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1. In recent years, polls show that ______ of respondents have favorable opinions about Congress as a whole.
a.
fewer than 5 percent
b.
as few as 9 percent
c.
about 50 percent
d.
about 75 percent
e.
more than 90 percent
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Introduction
2. The people represented by a legislator or other elected or appointed official are called
a.
delegates.
b.
trustees.
c.
constituents.
d.
representatives.
e.
members.
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Introduction
3. The framers of the Constitution assumed that most national power would be held by the
a.
executive branch.
b.
legislative branch.
c.
Department of Defense.
d.
bureaucracy.
e.
judicial branch.
b
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The Nature and Functions of Congress
4. The division of a legislature into two separate assemblies is called
a.
representative democracy.
b.
checks and balances.
c.
a two-party system.
d.
bicameralism.
e.
dual executives.
d
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Bicameralism
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5. The practice of logrolling is
a.
an arrangement in which members of Congress agree in advance to support each others’ bills.
b.
when members of Congress undermine the personal credibility of their opponents.
c.
when members of Congress use unlimited debate as a delaying tactic to block a bill.
d.
when members of Congress attach amendments to bills.
e.
the process of putting together a budget.
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The Lawmaking Function
6. Congress’s main function is to
a.
enforce the laws.
b.
make laws.
c.
impeach high government officials.
d.
use its oversight power.
e.
decide whether or not laws are constitutional.
b
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Introduction
7. A majority of the bills that Congress acts on originate
a.
in congressional committees.
b.
with constituents from the district or state.
c.
in the executive branch.
d.
with individual members of Congress.
e.
with focus groups.
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The Lawmaking Function
8. A special provision in legislation to set aside funds for projects that have not passed an impartial evaluation by agencies
in the executive branch is called a(n)
a.
unfunded mandate.
b.
backdoor clause.
c.
amendment.
d.
rider.
e.
earmark.
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9. Which of the following statements best explain why the representation function is often a source of conflict for
individual lawmakers?
a.
The interests of constituents in a specific district may be at odds with the demands of national policy.
b.
The laws they make might be what their constituents want.
c.
Trading votes might be useful in getting constituents what they need.
d.
The House often helps the Senate members meet the needs of constituents.
e.
The President often meddles in the affairs of individual states or House districts.
The Representation Function
10. A representative who is performing the role of a trustee is
a.
mirroring the views of the majority of the constituents who elected him or her.
b.
supporting the president on all of his or her legislative programs.
c.
acting according to the broad interests of the entire society.
d.
supporting his or her political party.
e.
representing other members of Congress.
The Representation Function
11. A representative who is performing the role of an instructed delegate is
a.
mirroring the views of the majority of the constituents who elected him or her.
b.
supporting the president on all of his legislative programs.
c.
acting according to the broad interests of the entire society.
d.
supporting his or her political party.
e.
representing other members of Congress.
The Representation Function
12. Which of the following best describes a major problem with the role of the instructed delegate function of a member
of Congress?
a.
The public might not support the President’s policies.
b.
The constituents likely do not actually have well-formed views on the issues that are decided in Congress.
c.
Constituents may not be in the same political party as the representative.
d.
Members of Congress are often clueless about legislation.
The Lawmaking Function
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e.
Congressmen and women have a hard time cooperating.
b
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The Representation Function
13. A legislator from Florida who votes, against his or her personal beliefs, to support subsidies for orange growers would
be acting
a.
as a trustee.
b.
as a logroller.
c.
as an instructed delegate.
d.
on what he or she believes is best for the entire society.
e.
as an executive.
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The Representation Function
14. For a member of Congress, casework is
a.
logrolling.
b.
personal work for constituents.
c.
lawmaking.
d.
oversight.
e.
an enumerated power.
b
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Service to Constituents
15. Oversight is
a.
the process by which Congress follows up on the laws it has enacted.
b.
the process by which Congress reviews the actions of subcommittees.
c.
the time of the year that Congress chooses its leadership.
d.
when the President supervises the activity of the judicial branch.
e.
when Congress passes legislation.
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The Oversight Function
16. Which of the following is NOT a function of Congress?
a.
Determining if laws are constitutional
b.
Educating the public through hearings and debates
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c.
Carrying out and executing the laws it has passed
d.
Representing constituents
e.
Resolving conflicts between different groups
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The Nature and Functions of Congress
17. Determining which public policy questions will be debated or considered is the process of _____.
a.
oversight
b.
filibustering
c.
casework
d.
agenda setting
e.
logrolling
d
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The Public-Education Function
18. Enumerated powers are
a.
powers that the executive branch has.
b.
powers that allow the president to do whatever he likes, as long as it carries out the Constitution.
c.
powers that are specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution.
d.
Supreme Court decisions.
e.
spelled out in the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution.
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The Powers of Congress
19. The rights to collect taxes, to spend, and to regulate commerce are
a.
powers that have only recently been granted to Congress.
b.
powers reserved exclusively for the states.
c.
powers reserved for the president.
d.
the most important domestic powers of Congress.
e.
the most important foreign policy powers of Congress.
d
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The Powers of Congress
20. The necessary and proper clause
a.
has provided the basis for an expanded role of the national government.
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b.
has greatly expanded the presidential powers.
c.
was in the original Constitution, but was eliminated as a consequence of the Twenty-Seventh Amendment.
d.
has served to limit the expansion of national authority.
e.
is located in the Constitution in the text of the Tenth Amendment.
The Powers of Congress
21. Because of the large number of Representatives in the House of Representatives,
a.
House members tend to filibuster.
b.
the Senate acts on legislation far more quickly than the House.
c.
more formal rules are needed to govern how Congress operates.
d.
House members invoke cloture more often.
e.
a constitutional amendment has been proposed to decrease the size of the House and to increase the number in
the Senate.
Size and Rules
22. A filibuster is
a.
the use of unlimited debate as a delaying tactic to block a bill.
b.
an attempt to persuade others to vote for a particular bill in return for a favor at a later date.
c.
used in the House to force a standing committee to release a bill.
d.
a method used by the Speaker of the House to promote the majority party’s legislation.
e.
a technique that is unique to the House.
Debate and Filibustering
23. The concept of cloture refers to
a.
a method used to defeat legislation in Congress.
b.
a process that shuts off discussion on a bill in the Senate.
c.
closed meetings held by both parties to elect their leadership or resolve other important issues.
d.
action taken by the House Rules Committee that must be approved by the Speaker.
e.
the resolution that adjourns Congress.
Debate and Filibustering
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24. Which of the following statements about the filibuster is false?
a.
Filibusters were rare.
b.
Recently, filibusters could start without senators having to make any speeches.
c.
Senators threaten to filibuster almost every significant piece of legislation that comes before the Senate.
d.
A new rule has been made to mandate that sixty Senators support major pieces of legislation, because of
constant filibuster threats.
e.
Senators like filibusters, and do not want to abolish the practice.
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Debate and Filibustering
25. The largest occupational group among members of Congress is
a.
lawyers.
b.
educators.
c.
businesspersons.
d.
lobbyists.
e.
clergy.
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Congresspersons and the Citizenry: A Comparison
26. The process of electing members of Congress is
a.
conducted at the national level by the federal government.
b.
conducted at the local level by municipal governments.
c.
decentralized and conducted by individual state governments.
d.
not subject to any national statutes.
e.
not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution.
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Congressional Elections and Apportionment
27. Which of the following statements about midterm elections is true?
a.
Voter turnout increases in midterm elections.
b.
The President’s party will usually gain seats in Congress.
c.
Voter turnout falls sharply in midterm elections.
d.
The President’s party will always be unaffected by midterm elections.
e.
Incumbents are more likely to lose midterm elections.
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28. Reapportionment is
a.
the allocation of seats in the House to each state after each census.
b.
the redrawing of district boundaries within each state.
c.
a court order to hold new elections because of voting irregularities.
d.
altering a legislative formula that apportions spending among the states.
e.
a budget procedure used in the House.
Apportionment of the House
29. Redistricting is
a.
the allocation of seats in the House to each state after each census.
b.
the redrawing of district boundaries within each state.
c.
a court order to hold new elections because of voting irregularities.
d.
altering a legislative formula that apportions spending among the states.
e.
an illegal method used by parties to gain political advantage.
b
Apportionment of the House
30. The U.S. Supreme Court in 1962 made the redistricting of state legislative seats
a.
illegal.
b.
a justiciable question.
c.
unable to be reviewed in court.
d.
legal only in Illinois.
e.
the sole power of the President.
b
Apportionment of the House
31. Gerrymandering is
a.
legislation passed in southern states to limit African American participation in elections.
b.
the drawing of legislative district boundary lines to give the dominant party an advantage.
c.
known to give the minority party an electoral advantage at the expense of the dominant party.
d.
a process that attempts to limit debate on a bill in the Senate.
e.
a method used by the president when he wants to prevent the passage of legislation.
b
Candidates for Congressional Elections
32. Members of Congress are granted generous franking privileges that
a.
permit them to mail letters to their constituents for free.
b.
allow them to charge items to a special expense account.
c.
allow members unlimited phone calls to their district without charge.
d.
permit them to receive four, round-trip airfares to their district.
e.
allow them to hold events such as barbeques in their districts at taxpayer expense.
Perks and Privileges
33. Which of the following statements about the people who work for Congress is false?
a.
They include office clerks, assistants, and professionals who deal with media relations and draft legislation.
b.
There are a larger number of staffers for House members than for senators.
c.
The total number of staff members has increased dramatically since 1960.
d.
About half of the people employed in the Capitol Hill bureaucracy are personal and committee staff members.
e.
Some staffers maintain local offices in the member’s home state or district.
Perks and Privileges
34. The “speech or debate” clause in Article I, Section 6, of the Constitution means that a member of Congress
a.
may make any allegations in connection with official duties and normally not be sued for defamation.
b.
cannot be arrested for misdemeanors while Congress is in session.
c.
must agree to public debates with announced opponents during the campaign.
d.
cannot engage in foreign diplomacy without the approval of the administration.
e.
cannot be served with parking tickets issued within the District of Columbia.
Perks and Privileges
35. Most of the actual work of legislating is
a.
performed by interest groups and then acted on by Congress.
b.
done in the Rules Committee of the Senate.
c.
performed on the floor of the House of Representatives.
d.
performed by the committees and subcommittees within Congress.
e.
done when the president signs it.
36. Standing committees are
a.
permanent bodies that are established by the rules of each chamber and that continue from session to session.
b.
committees that handle issues that the most important committees in Congress do not consider.
c.
committees that work with counterparts in the other house of Congress.
d.
committees that reconcile differences in an action.
e.
committees inside committees, which handle tasks that the main committee has no time for.
Types of Congressional Committees
37. A _______ is formed by the concurrent action of both chambers of Congress and consists of members from each
chamber.
a.
legislative union
b.
select committee
c.
standing committee
d.
joint committee
e.
conference committee
Types of Congressional Committees
38. The foremost power holder in the House of Representatives is the
a.
President of the House.
b.
majority leader.
c.
president pro tempore.
d.
Speaker of the House.
e.
chief whip.
Leadership in the House
39. An important function of the House majority leader is to
a.
report all legislation to the president.
b.
deliver the bill to the White House.
c.
provide opposition to the president pro tempore of the Senate.
d.
foster cohesion among party members.
How Congress Is Organized?
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e.
preside over meetings of the House of Representatives.
Leadership in the House
40. The whips assist the party leaders by
a.
voting to support the party platform at the national convention.
b.
attempting to convince the general public that congresspersons should vote the party line.
c.
passing information down from the leadership to party members and ensuring that members cast their votes on
important issues.
d.
gathering research information.
e.
pressuring them to take positions popular among the party rank-and-file.
Leadership in the House
41. The president of the Senate is
a.
the leader of the majority party in the Senate.
b.
the senator with the most seniority, regardless of party.
c.
the fourth person in line to succeed the president.
d.
the vice president of the United States.
e.
always a member of the majority party in the Senate.
Leadership in the Senate
42. The de facto power in the Senate belongs to
a.
President of the Senate.
b.
President pro tempore of the Senate.
c.
Senator designate selected by the president.
d.
Senate majority and minority leaders and their respective whips.
e.
the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Leadership in the Senate
43. The ______ of the Senate is mostly a ceremonial position.
a.
president pro tempore
b.
majority leader
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c.
minority leader
d.
majority whip
e.
minority whip
Leadership in the Senate
44. “Budget bills” must originate
a.
in the Senate.
b.
in the House.
c.
in conference committee.
d.
with the president.
e.
from any of the above sources.
Lawmaking and Budgeting
45. Once a bill gets referred to a committee,
a.
a vote is held immediately in both houses of Congress on whether the bill should become law.
b.
it cannot make changes in the wording of the bill.
c.
it usually goes to a specialized subcommittee for hearings, revisions, and approval.
d.
it immediately goes to the other house of Congress.
e.
the committee must work with the President to report or table the legislation.
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Lawmaking and Budgeting
46. The job of a conference committee is to
a.
originate appropriations bills.
b.
write a compromise bill, if the House and Senate bills contain different provisions.
c.
set the rules of debate for a bill.
d.
determine the committee path of a bill.
e.
override a presidential veto.
Lawmaking and Budgeting
47. The Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 requires
a.
each member of Congress to inform constituents of their votes on appropriations measures.
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b.
the president to spend the funds that Congress has appropriated.
c.
a balanced budget by the 2030 fiscal year.
d.
the president to present an executive budget.
e.
budgets to receive the approval of the American people before they go into effect.
b
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How Much Will the Government Spend?
48. One of the most powerful agencies in Washington, the _______ assembles the budget documents and monitors federal
agencies throughout each year.
a.
Council of Economic Advisers
b.
Senate Budget Committee
c.
Department of Budget and Commerce
d.
House Ways and Means Committee
e.
Office of Management and Budget
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Preparing the Budget
49. The actual passage of a spending bill specifying the amount of authorized funds that will be allocated for an agency’s
use is called
a.
authorization.
b.
appropriation.
c.
allocation.
d.
reconciliation.
e.
consolidation.
b
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Preparing the Budget
50. A temporary funding law that Congress passes when an appropriations bill has NOT been passed by the beginning of
the fiscal year is
a.
the Emergency Revenue Generation Act.
b.
a continuing resolution.
c.
an Emergency Fall Review.
d.
a Second Temporary Budget Resolution.
e.
a spring review.
b
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51. Identify and describe the three most important powers Congress has, and explain why you think they rank as such.
52. Compare and contrast the trustee and instructed-delegate theories of representation.
53. How does the filibuster affect the workings of Congress, positively and negatively?
54. Compare the membership of Congress and the “typical” American citizen.
55. Explain reapportionment and redistricting, and describe how they can affect political outcomes.
56. Identify and describe the different types of committees and their functions, and assess their function in the lawmaking
process.
57. Explain the roles played by the members of the House and Senate leadership.
58. Explain how and where a bill can be stopped in the legislative process.
59. Explain how a bill becomes a law.
60. Describe the budget cycle.