Deck 5: Congress: the First Branch

Question 1

In many countries, legislatures may only confirm decisions that are made by executive departments or councils, ones including a prime minister or cabinet.Congress, by contrast _______________.

A) has formidable governance powers, which it in many cases may fully exercise alone
B) has formidable governance powers, although it shares power and competes with the president
C) can fully ignore what presidents and the executive branch want or care about
D) can only confirm executive orders with a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate

Answer 1

B

Question 2

How often do seats in the House of Representatives come up for reelection?

A) Every year
B) Every two years
C) Every four years
D) Every six years

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Presidents who engage in treaty negotiations with foreign nations tend to keep the Senate's power to ____________ in mind during the process.

A) ratify or reject treaties
B) engage in secret negotiations of its own
C) confirm ambassadorial appointments
D) cut off executive branch funds

Answer 3

D

Question 4

To become a U.S.senator, one must be at least ____________ years old.

A) 35
B) 25
C) 40
D) 30

Question 5

The district making up the area from which an official is elected is known as his or her:

A) home turf.
B) power bloc.
C) constituency.
D) caucus.

Question 6

The Senate is unique among the world's legislative bodies for its commitment to:

A) stifling floor debate.
B) partisan warfare.
C) unlimited debate.
D) rules on politeness and means of addressing colleagues.

Question 7

In 2015, U.S.President Barack Obama and leaders of the United Nations Security Council's other permanent member states signed, along with Germany and the European Union, an agreement with Iran; its goal was to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. While the deal won praise from leaders worldwide, the plan never won majority support in Congress.Congressional division over what to do about the agreement meant, however, that the United States stayed a party to the agreement-at least until 2018, when President Donald Trump withdrew the country from it, without legislative consultation.
Why were Obama and Trump similarly able, despite their opposing views, to act on the Iranian nuclear deal without consulting Congress?

A) The Iran deal was not a treaty but an agreement, and thus not subject to Senate approval, as required under the Constitution.
B) Neither president needed to consult Congress under terms of the Case Act, which governs how presidents may act in making executive agreements.
C) The Supreme Court long ago ruled that presidents do not need to consult Congress in negotiating treaties with foreign states.
D) Neither president needed to consult Congress because party division produced gridlock, a state in which Congress was failing to take action, leaving action up to presidents instead.

Question 8

Senators, in contrast to House members, are better equipped to consider new ideas and bring together new political coalitions, because they serve:

A) for six-year terms, which gives them a longer-term view.
B) for eight-year terms, which insulates them from immediate consequences.
C) as agents for more diverse collections of groups and interests via statewide elections.
D) larger and more diverse constituencies in four-year terms.

Question 9

Although it is often condemned by media commentators and voters alike, Congress's infamous slowness can largely be traced to:

A) partisan polarization among voters.
B) its representative nature.
C) the two-party system.
D) committee rule changes over time.

Question 10

How many members are in the U.S.Senate?

A) 100
B) 102
C) 50
D) 435

Question 11

The number of seats in the House of Representatives, although distributed by population, is set by law.What is that number?

A) 538
B) 435
C) 438
D) 535

Question 12

Under the Constitution, the president can appoint ambassadors, federal judges, and top executive officers, but only with _____________.

A) congressional confirmation
B) the advice and consent of the Senate
C) quick action to overcome "holds" in Congress
D) the advice and consent of House and Senate leaders

Question 13

Among the qualifications for members of the House of Representatives is a minimum age requirement of __________.

A) 35
B) 25
C) 27
D) 30

Question 14

Representatives who believe that they have been elected to do the bidding of those who sent them to Congress are said to be serving as:

A) trustees.
B) politicos.
C) agents.
D) delegates.

Question 15

The behavior of members of Congress who may harbor hopes of winning a more prestigious elected position-for example, a senator thinking about running for president-can further complicate legislative dynamics, since:

A) it is hard to say whether they will act as trustees or delegates in any given instance.
B) they may be keeping other constituencies in mind when voting on given issues.
C) they rarely vote the way party leaders want.
D) their ambition cannot be as easily checked.

Question 16

The framers of the U.S.Constitution decided that all "money" bills-that is, those involving taxation and revenue-should start in the House because:

A) representatives were to be "close to the people," elected by popular vote every two years.
B) the House would be more efficient, with centralized leadership and shorter debate times.
C) the Senate would be too preoccupied with its "advise and consent," or confirmation role, with presidential appointees.
D) House members would likely be more specialized, and gain expertise in budgeting.

Question 17

Like most members of Congress who hope to keep their seats, Senator Treumann wants to do what his best for his constituency.Sometimes, however, he thinks that what is best is not necessarily what surveys show that most voters in his state want.He sees his vote against allowing more spending on surveillance for antiterrorism efforts in this light, thinking it best for the country and his state, no matter how popular.In this case, he would be serving as the classic ___________type of legislator.

A) trustee
B) rogue agent
C) delegate
D) trustee-delegate hybrid

Question 18

In 1957, Senator Strom Thurmond held the Senate floor and talked or answered questions-or filibustered, to use a Senate term for unlimited debate-for over 24 hours.The South Carolina lawmaker did so prior to a vote on the Civil Rights Act, legislation that most observers expected to easily pass-and which did, shortly after he concluded.During his time on the floor, he did not just talk about the law.Instead, he read the Declaration of Independence, jury rules, and even his grandmother's biscuit recipe.In so doing, however, Thurmond was using his time in a manner consistent with filibuster history, as a means of:

A) stalling or delaying Senate action or voting.
B) annoying the opposition in hopes of forcing a parliamentary error.
C) forcing reform in chamber rules.
D) gaining notoriety and media attention for himself, mostly.

Question 19

Midwestern Representative Suzanne "Suzy" Bambenek is facing a dilemma.House party leaders and the White House urge her to support a new energy bill, one that will dramatically cut subsidies for corn ethanol growers.National polls show that the bill is popular with voters across America.On the other hand, she is hearing an overwhelming amount of negative feedback about the bill from people in her district "back home," as she terms it.If Bambenek seeks reelection, who would she be more likely to side with here?

A) The White House, since presidential support is essential
B) Her constituency; that is, the people in her district "back home"
C) House party leaders, who may easily punish her
D) National opinion, since it is likely to affect her district over time

Question 20

Until the Seventeenth Amendment passed, senators were selected by _______________.

A) only white, male property holders
B) state governors
C) state legislatures
D) elites within individual states

Question 21

What is the general term for providing minor services to constituents, introducing bills for specific citizens, and attempting to influence decisions by agencies and regulatory commissions on their behalf?

A) Pork barreling
B) Glad-handing
C) Constituency service (casework)
D) Gerrymandering

Question 22

Legislation that captures federal projects and funds for a congressional representative's own district is legislation described as _______________legislation.

A) whiskey-barrel
B) bringing-home-the-bacon
C) pork-barrel
D) cracker-barrel

Question 23

In the House of Representatives, what leaders are responsible for lining up party members on important votes and relaying voter information to the leaders?

A) The Speaker of the House and the majority leader
B) majority and minority whips
C) The Speaker of the House and the minority leader
D) The majority and minority leaders

Question 24

In the Senate, which is much smaller than the House, looser rules tend to discourage _____________ among members.

A) policy specialization
B) intense partisanship
C) the need for logrolling
D) formality and politeness

Question 25

Compared to the House of Representatives, the Senate serves constituencies that are:

A) larger and more diverse.
B) smaller and more diverse.
C) larger and more homogeneous.
D) smaller and more homogeneous.

Question 26

The franking privilege, which allows members of Congress to send mailings free of charge, reinforces an incumbency advantage because:

A) members can remind constituents of their activities and service through these mailings, and make themselves more visible.
B) it prevents candidates who are unable to raise large sums of money from running against them.
C) members may more efficiently serve constituents and solve problems for them, given the importance of sending documents in such service.
D) it is a more effective means of communication in service to all constituents than electronic mail, since some segments of the population do not have Internet access.

Question 27

State legislatures must redraw congressional districts to reflect population changes ______________ , after censuses.

A) every 20 years
B) continuously
C) every 6 years
D) every 10 years

Question 28

When observers describe the Senate as more "deliberative," they mean that it is:

A) best known for long, drawn-out filibusters.
B) the forum in which public issues can receive a thorough public airing.
C) the forum best known for vetting the qualifications and character of presidential nominees.
D) always more careful and purposive than the House.

Question 29

In the House of Representatives, who determines the order in which bills come up for a vote?

A) The Speaker
B) The Ways and Means Committee
C) The Rules Committee
D) Leadership PAC representatives

Question 30

In recent years, campaign financing organizations (called political action committees, or PACs) formed by party leaders in Congress have had the clear effect of:

A) making the party organizations in Congress more beholden and clearly responsive to interest group donations.
B) strengthening their power with party congressional candidates, due to distribution of campaign funds, while providing interest groups with another avenue for currying favor with the politically powerful.
C) keeping interest groups and existing and possible future members of Congress more focused on party leadership, given the importance of the PACs to both.
D) encouraging incumbents to neglect their constituencies and become more beholden to interest groups.

Question 31

Amendments to the 1965 Voting Rights Act have increased the number of congressional districts in which:

A) racial minorities hold decisive voting majorities, leading to more racial diversity in Congress.
B) more minority residents are crammed into single districts, leading them to have less of a voice in national policymaking.
C) women hold more decisive voting majorities, leading to less male dominance of Congress.
D) women with racial minority status have come to hold voting majorities, leading to more racial and gender diversity in Congress.

Question 32

Which term describes the direct services and benefits that congressional representatives provide for their districts, such as appointing supporters to government offices or conferring grants and licenses to constituents?

A) Patronage
B) Incumbency
C) Sponsorships
D) Franking privileges

Question 33

The tendency for candidates to win a higher percentage of the vote when running for a second term in office is called the:

A) war-chest advantage.
B) freshman flood.
C) brand name effect.
D) sophomore surge

Question 34

The party conference or caucus is a:

A) group of congressional aides who administer the day-to-day affairs of the national parties.
B) series of district meetings in which participants collectively select party nominees for congressional races.
C) party organ designed to promote the election of fellow party candidates.
D) meeting of a political or legislative group to select leaders or discuss party strategy.

Question 35

Which term describes the act of redrawing congressional districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to the political party in power?

A) Reapportionment
B) Redistricting
C) Gerrymandering
D) Redlining

Question 36

Congressional redistricting based on population counts taken in 2010 gave an advantage to Republicans because the party:

A) dominated among growing populations in the South and West.
B) controlled the House of Representatives at the time of redistricting.
C) controlled a majority of state legislatures, which control redistricting in most states.
D) gained an advantage as Democratic leaders sought districts that favored minority race candidates.

Question 37

What leaders hold most of the real power within the U.S.Senate and control the Senate's calendar or agenda for legislation?

A) The president pro tempore and the majority leader
B) The majority leader and the vice president
C) The vice president, with the majority and minority leaders
D) The majority and minority leaders

Question 38

Who is the chief presiding officer in the U.S.House of Representatives?

A) Speaker of the House
B) Majority leader
C) Minority leader
D) Majority whip

Question 39

Holding a political office for which one is running is called:

A) rank.
B) tenure.
C) seniority.
D) incumbency.

Question 40

In recent decades, the statutory limit on the number of House seats has given an advantage to ___________ at the expense of ___________.

A) states in the South and West; states in the Northeast and the Midwest
B) the Southwest; the Rust Belt states of the Midwest
C) larger states; smaller states
D) Republican-leaning states; Democratic-leaning states

Question 41

A permanent legislative committee that considers legislation within its designated subject area is known as a ____________.

A) standing committee
B) oversight committee
C) conference committee
D) joint blue ribbon panel

Question 42

Legislation is frequently written to be inclusive, spreading the benefits widely among beneficiaries according to the principle of:

A) policy allocation.
B) central frequency.
C) distributive tendency.
D) interest-group pluralism.

Question 43

A bill's supporters generally prefer that the Rules Committee decide to use a(n) ___________ rule.

A) open
B) closed
C) termination
D) hold

Question 44

When a congressional representative says to a legislative colleague, "I'll support your bill if you'll support mine," that statement is an example of:

A) whipping.
B) logrolling.
C) the distributive tendency.
D) interest-group bargaining.

Question 45

Most representatives serve exclusively as either delegates or trustees, ones who vote according to constituency preferences or, by contrast, for what representatives think "right."

Question 46

In recent years, after decades in which presidents took the lead in setting policy agendas, congressional leaders have been setting their own, especially during:

A) election years.
B) times when presidents have had low public approval ratings.
C) times of increasing partisan polarization in Congress and the nation.
D) years when facing a White House controlled by the opposition party.

Question 47

The U.S.Congress's constituency-focused, representative nature leads it to, in most cases, quickly and efficiently address national issues.

Question 48

Since the early 1970s, how have House committee chairs been selected?

A) By a seniority system, although with leadership able to veto selections
B) By a consensus of the House leadership, with seniority still mattering most
C) By an election among members of the full legislature, with seniority playing a backseat to qualification and popularity among lawmakers
D) By an election among the members of the majority party, but with senior members still most likely to win selection

Question 49

The provision by the House Rules Committee that permits floor debate and the addition of amendments to a bill is a(n):

A) open rule.
B) modifying rule.
C) developing rule.
D) closed rule.

Question 50

A representative who votes according to the preferences of his or her constituency acts as a delegate.

Question 51

What is the area of policy over which a committee is assigned responsibility?

A) Area of expertise
B) Central function
C) Domain
D) Jurisdiction

Question 52

In 2018, a congressional committee briefly captured media and public attention when it questioned Facebook executive and cofounder Mark Zuckerberg about the privacy of its user data, in the wake of reports that a British research company had abused data in private research related to the 2016 presidential election.In so doing, the committee discussed past and ongoing data privacy-related actions undertaken against Facebook by the Federal Trade Commission.As it involved not only a celebrity witness, but a federal agency's duties and actions under the law, the hearing was a classic case of a House committee engaged in:

A) ad hoc authority.
B) oversight
C) enforcement and policymaking authority.
D) intrusion into executive branch affairs.

Question 53

A rule allowing a three-fifths majority of U.S.senators to set a time limit on debate over a given bill, or cut off a filibuster, is called:

A) preemption.
B) a closed rule.
C) cloture.
D) whipping.

Question 54

A joint committee created to iron out differences between House and Senate versions of the same bill is called:

A) a blue ribbon panel.
B) a conference committee.
C) a joint caucus.
D) a joint investigative committee.

Question 55

The fate of most House and Senate bills is to die in committee.This means that they will:

A) be placed in legislative archives at the Library of Congress.
B) not be sent to the full House or Senate for consideration.
C) be shredded by committee staff.
D) typically have their content end up in another bill at some point.

Question 56

Imagine you are a member of Congress and have sponsored a controversial piece of legislation overhauling the immigration system.The bill has made it through committee and has the support of leaders from both parties, but many of your colleagues are opposed to various provisions in the bill and would like to see substantial changes.What would you like to happen to ensure the bill is voted upon as originally drafted?

A) Have the bill sent to the floor to be considered under a closed rule
B) Have a colleague filibuster the bill
C) Have the bill sent to the floor to be considered under an open rule
D) Have the whips instruct your colleagues that they are free to vote as they please

Question 57

Saying that an American president has been impeached would mean that the executive has been:

A) removed from office, after conviction for treason, bribery, or any other serious crime.
B) charged with a criminal offense, including treason, bribery, or any other high crime or misdemeanor.
C) held by a majority House vote to have committed an impeachable offense, after which the Senate will hold a trial to decide if the offense calls for removal from office.
D) held by only the Senate to have committed a criminal or political offense so serious that it warrants removal from office.

Question 58

The Senate rarely exercises its power to formally approve or reject treaties or presidential appointments to executive positions, the judiciary, or ambassadorships.More common is use of a ______________ to delay an appointment.

A) filibuster to stall a confirmation vote
B) senatorial hold
C) media campaign
D) logrolling maneuver

Question 59

In 2012, the Government Accountability Office, through which Congress can investigate the financial and administrative affairs of any government agency or program, uncovered evidence of lavish spending at conferences by administrators of the U.S.General Services Administration, the government's real estate and office services and supply agency.In so doing, this staff agency helped Congress in its _________ role.

A) gatekeeping
B) oversight
C) domestic policy intelligence
D) administrative

Question 60

Why would opponents of a bill prefer an open rule to a closed rule?

A) Members of the House can exercise their filibuster power and block the legislation.
B) The open rule allows the other chamber to make a decision on the bill first.
C) The open rule prevents a bill's supporter from making further demands on minority party legislators.
D) The open rule makes it easier to add amendments that may weaken the bill's chances of passing.

Question 61

The president pro tempore is the most powerful member of the Senate.

Question 62

Members of Congress form informal caucuses to advance the interests of the groups around policy interests or social characteristics.

Question 63

Redistricting can give an advantage to one party by clustering votes with certain ideological or sociological characteristics in a single district.

Question 64

Local and state party leaders have control over who runs for House positions, if not Senate ones, and have for decades.

Question 65

Incumbency plays a very important role in the kind of representation citizens get in Washington.

Question 66

Parties are only a minor feature of the organization of Congress.

Question 67

The Senate was originally designed to maximize the input of citizens.

Question 68

The way congressional district lines are drawn has little effect on the outcome of an election.

Question 69

Every state must have at least one representative in the House.

Question 70

Redistricting can give an advantage to one party by separating voters into two or more districts.

Question 71

Part of the reason incumbents are so successful at reelection is that they scare off potential challengers.

Question 72

Members of the House serve longer terms than members of the Senate.

Question 73

Most challengers are able to outspend their incumbent opponents.

Question 74

Women who run for open congressional seats are just as likely to win as male candidates.

Question 75

Members of Congress rarely pay attention to the interests of their constituencies.

Question 76

Congressional leaders gain favor with members by raising funds for their own leadership political action committees and redistributing the funds to other legislators.

Question 77

The incumbency advantage makes it harder for women to increase their numbers in Congress.

Question 78

Modern candidates decide for themselves whether and when to run for office.

Question 79

The U.S.Congress is a bicameral legislature.

Question 80

Members of Congress avoid recommending spending that benefits their home districts, focusing instead on spending that benefits the country as a whole.