Question 1

Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted to the people the power to elect senators directly?

Accepted Answer

A) Fourteenth 
B) Fifteenth 
C) Sixteenth 
D) Seventeenth 
E) Eighteenth 
A) Fourteenth 
B) Fifteenth 
C) Sixteenth 
D) Seventeenth 
E) Eighteenth D

Question 2

According to the U.S. Constitution, under what circumstances can members of Congress be arrested on their way to or from a legislative session?

Accepted Answer

A) For any crime 
B) Only for treason or larceny with violence 
C) Not for any crime whatsoever 
D) Only for treason, breaches of the peace, or a felony 
E) For misdemeanors and some high crimes 
A) For any crime 
B) Only for treason or larceny with violence 
C) Not for any crime whatsoever 
D) Only for treason, breaches of the peace, or a felony 
E) For misdemeanors and some high crimes D

Question 3

What are the houses of the British parliament called?

Accepted Answer

A) Senate and Commons 
B) Lords and Chamber of Deputies 
C) Lords and Commons 
D) Senate and Yeomanry 
E) Upper House and Chamber of Deputies 
A) Senate and Commons 
B) Lords and Chamber of Deputies 
C) Lords and Commons 
D) Senate and Yeomanry 
E) Upper House and Chamber of Deputies C

Question 4

What event led to the creation of the Ukrainian unicameral parliament?

Accepted Answer

A) German invasion in 1941 
B) Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 
C) Independence from the Russian empire in 1919 
D) The collapse of eastern European communism in 1989 
E) The death of Josef Stalin in 1953 
A) German invasion in 1941 
B) Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 
C) Independence from the Russian empire in 1919 
D) The collapse of eastern European communism in 1989 
E) The death of Josef Stalin in 1953

Question 5

What is the term for a committee formed of senior members of both chambers that merges House and Senate versions of the same bill into a single compromise version?

Accepted Answer

A) Subcommittee 
B) Standing committee 
C) Joint committee 
D) Conference committee 
E) Select committee 
A) Subcommittee 
B) Standing committee 
C) Joint committee 
D) Conference committee 
E) Select committee

Question 6

Based on the requirements of the US Constitution, what did the Founding Fathers want members of Congress to be?

Accepted Answer

A) Virtually anyone with enough popularity to be elected 
B) Rich businessmen and farmers, including recent immigrants 
C) American citizens of some age and experience, connected to both their states and their country 
D) Young and idealistic men and women of diverse backgrounds 
E) Middle-aged and elderly veterans of the Revolutionary War 
A) Virtually anyone with enough popularity to be elected 
B) Rich businessmen and farmers, including recent immigrants 
C) American citizens of some age and experience, connected to both their states and their country 
D) Young and idealistic men and women of diverse backgrounds 
E) Middle-aged and elderly veterans of the Revolutionary War

Question 7

How much should a member of Congress balance the "Washington style" and "home style" in order to be successful? Explain the tradeoffs and risks inherent in relying too much on one or the other.

Accepted Answer

A member of Congress should strive to ba

Question 8

How did James Madison expect the size of Congress to affect its composition and performance?

Accepted Answer

A) Large enough to represent the people but small enough that it would not be an unruly mob 
B) Large enough to represent the interests and passions of the people, at the risk of being somewhat unruly 
C) Small enough to keep popular passions at bay and guard public morals and social norms 
D) Small enough to be composed solely of intelligent, educated social elites 
E) Small enough to represent the states effectively and large enough to provide appointees to the executive branch 
A) Large enough to represent the people but small enough that it would not be an unruly mob 
B) Large enough to represent the interests and passions of the people, at the risk of being somewhat unruly 
C) Small enough to keep popular passions at bay and guard public morals and social norms 
D) Small enough to be composed solely of intelligent, educated social elites 
E) Small enough to represent the states effectively and large enough to provide appointees to the executive branch

Question 9

The Founding Fathers saw the House of Representatives as what?

Accepted Answer

A) Guardians of the social order 
B) Direct representatives of the people 
C) Guardians of the public trust 
D) Support for the executive branch 
E) Adjuncts of the court system 
A) Guardians of the social order 
B) Direct representatives of the people 
C) Guardians of the public trust 
D) Support for the executive branch 
E) Adjuncts of the court system

Question 10

In a parliamentary system of government, who elects the head of government?

Accepted Answer

A) The people 
B) The legislature 
C) The head of state 
D) A council of experts 
E) An electoral college 
A) The people 
B) The legislature 
C) The head of state 
D) A council of experts 
E) An electoral college

Question 11

Which Supreme Court decision struck down inequality among state legislative districts and reaffirmed the rule of "one man one vote"?

Accepted Answer

A) Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) 
B) Baker v. Carr (1962) 
C) Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) 
D) Powell v. McCormack (1969) 
E) Mapp v. Ohio (1961) 
A) Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) 
B) Baker v. Carr (1962) 
C) Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) 
D) Powell v. McCormack (1969) 
E) Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Question 12

Among bicameral national legislatures, what makes the US Congress unique?

Accepted Answer

A) The Senate can only delay legislation, not stop it. 
B) The House of Representatives is less powerful than the Senate. 
C) As elected representatives of the people, both the House of Representatives and the Senate have roughly equal power. 
D) It has power over national taxation and spending. 
E) Neither chamber of Congress can be considered largely honorary. 
A) The Senate can only delay legislation, not stop it. 
B) The House of Representatives is less powerful than the Senate. 
C) As elected representatives of the people, both the House of Representatives and the Senate have roughly equal power. 
D) It has power over national taxation and spending. 
E) Neither chamber of Congress can be considered largely honorary.

Question 13

What was the original purpose of the US Senate?

Accepted Answer

A) A deliberative body that would moderate the decisions of the House of Representatives 
B) An institution for the growth of democracy in the new republic 
C) A body that would check the excesses of the state governments 
D) An elite body in control of the country's public finances 
E) The body that would elect the president should the electoral college produce a tie 
A) A deliberative body that would moderate the decisions of the House of Representatives 
B) An institution for the growth of democracy in the new republic 
C) A body that would check the excesses of the state governments 
D) An elite body in control of the country's public finances 
E) The body that would elect the president should the electoral college produce a tie

Question 14

What was the original intended relationship of the US Senate to the state and federal political environments?

Accepted Answer

A) Immersed in the give and take of the political world 
B) Largely above politics 
C) Consisting of the most skilled politicians 
D) A bastion of democratic impulses and actions 
E) Divorced from the politics of state governments 
A) Immersed in the give and take of the political world 
B) Largely above politics 
C) Consisting of the most skilled politicians 
D) A bastion of democratic impulses and actions 
E) Divorced from the politics of state governments

Question 15

What is a key reason why Costa Rica has been able to maintain democracy, except for two brief periods, through its unicameral legislature?

Accepted Answer

A) Military protection of the electoral process 
B) Lack of fear-inducing aggressive neighbors 
C) Strong commitment to free and honest elections 
D) A history of dictators who would rather have no elections than dishonest ones 
E) A heritage of effective federalism 
A) Military protection of the electoral process 
B) Lack of fear-inducing aggressive neighbors 
C) Strong commitment to free and honest elections 
D) A history of dictators who would rather have no elections than dishonest ones 
E) A heritage of effective federalism

Question 16

What are the most common professions among members of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A) Union leadership and labor 
B) Military and law enforcement 
C) Education and academia 
D) Business and law 
E) Medicine and nursing 
A) Union leadership and labor 
B) Military and law enforcement 
C) Education and academia 
D) Business and law 
E) Medicine and nursing

Question 17

Which constitutional amendment guaranteed voting rights to women?

Accepted Answer

A) Sixteenth 
B) Seventeenth 
C) Eighteenth 
D) Nineteenth 
E) Twentieth 
A) Sixteenth 
B) Seventeenth 
C) Eighteenth 
D) Nineteenth 
E) Twentieth

Question 18

When the US Constitution was adopted, who elected members to the Senate?

Accepted Answer

A) The people 
B) The House of Representatives 
C) State governors 
D) State legislatures 
E) The electoral college 
A) The people 
B) The House of Representatives 
C) State governors 
D) State legislatures 
E) The electoral college

Question 19

If the president receives a bill and does not sign or veto it and Congress is in session, what happens to the bill?

Accepted Answer

A) It becomes law. 
B) It does not become law. 
C) It is returned to the originating chamber. 
D) It is sent to a conference committee. 
E) It is held for the next session of Congress to reconsider. 
A) It becomes law. 
B) It does not become law. 
C) It is returned to the originating chamber. 
D) It is sent to a conference committee. 
E) It is held for the next session of Congress to reconsider.

Question 20

What is the term for a bill that combines a number of smaller ones into one, larger piece of legislation?

Accepted Answer

A) Committee referral 
B) Combined resolution 
C) Joint resolution 
D) Compromise bill 
E) Omnibus bill 
A) Committee referral 
B) Combined resolution 
C) Joint resolution 
D) Compromise bill 
E) Omnibus bill

Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted to the people the power to elect senators directly?

According to the U.S. Constitution, under what circumstances can members of Congress be arrested on their way to or from a legislative session?

What are the houses of the British parliament called?

What event led to the creation of the Ukrainian unicameral parliament?

What is the term for a committee formed of senior members of both chambers that merges House and Senate versions of the same bill into a single compromise version?

Based on the requirements of the US Constitution, what did the Founding Fathers want members of Congress to be?

How much should a member of Congress balance the "Washington style" and "home style" in order to be successful? Explain the tradeoffs and risks inherent in relying too much on one or the other.

How did James Madison expect the size of Congress to affect its composition and performance?

The Founding Fathers saw the House of Representatives as what?

In a parliamentary system of government, who elects the head of government?

Which Supreme Court decision struck down inequality among state legislative districts and reaffirmed the rule of "one man one vote"?

Among bicameral national legislatures, what makes the US Congress unique?

What was the original purpose of the US Senate?

What was the original intended relationship of the US Senate to the state and federal political environments?

What is a key reason why Costa Rica has been able to maintain democracy, except for two brief periods, through its unicameral legislature?

What are the most common professions among members of Congress?

Which constitutional amendment guaranteed voting rights to women?

When the US Constitution was adopted, who elected members to the Senate?

If the president receives a bill and does not sign or veto it and Congress is in session, what happens to the bill?

What is the term for a bill that combines a number of smaller ones into one, larger piece of legislation?

Why Politics Matters

Ancient Political Theory

Modern Political Theory

The American Government

Nationalism and Populism in the United States and Abroad

Democratic Systems of Government

Comparing Legislatures

Comparing Executives

Comparing Judiciaries

Understanding International Relations: Terms and Theories

War, Diplomacy, and the Beginning of International Relations

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Exam 6: Authoritarian Systems of Government

Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted to the people the power to elect senators directly?

According to the U.S. Constitution, under what circumstances can members of Congress be arrested on their way to or from a legislative session?

What are the houses of the British parliament called?

What event led to the creation of the Ukrainian unicameral parliament?

What is the term for a committee formed of senior members of both chambers that merges House and Senate versions of the same bill into a single compromise version?

Based on the requirements of the US Constitution, what did the Founding Fathers want members of Congress to be?

How much should a member of Congress balance the "Washington style" and "home style" in order to be successful? Explain the tradeoffs and risks inherent in relying too much on one or the other.

How did James Madison expect the size of Congress to affect its composition and performance?

The Founding Fathers saw the House of Representatives as what?

In a parliamentary system of government, who elects the head of government?

Which Supreme Court decision struck down inequality among state legislative districts and reaffirmed the rule of "one man one vote"?

Among bicameral national legislatures, what makes the US Congress unique?

What was the original purpose of the US Senate?

What was the original intended relationship of the US Senate to the state and federal political environments?

What is a key reason why Costa Rica has been able to maintain democracy, except for two brief periods, through its unicameral legislature?

What are the most common professions among members of Congress?

Which constitutional amendment guaranteed voting rights to women?

When the US Constitution was adopted, who elected members to the Senate?

If the president receives a bill and does not sign or veto it and Congress is in session, what happens to the bill?

What is the term for a bill that combines a number of smaller ones into one, larger piece of legislation?

Why Politics Matters

Ancient Political Theory

Modern Political Theory

The American Government

Nationalism and Populism in the United States and Abroad

Democratic Systems of Government

Comparing Legislatures

Comparing Executives

Comparing Judiciaries

Understanding International Relations: Terms and Theories

War, Diplomacy, and the Beginning of International Relations

Filters