Question 1

When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill, the differences are resolved by a

Accepted Answer

A)   conference committee.
B)   standing committee.
C)   select committee.
D)   rules committee.
E)   joint committee.F) None of the above
G) B) and C) A

Question 2

Identify the three congressional agencies and explain the function of each one.

Accepted Answer

The Government Accounting Office (GAO) i...

Question 3

In initiating broad legislative proposals, the president enjoys all the following advantages over Congress EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)   the president being more likely to take a national perspective on policy issues.
B)   the president being granted more authority by the Constitution in the area of lawmaking.
C)   the president's actions receiving more attention overall from the national media.
D)   the president having the authority to make policy decisions even when there are conflicting views within the executive branch, while congressional leaders cannot impose their views on other members who disagree with them.
E)   a lack of fragmentation.F) D) and E)
G) C) and E)

Question 4

Which nation does NOT have a one-house dominant legislature?

Accepted Answer

A)   Canada
B)   Germany
C)   the United States
D)   Great Britain
E)   None of these answers is correct, as all these nations have one-house dominant legislatures.F) C) and E)
G) A) and B) C

Question 5

The oversight responsibility of Congress is

Accepted Answer

A)   relatively easy to carry out.
B)   becoming less and less important to the nation.
C)   more interesting to most legislators than policy making responsibilities.
D)   the most time-consuming task for most legislators.
E)   None of these answers is correct.F) A) and D)
G) C) and E)

Question 6

Congress's inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is primarily due to

Accepted Answer

A)   the lack of talented leadership in Congress.
B)   the fragmented nature of Congress.
C)   constitutional restrictions on Congress's lawmaking powers.
D)   the constant threat of a presidential veto.
E)   opposition from the mass media.F) D) and E)
G) None of the above

Question 7

In 2010, the average Senate race saw about __ million dollars in campaign spending.

Accepted Answer

A)   2
B)   4
C)   8
D)   15
E)   34F) A) and C)
G) A) and D)

Question 8

Which of the following is one of the three major functions of Congress's policymaking role?

Accepted Answer

A)   lawmaking
B)   check the president
C)   appease special interests
D)   inform the people
E)   check the Supreme CourtF) D) and E)
G) A) and C)

Question 9

Which of the following groups is overrepresented in Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)   blue-collar workers
B)   homemakers
C)   clerical workers
D)   women
E)   lawyersF) B) and E)
G) All of the above

Question 10

Redistricting happens after the census, which is conducted every __ years.

Accepted Answer

A)   4
B)   8
C)   10
D)   15
E)   20F) A) and B)
G) B) and D)

Question 11

Since the founding of the United States, the debate over the representation function of Congress has centered on whether

Accepted Answer

A)   key decisions should be made by a small number of representatives in committee or by the whole membership in floor debate.
B)   the primary concern of a representative should be the interests of the nation or of his or her constituency.
C)   congressional or presidential authority should dominate on broad issues.
D)   the House or the Senate is more responsive to the public.
E)   the House or the Senate should take the lead on foreign policy issues.F) A) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 12

One must be ________ years of age to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, and ________ years of age to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Accepted Answer

A)   18; 21
B)   21; 25
C)   25; 30
D)   35; 45
E)   40; 50F) B) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 13

Compared with the Senate majority leader, the Speaker of the House has more power because

Accepted Answer

A)   the House places more limits on debate.
B)   the House is the larger chamber in terms of membership.
C)   the House has less of a tradition as a chamber of equals.
D)   the Speaker is that chamber's presiding officer.
E)   All of these answers are correct.F) C) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 14

Defining the conditions and scheduling a bill for floor debate in the House of Representatives is the responsibility of the

Accepted Answer

A)   Ways and Means Committee.
B)   Rules Committee.
C)   Budget Committee.
D)   Appropriations Committee.
E)   Judiciary Committee.F) C) and E)
G) A) and D) B

Question 15

Congress is a decentralized, fragmented institution. What are the implications of these realities on its lawmaking role? Explain.

Accepted Answer

Congress has a proliferation of leadersh...

Question 16

Through a vote for cloture, the Senate

Accepted Answer

A)   confirms presidential appointees.
B)   can end a filibuster.
C)   overrides a presidential pocket veto.
D)   accepts the House version of a bill.
E)   closes its legislative session for the year.F) B) and C)
G) A) and D)

Question 17

By and large, partisanship is

Accepted Answer

A)   irrelevant to the work of Congress.
B)   a huge source of both cohesion and division within Congress.
C)   relevant only in the context of local representation.
D)   important in lawmaking and representation but not in oversight.
E)   more important in foreign policy than in domestic policy.Essay QuestionsF) A) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 18

Most members of Congress are

Accepted Answer

A)   concerned with national issues, but even more concerned with local ones.
B)   controlled by special interest groups.
C)   interested only in the work of the subcommittee on which they serve.
D)   opposed to the seniority system.
E)   more interested in oversight than in making laws.F) A) and B)
G) All of the above

Question 19

Redistricting

Accepted Answer

A)   happens every 4 years.
B)   is conducted by state legislatures.
C)   must be approved by Congress.
D)   must be approved by the highest court in each state.
E)   has little appreciable effect on who wins or loses congressional races.F) C) and D)
G) C) and E)

Question 20

What is the BIGGEST reason that Congress does not vigorously pursue its oversight function?

Accepted Answer

A)   the sheer magnitude of the task
B)   its inadequacy as a means to control the bureaucracy
C)   its inadequacy as a means to control the power of the president
D)   its inadequacy as a way to generate publicity for members of Congress
E)   its inadequacy as a means to control the judiciaryF) B) and E)
G) C) and D)

Exam 11: Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill, the differences are resolved by a

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Identify the three congressional agencies and explain the function of each one.

Correct AnswerverifiedThe Government Accounting Office (GAO) i...View AnswerShow Answer

In initiating broad legislative proposals, the president enjoys all the following advantages over Congress EXCEPT

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which nation does NOT have a one-house dominant legislature?

Correct AnswerverifiedC

The oversight responsibility of Congress is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Congress's inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is primarily due to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In 2010, the average Senate race saw about __ million dollars in campaign spending.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is one of the three major functions of Congress's policymaking role?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following groups is overrepresented in Congress?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Redistricting happens after the census, which is conducted every __ years.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Since the founding of the United States, the debate over the representation function of Congress has centered on whether

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One must be ________ years of age to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, and ________ years of age to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Compared with the Senate majority leader, the Speaker of the House has more power because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Defining the conditions and scheduling a bill for floor debate in the House of Representatives is the responsibility of the

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Congress is a decentralized, fragmented institution. What are the implications of these realities on its lawmaking role? Explain.

Correct AnswerverifiedCongress has a proliferation of leadersh...View AnswerShow Answer

Through a vote for cloture, the Senate

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

By and large, partisanship is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most members of Congress are

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Redistricting

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the BIGGEST reason that Congress does not vigorously pursue its oversight function?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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A

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The Government Accounting Office (GAO) i...
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C

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One must be years of age to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, and years of age to serve in the U.S. Senate.

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B

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Congress has a proliferation of leadersh...
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