AP Government ChAPters 12 & 13

The statement is true because there are indeed 435 members in the House of Representatives and 100 senators in the Senate. This is the current composition of the United States Congress, with the House being made up of representatives from each state based on population, while the Senate has two senators from each state.

The correct answer is Watergate. Watergate refers to the scandal surrounding Richard Nixon's administration that led to impeachment hearings. It involved illegal activities such as the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the subsequent cover-up by Nixon and his aides. The scandal ultimately led to Nixon's resignation as President in 1974.

Each state in the United States elects two senators. This is specified in the U.S. Constitution, which grants each state equal representation in the Senate regardless of its population. Therefore, regardless of the state's size or population, it will always have two senators.

A proposed law, drafted in legal language, is commonly referred to as a bill. This term is used to describe a formal document that outlines a proposed law and is presented to a legislative body for consideration. The drafting of a bill involves careful legal language and is an essential step in the legislative process. Once a bill is introduced, it undergoes review, debate, and potential amendments before it can become law. Therefore, out of the options provided, "bill" is the most appropriate term to describe a proposed law drafted in legal language.

A legislature divided into two houses is called a bicameral legislature. In a bicameral system, there are two separate chambers or houses that work together to make laws and govern. This system is often used to provide checks and balances, allowing for a more thorough and deliberative legislative process. One house may represent the interests of the population as a whole, while the other represents specific regions or groups. This division of power helps to prevent the concentration of power in one single body and promotes democratic decision-making.

The statement is true because historically, more than 90 percent of incumbents in the House of Representatives who seek reelection have been successful. This high rate of success can be attributed to several factors such as name recognition, access to campaign funds, and the advantages of already holding a position in office. Incumbents often have established relationships with constituents and are able to leverage their experience and visibility to secure votes.

The House Rules Committee is responsible for reviewing all bills that come from a House committee before they are presented to the full House. This committee plays a crucial role in determining the rules and procedures for considering each bill, including setting the time for debate and deciding whether amendments can be made. By reviewing the bills, the House Rules Committee ensures that they are properly prepared and organized before they are brought to the attention of the full House for further consideration and voting. Therefore, the statement is true.

In open seat elections, there is a greater likelihood of competition because there is no incumbent candidate running for re-election. This means that multiple candidates from different parties or factions have the opportunity to compete for the open seat, leading to a more competitive race. In contrast, in elections where there is an incumbent candidate running for re-election, they often have an advantage and face less competition, making the race less competitive.

When a president vetoes congressional legislation, Congress has the power to override the veto by a two-thirds vote in both houses. This means that if two-thirds of the members in both the House of Representatives and the Senate vote in favor of the legislation, it will become law despite the president's veto. This is an important check on the president's power and ensures that Congress has the ability to pass legislation even if the president disagrees.

According to the Constitution, a president must be at least 35 years of age. This requirement ensures that the president has gained enough life experience and maturity to handle the responsibilities and decision-making involved in leading a country. It is believed that by the age of 35, individuals have had enough time to develop the necessary skills, knowledge, and judgment required for such a significant role.

The correct answer is "minority leader." In both the House and the Senate, the minority leader is the principal leader of the minority party. They are responsible for representing the interests and viewpoints of their party and coordinating their party's legislative strategy. The minority leader plays a crucial role in shaping the legislative agenda and advocating for their party's positions, especially when their party does not hold the majority of seats in the chamber.

The "bully pulpit" is a term coined by President Theodore Roosevelt, referring to the power and influence of the presidency in shaping public opinion. It suggests that the president has the ability to use their platform and persuasive skills to rally public support for their policies and initiatives. This explanation aligns with the statement that the "bully pulpit" refers to the president's ability to mobilize public opinion in support of their policies, making the answer true.

Oversight is the correct answer because it refers to the process of monitoring the bureaucracy and its administration of policy. It involves ensuring that government agencies and officials are carrying out their duties and responsibilities effectively and in accordance with the law. Oversight helps to prevent corruption, abuse of power, and inefficiency within the government, and it promotes transparency and accountability.

Cloture is the correct answer because it refers to the procedure used to cut off debate and end a filibuster. Filibustering is a tactic used in legislative bodies to delay or prevent a vote on a proposed law by speaking for an extended period of time. Cloture is a mechanism that allows a supermajority of members to vote to end the filibuster and proceed to a vote on the legislation. It is a way to bring a debate to a close and move forward with the legislative process.

The filibuster is unique to the Senate because it allows a senator to delay or block a vote on a bill by speaking for an extended period of time. This tactic is not available in the House of Representatives. The filibuster gives individual senators significant power to shape legislation and can be used to prevent the majority party from passing bills without significant support from the minority party. It has been a controversial and often debated aspect of Senate procedure.

In open races, candidates who spend the most usually win. This statement suggests that in elections where there are no restrictions on campaign financing, candidates who have more financial resources at their disposal tend to have an advantage and are more likely to win. This is because they can invest in various campaign strategies such as advertising, outreach, and mobilization efforts, which can help them gain visibility and support from voters. However, it is important to note that while spending money can increase a candidate's chances of winning, it does not guarantee victory as other factors such as candidate's qualifications and voter preferences also play a significant role.

The correct answer is "veto." The explanation for this is that the constitutional power of the president to send a bill back to Congress with reasons for objecting to it is known as a veto. This power allows the president to reject a bill passed by Congress and prevent it from becoming a law. By exercising this power, the president can effectively block legislation that they disagree with or believe is not in the best interest of the country.

The Twenty-Second Amendment limited presidents to two terms. This amendment was ratified in 1951, after President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected for four terms. The amendment was introduced to prevent any future president from serving more than two terms, in order to avoid the concentration of power and ensure a peaceful transition of leadership.

The statement is false because the responsibilities of the president's cabinet are not specifically described in the Constitution. The Constitution does mention the creation of executive departments, but it does not outline the specific duties and responsibilities of the cabinet members. Instead, these responsibilities are typically determined by the president and can vary from administration to administration.

The statement is false. Hillary Clinton has never served as Speaker of the House. The first woman to serve as Speaker of the House was Nancy Pelosi, who held the position from 2007 to 2011 and then again from 2019 onwards.

A unanimous vote is not necessary to halt a filibuster. In fact, the purpose of a filibuster is to delay or block a vote on a particular issue, and it can only be halted by invoking cloture, which requires a three-fifths majority vote in the US Senate. Therefore, a unanimous vote is not required to end a filibuster.

When the House and the Senate pass different versions of the same bill, a conference committee is appointed to resolve differences. This committee is composed of members from both the House and the Senate and their role is to negotiate and reach a compromise on the conflicting provisions of the bills. Once the committee reaches an agreement, they produce a conference report which includes the final version of the bill. This report is then voted on by both chambers of Congress before it can be sent to the president for approval or veto.

Joint committees draw their membership from both the Senate and the House. These committees are formed to address specific issues or conduct investigations that require collaboration and input from both chambers of Congress. Joint committees allow for bipartisan cooperation and ensure that both the Senate and the House have representation and input in the decision-making process.

The correct answer is "in committees and subcommittees." This is because committees and subcommittees are where most of the legislative work in Congress takes place. These committees are responsible for reviewing and amending proposed bills, conducting investigations, and making recommendations for legislation. They play a crucial role in shaping and refining legislation before it reaches the floor of the House or Senate for a vote. Additionally, committees and subcommittees provide a forum for members of Congress to deliberate and discuss important issues in detail, allowing for a more thorough examination of legislation.

The term for a member of the House is not six years. The term for a member of the House of Representatives in the United States is actually two years. Members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years, while members of the Senate serve six-year terms.

Members of the House or Senators can formally submit a bill for congressional consideration. This means that both members of the House of Representatives and Senators have the authority to propose legislation that will be reviewed and potentially passed into law. The Speaker of the House, the president, and Senators also have important roles in the legislative process, but they do not have the exclusive power to submit bills for consideration.

Appropriations, Judiciary, and Armed Services are all examples of standing committees. Standing committees are permanent committees in a legislative body that are established to handle specific areas of legislation. They are called "standing" because they exist from one session of the legislature to the next, providing continuity and expertise in their respective areas. These committees are responsible for reviewing, amending, and recommending legislation related to their assigned subject matter. Standing committees play a crucial role in the legislative process by conducting hearings, gathering information, and making recommendations for further action on bills.

In the given options, the statement "Most incumbents forgo the opportunity to run for reelection" is false. This is because the other statements provide evidence that most incumbents do decide to run for reelection and are usually victorious. The fact that in 2006, 89 percent of House incumbents and 92 percent of Senate incumbents were reelected further supports this. Therefore, the false statement is that most incumbents forgo the opportunity to run for reelection.

The correct answer is "All of the above". This means that all of the statements about PACs mentioned in the options are true. PAC expenditures are indeed limited to $5,000 per candidate. Most PAC money is given to incumbents, meaning those who are already holding office. PACs also seek access to policymakers, indicating their desire to influence the decision-making process.

Descriptive representation refers to the concept of representing constituents by mirroring their personal, politically relevant characteristics. This means that representatives are chosen based on shared characteristics such as race, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background, in order to better understand and advocate for the interests and perspectives of their constituents. This approach aims to ensure that diverse voices and experiences are included in the decision-making process, leading to more inclusive and effective representation.

According to the Constitution, federal officials who are impeached are then tried in the Senate. The Senate is responsible for conducting the trial and deciding whether to convict or acquit the impeached official. This process is outlined in Article I, Section 3, Clause 6 of the Constitution, which grants the Senate the "sole Power to try all Impeachments." The House of Representatives has the authority to impeach, but the Senate has the final say in the trial phase.

The Speaker of the House plays a role in presiding over the House when it is in session, appointing the party's legislative leaders, assigning most bills to committees, and making committee assignments. However, the Speaker does not have the authority to recommend which members should be expelled from the House for failure to support the party's positions on bills. This decision is typically made by the party leadership or through a formal disciplinary process within the House.

After each federal census, the membership of the House is reapportioned. This is because the federal census collects data on the population of each state, and based on this data, the number of seats in the House of Representatives is adjusted to ensure that each state is fairly represented. This process is known as reapportionment, and it is done to reflect any changes in population distribution across the country. Therefore, after each federal census, the membership of the House is adjusted to maintain proportional representation.

The pocket veto can only be used when Congress is adjourned. This means that if Congress is not in session and the President receives a bill, they can choose to not sign it and not return it to Congress. This effectively kills the bill and prevents it from becoming law. The pocket veto is often used when the President disagrees with the bill or wants to prevent it from becoming law without taking direct action.

The statement is false because the House of Representatives has impeached more than one president. Two presidents, Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998, were both impeached by the House. Additionally, Donald Trump was impeached by the House in 2019 and again in 2021, making a total of three presidents who have been impeached. Therefore, the given statement is incorrect.

The pork barrel and casework refer to specific practices in which members of Congress claim credit for bringing federal funds or resources to their constituents. Pork barrel refers to the allocation of government spending for localized projects that benefit a specific district or state, allowing members of Congress to claim credit for securing those funds. Casework, on the other hand, involves assisting constituents in dealing with federal agencies and navigating bureaucratic processes, again allowing members of Congress to claim credit for helping their constituents. Both practices provide opportunities for credit claiming by members of Congress.

The statement is false because the process of impeachment does not involve the Supreme Court. Impeachment is a political process carried out by the House of Representatives, where they vote to charge the president with "high crimes and misdemeanors." If the House votes to impeach, the case then moves to the Senate for a trial. The Supreme Court's role is limited to potentially hearing legal challenges related to the impeachment process, but they do not have a direct role in the impeachment proceedings themselves.

The main job of the vice president is not to serve as the president's chief of staff. The vice president's primary role is to support the president in various capacities, including presiding over the Senate, casting tie-breaking votes, and being ready to assume the presidency if necessary. While the vice president may have some staff responsibilities, they are not the president's chief of staff.

The Twenty-Fifth Amendment, ratified in 1967, creates a means for selecting a new vice president when the office became vacant. This means that if the vice president resigns, dies, or is removed from office, the president can nominate a new vice president who must be approved by a majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This amendment was created to ensure that there is always a designated successor to the vice presidency, providing stability and continuity in the event of a vacancy in the office.

The given answer, "Protestant," is correct because it states that all presidents except one have been Protestant. This means that the majority of presidents in history have identified themselves as Protestants, indicating a religious affiliation within the Protestant Christian tradition. The answer rules out the options of atheist, Evangelical Christian, Hare Krishna, and Catholic, stating that these religious affiliations have not been predominant among U.S. presidents.

The answer suggests that the incomes and occupations of members of Congress would largely classify them as part of the elite in American society. This implies that they belong to a privileged and influential group, which often holds significant power and influence in decision-making processes.

An electoral mandate refers to the perception that voters strongly support the president's character and policies. It suggests that the president has been given a clear and decisive mandate by the people to govern and make decisions on their behalf. This perception often arises when a president wins by a significant margin in an election, indicating widespread public support for their agenda. The term "electoral mandate" is commonly used to describe the authority and legitimacy that a president derives from the support of the electorate.

Richard Nixon was not impeached. He resigned from the presidency before the impeachment process could be completed.

The statement suggests that Americans are highly supportive of centralized political power in the presidency, but the correct answer is false. This means that Americans do not tend to be highly supportive of concentrated political power in the presidency.

The instructed delegates model of representation is based on legislators mirroring the preferences of their constituents. In this model, legislators are expected to follow the specific instructions and preferences of the people they represent. This means that they are bound to act according to the will of their constituents, rather than making independent decisions or relying on their own judgment. This model emphasizes the importance of direct democracy and ensuring that legislators act as delegates rather than trustees.

The president has the sole power to negotiate treaties with other nations. This means that the president, as the head of the executive branch, is responsible for conducting negotiations and reaching agreements with foreign countries. This power is granted to the president by the Constitution, specifically in Article II, Section 2, which states that the president "shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties." Therefore, the statement is true.

This answer suggests that party loyalty at the voting booth continues to be a reliable indicator of voting behavior. This means that individuals who identify with a particular political party are more likely to vote for candidates from that party. The answer implies that despite potential changes in the political landscape, party loyalty remains a significant factor in determining how individuals cast their votes.

Presidential power is best understood as the power to persuade because the president's ability to command is limited by checks and balances in the government. The president cannot unilaterally make decisions or enforce policies without the cooperation and support of other branches of government. Therefore, persuasion becomes a crucial tool for a president to rally public opinion, persuade members of Congress, and build coalitions to achieve their policy goals. By using persuasive communication skills, a president can influence and shape public opinion, gain support for their agenda, and ultimately achieve their policy objectives.

The correct answer is Justice because the attorney general is the head of the Department of Justice. This department is responsible for enforcing federal laws, providing legal advice to the president and other government agencies, and representing the United States in legal matters. The attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government and is responsible for overseeing federal law enforcement agencies such as the FBI and the DEA.

The correct answer is "to set the agenda." The president's legislative strategy aims to establish the priorities and topics that will be addressed in the legislative process. By setting the agenda, the president can influence the focus and direction of the legislative discussions and decisions. This allows the president to shape the policy debates and push for the implementation of their preferred policies. Winning on all final votes or gaining the support of fellow partisans may be desired outcomes, but they are not the primary goal of the president's legislative strategy. Blocking legislation is also not the main objective, as the focus is on proactive agenda-setting rather than obstruction.