Question 1

What is the objective of gerrymandering congressional districts?

Accepted Answer

A) Fair competition among all political parties 
B) Ethnic and party balance among constituents 
C) Benefit of one party over another in elections 
D) Balance between urban, rural, and suburban voters 
E) Giving advantages to the rich and powerful over the poor 
A) Fair competition among all political parties 
B) Ethnic and party balance among constituents 
C) Benefit of one party over another in elections 
D) Balance between urban, rural, and suburban voters 
E) Giving advantages to the rich and powerful over the poor

Question 2

How does the British Parliament balance the need to respond to the needs of the people and the preservation of tradition in a democratic setting?

Accepted Answer

The British Parliament balances the need

Question 3

How does the smaller and more elite nature of the Senate affect how senators vote?

Accepted Answer

A) They are under greater peer pressure to vote as dictated by party leaders. 
B) Greater stature gives them greater freedom to vote according to their personal beliefs. 
C) Lesser stature means that their views are largely dictated by their constituents' views. 
D) They are little influenced by either constituents or colleagues. 
E) They can vote as they want, and then influence their constituents to agree. 
A) They are under greater peer pressure to vote as dictated by party leaders. 
B) Greater stature gives them greater freedom to vote according to their personal beliefs. 
C) Lesser stature means that their views are largely dictated by their constituents' views. 
D) They are little influenced by either constituents or colleagues. 
E) They can vote as they want, and then influence their constituents to agree.

Question 4

Consider the Supreme Court's decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819). Analyze the Court's ruling that Congress ha s the implied powers needed to exercise the express powers written into the Constitution.  Does this give the legislative branch excessive power in fact, if not in theory?

Accepted Answer

In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Co

Question 5

What is the term for a member of Congress trading a vote for one bill in exchange for a vote by a colleague on another?

Accepted Answer

A) Pork barrel 
B) Logrolling 
C) Rent seeking 
D) Pay to play 
E) Lobbying 
A) Pork barrel 
B) Logrolling 
C) Rent seeking 
D) Pay to play 
E) Lobbying

Question 6

What was the first group to have its voting rights specifically guaranteed by a constitutional amendment?

Accepted Answer

A) Irish Americans 
B) Naturalized citizens 
C) Native Americans 
D) Women 
E) African Americans 
A) Irish Americans 
B) Naturalized citizens 
C) Native Americans 
D) Women 
E) African Americans

Question 7

What is the general range of the rates of reelection among members of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A) More than 90 percent 
B) 80 to 90 percent 
C) 70 to 80 percent 
D) 60 to 70 percent 
E) 50 to 60 percent 
A) More than 90 percent 
B) 80 to 90 percent 
C) 70 to 80 percent 
D) 60 to 70 percent 
E) 50 to 60 percent

Question 8

According to his political theory, John Locke perceive d the legislature as what ?

Accepted Answer

A) The agent of the people's immediate desires 
B) The agent of religious authority 
C) Subordinate to the courts 
D) Subordinate to the executive branch 
E) The sacred and supreme center of government 
A) The agent of the people's immediate desires 
B) The agent of religious authority 
C) Subordinate to the courts 
D) Subordinate to the executive branch 
E) The sacred and supreme center of government

Question 9

If a member of Congress spends too much time in his or her home district, what is he or she likely to lose?

Accepted Answer

A) Popularity among constituents 
B) The respect of colleagues in Washington, DC 
C) Media attention 
D) Social connections and relationships 
E) Financial security 
A) Popularity among constituents 
B) The respect of colleagues in Washington, DC 
C) Media attention 
D) Social connections and relationships 
E) Financial security

Question 10

What are the two most important powers that the Founding Fathers saw as vested in the legislative branch?

Accepted Answer

A) Appointing the chief executive 
B) Declaring war and controlling government finances 
C) Nominating judges to federal courts 
D) Declaring war and deciding who gets to be a citizen 
E) Controlling government finances and legislating public morals 
A) Appointing the chief executive 
B) Declaring war and controlling government finances 
C) Nominating judges to federal courts 
D) Declaring war and deciding who gets to be a citizen 
E) Controlling government finances and legislating public morals

Question 11

What is one function reserved solely for the Senate?

Accepted Answer

A) Ratification of treaties 
B) Declaring war 
C) Originating spending bills 
D) Taxation 
E) Electing the vice president 
A) Ratification of treaties 
B) Declaring war 
C) Originating spending bills 
D) Taxation 
E) Electing the vice president

Question 12

What was one reason for shifting the election of senators from state legislatures to the people?

Accepted Answer

A) Suspicion that senators were under undue foreign influence 
B) Pressure from European powers to reform American institutions 
C) Fear of corruption by political and economic elites 
D) Agitation by a new breed of political radicals 
E) Lurid tales of Senate incompetence in the popular press 
A) Suspicion that senators were under undue foreign influence 
B) Pressure from European powers to reform American institutions 
C) Fear of corruption by political and economic elites 
D) Agitation by a new breed of political radicals 
E) Lurid tales of Senate incompetence in the popular press

Question 13

What is the term for the mechanism by which senators can halt legislation by prolonging debate indefinitely?

Accepted Answer

A) Rules suspension 
B) Conference committee 
C) Advice and consent 
D) Cloture 
E) Filibuster 
A) Rules suspension 
B) Conference committee 
C) Advice and consent 
D) Cloture 
E) Filibuster

Question 14

Why did the Founding Fathers give Congress the power "to declare war," instead of their original concept, "to make war?"

Accepted Answer

A) They never expected that the United States would fight another major war after the Revolution. 
B) They did not want to limit wartime decisions of the executive branch if Congress was not in session. 
C) They did not want to impinge on the strategic latitude needed by military leaders. 
D) They trusted future American generals to always do the right thing. 
E) They wanted to prevent the possibility of war between states. 
A) They never expected that the United States would fight another major war after the Revolution. 
B) They did not want to limit wartime decisions of the executive branch if Congress was not in session. 
C) They did not want to impinge on the strategic latitude needed by military leaders. 
D) They trusted future American generals to always do the right thing. 
E) They wanted to prevent the possibility of war between states.

Question 15

What is one of the key advantages of a unicameral legislature over a bicameral one?

Accepted Answer

A) Efficiency in seeing legislation passed 
B) Nonpartisanship 
C) Opportunities for deliberation 
D) Immunity from corruption 
E) Decorum 
A) Efficiency in seeing legislation passed 
B) Nonpartisanship 
C) Opportunities for deliberation 
D) Immunity from corruption 
E) Decorum

Question 16

Analyze the increased participation by women and minorities in Congress. What were some of the key trends and events , and why were they important?

Accepted Answer

The increased participation by women and

Question 17

At what size was the House of Representatives capped with the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929?

Accepted Answer

A) 155 
B) 225 
C) 325 
D) 435 
E) 535 
A) 155 
B) 225 
C) 325 
D) 435 
E) 535

Question 18

Describe the process by which a bill becomes law. How does this affect the rate at which bills are passed by Congress and signed by the president?

Accepted Answer

The process by which a bill becomes law

Question 19

Who was the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives?

Accepted Answer

A) Geraldine Ferarro 
B) Hillary Clinton 
C) Shirley Chisholm 
D) Nancy Pelosi 
E) Barbara Jordan 
A) Geraldine Ferarro 
B) Hillary Clinton 
C) Shirley Chisholm 
D) Nancy Pelosi 
E) Barbara Jordan

Question 20

In the Japanese National Diet, which house has the greater power?

Accepted Answer

A) Senate 
B) Privy Council 
C) House of Representatives 
D) Chamber of Councilors 
E) Chamber of Deputies 
A) Senate 
B) Privy Council 
C) House of Representatives 
D) Chamber of Councilors 
E) Chamber of Deputies

What is the objective of gerrymandering congressional districts?

How does the British Parliament balance the need to respond to the needs of the people and the preservation of tradition in a democratic setting?

How does the smaller and more elite nature of the Senate affect how senators vote?

Consider the Supreme Court's decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819). Analyze the Court's ruling that Congress ha s the implied powers needed to exercise the express powers written into the Constitution. Does this give the legislative branch excessive power in fact, if not in theory?

What is the term for a member of Congress trading a vote for one bill in exchange for a vote by a colleague on another?

What was the first group to have its voting rights specifically guaranteed by a constitutional amendment?

What is the general range of the rates of reelection among members of Congress?

According to his political theory, John Locke perceive d the legislature as what ?

If a member of Congress spends too much time in his or her home district, what is he or she likely to lose?

What are the two most important powers that the Founding Fathers saw as vested in the legislative branch?

What is one function reserved solely for the Senate?

What was one reason for shifting the election of senators from state legislatures to the people?

What is the term for the mechanism by which senators can halt legislation by prolonging debate indefinitely?

Why did the Founding Fathers give Congress the power "to declare war," instead of their original concept, "to make war?"

What is one of the key advantages of a unicameral legislature over a bicameral one?

Analyze the increased participation by women and minorities in Congress. What were some of the key trends and events , and why were they important?

At what size was the House of Representatives capped with the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929?

Describe the process by which a bill becomes law. How does this affect the rate at which bills are passed by Congress and signed by the president?

Who was the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives?

In the Japanese National Diet, which house has the greater power?

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

What is the objective of gerrymandering congressional districts?

How does the British Parliament balance the need to respond to the needs of the people and the preservation of tradition in a democratic setting?

How does the smaller and more elite nature of the Senate affect how senators vote?

Consider the Supreme Court's decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819). Analyze the Court's ruling that Congress ha s the implied powers needed to exercise the express powers written into the Constitution. Does this give the legislative branch excessive power in fact, if not in theory?

What is the term for a member of Congress trading a vote for one bill in exchange for a vote by a colleague on another?

What was the first group to have its voting rights specifically guaranteed by a constitutional amendment?

What is the general range of the rates of reelection among members of Congress?

According to his political theory, John Locke perceive d the legislature as what ?

If a member of Congress spends too much time in his or her home district, what is he or she likely to lose?

What are the two most important powers that the Founding Fathers saw as vested in the legislative branch?

What is one function reserved solely for the Senate?

What was one reason for shifting the election of senators from state legislatures to the people?

What is the term for the mechanism by which senators can halt legislation by prolonging debate indefinitely?

Why did the Founding Fathers give Congress the power "to declare war," instead of their original concept, "to make war?"

What is one of the key advantages of a unicameral legislature over a bicameral one?

Analyze the increased participation by women and minorities in Congress. What were some of the key trends and events , and why were they important?

At what size was the House of Representatives capped with the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929?

Describe the process by which a bill becomes law. How does this affect the rate at which bills are passed by Congress and signed by the president?

Who was the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives?

In the Japanese National Diet, which house has the greater power?

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