Political Science 7
- 1.
The two major roles of members of Congress are
- A.
Agenda setting and lawmaking.
- B.
Policymaking and agenda setting
- C.
Representation and lawmaking
- D.
Budget approval and policy making.
Correct Answer
C. Representation and lawmaking -
- 2.
It is hard to get rid of the filibuster because
- A.
The president would veto legislation eliminating the filibuster.
- B.
Both Republicans and Democrats want the opportunity to use it when they are in the minority
- C.
It would require a constitutional amendment.
- D.
The public favors keeping it
- E.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the parliamentary procedure to eliminate it is unconstitutional
Correct Answer
B. Both Republicans and Democrats want the opportunity to use it when they are in the minority -
- 3.
The textbook identifies all of the following as types of representation EXCEPT
- A.
Policy representation
- B.
Allocative representation
- C.
Authoritative representation.
- D.
Casework.
- E.
Symbolic representation.
Correct Answer
C. Authoritative representation. -
- 4.
Congress is
- A.
More likely to engage in vigorous oversight when the presidency and Congress are controlled by the same party.
- B.
less likely to engage in oversight when the presidency and Congress are controlled by the same party.
- C.
More likely to engage in oversight when the public is not interested in the work of an agency.
- D.
Less likely to engage in oversight in an election year.
- E.
More likely to engage in oversight in an election year.
Correct Answer
B. less likely to engage in oversight when the presidency and Congress are controlled by the same party. -
- 5.
______ refers to a congressional committee’s investigation of the executive and of government agencies to ensure they are acting as Congress intends.
- A.
A congressional witch hunt
- B.
Committee interference with executive prerogative
- C.
A markup
- D.
Congressional oversight
- E.
One of the enumerated powers of Congress
Correct Answer
D. Congressional oversight -
- 6.
The major differences between the House and the Senate include all of the following EXCEPT
- A.
Their power in the legislative process
- B.
The method of determining their constituencies.
- C.
their role in the impeachment process.
- D.
The size of the institutions
- E.
The length of their terms.
Correct Answer
A. Their power in the legislative process -
- 7.
Which of the following is NOT one of the checks and balances that Congress can use in relation to the executive branch?
- A.
The power to veto acts of the president
- B.
The power of impeachment
- C.
The power to approve treaties
- D.
The power to approve presidential appointments to the federal courts
- E.
Congressional oversight of the executive branch
Correct Answer
A. The power to veto acts of the president -
- 8.
All of the following powers can be exercised only by the Senate EXCEPT
- A.
Conducting a trial of a president on impeachment charges.
- B.
Declaring war.
- C.
Approving treaties.
- D.
Confirming presidential appointments to the Supreme Court.
- E.
Confirming presidential appointments to top positions in the executive branch of government. confirming presidential appointments to top positions in the executive branch of government. confirming presidential appointments to top positions in the executive branch of government.
Correct Answer
B. Declaring war. -
- 9.
The job of confirming presidential appointments belongs to the
- A.
Senate.
- B.
judiciary
- C.
cabinet.
- D.
House of Representatives.
- E.
Congress as a whole.
Correct Answer
A. Senate. -
- 10.
The reallocation of congressional seats among the states every ten years, following the census, is known as
- A.
Gerrymandering.
- B.
Malapportionment.
- C.
Franking.
- D.
Redistricting.
- E.
Reapportionment.
Correct Answer
E. Reapportionment. -
- 11.
The number of representatives with voting privileges in the House of Representatives
- A.
Will expand to 500 members in 2012
- B.
Is currently set at 435 members.
- C.
Remained at 325 members until 2000.
- D.
Was frozen by the Twenty-sixth Amendment.
- E.
Changes every ten years following the census.
Correct Answer
B. Is currently set at 435 members. -
- 12.
The process of redrawing congressional districts to match population shifts in states with more than one representative is called
- A.
Redistricting.
- B.
restructuring.
- C.
Gerrymandering.
- D.
Franking the membership
- E.
Reapportionment.
Correct Answer
A. Redistricting. -
- 13.
Redrawing congressional district boundaries to favor a particular group or party is known as
- A.
Malapportionment.
- B.
Franking.
- C.
Gerrymandering.
- D.
Reapportionment.
- E.
redistricting.
Correct Answer
C. Gerrymandering. -
- 14.
According to the textbook, ______ gerrymandering is highly controversial
- A.
Incumbent
- B.
Geographic
- C.
Partisan
- D.
Racial
- E.
Gender-based
Correct Answer
D. Racial -
- 15.
When deciding whether to run for a seat in Congress, strategic politicians will ask all of the following questions EXCEPT
- A.
Is this the right district or state for me?
- B.
What is the strategic situation in the district?
- C.
How are the national tides running? How are the national tides running?
- D.
Will this seat lead to the presidency?
- E.
Do I have access to the funds necessary to run a vigorous campaign?
Correct Answer
D. Will this seat lead to the presidency? -
- 16.
One of the major advantages that incumbents have in raising campaign money is that they
- A.
Can appeal to voters more easily.
- B.
Can use their franking privileges to mail campaign literature.
- C.
have more access to PAC money than do challengers.
- D.
Have greater access to federal funds to seek reelection.
- E.
Are permitted to use their office staff to supplement their campaign staff.
Correct Answer
C. have more access to PAC money than do challengers. -
- 17.
All of the following statements concerning Hispanic representation in Congress are true EXCEPT
- A.
In recent years they have been voting more for the Republican Party.
- B.
The issue of immigration has had an important effect on the Hispanic vote.
- C.
Both parties have tried to win the Hispanic vote
- D.
They do not vote as solidly for one party as do African Americans.
- E.
They are even more underrepresented than African Americans.
Correct Answer
A. In recent years they have been voting more for the Republican Party. -
- 18.
According to the textbook, what has happened to the coattail effect in recent years?
- A.
It has become completely nonexistent because of declining party ties.
- B.
It has been ignored by mainstream political scientists.
- C.
It has decreased in importance due to declining party ties.
- D.
It has remained roughly as powerful as before.
- E.
It has become more pronounced because of increasing party ties.
Correct Answer
C. It has decreased in importance due to declining party ties. -
- 19.
It has been increasingly difficult for the parties to work together in Congress in recent years because of
- A.
The decreasing willingness of members to follow their party leaders.
- B.
An increasing number of members who refuse to identify with either party.
- C.
increasing hostility toward presidential leadership
- D.
the public’s decreasing attention to the actions of Congress.
- E.
Increasing party polarization.
Correct Answer
E. Increasing party polarization. -
- 20.
Leaders in Congress obtain their power from
- A.
the members.
- B.
the Constitution.
- C.
seniority.
- D.
the president.
- E.
the public.
Correct Answer
A. the members. -
- 21.
______ are important in Congress because they organize the chambers.
- A.
Standing committees
- B.
Presidents
- C.
Senior staff
- D.
Parties
- E.
Lobbyists
Correct Answer
D. Parties -
- 22.
The greatest importance of standing committees is that they
- A.
Give the courts a record from which to study congressional intent. give the courts a record from which to study congressional intent.
- B.
Give the president more power in the legislative process than he would have otherwise
- C.
increase congressional power by allowing detailed analysis and modification of legislation.
- D.
Control the influence of lobbyists on the legislative process.
- E.
Permit the leadership to control the legislative process.
Correct Answer
C. increase congressional power by allowing detailed analysis and modification of legislation. -
- 23.
Which of the following is the extremely powerful congressional committee that determines when debate on a bill will take place?
- A.
The House Government Reform Committee
- B.
The House Ways and Means Committee
- C.
The House Appropriations Committee
- D.
The House Rules Committee
- E.
The House Administration Committee
Correct Answer
D. The House Rules Committee -
- 24.
Congress makes use of __________ to increase its independence from the executive branch of government
- A.
Conference committees
- B.
The congressional chief of staff the congressional chief of staff the congressional chief of staff
- C.
The Government Accountability Office
- D.
The Joint Authorization Task Force
- E.
The Legislative Budget Board
Correct Answer
A. Conference committees -
- 25.
When different versions of the same bill pass in the House and the Senate,
- A.
The chamber that considered the bill originally should take the lead in resolving the differences.
- B.
It dies immediately and both chambers must start over.
- C.
It is sent back to each chamber for reconsideration.
- D.
The president appoints a mediator to negotiate an acceptable compromise.
- E.
A conference committee is formed to bridge the gap between the bills.
Correct Answer
E. A conference committee is formed to bridge the gap between the bills. -
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Nov 01, 2012Quiz Edited by
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