UNIT 5 : AP GOV (college board questions)
3 powers of the speaker of the house
- decide who gets to speak - appoint committee chairs -appoint rules committee members
3 functions of the house rules committee
- limit for a debate - sets rules to amend - sets calendars
5 ways interest groups influence political process
- lobbying - contribting money - running ads - testifying before congressional committees - amicus curiae briefs
4 things that influence members during the legislative process
- logrolling (trading votes) - organization - political parties (MOST) - constituents
4 ways interest groups could be successful
- narrow, single, issue - lower profile issue - more access the group has to lawmakers - more financial resources (money)
three things the house rules committees does
- places bills on calendar - decides the time - determines amendments allowed
Which of the following is the main reason interest groups are often successful in getting legislation passed to benefit their members? A It is easy to garner support from most members of Congress on any issue. B All members of society desire the legislation that special interests pursue. C It is very easy to get legislation passed in Congress. D A narrow constituency derives the benefits from such legislation but the costs are spread broadly across the population. E Interest group activity represents the democratic process at work because individual interest groups often represent more than half the population.
A narrow constituency derives the benefits from such legislation but the costs are spread broadly across the population.
A first term member of the House of Representatives from North Dakota who wished to maximize opportunities for constituent service would be most likely to seek placement on which of the following committees? A Judiciary B Agriculture C Rules D Foreign Affairs E Science and Technology
Agriculture
divided government
Governance divided between the parties, as when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress.
If Congress wanted to effect a change in the Social Security payroll tax, to what congressional committee would the task initially be assigned? A House Appropriations Committee B Senate Appropriations Committee C House Ways and Means Committee D House Rules Committee E Senate Finance Committee
House Ways and Means Committee
House Ways and Means Committee
House committee that handles tax bills
The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urges its members to take action in support of what they term "animal friendly" legislation through their website. In addition to providing information about important issues that legislators may vote on, the nonprofit organization also describes the best ways to contact a legislator and tips on how best to interact with lawmakers. Which of the following is being illustrated in the scenario? A Interest groups sometimes form around a narrow set of issues with the goal of impacting policy making. B Interest groups lacking funding can overcome the free-rider problem by proposing legislation on their website. C Interest groups work to mobilize citizens and members of Congress to form an iron triangle. D Interest groups post messages on social media to request donations from members.
Interest groups sometimes form around a narrow set of issues with the goal of impacting policy making.
The National Education Association (NEA) is an organization of teachers, administrators, and other educators who work together to advance the interests and impact of public education. One of the NEA's goals is to support public education by ending government funding of voucher programs that promote school privatization. Vouchers give parents financial incentives to send their children to private schools rather than having children attend local public schools. Which of the following strategies would be the most effective way to achieve the NEA's goal of furthering the interest of public education? A Lobby members of congressional committees to vote against all legislation that would support school voucher programs. B Petition Congress to hold an oversight hearing of the Department of Education on private and public school funding. C Increase membership in the NEA by offering new members financial benefits. D Request that the Supreme Court to declare the school voucher and privatization programs unconstitutional.
Lobby members of congressional committees to vote against all legislation that would support school voucher programs.
All of the following are commonly used by interest groups to influence the political process EXCEPT A lobbying B contributing money to candidates C nominating candidates D filing lawsuits E appealing to the public opinion
Nominating Candidates
A member of the House of Representatives who wishes to be influential in the House itself would most likely seek a place on which of the following committees? A Agriculture B International Relations C Transportation and Infrastructure D Rules E Veterans' Affairs
Rules
In 1980, a small group of parents personally affected by drunk driving formed the group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Over the past four decades, they have grown in number and have lobbied on state and local levels promoting legislation such as stricter limits on blood alcohol levels for drivers. MADD is an example of which of the following? A Political party with the goal of influencing public opinion B Social movement with the goal of influencing the federal budget C Single-issue group with the goal of impacting policy making D Bureaucratic agency implementing policy
Single-issue group with the goal of impacting policy making
most powerful member of congress how is that person selected how long do they serve
Speaker of the house chosen by majority party serves until the party loses majority of house
Which of the following types of committee deals with broad areas of public policy and can be found in both houses of Congress? A Rules B Select C Joint D Standing E Conference
Standing
Two interest groups are competing for influence in Congress. One group represents banking institutions, while the other advocates for consumer protections. A critic of the influence of interest groups would make which of the following claims? A The interest groups will nominate a slate of candidates for office to compete against each other in the next election in order to determine which interests prevail. B The consumer protection group will appeal only to Republican leaders, while the banking interests will appeal only to Democratic leaders. C The banking interest group likely has greater financial resources and access to policy makers than the consumer protection group. D The consumer protection group is prohibited by federal regulations from direct lobbying.
The banking interest group likely has greater financial resources and access to policy makers than the consumer protection group.
Which of the following is true of the seniority system of Congress in relation to committee leadership and committee staffing? A Members of Congress with the longest continuous service are assured the chairmanship of major congressional committees. B Members of Congress must be elected from safe seats to accrue committee seniority. C Members of congressional committees are the most senior members of the body's majority party. D The oldest members of Congress have the most seniority. E The chairs of congressional committees tend to be senior members of the body's majority party.
The chairs of congressional committees tend to be senior members of the body's majority party.
Which of the following is true of amicus curiae briefs? A They are used by interest groups to lobby courts. B They are used exclusively by liberal interest groups. C They are used exclusively by conservative interest groups. D They are now unconstitutional. E They are the means by which a litigant seeks Supreme Court review of a lower court decision.
They are used by interest groups to lobby courts.
Which of the following committees plays a major role in the House in shaping tax policy? A Finance B Ways and Means C Commerce D Appropriations E Governmental Affairs
Ways and Means
Step 1 of the legislative process
a member of the house or senate formally introduce the bill
A committee chair in the House of Representatives is always A the member with the longest service on the committee B the member with the longest service in the House C a representative of the Speaker D a member of the majority party in the chamber E a trusted ally of the President
a member of the majority party in the chamber
step 3 of the legislative process
approval by majority of members in both the senate and the house
In 1987 the cooperation among the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Organization for Women (NOW), and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to defeat Robert Bork's nomination to the United States Supreme Court was an example of A impeachment B litigation C coalition building D the recall process E the initiative process
coalition building
Step 2 of the legislative process
committees of lawmakers in the house and senate review and work on the bill
The House Rules Committee is an important part of the legislative process because it A determines ethics rules for members' conduct B determines whether a bill should be referred to a policy committee for consideration C determines the terms and conditions of debate when a bill goes to the House floor D has the authority to limit the Speaker and Minority leader in their use of patronage E negotiates compromises on bills with the Senate Rules Committee
determines the terms and conditions of debate when a bill goes to the House floor
The congressional system of standing committees is significant because it A fosters the development of expertise by members B helps Congress reduce staff costs C insulates decision-making from the influence of special interests D weakens Congress in its dealings with the President E prevents Congress from effectively processing its large legislative workload
fosters the development of expertise by members
the most influential committee in the house
house rules committee
An interest group is most likely to have influence in Congress when the issue at stake A is narrow in scope and low in public visibility B is part of the president's legislative package C has been dramatized by the media D engages legislators' deeply held convictions E divides legislators along party lines
is narrow in scope and low in public visibility
One of the best strategies that interest groups can use to achieve their goals is A pressing for changes in high-profile public policies B lobbying members of Congress to make small changes in existing policy C using the judiciary to invalidate federal legislation D encouraging states to use their Tenth Amendment rights and ignore federal law E running candidates for office
lobbying members of Congress to make small changes in existing policy
The free rider problem occurs when A interest groups seek public funding to advance their special interests B people benefit from an interest group's efforts without making any contribution C elected officials provide government services for those who have helped their campaigns D political campaigns manipulate the news media in order to obtain free advertising E congressional candidates win elections because they belong to the party of a popular president
people benefit from an interest group's efforts without making any contribution
Congressional standing committees are best described as A specially appointed investigative bodies B joint committees of the two houses of Congress C committees created for each session D permanent subject-matter committees E advisory staff agencies
permanent subject-matter committees
standing committees
permanently established legislative committees that deal with one issue
The power of the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives rests on its authority to A choose the chairs of other standing committees and issue rules for the selection of subcommittee chairs B initiate all spending legislation and hold budget hearings C place a bill on the legislative calendar, limit time for debate and determine the type of amendments allowed D determine the procedures by white nominations by the President will be approved by the House E Choose the President if no candidate wins a majority in the electoral college
place a bill on the legislative calendar, limit time for debate and determine the type of amendments allowed
Most of the bills introduced in the House and the Senate are then A passed by one chamber but not the other B passed by both chambers but vetoed by the President C referred to committee but never sent to the full Congress D voted down during the amendment stage of the floor debate E killed in the Rules Committee
referred to committee but never sent to the full Congress
Which of the following committees of the House of Representatives sets the conditions for debate and amendment of most legislation? A Ways and Means B Appropriations C Judiciary D Rules E Government Operations
rules
Most of the work of legislating in Congress takes place in A joint committees B ad hoc committees C select committees D conference committees E standing committees
standing committees
The committee system is more important in the House than in the Senate because A the seniority system plays no role in the House and therefore committees must play a larger role B the Constitution mandates the type of committee structure in the House C committee members are appointed by the President D the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor E the majority party in the House prefers to give priority to the work of the committees
the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor
Interest groups engage in all of the following activities EXCEPT A testifying before congressional committees B sponsoring issue advocacy ads C lobbying federal agencies D filing federal lawsuits E using the franking privilege
using the franking privilege
