Government Test #5

How many members are there in the House of Representatives? -100 -200 -435 -535

435

Which statement about the lawmaking process is accurate? -A bill can only originate in the Senate. -A bill can have a second chance after a veto. -A bill can only originate in the House of Representatives. -A bill is never passed without some difficulty.

A bill can have a second chance after a veto.

Which statement describes the majority party's power when it comes to Senate committees? -All committees must report daily to the majority leader. -All sixteen chairpersons are members of the majority party. -The majority party can refuse to accept the committee's conclusions. -The majority party determines what bills the committees work on.

All sixteen chairpersons are members of the majority party.

Why is cloture very difficult to achieve? -Senators are famous for their debating prowess and would not easily give up to cloture. -The two-thirds vote of the Senate is almost impossible to attain. -Cloture can only be achieved by a three-fifths vote, and parties don't usually have that kind of majority. -Senators usually wish to continue the discussion, and work hard to prevent members from voting for cloture.

Cloture can only be achieved by a three-fifths vote, and parties don't usually have that kind of majority.

The State of the Union address requires the president to update the ______ on what is going on in the country.

Congress

Which statement about independent executive agencies is most accurate? -Independent executive agencies handle day-to-day operations for the president. -Independent executive agencies have a narrow focus. -Independent executive agencies are headed by a secretary who advises the president. -Independent executive agencies belong to the cabinet.

Independent executive agencies have a narrow focus.

What role does the House of Representative have in the impeachment process? -It forms a committee to hear complaints against an official. -It brings charges against an official to remove the person from office. -It holds a trial to present evidence against an official on the charges of impeachment. -It decides whether the official is guilty and should be removed from office.

It brings charges against an official to remove the person from office.

What statement about the Necessary and Proper Clause is accurate? -It is the source of implied powers. -It is written so as not to be open to debate. -It specifically refers to both financial and military powers. -It specifically reserves powers to other branches.

It is the source of implied powers.

Why does California have the most seats in the House? -It is the state with the largest population. -It is the state with the largest land area. -Its smallest districts are the most populated. -Its major cities are the most populated.

It is the state with the largest population.

Which explains why the Constitution enumerates the president's formal powers? -It makes clear the president's role as head of the executive branch. -It makes clear the president's role as head of the office of the president. -It makes clear what the president should do when issuing executive orders. -It makes clear what the president should do when using the mass media.

It makes clear the president's role as head of the executive branch.

Read the quote from President Theodore Roosevelt's autobiography. My view was that every executive officer . . . was a steward of the people. . . . I declined to adopt the view that what was imperatively necessary for the nation could not be done by the president unless he could find some specific authorization to do so. What did President Roosevelt believe about the powers of the president? -Presidents should act only if the Constitution specifically authorizes it. -Presidents should follow the lead of Congress. -Presidents are bound by the Constitution, not by the needs of the people. -Presidential power can extend beyond the Constitution when it is best for the nation.

Presidential power can extend beyond the Constitution when it is best for the nation.

Why has the House of Representatives grown so much faster than the Senate? -Representation is based on population, and the US has grown steadily. -The number of senators allowed per state has been routinely reduced. -Fewer and fewer representatives have been re-elected to additional terms. -The Constitution requires the number of representatives to increase each decade.

Representation is based on population, and the US has grown steadily.

Which describes a difference between the duties of House members and the duties of Senate members? -House members serve on committees while Senate members only serve on boards. -House members meet with their constituents while Senate members only meet with other Senate members. -Senate members represent state interests while House members represent district interests. -Senate members hire and manage their staff while House members have no staff to manage.

Senate members represent state interests while House members represent district interests.

Which statement best explains why the Constitution limits the power of the executive branch? -The Constitution limits the executive branch to keep the vice president from overthrowing the president. -The Constitution limits the executive branch to keep the president from becoming too powerful. -The Constitution limits the executive branch to keep the president from interfering in the work of other branches. -The Constitution limits the executive branch to keep the vice president from interfering in the work of the president.

The Constitution limits the executive branch to keep the president from becoming too powerful.

What happens if the House and Senate versions of a bill are different? -The differences immediately cause the bill to die and it doesn't go any farther. -The House and Senate try to work out differences in a conference committee. -Each version is voted on in a joint session with all members of the House and Senate. -The Senate can pass its version by majority vote, and the bill then goes to the president.

The House and Senate try to work out differences in a conference committee.

The Electoral Vote is tied between two presidential candidates. What happens next? -The House votes to determine who wins the presidency. -The Senate votes to determine who wins the presidency. -The presidency is decided by the Supreme Court. -The presidency is decided by the popular vote.

The House votes to determine who wins the presidency.

Which describes how Congress affects the president's abilities to grant pardons and appoint cabinet members? -The Senate approves pardons but not cabinet members. -The House approves cabinet members but not pardons. -The Senate approves cabinet members but not pardons. -The House approves pardons but not cabinet members.

The Senate approves cabinet members but not pardons.

Which statement about the Senate's role in federal appointments is correct? -The Senate must approve the appointment by a vote of two-thirds of the Senate. -The Senate recruits and interviews candidates for federal appointments. -The Senate hires investigators to determine a nominee's qualifications. -The Senate can approve or deny an appointment without explanation.

The Senate can approve or deny an appointment without explanation.

Which statement describes an example of a limit on the power of the House of Representatives? -The president can veto its bills. -The Senate can oppose its bills. -The House can propose only revenue bills. -The House cannot propose revenue bills.

The Senate can oppose its bills.

What happens first when a bill is introduced in the House? -The House votes to approve or reject the bill. -Representatives debate the bill on the floor of the House. -The Speaker decides whether the House will consider the bill. -The bill is assigned to a committee, who looks into it and recommends changes.

The bill is assigned to a committee, who looks into it and recommends changes.

Why is the Necessary and Proper Clause a source of ongoing debate? -Congress cannot agree on how broad its implied powers should be. -The wording of the clause is often undergoing revision. -The clause deals with specified powers that are ambiguous and misinterpreted. -The clause establishes reserved rights, which vary from state to state.

The clause deals with specified powers that are ambiguous and misinterpreted.

Which best describes how the executive branch affects the power of the military? -The executive branch shares power with the military. -The executive branch checks the power of the military. -The executive branch strengthens the power of the military. -The executive branch gives power to the military.

The executive branch checks the power of the military.

Which of these steps in the lawmaking process might happen after a bill is sent to the president? -The president can veto the bill. -The president can send it to committee. -The president can ask the house to debate it. -The president can send it to the other house.

The president can veto the bill.

What is the last step in the lawmaking process? -The Senate has to approve it. -The president has to sign it. -The people have to vote on it. -The legislature has to veto it.

The president has to sign it.

Which best explains how the president selects a justice for the Supreme Court? -The president selects a judge that is qualified but disagrees with him on issues. -The president selects a judge whom he considers the most qualified and will most likely support his agenda. -The president selects a qualified judge that Congress proposes. -The president selects a qualified judge whom existing judges approve of.

The president selects a judge whom he considers the most qualified and will most likely support his agenda.

Why does the executive office of the president include press and communications staff? -The president uses mass media to speak to Congress. -The president uses mass media to gain support for policies. -The president uses mass media to issue executive orders. -The president uses mass media to speak to other countries.

The president uses mass media to gain support for policies.

What can happen if the president chooses to veto a law that has been approved? -The law returns to being introduced in one of the houses. -The president's decision can be overridden by a majority of Congress. -The law is rejected and cannot be reconsidered. -The president's decision is scheduled for review within a year.

The president's decision can be overridden by a majority of Congress.

Which statement applies to both senators and representatives? -They serve four-year terms. -They can be expelled for breaking rules. -They must have a college education. -They are required to be registered voters.

They can be expelled for breaking rules.

Which best describes the impact of independent agencies on the executive branch? -They cause the executive branch to influence many aspects of life in the United States. -They cause the executive branch to create many rules and regulations. -They cause the executive branch to oversee both the judicial and legislative branches. -They cause the executive branch to regulate businesses and communications.

They cause the executive branch to influence many aspects of life in the United States.

Which statement describes joint committees? -They contain members from both major political parties. -Once created, they will continue to function unless disbanded by the passage of a law. -They function to serve the purposes of only the political party currently in the majority. -Members are appointed by the president of the United States.

They contain members from both major political parties.

Which statement is true about joint committees? -They are permanent, dedicated to working on a specific kind of bill. -They are primarily investigative, performing research and impact studies. -They contain members of both major political parties. -They are controlled by members of the majority party.

They contain members of both major political parties.

Which would the SEC most likely penalize for violating a regulation? -a radio station -a college -a bank -a supermarket

a bank

Who would the president most likely ask for advice about reforming labor practices? -the vice president -a senator -a cabinet member -the chief of staff

a cabinet member

An important duty of the president is -appointing senators. -addressing Congress. -creating laws. -funding the military.

addressing Congress.

Support staff in the executive office of the president include -administrators. -cabinet members. -reporters. -party leaders

administrators

Which of these is an expressed power of Congress? -admitting new states -creating a national banking system -eliminating amendments to the Constitution -determining what is cruel and unusual punishment

admitting new states

Which of these is considered a power of governance? -regulating trade between states -maintaining armed forces -declaring war -admitting new states

admitting new states

The role of the Senate in regard to treaties is to -approve international treaties. -advise during negotiations. -have the president of the Senate sign the treaty. -negotiate the terms and conditions of the treaty.

approve international treaties.

A qualification for president under Article II of the Constitution is -being born in the United States. -being born in Washington DC. -living for ten years in the United States. -living for ten years in Washington DC.

being born in the United States.

How does the Speaker exercise power over a committee? -by preventing a committee from meeting -by rejecting the findings of the committee -by appointing the chair and a majority of the members -by appointing the whip as a voting member of the committee

by appointing the chair and a majority of the members

Which position, appointed by the president, advises the president on matters of national defense? -senator -cabinet member -federal judge -ambassador

cabinet member

What does the executive branch do? -make laws -interpret laws -carry out laws -revise laws

carry out laws

Article II of the Constitution states that the president is also -leader of the Senate. -a general in the army. -commander in chief. -leader of Congress.

commander in chief.

Which is the proper order of a bill becoming a law after it is introduced in the Senate? -debate, committee, Senate approval, House approval, presidential action -committee, debate, House approval, Senate approval, presidential action -committee, debate, Senate approval, House approval, presidential action -debate, Senate approval, House approval, committee, presidential action

committee, debate, Senate approval, House approval, presidential action

Which of these actions is forbidden by the Constitution? -creating a law ex post facto -borrowing money from the government -passing "necessary and proper" laws -regulating trade with foreign countries

creating a law ex post facto

Based on its role as outlined in the US Constitution, which function is most commonly carried out by the House of Representatives? -electing a president in a deadlock -impeaching a federal employee -reviewing Senate tax bills -creating laws

creating laws

Which is an example of an expressed power Congress holds? -creating a national banking system -taking away the right of habeas corpus -declaring war and maintaining a military -building and maintaining roads

declaring war and maintaining a military

Which task is part of the president's role as commander in chief? -appointing ambassadors -deploying troops -negotiating treaties -granting pardons

deploying troops

In addition to support staff, the executive office of the president includes -US ambassadors. -the vice president. -cabinet advisers. -economic advisers.

economic advisers.

Which combination would the president most likely use to convince Congress to pass an economic stimulus bill? -formal and informal powers -informal powers and executive orders -formal powers and federal officials -informal powers and mass media`

formal and informal powers

Which is the most accurate description of the executive office of the president? -groups of advisers who help the chief of staff -groups of advisers who help the president -groups of advisers who oversee national security -groups of advisers who oversee the economy

groups of advisers who help the president

According to Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, each representative must -have resided in the United States for one's entire life. -be a citizen in one of the 50 American states. -have reached a minimum age of 25 years old. -have earned a four-year degree from an accredited university.

have reached a minimum age of 25 years old.

The purpose of the office of the president is to -help run the government. -sign or veto pending legislation. -nominate or appoint officials. -advise the president on education.

help run the government.

A main purpose of the president's State of the Union address is to -identify major policy issues. -explain Supreme Court decisions. -challenge congressional actions. -speak out against political opponents.

identify major policy issues.

The Necessary and Proper Clause in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress ________ powers.

implied

What is the Senate's only defense to a filibuster? -calling a recess -invoking cloture -ending the session -ignoring the person

invoking cloture

As commander in chief, the president has the power to -declare war. -lead the military. -fund the armed forces. -call for a draft.

lead the military.

A challenge that modern presidents face is -leading their political party. -issuing executive orders. -recognizing foreign nations. -granting pardons.

leading their political party.

Which best describes the primary function of the Senate? -trying impeached officials -approving presidential appointments -approving international treaties -making laws

making laws

Cabinet members are responsible for -passing laws -making policies. -proposing bills. -giving speeches.

making policies.

An enumerated power the president is -nominating and appointing officials. -serving as leader of the Senate. -directing the judicial branch. -creating monuments and parks.

nominating and appointing officials.

As commander in chief, the _____ leads the armed forces.

president

The lawmaking responsibility of the members of the House is to -discuss pending bills with their constituents. -make sure their supporters approve of a bill. -propose, amend, and vote on bills and resolutions. -gather public support for their bills.

propose, amend, and vote on bills and resolutions.

A major role for executive departments is -protecting the president. -protecting the vice president. -protecting the public welfare. -protecting independent agencies.

protecting the public welfare.

What is the last step in the process of getting a bill passed into law? -reviewing it in committee -sending it to the other house -approving it by a vote -sending it to the president

sending it to the president

Which of the following is an example of an action that might be taken by a regulatory agency? -setting standards for the stock exchange and enforcing those standards -creating the nation's money -creating Medicare and Medicaid -acting as a liaison between the US and other nations

setting standards for the stock exchange and enforcing those standards

The president's role as chief executive is to -appoint generals. -negotiate treaties. -deploy troops. -sign bills.

sign bills.

According to the Constitution, how long is a senator's term? -two years -four years -six years -eight years

six years

A senator's term of office is -two years. -four years. -six years. -eight years.

six years.

What does the Executive Office of the President do for the President of the United States? -supports and advises the president -leads legislative departments -nominates and advises the president -leads all branches of the military

supports and advises the president

Which executive agency would most likely investigate cases of espionage? -the Central Intelligence Agency -the Department of State -the Department of Defense -the Securities and Exchange Commission

the Central Intelligence Agency

Which executive department would most likely try to stop a terrorist attack? -the Department of Justice -the Department of State -the Department of Homeland Security -the Department of Defense

the Department of Homeland Security

The executive department that deals most with foreign countries is -the Department of Defense. -the Department of State. -the Department of Labor. -the Department of Commerce.

the Department of State.

The executive department that regulates airlines i -the Department of Transportation. -the Department of Homeland Security. -the Department of the Interior. -the Department of Commerce.

the Department of Transportation.

The executive department that regulates airlines is -the Department of Transportation. -the Department of Homeland Security. -the Department of the Interior. -the Department of Commerce.

the Department of Transportation.

Which executive department would most likely need to approve an oil company's new pipeline? -the Department of Agriculture -the Department of Energy -the Department of the Interior -the Department of Commerce

the Department of the Interior

Which agency would most likely regulate satellites used for worldwide communication? -the FCC -NASA -the CIA -the SEC

the FCC

Revenue bills can be proposed only by -the House. -the Senate. -the Speaker. -the President.

the House.

When trying officials who have been impeached by the House of Representatives, -the Senate conducts the impeachment trial. -the Senate committee acts as prosecutor. -the chief justice always presides over the trial. -the Senate has the power to convict with a three-fourths vote.

the Senate conducts the impeachment trial.

A limitation on the president's power to appoint ambassadors is that -the Senate must approve them. -the House must approve them. -the House and Senate must approve them. -the Supreme Court must approve them.

the Senate must approve them.

The executive agency that provides people with retirement income is -the Department of Labor. -the Department of Commerce. -the Social Security Administration. -the Securities and Exchange Commission.

the Social Security Administration.

In the House, who has the power to lead the majority party caucus and control the agenda? -the Majority Whip -the Majority Floor Leader -the Speaker of the House -the Committee Chair

the Speaker of the House

The Executive Office of the President is led by -the vice president. -the secretary of state. -the chief of staff. -the cabinet.

the chief of staff.

The office of the president is part of -the State Department. -the executive branch. -the Department of Defense. -the legislative branch.

the executive branch.

Which of the following is the best overall description of the part of the government the President of the United States oversees? -the executive branch. -the State Department. -the legislative branch. -the Department of Defense.

the executive branch.

The Constitution limits the executive branch from declaring war by giving that power to -the judicial branch. -the legislative branch. -the leader of the Senate. -the leader of the House.

the legislative branch.

Which group or individual within the Senate has the most power over what legislation is put on the agenda and whether it is passed? -the standing committee reviewing the bill -the majority party -the minority party -the president pro

the majority party

The leader of the Senate is -the sergeant at arms. -the majority party whip. -the majority party leader. -the president of the Senate.

the majority party leader.

The role of the president has evolved over time because -the needs of the nation have changed. -the role of the executive branch has changed. -the role of Congress has changed. -the needs of the chief of staff have changed.

the needs of the nation have changed.

A general limitation on the power of the president is -the possibility of impeachment. -the ability to grant pardons. -the ability to make treaties. -the threat of treason.

the possibility of impeachment.

Article II of the Constitution defines the roles of -the president and the vice president. -the president and the legislative branch. -the vice president and the legislative branch. -the vice president and the judicial branch

the president and the vice president.

What does Article 1, Section 7 of the Constitution explain? -the reason for a unicameral house -the process for creating a law -the steps for selecting a state representative -the requirements of citizenship

the process for creating a law

For a piece of legislation to proceed to the Senate, it needs a certain number of votes. Whose job is it to organize votes by members within each party? -the whip -the floor leader -the caucus -the committee

the whip

Under Article II of the Constitution, what age must someone be in order to run for president of the United States? -twenty-five years old. -thirty-five years old. -forty-five years old. -fifty-five years old.

thirty-five years old.

The role of the president pro tempore of the Senate is -to be the leader of the Senate. -to serve as presiding officer if the vice president cannot. -to act as assistant to the party leader when needed. -to act as a ceremonial role within the Senate

to act as a ceremonial role within the Senate.

Which of these is an exclusive power of the House of Representatives? -to amend a bill -to impeach a government official -to check the power of the president -to review a tax bill the Senate has proposed

to impeach a government official

How many senators represent each state? -two -three -four -five

two

How long is a representative's term of office? -one year -two years -four years -six years

two years

Every __________ one-third of all Senate seats are up for election. -single year. -two years. -four years. -six years.

two years.

A senator can delay or impede a bill by -using a filibuster. -invoking cloture. -calling for a vote. -impeaching the bill's creator.

using a filibuster.