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CHAPTER 13
Congress
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Richard F. Fenno described this paradox about Congress.
a.
The lack of power in Congress when it comes to budget
b.
The lack of support for Congress, but the presence of strong support among the public for
congressional actions
c.
The public disapproving of Congress, but on average, approving of their representatives
and senators
d.
The strong power of Congress in foreign affairs.
e.
None of the above is true.
2. In the typical public opinion poll,
a.
Congress is the most popular branch of government.
b.
Congress is the least popular branch of government.
c.
Congress is more popular than the president, but not the judiciary.
d.
Congress is more popular than the judiciary, but not the president.
e.
The three branches of government are equally popular.
3. The term used to describe a two house legislative body.
a.
Unicameralism
b.
Bicameralism
c.
Federation
d.
Republic
e.
Democracy
4. From 1890 to 1910, about __________ of all votes in Congress evoked a partisan split.
a.
one-tenth
b.
one-third
c.
one-fourth
d.
two-thirds
e.
two-fifths
5. This article of the U.S. Constitution details the structure and power of Congress.
a.
Article I
b.
Article II
c.
Article III
d.
Article IV
e.
Article V
6. Article I, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution confers on Congress all of the following powers EXCEPT
a.
the power to veto bills.
b.
the power to collect taxes.
c.
the power to declare war.
d.
the power to establish courts.
e.
the power to regulate commerce.
7. Which is not a power of Congress specifically enumerated in Article I, section 8?
a.
To lay and collect taxes, duties, impost, and excise
b.
To borrow money
c.
To fix the standards of weights and measures
d.
To declare war
e.
To grant titles of nobility
8. In Great Britain’s parliamentary system, candidates for Parliament are selected by
a.
other members of Parliament, as in a private club.
b.
the people, through primary elections.
c.
delegates to the party conventions.
d.
the party.
e.
the prime minister.
9. In a parliamentary system, when members of the government’s party vote against the parliament, the
leadership must
a.
form an alliance with the opposition.
b.
appeal to the people to influence their representatives.
c.
dissolve the parliament and form a new government.
d.
resign and name someone from the opposing party to lead the government.
e.
resign and join the opposing party.
10. The principal work of Congress is __________.
a.
debate
b.
deliberation
c.
representation
d.
action
e.
Both C and D are true.
11. A basic difference between a parliament such as Great Britain’s and the U.S. Congress is
a.
that the principal role of Congress is to debate national issues.
b.
members of Parliament have more power and higher pay.
c.
members of Congress are more likely to vote the party line.
d.
Congress does not select a president.
e.
members of Parliament have nicer offices.
12. Congress was designed by the Founders in ways that almost inevitably make it __________.
a.
efficient
b.
popular
c.
unpopular
d.
proactive
e.
respected
13. Under the original U.S. Constitution, members of the House, unlike members of the Senate, were
selected by ___________.
a.
direct elections
b.
the president
c.
state legislatures
d.
primary runoffs
e.
regional coalitions
14. The overriding political question throughout the evolution of Congress has been the
a.
balance of power among Congress, the executive, and the judiciary.
b.
distribution of powers within Congress.
c.
curtailment of presidential activism.
d.
role of the parties in selecting members.
e.
rules pertaining to committee assignments.
15. Until ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution, members of the Senate were
selected by __________.
a.
direct elections
b.
the president
c.
state legislatures
d.
primary runoffs
e.
regional coalitions
16. How many members are there in the U.S. House of Representatives?
a.
400
b.
435
c.
535
d.
100
e.
200
17. By the end of the nineteenth century, the Senate was known as the _________ Club.
a.
Recalcitrant
b.
BMOC
c.
Hunt
d.
Millionaires’
e.
Vice President’s
18. Which is NOT one of the six phases of the U.S. House of Representatives discussed in the text?
a.
The Powerful House
b.
The Divided House
c.
The Speaker Rules
d.
The House of Newt
e.
The House Revolts
19. The purpose of a filibuster is to
a.
ensure that all sides of an issue are heard.
b.
delay action in a legislative body.
c.
protect majority rule.
d.
shift legislative power to Senate committees.
e.
magnify the impact of specific special interests.
20. All of the following statements concerning the filibuster are correct EXCEPT
a.
it became a common feature of Senate life by the end of the nineteenth century.
b.
it became an unpopular feature of Senate life by the end of the nineteenth century.
c.
it was used by liberals and conservatives alike.
d.
there have been attempts to restrict its use.
e.
today, it takes seventy-five senators to end debate.
21. Rule 22 was adopted by the Senate to provide a method to cut off debate during a filibuster because
senators were
a.
trying to protect the power of individual senators.
b.
fearful of tying a president’s hands during a wartime crisis.
c.
trying to protect their state interest.
d.
trying to strengthen the power of the courts.
e.
None of the above is true.
22. The Senate first invoked cloture to end a filibuster of the
a.
debate over whether to enter War World I or not.
b.
debate over the Treaty of Versailles.
c.
debate over the Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
d.
debate over the Spanish-American War.
e.
debate over the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
23. Today, it takes __________ of the Senate to cut off debate.
a.
50 members
b.
51 members
c.
60 members
d.
75 members
e.
99 members
24. The typical member of Congress is a(n)
a.
middle-aged, white, Protestant businessman.
b.
older, white, Protestant businessman.
c.
older, white, Catholic lawyer.
d.
middle-aged, white, Protestant lawyer.
e.
young, white communications major.
25. In the nineteenth century, a large fraction—often a majority—of congressmen served
a.
two terms.
b.
for decades.
c.
only one term.
d.
for life.
e.
three terms.
26. The “Blue Dog” Caucus consists of Democrats who happen to be
a.
extremely liberal.
b.
moderately conservative.
c.
from the Southeastern United States.
d.
from districts that feature coastal waterways.
e.
senior to most of the members in their region.
27. All of the following statements concerning term limits are correct EXCEPT
a.
the movement to impose term limits began in the 1980s.
b.
the House approved a constitutional amendment to limit terms.
c.
A constitutional amendment to limit terms died in the Senate.
d.
the Supreme Court has struck down a state law limiting the terms of members
of Congress.
e.
the Supreme Court has struck down a state law limiting the terms of members of
state legislatures.
28. The November 2012 elections brought __________ first-term members to House.
a.
less than 30
b.
45
c.
75
d.
120
e.
more than 150
29. A marginal district is one in which
a.
voters frequently change party affiliation.
b.
the constituency is made up largely of minority groups.
c.
voters are not clear as to which candidate is the incumbent.
d.
gerrymandering has produced a loose affiliation of interest groups.
e.
the winner in an election gets less than 55 percent of the vote.
30. One proposed explanation for why congressional seats have become less marginal is that
a.
the growing strength of the party system makes it less likely for challengers to appeal to
average voters.
b.
incumbents can use their powers to get programs passed that benefit their districts, and
thereby themselves.
c.
incumbents are less likely than challengers to become associated with the “mess”
in Washington.
d.
changing demographics have made an increasing number of districts overwhelmingly
Democratic or Republican.
e.
incumbents are less ideological than challengers and link themselves with Congress as
an institution.
31. Marginal districts are ones where
a.
the winner is newly elected.
b.
the incumbent has served for years.
c.
the incumbent has little power in the House.
d.
the winner gets more than 55 percent of the vote.
e.
the winner gets less than 55 percent of the vote.
32. Studies suggest the incumbency advantage is worth __________ percentage points today.
a.
two
b.
three to four
c.
five
d.
six to eight
e.
thirty
33. The conservative coalition in Congress consists of
a.
southern Democrats and Republicans.
b.
western Democrats and Republicans.
c.
southern Republicans and Democrats.
d.
western Republicans and Republicans.
e.
northeastern Republicans and Democrats.
34. Since the 1980s, the conservative coalition has become less important because
a.
reapportionment has given moderates an advantage in policymaking.
b.
rules changes have weakened party discipline.
c.
congressional leadership changes hands more frequently.
d.
many southern Democrats in Congress have been replaced by southern Republicans.
e.
northern Republicans are more influential.
35. Recent changes in the composition of Congress have resulted in
a.
a more moderate Senate.
b.
a more moderate House.
c.
a more ideological and partisan House.
d.
a more nonpartisan Senate.
e.
a more nonpartisan House.
36. One study reported in the text showed that the strongest correlation between congressional voting and
constituency opinion was in the area of
a.
social welfare.
b.
foreign policy.
c.
taxation.
d.
commercial regulation.
e.
civil rights.
37. The explanation for congressional voting behavior that assumes members vote to please their
constituents is referred to as __________.
a.
representational
b.
conventional
c.
organizational
d.
attitudinal
e.
relational
38. The explanation for congressional voting behavior that assumes members vote to please their
colleagues is referred to as __________.
a.
representational
b.
conventional
c.
organizational
d.
attitudinal
e.
relational
39. If you wished to study the real leadership office in the Senate, you would most likely focus on the
a.
president pro tempore.
b.
majority leader.
c.
party whip.
d.
chairperson of the Policy Committee.
e.
chairperson of the Judiciary Committee.
40. A member of the Senate has just been elected to a position that requires him to keep the majority
leader informed about the opinions of other party members. He has just been elected
a.
majority party whip.
b.
president pro tempore.
c.
chairman of the Steering Committee.
d.
chairman of the Policy Committee.
e.
chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
41. __________ decide(s) the outcome of disputed congressional elections.
a.
Congress alone
b.
Congress and the Supreme Court
c.
The Supreme Court
d.
State legislatures
e.
Governors
42. The Supreme Court upheld Senator Mike Gravel’s reading of the Pentagon Papers—some then-secret
government documents about the Vietnam War—into the Congressional Record because
a.
the speech did not present a clear and present danger to the United States.
b.
the speech did not incite an imminent lawless action.
c.
Senators have unlimited freedom of speech.
d.
it was “privileged speech” and beyond challenge.
e.
None of the above is true.
43. The Supreme Court ruled that Senator William Proxmire was outside of the protection of the
“privileged speech” when he issued a press release critical of a scientist doing research on
a.
the mating habits of geese.
b.
monkeys.
c.
a controversial study of milk cows.
d.
steroids.
e.
drag racing.
44. Most of the power in Congress is found in
a.
the chairmanship of committees and subcommittees.
b.
specialized caucuses.
c.
state delegations.
d.
party leaders.
e.
caucuses.
45. ___________committees are more or less permanent bodies with specific legislative responsibilities.
a.
Standing
b.
Select
c.
Conference
d.
Joint
e.
Rejoinder
46. The type of committee most likely to deal with a bill near the end of its legislative process is the
__________ committee.
a.
standing
b.
select
c.
conference
d.
joint
e.
rejoinder
47. Because they are usually the only ones that can report out bills, the most important committees are the
__________ committees.
a.
joint
b.
conference
c.
standing
d.
select
e.
rejoinder
48. Of the following, which is an example of a select committee?
a.
Aging
b.
Ethics
c.
Indian Affairs
d.
Options A, B, C, and D are true.
e.
None of the above is true.
49. Where is the real work of Congress done?
a.
On the House floor
b.
On the Senate floor
c.
In the caucuses
d.
In floor sessions in both houses
e.
In the committees in both houses
50. The original purpose of the General Accounting Office (GAO), now the Government Accountability
Office, was to perform
a.
research in the Library of Congress.
b.
audits of financial records.
c.
evaluations of technological advancements.
d.
employment application evaluations.
e.
audits of high-ranking military officers.
51. The staff agency that advises Congress on the probable economic effect of different spending
programs and the cost of proposed policies is the
a.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
b.
General Accounting Office (GAO).
c.
Congressional Research Service (CRS).
d.
Office of Technology Assessment (OTA).
e.
Congressional Research Fund (CRF).
52. The complexity of the procedure for enacting a law gives the advantage to the bill’s
a.
party supporters.
b.
opponents.
c.
congressional sponsors.
d.
supporters in the executive branch.
e.
supporters in the media.
53. A bill can be introduced in Congress by
a.
any member of the majority party.
b.
any member of Congress.
c.
any member of Congress or the president.
d.
members of the relevant committees only.
e.
committee chairpersons only.
54. A concurrent resolution based by Congress seeks to
a.
censor executive branch officials.
b.
make significant policy decisions.
c.
settle housekeeping and procedural matters that affect both houses.
d.
settle housekeeping and procedural matters that affect only one house.
e.
reorganize committees in one house.
55. Which of the following statements about revenue bills is correct?
a.
They must originate in the House.
b.
They must originate in the Senate.
c.
They must originate with the president.
d.
They can originate in either the House or the Senate.
e.
They must originate in the Senate Finance Committee.
56. A discharge petition is used by the House to
a.
make revisions and additions to a bill before it is voted on.
b.
get a bill that is stalled in committee onto the floor.
c.
amend a bill that has already passed one house but not the other.
d.
override a presidential veto.
e.
amend a bill in a manner that will make it quite unpopular.
57. Unlike in the House, the scheduling of legislation in the Senate is
a.
controlled by the Rules Committee.
b.
initiated by means of a discharge petition.
c.
governed by closed rather than open rules.
d.
determined by the majority and minority leaders.
e.
determined ad hoc.
58. In the Senate, a filibuster can be ended by invoking
a.
a rider.
b.
a quorum.
c.
a markup.
d.
cloture.
e.
a meeting of the whole.
59. When a bill passes the House and Senate in substantially different forms, the differences are
resolved in
a.
a joint committee.
b.
a committee of the whole.
c.
the Rules Committee.
d.
a conference committee.
e.
a team-plan committee.
60. In recent years, the political beliefs of members of Congress have become
a.
more polarized than those of voters.
b.
close to the center of the political spectrum.
c.
moderately liberal.
d.
moderately conservative.
e.
more unified.
TRUE/FALSE
1. It can be said that most Americans trust the Supreme Court, respect the presidency (whether or not you
like the president), and dislike Congress.
2. To the Framers of the Constitution, the Congress was intended to be the most important branch
of government.
3. Many experts see Congress as the “broken branch.”
4. A congress concerns itself mainly with legislative action; a parliament concerns itself with debate.
5. Congress tends to be a decentralized institution, with all members more interested in their own views
and those of their voters than with programs proposed by the president.
6. The Congress is a unicameral institution.
7. There are 535 members in Congress.
8. The right to filibuster is governed by Senate Rule 22.
9. Today, sixty senators must agree to invoke cloture to close off debate in the Senate.
10. The number of women in Congress has increased in recent years.
11. Safe districts are House seats where the winner won with 60 percent or more of the vote.
12. Research has shown that the net gains from redistricting for one party over the other are very small.
13. The Conservative Coalition consisted of Western Democrats and Republicans.
14. Foreign policy issues are more likely to be guided by the representational view of
congressional voting.
15. Party is the principal cue in congressional voting.
16. In general, Senate leaders have more power than House leaders.
17. Congressional power is exercised primarily by committee chairs.
18. Simple resolutions are used to make internal rules in either house.
19. All measures dealing with taxes or appropriations must originate in the Senate.
20. Most scholars agree that the legislative output of Congress declined during the 1980s and 1990s.
ESSAY
1. Discuss the public’s opinion of Congress compared to the public’s view of the Supreme Court and
the presidency.
2. Discuss the meaning of Congress scholar Richard F. Fenno’s phrase, if “Congress is the broken branch
then how come we love our congressmen so much more than our Congress”?
3. Compare and contrast membership in Congress with membership in a parliament, like that of
Great Britain.
4. Identify the six distinct stages in the history of the House of Representatives.
5. What is a filibuster? What are the rules regarding its use?
6. Identify and explain the three theories of congressional voting.
7. Summarize the constitutional qualifications for members of the House and Senate.
8. Identify and define the four types of congressional committees.
9. Identify three major staff agencies in Congress. Explain their work.
10. Describe the various ways that members of Congress cast their votes.
