front 1 A Senate seat is up for election every a) four years. b) two year. c) eight years. d) six years. e) five years. | back 1 d) six years. |
front 2 After each federal census, a) the membership of the House of reapportioned. b) the size of Congress increases. c) the office of the Speaker of the House changes hands. d) the Senate reapportions its membership. e) All of the above are true. | back 2 a) the membership of the House of reapportioned. |
front 3 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) General Accounting Office b) Congressional Research Service c) Ways and Means Committee d) Congressional Budget Office e) Federal Reserve | back 3 d) Congressional Budget Office |
front 4 A bicameral legislature is a legislature a) in which there are only two political parties. b) with two houses, providing checks and balances on policymaking. 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 each state has two senators, providing equal representation of the states. | back 4 b) with two houses, providing checks and balances on policymaking. |
front 5 House seats are up for election every a) eight years. b) four years. c) two years. d) five years. e) six years. | back 5 c) two years. |
front 6 _______ members present and voting can halt a filibuster by voting for cloture. a) Seventy-five b) Eighty c) Sixty d) Seventy e) Fifty-one | back 6 c) Sixty |
front 7 Which of the following is NOT true about incumbents? a) They usually have more money than their challengers. b) They usually have their party's endorsement. c) They usually have higher name recognition and visibility than their opponents. d) They usually face very tough challenges, especially in races for the House. e) They usually win elections. | back 7 d) They usually face very tough challenges, especially in races for the House. |
front 8 The U.S. Senate has _____ members. a) 50 b) 100 c) 535 d) 438 e) 435 | back 8 b) 100 |
front 9 Which of the following statements regarding party politics and Congress is FALSE? a) Democrats are more supportive of government action on social welfare policies than are Republicans. b) Republicans in Congress have become more conservative while Democrats in Congress have become more liberal. c) Over the past three decades, the distance between congressional parties has been growing. d) Differences between the parties are sharpest on questions of economic and social welfare policy. e) Bipartisan compromise has grown more frequent over the last three decades. | back 9 e) Bipartisan compromise has grown more frequent over the last three decades. |
front 10 Which of the following statements about the policymaking process is FALSE? a) Presidents play no role in crafting the congressional agenda. b) Party leaders exercise a great deal of control over the House. c) House leaders frequently refer bills to several committees at the same time. d) At times, House leaders bypass committees altogether, referring high-priority legislation directly to the floor. e) Individual senators have substantial opportunities for influence through mechanisms such as the filibuster. | back 10 a) Presidents play no role in crafting the congressional agenda. |
front 11 The _____ helps Congress perform its oversight function by reviewing the activities of the executive branch to see if it is following the congressional intent of the laws. a) Select Committee b) Rules Committee c) Government Accountability Office d) Congressional Budget Office e) Congressional Research Office | back 11 c) Government Accountability Office |
front 12 Which of the following is TRUE of the Senate as compared to the House? a) The Senate is more centralized and is characterized by stronger leadership. b) The Senate is smarter in number and less powerful and prestigious. c) The Senate is more influential on the budget. d) In the Senate, seniority is important in determining power. e) The Senate is more influential in foreign affairs. | back 12 e) The Senate is more influential in foreign affairs. |
front 13 Substantive representation refers to a) descriptive representation. b) representing the poor. c) serving constituents through pork barrel projects. d) representing constituents by mirroring their personal, politically relevant characteristics. e) representing the interest groups. | back 13 e) representing the interest groups. |
front 14 Nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court must be confirmed by a) either the House or the Senate. b) the president. c) the House. d) both the House and the Senate. e) the Senate. | back 14 e) the Senate. |
front 15 Compared to members of the House, senators are a) more likely to have personal contact with their constituents. b) less likely to face difficult reelection opponents. c) less likely to use television in their reelection campaign. d) more likely to face difficult reelection opponents. e) None of the above is true. | back 15 d) more likely to face difficult reelection opponents. |
front 16 What is descriptive representation? a) When members of Congress serve on committees b) Representing issues affecting the poor when the representative is extremely wealthy c) Representing constituents by mirroring their personal, politically relevant characteristics d) Representing the interests of groups e) When members of Congress have not lived in their home district very long. | back 16 c) Representing constituents by mirroring their personal, politically relevant characteristics |
front 17 Which of the following statements about incumbency is FALSE? a) Most incumbents decide to run for reelection. b) Not only do more than 90 percent of incumbents seeking reelection win, but most win more than 60 percent of the vote. c) Incumbents tend to win even when challengers positions are closer to voters' positions. d) Most incumbents running for reelection are victorious. e) Most incumbents forgo the opportunity to run for reelection. | back 17 e) Most incumbents forgo the opportunity to run for reelection. |
front 18 The ______ is administered by the Library of Congress to provide nonpartisan studies and information to members of Congress. a) Congressional Research Service b) Government Accountability Office c) House Ways and Means Committee d) House rules Committee e) Congressional Budget Office | back 18 a) Congressional Research Service |
front 19 An example of casework by a member of Congress is a) helping a constituent gain citizenship. b) voting for a bill desired by constituents. c) writing a newsletter to send out to constituents. d) working with a caucus on a public policy that affects his or her constituents. e) All of the above are true. | back 19 a) helping a constituent gain citizenship. |
front 20 A ________ committee is one appointed for a limited, specific purpose, such as that set up to investigate the Watergate scandal. a) select b) special c) standing d) joint e) conference | back 20 a) select |
front 21 Individuals already holding office are called a) secretaries. b) chairman. c) challengers. d) incumbents. e) consulates. | back 21 d) incumbents. |
front 22 Which of the following statements about the filibuster is FALSE? a) The filibuster can tie up the legislative agenda. b) Rules adopted over the years make it easier to close off debate and end a filibuster. c) The filibuster is used to talk a bill to death. d) The filibuster is used in both houses. e) All of the above are true. | back 22 d) The filibuster is used in both houses. |
front 23 The House Rules Committee a) is similar to the Senate Rules Committee. b) has its members appointed by the House majority leader. 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 are true. | back 23 d) reviews most bills coming from committee before they go to the full House. |
front 24 Most of the business of Congress takes place a) during evening social functions. b) in congressional districts. c) in the Rules Committee. d) in the committees and subcommittees. e) on the floor of the House and Senate. | back 24 d) in the committees and subcommittees. |
front 25 Which of the following congressional offices is mandated by the Constitution? a) President of the United States b) House and Senate majority leader c) Speaker of the House d) President of the House e) All of the above are mandated by the Constitution. | back 25 c) Speaker of the House |
front 26 The principal partisan ally of the Speaker of the House, responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes is the a) majority whip. b) president of the Senate. c) minority leader. d) House clerk. e) majority leader. | back 26 e) majority leader. |
front 27 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) junkets. c) caucuses. d) committees. e) interest groups. | back 27 c) caucuses. |
front 28 When the House and the Senate pass different versions of the same bill, a) a conference committee is appointed to resolve differences. b) the House bill is changed to conform with the Senate bill. c) the Senate bill is changed to conform with the House bill. d) the president may select which bill to enact into law. e) a joint committee is appointed to resolve differences. | back 28 a) a conference committee is appointed to resolve differences. |
front 29 One of the key differences between the House and Senate is that the Senate a) is less dependent on seniority for determining power. b) has a lower turnover rate. c) has more anarchy. d) is more centralized. e) has stronger leadership. | back 29 a) is less dependent on seniority for determining power. |
front 30 There are _____ members of Congress. a) 50 b) 435 c) 535 d) 635 e) 100 | back 30 c) 535 |
front 31 A proposed law, drafted in legal language, is called a(n) a) bill. b) statute. c) committee report. d) caucus. e) opinion. | back 31 a) bill. |
front 32 Committees composed of members of both the House and the Senate, the purpose of which is to meet and iron out differences between bills, are called _____ committees. a) temporary b) conference c) standing d) select e) joint | back 32 b) conference |
front 33 _______ committees draw their membership from both the Senate and the House. a) Joint b) Select c) Ad-hoc d) Political Action e) Standing | back 33 a) Joint |
front 34 In terms of religion, most members of Congress are a) atheists. b) Protestant. c) Jewish. d) born-again Christians. c) Catholic. | back 34 b) Protestant. |
front 35 In contrasts to the trustee model of representation, the _____ model of representation is based on legislators mirroring the preferences of their constituents. a) instructed-delegates b) Burkean c) politico d) uninstructed-delegates e) pollster | back 35 a) instructed-delegates |
front 36 According to the Constitution, revenue bills must originate in the a) House. b) Federal Reserve System. c) Treasury Department. d) Internal Revenue Service. e) Senate. | back 36 a) House. |
front 37 The House Committee on Ways and Means is a _________ committee. a) conference b) select c) standing d) joint e) caucus | back 37 b) select |
front 38 Legislative _____ is the process of monitoring the bureaucracy and its administration of policy. a) overview b) franking c) supremacy d) stonewalling e) oversight | back 38 e) oversight |
front 39 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 35 years of age to serve in either the House or the Senate. b) One must be at least 30 years of age to serve in the Senate. c) The age requirements are the same for the House and the Senate. d) one must be at least 21 years of age to serve in the House of Representatives. e) There are no age requirements for members of Congress. | back 39 b) One must be at least 30 years of age to serve in the Senate. |
front 40 The pork barrel and casework are examples of a) advertising techniques. b) congressional continuity. c) position taking. d) opportunities for credit claiming by members of Congress. e) descriptive representation. | back 40 d) opportunities for credit claiming by members of Congress. |
front 41 The minority whip a) assists the majority leader in party-line votes. b) represents African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans in each chamber of Congress. c) 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. e) becomes the Speaker automatically if the Speaker resigns. | back 41 d) keeps a close head count on key votes and attempts to keep party members in line. |
front 42 Appropriations, Judiciary, and Armed Services are all examples of _______ committees. a) conference b) joint c) standing d) rule e) select | back 42 c) standing |
front 43 One of the key differences between the House and Senate is that the House a) has weaker leadership. b) is less centralized. c) is less institutionalized. d) has more policy specialization. e) is more influential on foreign affairs. | back 43 d) has more policy specialization. |
front 44 How many senators are elected from each state? a) It depends on a state's population. b) Two c) One d) Four e) The same number as the state's electors in the Electoral College. | back 44 b) Two |
front 45 The Constitution gives the House of Representatives the power to a) try impeached officials. b) confirm presidential nominations. c) ratify all treaties. d) initiate all revenue bills. e) All of the above are true. | back 45 d) initiate all revenue bills. |
front 46 Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals are known as a) advertising. b) credit claiming. c) franking. d) pork barrel politics. e) casework. | back 46 e) casework. |
front 47 The most powerful person in the Senate is the a) majority leader. b) Speaker. c) vice president of the United States, who serves as president of the Senate. d) chair of the Rules Committee. e) president of the United States. | back 47 a) majority leader. |
front 48 Members of the House of Representatives must be _____ years old. a) 40 b) 30 c) 35 d) 18 e) 25 | back 48 e) 25 |
front 49 The fact that incumbents usually win reelction a) allows representatives and senators to gain some expertise in dealing with public policy. b) creates stability in the membership of Congress. c) makes it more difficult for citizens to "send messages to Washington" with their votes. d) insulates members of Congress from political change. e) All of the above are true. | back 49 e) All of the above are true. |
front 50 The House _______ Committee reviews most bills coming from the other committees before they go on to the full House, thus performing a traffic cop function. a) Appropriations b) Ways and Means c) Authorization d) Rules e) Review | back 50 d) Rules |