B) the pocket veto was unconstitutional. C) that the Clinton impeachment vote was unconstitutional. D) that the president could not line-item veto grant monies to urban areas. E) none of the above
A) a 1996 law granting the president the authority to propose rescinding funds in appropriation bills was unconstitutional.
24) Which of these candidates would most likely get elected? A) a representative running for reelection B) a senator running for reelection C) an incumbent representative challenging a senator D) a challenger E) an incumbent
A) a representative running for reelection
25) In order to convict and remove an impeached president, it takes A) a two-thirds vote in the Senate. B) a majority vote in the Senate. C) a majority vote in the House of Representatives. D) a two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives. E) both B and D
A) a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
44) When Political Action Committees contribute money to members of Congress they are usually seeking A) access to policymakers. B) votes on specific legislation. C) to install a preferred challenger in office. D) to create a more pluralistic Congress. E) to literally buy opposing legislatorsʹ votes.
A) access to policymakers.
19) Incumbents are those A) already holding office. B) running for office for the first time. C) who have been defeated in an election. D) retired members of Congress. E) running for an office.
A) already holding office.
113) ʺRally eventsʺ A) are specific and dramatic events that relate to international relations, directly involving the United States and the president. B) have an enduring impact on a presidentʹs public approval. C) involve economic upsurges that dramatically increase presidential popularity. D) have no effect on presidential popularity even though presidents use them for that purpose. E) occur frequently during a presidentʹs administration.
A) are specific and dramatic events that relate to international relations, directly involving the United States and the president
21) The single most important advantage to someone trying to get elected to Congress is A) being an incumbent. B) having more money to spend on campaigning. C) being charismatic and photogenic. D) having a clean record. E) winning the endorsement of the top leaders of their party.
A) being an incumbent.
4) Americans want a strong president, A) but do not like a concentration of power. B) and do not care whether the strength is used for good or for ill. C) and would like to abolish all checks on presidential power. D) but do not expect much from any president. E) but want an even stronger Congress.
A) but do not like a concentration of power.
26) Studies have shown that presidential ________ in an election have little effect on the success of the partyʹs candidates for the House and Senate. A) coattails B) junkets C) vetoes D) headwinds E) scandals
A) coattails
29) The Twenty-fifth Amendment, ratified in 1967, A) created a means for selecting a new vice president when the office became vacant. B) granted 18-year-olds the right to vote. C) limited the president to two terms in office. D) specifically forced Richard Nixon from office. E) provided for the direct election of the president by the people.
A) created a means for selecting a new vice president when the office became vacant.
62) The Constitution gives the House of Representatives the power to A) initiate all revenue bills. B) ratify all treaties. C) confirm presidential nominations. D) try impeached officials. E) all of the above
A) initiate all revenue bills.
88) The presidentʹs role in the legislative process A) is especially important in influencing Congressʹs agenda. B) usually puts her/him in conflict with Congress. C) is usually minor because Congress operates independently from the president. D) is most effective in domestic policy. E) at least until 1995, has been to react to and modify congressional initiatives.
A) is especially important in influencing Congressʹs agenda.
66) The filibuster A) is unique to the Senate. B) is unique to the House. C) is allowed in both the House and the Senate. D) has been ruled unconstitutional. E) has been prohibited in both the House and Senate.
A) is unique to the Senate.
96) The War Powers Resolution may be considered unconstitutional because A) its use of the legislative veto may be considered a violation of the doctrine of separation of powers. B) it violates the presidentʹs power to declare war. C) it violates the presidents power as Commander in Chief. D) it was struck down by the Supreme Court. E) it violates the congressional power to appropriate funds for the military.
A) its use of the legislative veto may be considered a violation of the doctrine of separation of powers
13) African Americans constitute ________ of the United States Senate. A) less than 10 percent B) approximately 35 percent C) roughly half D) well over half E) about 20 percent
A) less than 10 percent
2) The National Security Council A) links the presidentʹs key foreign and military policy advisors. B) is composed of the heads of the three branches of the armed services and makes recommendations to the president on combat strategy. C) was established by President Roosevelt to manage foreign and domestic intelligence operations. D) was created by legislation to keep the president informed on foreign affairs. E) helps the president make policy on such matters as inflation and unemployment
A) links the presidentʹs key foreign and military policy advisors.
77) The most powerful person in the Senate is the A) majority leader. B) vice president of the United States, who serves as president of the Senate. C) chair of the Rules Committee. D) Speaker. E) president of the United States.
A) majority leader.
111) In the relationship between lobbyists and members of Congress, A) members of Congress can ignore and embarrass lobbyists. B) lobbyists hold the greater power. C) members of Congress depend on lobbyists for reelection. D) lobbyists pay members of Congress to pass or defeat bills. E) lobbyists spend most of their efforts on converting opponents to their cause.
A) members of Congress can ignore and embarrass lobbyists.
29) The pork barrel and casework are examples of A) opportunities for credit-claiming by members of Congress. B) advertising techniques. C) descriptive representation. D) position-taking. E) congressional continuity.
A) opportunities for credit-claiming by members of Congress.
2) As Richard Neustadt has argued, presidential power is probably best understood as the power to A) persuade. B) command. C) control. D) harass. E) veto
A) persuade.
53) The Office of Management and Budget is comprised of A) political appointees and career officials. B) political appointees, career officials, and congressional staffers. C) all political appointees. D) all career officials. E) economists.
A) political appointees and career officials.
17) Overall, members of Congress can ________ of the American people. A) possibly claim substantive representation, but not descriptive representation B) possibly claim descriptive representation, but not substantive representation C) claim both substantive and descriptive representation D) claim neither substantive nor descriptive representation E) possibly claim both substantive and descriptive representation
A) possibly claim substantive representation, but not descriptive representation
42) A constitutional duty of the vice president is to A) preside over the Senate and cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie. B) attend the funerals of foreign leaders on behalf of the president. C) preside over the House and cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie. D) raise funds for party candidates. E) all of the above
A) preside over the Senate and cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie.
117) The presidentʹs ________ serves as the principal conduit of information from the White House to the press on a daily basis. A) press secretary B) vice president C) Chief of Staff D) Secretary of Information E) Domestic Policy Advisor
A) press secretary
95) Committee staff is responsible for all of the following EXCEPT A) providing services to constituents. B) organizing hearings. C) writing legislation. D) monitoring the executive branch. E) coordinating with congressional offices.
A) providing services to constituents.
99) Basically, Congress is a(n) ________ decision-making body. A) reactive and cumbersome B) active and smooth C) unified and consistent D) radical and hasty E) retroactive
A) reactive and cumbersome
30) An especially important asset for incumbents running for reelection is their A) service to constituents. B) voting records. C) support by party leaders in Congress. D) presidential support. E) invisibility.
A) service to constituents.
81) Appropriations, Judiciary, and Armed Forces are all examples of ________ committees. A) standing B) select C) conference D) joint E) rule
A) standing
59) Nominees to the United States Supreme Court must be confirmed by A) the Senate. B) the House. C) either the House or the Senate. D) both the House and the Senate. E) the president.
A) the Senate.
109) Constituencies influence policy mostly by A) the initial choice of the representative. B) influencing congressional leaders. C) empowering the president in his negotiations with Congress. D) buying votes through election contributions. E) lobbying Senators
A) the initial choice of the representative.
32) Federal grants and contracts that members of Congress try to obtain for their constituents are collectively referred to as A) the pork barrel. B) casework. C) public service. D) perquisites. E) affirmative action.
A) the pork barrel.
89) Traditionally, Congressional committee chairpersons have been chosen through A) the seniority system. B) party rank. C) popularity with majority leaders. D) a majority vote by committee members. E) the merit system.
A) the seniority system.
61) President Clintonʹs decision making style was A) to immerse himself in the details of policy and run an open White House, soliciting the advice of a large number of aides. B) to set up a chain of command in which all advice was sent upward to his Chief of Staff who then presented Clinton with the decision-making options. C) highly organized and decisive, with the president actually flipping a coin to decide issues where his advisors are evenly divided. D) to delegate so much decision making authority to his aides that the media often call them his ʺhandlers.ʺ E) to remain highly isolated and make most decisions in consultation only with his two closest advisors.
A) to immerse himself in the details of policy and run an open White House, soliciting the advice of a large number of aides.
107) Legislators who use their best judgment to make policy in the interests of the people are called A) trustees. B) instructed delegates. C) politicos. D) attentive leaders. E) opinion leaders
A) trustees.
55) House seats are up for election every A) two years. B) four years. C) six years. D) eight years. E) five years.
A) two years.
75) Presidential coattails refers to A) voters who support the president casting their ballots for congressional candidates of the presidentʹs party. B) the tendency for the presidentʹs party to lose congressional seats in midterm elections. C) fund-raising parties the president hosts to raise money for congressional candidates. D) the presidentʹs power to appoint members of his own political party to cabinet posts and as personal advisors. E) members of Congress voting according to the wishes of the president.
A) voters who support the president casting their ballots for congressional candidates of the presidentʹs party.
51) Bicameralism means that a legislative body is one A) with two houses, providing checks and balances on policymaking. B) in which each state has two senators, providing equal representation of the states. C) in which incumbents have a better chance of being reelected, providing continuity in policymaking. D) that must share power with a president, providing more efficient policymaking. E) in which there are only two political parties.
A) with two houses, providing checks and balances on policymaking.
58) According to the Constitution, revenue bills must originate in the A) Internal Revenue Service. B) Federal Reserve System. C) House. D) Senate. E) Treasury Department.
C) House.
8) The United States Senate has ________ members. A) 50 B) 100 C) 435 D) 438 E) 535
B) 100
70) To end a filibuster requires ________ members present and voting to cut off debate. A) 50 B) 60 C) 75 D) 99 E) 218
B) 60
96) Which of the following offices is responsible for making economic projections about the performance of the economy, the costs of proposed policies, and the economic effects of taxing and spending alternatives? A) Congressional Research Service B) Congressional Budget Office C) General Accounting Office D) Ways and Means Committee E) Federal Reserve
B) Congressional Budget Office
28) An example of casework by a member of Congress is A) writing a newsletter to send out to constituents. B) helping a constituent gain citizenship. C) voting for a bill desired by constituents. D) working with a caucus on a public policy that affects his or her constituents. E) all of the above
B) helping a constituent gain citizenship.
110) Which of the following statements about constituency influence is FALSE? A) It is difficult even for well-intentioned legislators to know what people want. B) Legislators whose votes on routine issues are out of step with their constituents are rarely reelected. C) On some controversial issues, legislators ignore constituent opinion at great peril. D) On obscure issues legislators can safely ignore constituency opinion. E) Letters received by legislators are more likely to convey extremist rather than moderate opinions.
B) Legislators whose votes on routine issues are out of step with their constituents are rarely reelected.
10) Which of the following is TRUE about the minimum age requirements for members of Congress set forth in the Constitution? A) One must be at least 21 years of age to serve in the House of Representatives. B) One must be at least 30 years of age to serve in the Senate. C) One must be at least 35 years of age to serve in either the House or the Senate. D) There are no age requirements for members of Congress. E) The age requirements are the same for the House and the Senate.
B) One must be at least 30 years of age to serve in the Senate.
21) Prior to his election as president, ________ had been a well-known actor and served for two terms as governor of California. A) George Bush B) Ronald Reagan C) Jimmy Carter D) Richard Nixon E) Earl Warren
B) Ronald Reagan
93) Which of the following statements about the role of the president as chief diplomat is FALSE? A) Presidential diplomacy can involve negotiating conflicts between other nations and not the United States. B) Senate approval of treaties negotiated by the president is almost automatic. C) The president has the sole power to negotiate treaties with other nations. D) In domestic policymaking, as chief diplomat, the president must rely principally on persuasion to lead. E) All of these are false.
B) Senate approval of treaties negotiated by the president is almost automatic.
68) The filibuster is a technique used in the A) House to delay legislation until a full House can convene. B) Senate to prolong debate in order to kill a bill. C) Senate to bypass committees in voting on controversial issues. D) House to allow more time to debate controversial policies. E) House and Senate to prevent a vote on a bill.
B) Senate to prolong debate in order to kill a bill.
77) A mid-term election is A) one in which the incumbent is running for reelection. B) a congressional election that is not accompanied by a presidential election. C) held every two years. D) a special election that may remove an official from office in the middle of the term. E) a presidential election that occurs during a session of Congress.
B) a congressional election that is not accompanied by a presidential election.
76) Recent election studies show A) the presidentʹs party usually gains seats in Congress in mid-term elections. B) a diminishing connection between votersʹ presidential and congressional voting. C) that the party of the winning presidential candidate has been gaining an increasing number of seats in congress. D) that presidential coattails no longer exist. E) that many congressional races are determined by presidential coattails
B) a diminishing connection between votersʹ presidential and congressional voting.
114) The surge in President George Bushʹs approval ratings during and immediately following the Gulf War in 1991 was an example of A) the bandwagon effect. B) a rally event. C) the bully pulpit. D) presidential coattails. E) a pocket veto.
B) a rally event.
87) House and Senate committees A) all have an equal number of Republicans and Democrats. B) all have a majority of members from the majority party in that chamber. C) must have their membership approved by the president. D) are non-partisan, and thus some committees are nearly all Democrats and others nearly all Republicans. E) are populated by the hired staff members of Congress, freeing the elected members for more important work.
B) all have a majority of members from the majority party in that chamber.
22) Comparison between members of the House and Senate concerning the impact of incumbency on their reelection chances shows that one of the reasons that senators have a smaller advantage is because they A) have become over-specialized as policymakers. B) are more likely to be held accountable on controversial issues. C) are less visible. D) have longer terms that increase the chance of scandal. E) represent more homogenous constituencies.
B) are more likely to be held accountable on controversial issues.
43) A single Political Action Committee A) has no limit on the amount of money it can spend on a candidate. B) can at most account for only a small percentage of a winnerʹs total spending. C) usually puts all its efforts into one candidate. D) can gain the most influence by giving money to candidates who disagree with them. E) can make or break a candidate in a particularly close congressional election.
B) can at most account for only a small percentage of a winnerʹs total spending.
92) Congressional reforms of the 1970s A) professionalized the operation of Congress and made it much more efficient. B) decentralized power and democratized Congress. C) were aimed at rooting out scandal and corruption. D) ended the two-party monopoly of Congress and brought new parties into Congress. E) all of the above
B) decentralized power and democratized Congress.
119) Most of the news coverage of the White House A) is class analysis that seeks to explain which socio-economic groups are benefiting from or being injured by the latest policies. B) focuses on the most visible layer of presidentsʹ personal and official activities. C) focuses on the fundamental processes operating in the executive branch. D) is concerned with the substance of policies. E) is concerned with foreign policy issues.
B) focuses on the most visible layer of presidentsʹ personal and official activities.
5) The most prominent characteristic of a Congresspersonʹs job is A) prestige. B) hard work. C) high pay. D) travel. E) the 30-hour work week.
B) hard work.
38) The founding fathers envisioned a presidency that would A) be better organized than todayʹs presidency. B) have fewer responsibilities than todayʹs presidency. C) have greater control over the Congress than todayʹs presidency. D) have greater powers than todayʹs presidency. E) clearly be the dominant branch of government.
B) have fewer responsibilities than todayʹs presidency.
56) The agency that reviews legislative proposals for the president is the A) Council of Economic Advisors. B) National Security Council. C) Office of Management and Budget. D) Legislative Executive Agency. E) Executive Legislative Agency
C) Office of Management and Budget.
78) Most important congressional activity is done A) on legislatorsʹ visits to their home districts. B) in meetings of standing committees and their subcommittees. C) on the House floor. D) on the Senate floor. E) in the White House.
B) in meetings of standing committees and their subcommittees.
24) Impeachment of a president means that the president is A) convicted of a crime. B) indicted by the House. C) removed from office. D) tried by the Senate. E) all of the above
B) indicted by the House.
42) On average, most of the money raised by a candidate for Congress comes from A) political parties. B) individual contributions. C) the candidateʹs own savings. D) Political Action Committees. E) loans
B) individual contributions.
100) Congressʹs role in national security policy has typically included all of the following EXCEPT A) support or criticism of the president. B) initiation of policy. C) oversight of the executive branch. D) to pass authorizations and appropriations for presidential actions. E) monitoring constituent opinions on national security
B) initiation of policy.
64) One of the key differences between the House and Senate is that the Senate A) is more centralized. B) is less dependent on seniority for determining power. C) has a lower turnover rate. D) has stronger leadership. E) has more anarchy.
B) is less dependent on seniority for determining power.
121) News coverage of presidents and their activities A) usually focuses on the personality of the president. B) is not systematically biased in any direction. C) tends to focus on the substance of presidential policies. D) has a heavy liberal bias. E) is typically unfavorable toward the White House.
B) is not systematically biased in any direction.
15) The most common prior occupation for members of Congress is A) business. B) law. C) education. D) public service. E) state legislator.
B) law.
68) A pocket veto is the situation in which the president A) vetoes particular items in a spending bill. B) lets a bill die by neither signing nor vetoing it after Congress has adjourned. C) rejects a Congressional override. D) lets a bill become law by neither vetoing nor signing it. E) sends a law back to Congress with the reasons for rejecting it.
B) lets a bill die by neither signing nor vetoing it after Congress has adjourned.
59) John F. Kennedyʹs ʺwheel-and-spokesʺ system of management was characterized by A) a hierarchical organization with a chief of staff at the top. B) many aides with equal status balanced against one another in the decision-making process. C) the presidentʹs involvement in every administrative detail. D) a closed, small network of computers that directly linked the president to his closest advisors through e-mail messages. E) a streamlined, fast-paced, and efficient decision-making style.
B) many aides with equal status balanced against one another in the decision-making process.
39) The role of party identification in votersʹ choices in congressional campaigns is A) extremely important, and increasingly so. B) moderately important, even though party identification is not as strong as it used to be. C) slightly important in a few districts, not important in most others. D) not important at all, and never really has been. E) much less significant than in presidential campaigns.
B) moderately important, even though party identification is not as strong as it used to be.
25) Compared to members of the House, senators are A) more likely to have personal contact with their constituents. B) more likely to face difficult reelection opponents. C) less likely to face difficult reelection opponents. D) less likely to use television in their reelection campaigns. E) none of the above
B) more likely to face difficult reelection opponents.
120) A large number of studies have concluded that the news media are A) moderately biased toward liberal ideology. B) not biased on any systematic basis, and the news is typically characterized by neutrality. C) slightly biased toward the Democrats. D) strongly biased toward the Democrats. E) slightly biased toward the Republicans
B) not biased on any systematic basis, and the news is typically characterized by neutrality.
9) How many presidents were political scientists? A) about half of them B) one C) all but one of them D) two E) all of them
B) one
33) Members of Congress engage in each of the following activities that increase the probability of their reelections EXCEPT A) advertising. B) party voting. C) credit-claiming. D) position taking. E) spend much of their time away from Congress and in their home districts.
B) party voting.
31) The ________ is the list of federal projects, grants, and contracts available to cities, businesses, colleges, and institutions which members of Congress seek to locate in their district to promote the interests of their constituency. A) casework B) pork barrel C) frank D) junket E) Treasurerʹs register
B) pork barrel
79) Most studies show that A) presidential coattails are increasing in certain regions. B) presidential coattails rarely affect elections. C) presidential coattails are stronger in midterm elections. D) presidential coattails are stronger than ever. E) presidential coattails affect Republicans more than Democrats.
B) presidential coattails rarely affect elections.
41) In recent years, A) presidents have been less concerned about their appointment power. B) presidents have paid closer attention to appointing officials who will be responsive to the presidentʹs policies. C) presidents have paid less attention to agency rules and regulations. D) there has been a trend toward decentralized decision making in the White House. E) there has been a trend toward centralized decision making in the White House.
B) presidents have paid closer attention to appointing officials who will be responsive to the presidentʹs policies.
80) A ________ committee is one appointed for a limited, specific purpose, such as that set up to investigate the Watergate scandal. A) standing B) select C) conference D) joint E) special
B) select
3) Which of the following is NOT one of the perquisites which go with the job of being a member of Congress? A) a salary of over $150,000 B) subsidized housing in the Virginia or Maryland suburbs of D.C. C) free use of the mails to communicate with constituents D) free office space in Washington, D.C., and in the constituency from which elected E) a budget to support office staff
B) subsidized housing in the Virginia or Maryland suburbs of D.C.
18) Millionaire Senator Edward Kennedy sponsoring a bill to help the poor and disadvantaged would be an example of A) descriptive representation. B) substantive representation. C) elite representation. D) constituent representation. E) franking privileges.
B) substantive representation.
14) The two-term limit was placed on the presidency by A) an act of Congress passed after Franklin D. Rooseveltʹs death. B) the Twenty-second Amendment. C) the Presidential Powers Act of 1951. D) the Twenty-fifth Amendment. E) Article II of the original Constitution.
B) the Twenty-second Amendment.
87) The primary goal of the presidentʹs legislative strategy is usually A) to win on all final votes. B) to set the agenda. C) to win the support of all fellow partisans. D) block legislation he opposes. E) none of the above
B) to set the agenda.
103) The English politician and philosopher Edmund Burke favored the concept of legislators as ________, using their best judgment to make policy in the interests of the people. A) constituent robots B) trustees C) instructed delegates D) politicos E) judges
B) trustees
9) How many senators are elected from each state? A) one B) two C) four D) it depends on a stateʹs population E) the same number as it has electors in the electoral college
B) two
83) An electoral mandate ________ the presidentʹs level of support in Congress. A) does severe harm to B) usually has a positive effect on C) increases by a factor of 2.5 D) has no effect on E) guarantees a sharp increase in
B) usually has a positive effect on
73) When constituency opinion and the presidentʹs proposals conflict, members of Congress are more likely to A) vote with the president. B) vote with their constituents. C) seek an electronic vote rather than a voice vote. D) not vote. E) vote according to their own ideology.
B) vote with their constituents.
102) The parties in Congress are most cohesive A) on foreign policy issues. B) when electing their official leaders. C) on economic policy. D) military matters. E) during floor votes.
B) when electing their official leaders.
107) On average, those who identify with the presidentʹs party give approval more than ________ percentage points higher than do those who identify with the opposition party. A) 10 B) 20 C) 40 D) 30 E) 50
C) 40
7) The United States House of Representatives has ________ members. A) 638 B) 100 C) 435 D) 80 E) 535
C) 435
85) Which of the following statements about presidential bargaining is FALSE? A) The presidential bargaining takes a variety of forms. B) The president needs to bargain only with enough people to provide a majority. C) Bargaining in the form of providing specific benefits for members of Congress is critical to creating presidential coalitions. D) The president does not have to bargain with every member of Congress to receive support. E) Presidentsʹ bargaining ability is enhanced by strong public approval.
C) Bargaining in the form of providing specific benefits for members of Congress is critical to creating presidential coalitions
45) Which of the following statements about the role of money in congressional elections is FALSE? A) Outspending your opponent by a large margin is no guarantee of success. B) The more challengers spend, the more votes they receive. C) Challengers usually outspend incumbents. D) In open seats, the candidate who spends the most usually wins. E) Incumbents benefit less from campaign spending than challengers.
C) Challengers usually outspend incumbents.
1) Which of the following did the framers of the Constitution conceive of as the center of policymaking in America? A) the president B) the people C) Congress D) the courts E) the Supreme Court
C) Congress
67) When a president vetoes congressional legislation, A) Congress must form a joint committee to address the presidentʹs complaints. B) the Supreme Court determines whether the law will take effect. C) Congress can override the veto by a two-thirds vote in both houses. D) there is nothing Congress can do about it. E) one house of Congress can override the veto if it votes to do so with a two-thirds vote.
C) Congress can override the veto by a two-thirds vote in both houses.
98) In the United States showdown with Saddam Hussein in January 1991, A) Congress declared war on Iraq. B) Congress voted against using force against Iraq, but President Bush used force anyway. C) Congress passed a resolution authorizing the president to use military force against Iraq. D) after granting President Bush a thirty-day extension, Congress invoked the War Powers Resolution and effectively placed a ninety-day limit on combat. E) Congress did not vote on declaring war or authorizing military force, preferring to let the president act alone.
C) Congress passed a resolution authorizing the president to use military force against Iraq.
15) ________ took over as president upon the death of Franklin Roosevelt in 1945, and eventually ordered the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japanese cities. A) Theodore Roosevelt B) Dwight Eisenhower C) Harry Truman D) Lyndon Johnson E) John F. Kennedy
C) Harry Truman
90) The presidentʹs legislative skills compete with other factors influencing congressional voting, including all of the following EXCEPT A) ideology. B) constituency news. C) PAC spending. D) partisanship. E) none of the above
C) PAC spending.
14) In terms of religion, most members of Congress are A) Catholic. B) Jewish. C) Protestant. D) born-again Christians. E) atheists.
C) Protestant.
62) The president who was known as the ʺconsummate delegatorʺ because he dispersed authority to his advisors was A) John F. Kennedy. B) George Bush. C) Ronald Reagan. D) Jimmy Carter. E) Lyndon Johnson.
C) Ronald Reagan.
53) The House ________ Committee reviews most bills coming from other committees before they go on to the full House, thus performing a traffic cop function. A) Appropriations B) Ways and Means C) Rules D) Authorization E) Review
C) Rules
60) According to the Constitution, once impeached, federal officials are then tried in the A) Supreme Court. B) House. C) Senate. D) Department of Justice. E) United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
C) Senate.
28) The order of succession to the presidency, should the president be unable to fulfill his or her duties is A) Vice President, President Pro Tem of the Senate, Speaker of the House, cabinet members in order that their department was created. B) Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tem of the Senate, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Cabinet members in order that their department was created. C) Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tem of the Senate, Cabinet members in the order that their department was created. D) Vice President, Chief Justice of Supreme Court, President Pro tem of the Senate, Speaker of the House. E) Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tem, Cabinet members in the order that their department was created
C) Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tem of the Senate, Cabinet members in the order that their department was created.
27) The scandal surrounding Richard Nixonʹs administration that led to impeachment hearings was known as A) Iran-Contra. B) the Camp David Affair. C) Watergate. D) Checkers. E) Teapot Dome.
C) Watergate.
57) The part of the executive branch of government that the president sees daily and relies heavily on for information, policy options, and analysis is the A) vice president. B) presidentʹs cabinet. C) White House staff. D) Executive Office of the President. E) Council of Economic Advisors.
C) White House staff.
82) When the House and the Senate pass different versions of the same bill A) the House bill is changed to conform with the Senate bill. B) the Senate bill is changed to conform with the House bill. C) a conference committee is appointed to resolve differences. D) a joint committee is appointed to resolve differences. E) the president may select which bill to enact into law
C) a conference committee is appointed to resolve differences.
23) In order to impeach a president, it takes A) a unanimous vote of the Supreme Court. B) a two-thirds vote in the Senate. C) a majority vote in the House of Representatives. D) a two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives. E) a majority vote in the Senate
C) a majority vote in the House of Representatives.
88) Members of Congress seek committees that will help them achieve each of the following goals EXCEPT A) reelection. B) influence in Congress. C) a salary increase. D) opportunity to make policy in areas they think are important. E) opportunity to make policy in areas important to their constituents
C) a salary increase.
116) Presidential press conferences A) give the president a chance to be spontaneous. B) have not been used since the Nixon administration. C) are not very useful means of eliciting information. D) are required by the Constitution without saying how often. E) are small, intimate meetings with the president.
C) are not very useful means of eliciting information.
101) Presidential leadership of Congress in promoting the chief executiveʹs programs is A) dominant, with a heavy hand usually convincing wavering members. B) a smooth, generally successful enterprise. C) at the margins, as a facilitator. D) nonexistent. E) proactive, substantive, and adversarial.
C) at the margins, as a facilitator.
50) Nebraskaʹs legislature is the only one in the United States that is NOT A) elected by the voters. B) unicameral. C) bicameral. D) tricameral. E) under term limits.
C) bicameral.
46) All of the following may increase the likelihood that an incumbent is defeated EXCEPT A) national political ʺtidal waves.ʺ B) redistricting. C) campaign funding. D) scandals. E) a strong challenger.
C) campaign funding.
90) Members of Congress who informally band together in groups to promote and protect mutual interests (e.g., mushroom growers) form what are called A) subcommittees. B) committees. C) caucuses. D) junkets. E) interest groups.
C) caucuses.
35) In order to preserve the balance of power in government without jeopardizing the independence of the presidency, the framers A) refused to give the president powers in the area of national security. B) created a weak executive. C) checked those powers that they believed to be most dangerous. D) limited the president to administrative powers. E) limited presidents to two terms of office so they could not become ʺelected monarchs.
C) checked those powers that they believed to be most dangerous.
69) To cut off debate and end a filibuster is known as A) franking. B) coattails. C) cloture. D) overriding. E) hushing.
C) cloture.
84) Electoral mandates A) are the procedures used by the electoral college to tally the presidential electoral votes. B) occur most often in mid-term elections. C) consist of the perception that the voters strongly support the winnerʹs positions. D) are the constitutional requirements that federal elections be held on the second Tuesday of November of even numbered years. E) have no real effect on how Congress supports the president.
C) consist of the perception that the voters strongly support the winnerʹs positions.
92) Which of the following is NOT one of the presidentʹs powers as the nationʹs chief diplomat? A) negotiating executive agreements which do not require congressional approval B) mediating disputes between nations other than the United States C) declaring war against an adversary D) extending diplomatic recognition to a nation E) negotiating treaties with other nations
C) declaring war against an adversary
91) Among the presidentʹs constitutional powers as a maker of foreign policy is the power to A) ratify peace treaties. B) appropriate foreign-aid funds. C) extend diplomatic recognition to foreign governments. D) declare war. E) all of the above
C) extend diplomatic recognition to foreign governments.
63) One of the key differences between the House and Senate is that the House A) has weaker leadership. B) is more influential on foreign affairs. C) has more policy specialization. D) is less centralized. E) is less institutionalized
C) has more policy specialization.
106) Among recent presidents, the average approval ratings in the public opinion polls have been A) higher at the end of the presidentʹs term than at the beginning. B) over 75 percent. C) higher at the beginning of the presidentʹs term than at the end. D) below 40 percent. E) slowly rising over the course of a presidentʹs term(s)
C) higher at the beginning of the presidentʹs term than at the end.
100) The presidentʹs most common method of attempting to influence Congress is to A) call up wavering members. B) offer to campaign for members. C) hold regular meetings with the partyʹs leaders in Congress. D) invite members of Congress to the White House. E) use the veto power.
C) hold regular meetings with the partyʹs leaders in Congress.
79) Most of the business of Congress takes place A) in congressional districts. B) on the floor of the House and Senate. C) in committees and subcommittees. D) during evening social functions. E) in the Rules committees.
C) in committees and subcommittees.
22) Impeachment is roughly the political equivalent of a(n) A) exoneration. B) admission of guilt. C) indictment in criminal law. D) guilty verdict. E) firing.
C) indictment in criminal law.
104) Some prefer the concept of legislators as ________, mirroring the preferences of their constituents. A) trustees B) politicos C) instructed delegates D) uninstructed delegates E) pollsters
C) instructed delegates
84) When members of Congress hold a hearing to question a cabinet member on how a law is being carried out, they are engaging in A) agenda-setting. B) filibustering. C) legislative oversight. D) casework. E) congressional administration
C) legislative oversight.
13) The Twenty-second Amendment, passed in 1951, A) provided for the presidential and vice presidential candidates to run as a team. B) gave impeachment powers to Congress. C) limited presidents to two terms of office. D) provided for the direct election of the president by the people. E) granted 18-year-olds the right to vote.
C) limited presidents to two terms of office.
97) Only ________ can formally submit a bill for congressional consideration. A) members of the House B) senators C) members of the House or senators D) the president E) the Speaker of the House
C) members of the House or senators
48) The head of each cabinet-level executive department is appointed by the president and A) must be confirmed by a majority of the House. B) is not subject to House or Senate approval. C) must be confirmed by a majority of the Senate. D) must be confirmed by a majority of both the House and the Senate. E) must be confirmed by two-thirds of the Senate.
C) must be confirmed by a majority of the Senate.
65) The real differences between the House and the Senate lie in their A) ideology. B) membersʹ characteristics. C) organization and centralization of power. D) role in policy. E) power relative to each other.
C) organization and centralization of power.
1) The principal reason that presidents have trouble getting things done is that A) most are weak and indecisive and do not try to do much. B) they are often upstaged or undermined by their own vice presidents. C) other policymakers with whom they deal have their own agendas, interests, and sources of power. D) they are frequently overruled by the Supreme Court. E) the presidency is mostly a ceremonial job and the president is not expected to do much.
C) other policymakers with whom they deal have their own agendas, interests, and sources of power
106) On a typical issue, the primary determinant of a congressional memberʹs vote is A) constituent preferences as indicated by extensive polling. B) the position of the president. C) personal ideology. D) the toss of a coin. E) the position of their party leaders.
C) personal ideology.
54) The Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council, and the Council of Economic Advisors are A) members of the White House staff. B) advisory bodies of the Department of State. C) policymaking bodies of the Executive Office of the President. D) part of the presidentʹs cabinet. E) the key liaison agencies between the president and Congress
C) policymaking bodies of the Executive Office of the President.
110) The basic underpinning of approval or disapproval of a president is A) the presidentʹs ability to get her/his program passed by Congress. B) personality characteristics. C) political party identification. D) the state of the economy. E) the behavior of the media.
C) political party identification.
108) Most members of Congress would be considered A) trustees. B) instructed delegates. C) politicos. D) ambassadors. E) attentive leaders.
C) politicos.
72) Which of the following does the Speaker NOT play a role in? A) making committee assignments B) presiding over the House when it is in session C) recommending which members should be expelled from the House for failure to support the partyʹs positions on bills D) assigning most bills to committees E) appointing the partyʹs legislative leaders
C) recommending which members should be expelled from the House for failure to support
66) The Constitution gives the president the power to influence the legislative process through his responsibility to A) make laws by decree without the consent of Congress in some situations. B) direct the business of Congress and initiate impeachment. C) report on the state of the union and veto acts of Congress. D) recommend legislation and make appointments. E) manage the economy, lead the party, and deal with national crises.
C) report on the state of the union and veto acts of Congress.
39) Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson A) were the first presidents to exercise power beyond the specific powers granted to the president in the Constitution. B) developed the role of the president as manager of the economy. C) set a precedent for presidents to serve as world leaders. D) were the only two presidents to ever have their actions declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. E) were among the least effective presidents
C) set a precedent for presidents to serve as world leaders.
33) The presidentʹs power can best be understood as A) very limited and largely ceremonial. B) always the dominant figure in the American political system. C) shared with other branches of government as part of the Madisonian system of checks and balances. D) unlimited and absolute. E) originally intended to be unlimited and absolute, but gradually weakened over time
C) shared with other branches of government as part of the Madisonian system of checks and balances.
56) A Senate seat is up for election every A) two years. B) four years. C) six years. D) eight years. E) five years
C) six years.
40) Party loyalty at the voting booth is A) stronger than it was a generation ago. B) no longer a good indication of voting behavior. C) still a good predictor of voting behavior. D) almost nonexistent today. E) greater among Democrats than among Republicans.
C) still a good predictor of voting behavior.
112) If Congress has increased the scope of government it is because A) members typically suffer from Potomac fever. B) members are by-spending liberals. C) that is what constituencies want. D) that is what Congressional staffers want. E) it is responding to the policy expertise provided by the bureaucracy
C) that is what constituencies want.
47) After each federal census, A) the office of the Speaker of the House changes hands. B) the size of Congress increases. C) the membership of the House is reapportioned D) the Senate reapportions its membership. E) all of the above
C) the membership of the House is reapportioned
60) The organization and importance of the White House staff depend on A) the presidentʹs Chief of Staff. B) agenda schedules and formal rules of debate. C) the personal style of the president in office. D) the legal authority granted it by Congress. E) a hierarchy of access to the president.
C) the personal style of the president in office.
40) A primary resource available to presidents for controlling the bureaucracy is A) control of the federal budget. B) their unlimited power to offer patronage positions in the bureaucracy. C) the power to appoint top-level administrators. D) their ability to dismiss or fire most members of the bureaucracy. E) all of the above
C) the power to appoint top-level administrators.
2) The foremost attraction for the job of serving in Congress is A) a salary four times the income of the typical American family. B) generous retirement benefits. C) the power to make key public policy decisions. D) travel benefits. E) employment opportunities after leaving office.
C) the power to make key public policy decisions.
37) The president has the constitutional authority to make treaties with other nations, subject to the agreement of A) a majority of both the House and the Senate. B) a majority of the Senate. C) two-thirds of the Senate. D) two-thirds of the House. E) a majority of the House.
C) two-thirds of the Senate.
94) Some believe the War Powers Resolution could be successfully overturned by the Supreme Court because it A) was vetoed by President Nixon. B) was not ratified within the constitutionally mandated seven-year period. C) uses a legislative veto, which may violate the separation of powers. D) interferes with the presidentʹs power to declare war. E) was really aimed at the Vietnam War only.
C) uses a legislative veto, which may violate the separation of powers.
Reasons that incumbent senators have greater competition than incumbent members of the House include all of the following EXCEPT A) an entire state is more diverse than a congressional district, providing more of a base for opposition. B) senators have less personal contact with their constituencies. C) voters are less likely to know the issue positions of their senators than their representatives. D) senators tend to draw more visible challengers. E) senate challengers are better funded than House challengers.
C) voters are less likely to know the issue positions of their senators than their representatives.
111) According to public opinion polls, presidents seem to be most popular A) just before they leave office. B) after they have introduced their first legislative package to Congress. C) when they first enter office. D) after they leave office. E) during mid-term elections.
C) when they first enter office.
16) Relative to the total population, the most underrepresented group in Congress is A) African Americans. B) Hispanics. C) women. D) Jews. E) homosexuals.
C) women.
2) The income and occupations of members of Congress A) typically reflect the pluralistic nature of American society. B) are very close to the average found among their constituency. C) would, for the most part, make them members of the elite in American society. D) have no real impact on public policymaking. E) places over 90 percent of them in the millionaire businessperson class
C) would, for the most part, make them members of the elite in American society.
71) In 1996, Congress passed a law giving the president the authority to propose rescinding funds in appropriations bills. Later, A) Congress overturned the law. B) President Clinton chose not to use such authority. C) President Clinton used it successfully. D) the Supreme Court voided the decision. E) President Bush voided the decision.
D) the Supreme Court voided the decision.
37) In the House races of 2004, the typical incumbent outspent the typical challenger by A) 2 to 1. B) 4 to 1. C) 6 to 1. D) 15 to 1. E) 20 to 1.
D) 15 to 1.
122) Which of the following statements about the presidency and democracy is FALSE? A) There is little prospect of the presidency being a threat to democracy. B) From the time the Constitution was written there has been a fear that the presidency would degenerate into a monarchy. C) Concerns over presidential power are generally closely related to policy views. D) Concerns about a tyrannical presidency were prevalent in the Reagan administration due to his ability to impose his will on Congress. E) none of the above
D) Concerns about a tyrannical presidency were prevalent in the Reagan administration due to his ability to impose his will on Congress.
97) During the 1991 Gulf War, A) the War Powers Resolution was ignored. B) Congress cut off funding after sixty days. C) President Bush did not seek congressional support for the operation. D) Congress passed a resolution authorizing the president to use force against Iraq. E) Congress adopted a formal declaration of war against Iraq.
D) Congress passed a resolution authorizing the president to use force against Iraq.
103) Which of the following statements about presidents going public is FALSE? A) Presidents are not passive followers of public opinion. B) Presidentsʹ appearances are often staged purely to obtain the publicʹs attention. C) In recent years, presidents have averaged more than one public appearance every weekday of the year. D) Dwight Eisenhower was the first president to use presidential speeches to gain policy support. E) John F. Kennedy was the first ʺtelevision president.ʺ
D) Dwight Eisenhower was the first president to use presidential speeches to gain policy support.
17) Appointed to the vice presidency in 1973 due to a vacancy, he was the only one to become president having run for neither the presidency or vice presidency in the preceding election. A) Lyndon Johnson B) Nelson Rockefeller C) Ronald Reagan D) Gerald Ford E) Jimmy Carter
D) Gerald Ford
20) Which of the following statements is FALSE? A) For over 10 percent of American history, the presidency has been occupied by an individual not elected to the office. B) In the twentieth century, almost one-third of our presidents were ʺaccidental Presidents.ʺ C) About one in five presidents got the job because they were vice president when the incumbent president died or resigned. D) Most presidents have served two or more full terms. E) Most presidential elections are decided by Congress.
D) Most presidents have served two or more full terms.
73) The ________ is next in line after the vice president to succeed a president who resigns, dies in office, or is impeached. A) Senate majority leader B) Senate minority leader C) House majority leader D) Speaker of the House E) Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
D) Speaker of the House
35) Which of the following is NOT true about incumbents? A) They usually win elections. B) They usually have more money than their challengers. C) They usually have higher name recognition and visibility than their opponents. D) They usually face very tough challengers, especially in races for the House. E) They usually have their partyʹs endorsement.
D) They usually face very tough challengers, especially in races for the House.
34) What accounts for the success of congressional candidates? A) their highly representative policy positions B) presidential coattails C) economic forces D) advertising, credit-claiming, and position-taking. E) good looks
D) advertising, credit-claiming, and position-taking.
91) Caucuses in Congress A) press committees to hold hearings. B) push their preferred legislation. C) mobilize votes for favored legislation. D) all of the above E) none of the above
D) all of the above
6) A myth about members of Congress is that they A) generally are educated and come from high-status occupations. B) tend to develop policy specialties. C) are especially effective in carrying out their constituent service. D) are overpaid, underworked, corrupt, and ineffective. E) are overwhelmingly male
D) are overpaid, underworked, corrupt, and ineffective.
98) Most bills formally submitted for consideration in Congress A) are passed and signed into law. B) are passed, but vetoed by the president. C) are defeated in close final votes on the floors of one chamber. D) are quietly killed off early in the process. E) pass one house, but are killed in the other house
D) are quietly killed off early in the process.
52) To be sent to the president, a bill must be passed by A) the House. B) the Senate. C) either the House or the Senate. D) both the House and the Senate. E) a majority vote of Congress, regardless of which house the votes come from
D) both the House and the Senate.
12) Since World War II, United States presidents have A) except for Bill Clinton, first served as vice president. B) had very similar career backgrounds. C) all previously served as governors. D) come from a diversity of career experiences. E) all served as United States senators.
D) come from a diversity of career experiences.
93) Republican congressional reforms in the 1990s included all of the following EXCEPT A) committee chairs were allowed to choose the chairs of subcommittees on their committees. B) both committee and subcommittee chairs were limited to three consecutive two-year terms as chair. C) some subcommittees were eliminated. D) committee chairs were given complete control over the timing of bills under consideration. E) none of the above
D) committee chairs were given complete control over the timing of bills under consideration.
44) The presidentʹs cabinet A) was provided for and elaborated upon by the Constitution. B) has changed very little since 1960. C) tends to serve as a collective board of directors. D) consists of executive branch leaders who advise the president on policy and administer government departments. E) all of the above
D) consists of executive branch leaders who advise the president on policy and administer government departments.
105) The best way constituents can influence congressional voting on legislation is to A) sign petitions. B) write letters or send telegrams. C) fax or call in their opinions. D) elect a representative or senator who agrees with their views. E) demonstrate on the steps of the capitol.
D) elect a representative or senator who agrees with their views.
36) Which of the following is NOT a constitutional power of the president? A) serve as Commander in Chief of the armed forces B) sign or veto legislation passed by Congress C) appoint federal judges with the advice and consent of a majority of the Senate D) enact legislation by issuing decrees E) All of these are the presidentʹs constitutional powers
D) enact legislation by issuing decrees
32) The Constitution framers A) were unanimous in wanting a single president to lead the country. B) were united in wanting a strong chief executive. C) were united in wanting a chief executive similar to the prime minister of Great Britain. D) generally wanted a president with limited authority and responsibilities. E) hoped to create a monarchy in the United States.
D) generally wanted a president with limited authority and responsibilities.
41) House incumbents typically receive A) about the same amount of contributions from PACs as challengers. B) less from PACs than challengers. C) much more from PACs as challengers. D) generous support from their party campaign committees. E) none of the above.
D) generous support from their party campaign committees.
43) Traditionally, a vice president A) has no formal constitutional powers. B) later becomes president. C) is an important advisor to the president. D) has little responsibility. E) both C and D
D) has little responsibility.
51) The newest cabinet department is A) commerce. B) agriculture. C) interior. D) homeland security. E) transportation.
D) homeland security.
26) Once the House votes for impeachment, the president A) must leave office. B) is fined or sentenced to prison. C) is tried by the Supreme Court. D) is tried by the Senate. E) must be indicted by a Grand Jury before being removed from office.
D) is tried by the Senate.
74) The minority whip A) assists the majority leader in party-line votes. B) becomes the Speaker automatically if the Speaker resigns. C) represents African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans in each chamber of Congress. D) keeps a close head count on key votes, and attempts to keep party members in line. E) is used to punish members who do not vote with the rest of their party
D) keeps a close head count on key votes, and attempts to keep party members in line.
5) Americans tend to A) have low expectations for the president. B) prefer a concentration of power in the presidency. C) have a high degree of trust in strong leadership and political authority. D) look back longingly on the great, powerful presidents.
D) look back longingly on the great, powerful presidents.
20) In most congressional elections, challengers A) outspend an incumbent. B) win. C) are better known than incumbents. D) lose. E) spend roughly as much money as incumbents
D) lose.
95) The War Powers Resolution A) prohibited the president power from committing American troops without congressional approval. B) established the chain of command of the armed forces in the event the president is incapacitated. C) gave the president the formal power to declare war in the case of nuclear attack. D) mandated the withdrawal of forces after sixty days unless Congress declared war or granted an extension. E) established the code protocols that launch nuclear missiles in order to prevent accidental or unauthorized missile launches.
D) mandated the withdrawal of forces after sixty days unless Congress declared war or granted an extension.
115) The ultimate weapon in the presidentʹs arsenal of resources to influence Congress is probably A) media support. B) interest group support. C) her/his fundraising ability. D) mobilization of the public. E) the support of Wall Street and the Federal Reserve Board.
D) mobilization of the public.
57) Which of the following is TRUE about the Senate as compared to the House? A) more centralized with stronger leadership B) seniority more important in determining power C) more influential on the budget D) more influential in foreign affairs E) smaller in number, less powerful and less prestigious
D) more influential in foreign affairs
86) According to the text, two strategies used successfully by President Reagan in achieving his objectives were A) moving slowly and letting Congress set the priorities. B) moving slowly and setting priorities. C) lying and forgetting. D) moving fast and setting priorities. E) moving fast and letting Congress set the priorities.
D) moving fast and setting priorities.
89) Studies have shown that once one takes into account the status of their party in Congress and their standing with the public, presidents renowned for their legislative skills are A) twice as successful in winning congressional support than other presidents. B) most likely to reshape the contours of the political landscape. C) most likely to be able to create opportunities for political change. D) no more successful in obtaining congressional support than those considered less adept at dealing with Congress. E) much more successful in gaining support for their domestic policies than for their foreign policies
D) no more successful in obtaining congressional support than those considered less adept at dealing with Congress
27) Which of the following is NOT one of the three primary activities that members of Congress engage in to increase the probability of their reelection? A) advertising B) credit-claiming C) position-taking D) oversight E) None of the above; oversight is a form of position-taking.
D) oversight
83) Legislative ________ is the process of monitoring the bureaucracy and its administration of policy. A) franking B) stonewalling C) overview D) oversight E) supremacy
D) oversight
108) The primary factor influencing whether or not a person approves or disapproves of a presidentʹs job performance is A) age. B) geographic location. C) gender. D) political party identification. E) presidential personality.
D) political party identification.
82) High public approval of the president A) has no effect on congressional elections. B) gives the president less control over Congress. C) once achieved is usually sustained for the remainder of his/her presidency. D) provides a cover for members of Congress to cast votes to which their constituents might otherwise object. E) allows members of Congress the freedom to vote according to their ideology rather than party.
D) provides a cover for members of Congress to cast votes to which their constituents might otherwise object.
81) The political resource that has the most potential to turn a situation of stalemate between the president and Congress into one supportive of the presidentʹs legislative proposals is A) presidential leadership. B) the presidentʹs party leadership. C) presidential rewards and sanctions. D) public approval. E) the threat of veto.
D) public approval.
61) The House Rules Committee A) has its members appointed by the House majority leader. B) is similar to the Senate Rules Committee. C) usually retains independence from the House leadership. D) reviews most bills coming from committee before they go to the full House. E) all of the above
D) reviews most bills coming from committee before they go to the full House.
86) The seniority system gave a decisive edge to House members from ________ districts. A) Republican B) suburban C) older D) safe E) competitive
D) safe
34) The Constitution A) provides a list of specific powers and implied powers reserved for the president. B) places the power of the presidency above the other branches of government. C) requires Congress to delegate specific areas of presidential power. D) says remarkably little about presidential power. E) B, C, and D are all correct.
D) says remarkably little about presidential power.
50) The two oldest cabinet departments are A) state and defense. B) interior and justice. C) treasury and justice. D) state and treasury. E) education and state.
D) state and treasury.
54) Articles of impeachment must be passed by A) either the House or the Senate. B) both the House and the Senate. C) the Senate. D) the House. E) the Supreme Court
D) the House.
105) The higher the president stands in the polls, A) the less support he needs in Congress. B) the shorter the presidentʹs coattails. C) the less need there is for presidential public appearances. D) the easier it is to persuade others to support presidential initiatives. E) the less likely he will initiate new policy ventures
D) the easier it is to persuade others to support presidential initiatives.
112) Changes in presidential approval levels appear to be due primarily to A) the presidentʹs personality. B) how the media treat the president. C) the financial elitesʹ responses to presidential policies. D) the publicʹs evaluation of how the president is handling policy areas. E) how the presidentʹs policies affect people individually.
D) the publicʹs evaluation of how the president is handling policy areas.
30) Under the terms of the Twenty-fifth Amendment, while the vice president is serving as acting president, A) a new election must be held within six months. B) the electoral college determines when the incapacitated president can reclaim the presidency. C) the recuperated president can not reclaim his former job. D) the recuperated president can reclaim the Oval Office through a set procedure. E) the Senate and the House must vote in a secret ballot on whether or not to reinstate the recuperated president
D) the recuperated president can reclaim the Oval Office through a set procedure.
76) The ________ has the job of presiding over the Senate, breaking ties when necessary. A) majority leader B) majority whip C) minority leader D) vice president E) Speaker
D) vice president
74) Presidential coattails refers to A) presidential favors to those who support the presidentʹs policies. B) the formal constitutional powers of the president. C) the ability of members of Congress to hide behind the president on tough issues. D) voters casting their ballots for congressional candidates of the presidentʹs party who will support the president. E) withholding of presidential favors from those who oppose the presidentʹs policies
D) voters casting their ballots for congressional candidates of the presidentʹs party who will support the president
55) The budgetary implications of the presidentʹs budget are provided to the president by A) Executive Budget Office. B) Department of the Treasury. C) Council of Economic Advisors. D) Internal Revenue Service. E) Office of Management and Budget.
E) Office of Management and Budget.
18) Which of the following presidents was a Republican? A) Harry Truman B) John Kennedy C) Lyndon Johnson D) Jimmy Carter E) Richard Nixon
E) Richard Nixon
19) The only president to resign his office was A) Warren Harding. B) Jimmy Carter. C) Lyndon Johnson. D) Spiro Agnew. E) Richard Nixon.
E) Richard Nixon.
10) Which president was a political scientist? A) Ronald Reagan B) James Madison C) Richard Nixon D) Bill Clinton E) Woodrow Wilson
E) Woodrow Wilson
104) How did the White House Communications Office choreograph George W. Bushʹs address from the Abraham Lincoln announcing the end of major combat operations in Iraq? A) They placed a ʺMission Accomplishedʺ banner over the presidentʹs head. B) They positioned the Abraham Lincoln so that the shoreline was not visible. C) They timed the even so that the sun would cast a favorable light on the president. D) The coordinated the shirts of the crewmembers. E) all of the above
E) all of the above
64) A presidential veto of legislation passed by Congress A) can be overturned only by majority vote of the Supreme Court. B) cannot be overturned. C) can be overturned by a majority vote of both the House and the Senate to override the veto. D) can be overturned by a two-thirds vote of either the House or the Senate to override the veto. E) can be overturned by a two-thirds vote of both the House and the Senate to override the veto.
E) can be overturned by a two-thirds vote of both the House and the Senate to override the veto.
80) The impact of public approval or disapproval of the president on the support that the president receives in Congress is A) irrelevant. B) not too important, though it occasionally has a minor effect. C) represented in the text by the equation s \ʹ3D px\ʹ2D1. D) extremely important, and sways nearly all members of Congress on every vote. E) important, but usually at the margins on most policies.
E) important, but usually at the margins on most policies.
72) The primary obstacle to party unity in Congress is the A) multiplicity of parties represented. B) lack of presidential leadership. C) separation of powers. D) bicameral legislature. E) lack of consensus on policy issues among party members.
E) lack of consensus on policy issues among party members.
102) References by commentators on the presidency to there being ʺtwo presidenciesʺ refer to A) the president as candidate and the president as elected leader. B) the first term and the second term of a president. C) what the president originally proposes to accomplish and what the president actually does accomplish. D) the differences between public and private presidential actions. E) national security and domestic policy.
E) national security and domestic policy.
11) The members of the Senate closely reflect the nation in terms of A) race. B) gender. C) economic status. D) prior occupation. E) none of the above
E) none of the above
46) Which of the following is a member of the cabinet? A) director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation B) Speaker of the House C) secretary of the navy D) White House Chief of Staff E) none of the above
E) none of the above
49) Which of the following statements about Congress is FALSE? A) Congress is a collection of generalists trying to make policy on specialized topics. B) Members of Congress are surrounded by people who know (or claim to know) more than they do. C) Members of Congress are often unsure of what is being voted on when a roll-call vote is called. D) Members frequently ask their colleagues how to vote. E) none of the above
E) none of the above
85) Which of the following statements about congressional committees is FALSE? A) Unless a committee gives a bill a favorable report it almost never can be considered by the full House or Senate. B) The most important output of the committee is the marked up bill. C) Members of the committee usually serve as floor managers of the bill. D) Members of the committee act as cue-givers to whom other members turn for advice. E) none of the above
E) none of the above
109) At the base of presidential evaluations is the A) publicʹs longstanding suspicion of excessive presidential power. B) lack of well-defined opinions among most people. C) predisposition of many people to be critical of government and politics in general. D) publicʹs indifference to the president. E) predisposition of many people to support the president.
E) predisposition of many people to support the president.
78) In mid-term elections, the A) presidentʹs coattails are the strongest. B) presidentʹs party typically gains seats. C) president almost always wins reelection; a president who does not is the exception. D) president usually does not become involved. E) presidentʹs party typically loses seats.
E) presidentʹs party typically loses seats.
118) The individual who conducts daily press briefings and serves as a conduit of information from the White House is the A) National Security Advisor. B) Minister of Information. C) presidentʹs secretary. D) Chief of Staff. E) press secretary.
E) press secretary.
101) The typical member of Congress supports the president on national security roll-call votes A) very rarely. B) about 75 percent of the time. C) almost always. D) only 38 percent of the time. E) slightly more than half the time
E) slightly more than half the time
49) The cabinet department responsible for making foreign policy and handling treaty negotiations is A) interior. B) justice. C) foreign affairs. D) defense. E) state.
E) state.
58) The system of White House management employed by President John Kennedy was A) to disperse his authority to numerous aides, each of who had powerful decision-making power. B) unusually closed, with only the president and his two closest aides involved in most major decisions. C) to personally take charge of even the minor details of decision making. D) a chain of command with a chief of staff who controlled almost all access to the president. E) such that many aides equally participated in the decision-making process
E) such that many aides equally participated in the decision-making process
31) According to the Twenty-fifth Amendment, in the event of a vacancy in the vice presidency, A) the electoral college elects a new vice president. B) the Speaker of the House is automatically the new vice president. C) the office remains vacant until a subsequent national election takes place. D) the Congress picks a new vice president from a list of five names submitted by the president. E) the president nominates a replacement, who must be confirmed by both houses of Congress.
E) the president nominates a replacement, who must be confirmed by both houses of Congress.
63) George W. Bushʹs management style is A) wheel and spokes. B) chaotic. C) hierarchical. D) transitional. E) to delegate
E) to delegate
65) The pocket veto can only be used A) when a new president is about to take office. B) during a presidential election year. C) when Congress is in session. D) on appropriations bills. E) when Congress is adjourned.
E) when Congress is adjourned.
