Question 1

Most of the actual work of legislating is

Accepted Answer

A)   performed by interest groups and then acted on by Congress.
B)   done in the Rules Committee of the Senate.
C)   performed on the floor of the House of Representatives.
D)   performed by the committees and subcommittees within Congress.
E)   done when the president signs it.F) A) and E)
G) None of the above

Question 2

The foremost power holder in the House of Representatives is the

Accepted Answer

A)   President of the House.
B)   majority leader.
C)   president pro tempore.
D)   Speaker of the House.
E)   chief whip.F) B) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 3

The framers of the Constitution assumed that most national power would be held by the

Accepted Answer

A)   executive branch.
B)   legislative branch.
C)   Department of Defense.
D)   bureaucracy.
E)   judicial branch.F) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 4

Which of the following statements about midterm elections is true?

Accepted Answer

A)   Voter turnout increases in midterm elections.
B)   The President's party will usually gain seats in Congress.
C)   Voter turnout falls sharply in midterm elections.
D)   The President's party will always be unaffected by midterm elections.
E)   Incumbents are more likely to lose midterm elections.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 5

Gerrymandering is

Accepted Answer

A)   legislation passed in southern states to limit African American participation in elections.
B)   the drawing of legislative district boundary lines to give the dominant party an advantage.
C)   known to give the minority party an electoral advantage at the expense of the dominant party.
D)   a process that attempts to limit debate on a bill in the Senate.
E)   a method used by the president when he wants to prevent the passage of legislation.F) D) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 6

The Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 requires

Accepted Answer

A)   each member of Congress to inform constituents of their votes on appropriations measures.
B)   the president to spend the funds that Congress has appropriated.
C)   a balanced budget by the 2030 fiscal year.
D)   the president to present an executive budget.
E)   budgets to receive the approval of the American people before they go into effect.F) A) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 7

Enumerated powers are

Accepted Answer

A)   powers that the executive branch has.
B)   powers that allow the president to do whatever he likes, as long as it carries out the Constitution.
C)   powers that are specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution.
D)   Supreme Court decisions.
E)   spelled out in the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution.F) C) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 8

The concept of cloture refers to

Accepted Answer

A)   a method used to defeat legislation in Congress.
B)   a process that shuts off discussion on a bill in the Senate.
C)   closed meetings held by both parties to elect their leadership or resolve other important issues.
D)   action taken by the House Rules Committee that must be approved by the Speaker.
E)   the resolution that adjourns Congress.F) None of the above
G) B) and C)

Question 9

A special provision in legislation to set aside funds for projects that have not passed an impartial evaluation by agencies in the executive branch is called an)

Accepted Answer

A)   unfunded mandate.
B)   backdoor clause.
C)   amendment.
D)   rider.
E)   earmark.F) None of the above
G) C) and D)

Question 10

The rights to collect taxes, to spend, and to regulate commerce are

Accepted Answer

A)   powers that have only recently been granted to Congress.
B)   powers reserved exclusively for the states.
C)   powers reserved for the president.
D)   the most important domestic powers of Congress.
E)   the most important foreign policy powers of Congress.F) B) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 11

"Budget bills" must originate

Accepted Answer

A)   in the Senate.
B)   in the House.
C)   in conference committee.
D)   with the president.
E)   from any of the above sources.F) None of the above
G) C) and E)

Question 12

The practice of logrolling is

Accepted Answer

A)   an arrangement in which members of Congress agree in advance to support each others' bills.
B)   when members of Congress undermine the personal credibility of their opponents.
C)   when members of Congress use unlimited debate as a delaying tactic to block a bill.
D)   when members of Congress attach amendments to bills.
E)   the process of putting together a budget.F) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 13

Oversight is

Accepted Answer

A)   the process by which Congress follows up on the laws it has enacted.
B)   the process by which Congress reviews the actions of subcommittees.
C)   the time of the year that Congress chooses its leadership.
D)   when the President supervises the activity of the judicial branch.
E)   when Congress passes legislation.F) A) and B)
G) C) and E)

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a function of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)   Determining if laws are constitutional
B)   Educating the public through hearings and debates
C)   Carrying out and executing the laws it has passed
D)   Representing constituents
E)   Resolving conflicts between different groupsF) A) and E)
G) D) and E)

Question 15

Which of the following statements about the people who work for Congress is false?

Accepted Answer

A)   They include office clerks, assistants, and professionals who deal with media relations and draft legislation.
B)   There are a larger number of staffers for House members than for senators.
C)   The total number of staff members has increased dramatically since 1960.
D)   About half of the people employed in the Capitol Hill bureaucracy are personal and committee staff members.
E)   Some staffers maintain local offices in the member's home state or district.F) A) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 16

Members of Congress are granted generous franking privileges that

Accepted Answer

A)   permit them to mail letters to their constituents for free.
B)   allow them to charge items to a special expense account.
C)   allow members unlimited phone calls to their district without charge.
D)   permit them to receive four, round-trip airfares to their district.
E)   allow them to hold events such as barbeques in their districts at taxpayer expense.F) C) and D)
G) A) and D)

Question 17

Identify and describe the three most important powers Congress has, and explain why you think they rank as such.

Accepted Answer

The three most important powers that Con...

Question 18

A representative who is performing the role of an instructed delegate is

Accepted Answer

A)   mirroring the views of the majority of the constituents who elected him or her.
B)   supporting the president on all of his legislative programs.
C)   acting according to the broad interests of the entire society.
D)   supporting his or her political party.
E)   representing other members of Congress.F) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Question 19

A temporary funding law that Congress passes when an appropriations bill has NOT been passed by the beginning of the fiscal year is

Accepted Answer

A)   the Emergency Revenue Generation Act.
B)   a continuing resolution.
C)   an Emergency Fall Review.
D)   a Second Temporary Budget Resolution.
E)   a spring review.F) All of the above
G) A) and E)

Question 20

A representative who is performing the role of a trustee is

Accepted Answer

A)   mirroring the views of the majority of the constituents who elected him or her.
B)   supporting the president on all of his or her legislative programs.
C)   acting according to the broad interests of the entire society.
D)   supporting his or her political party.
E)   representing other members of Congress.F) A) and C)
G) C) and E)

Exam 9: The Congress

A special provision in legislation to set aside funds for projects that have not passed an impartial evaluation by agencies in the executive branch is called an)

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Which of the following statements about the people who work for Congress is false?

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A representative who is performing the role of an instructed delegate is

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Identify and describe the three most important powers Congress has, and explain why you think they rank as such.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe three most important powers that Con...View AnswerShow Answer

The rights to collect taxes, to spend, and to regulate commerce are

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Oversight is

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The practice of logrolling is

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Which of the following statements about midterm elections is true?

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Members of Congress are granted generous franking privileges that

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The framers of the Constitution assumed that most national power would be held by the

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Gerrymandering is

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"Budget bills" must originate

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The concept of cloture refers to

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Which of the following is NOT a function of Congress?

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The foremost power holder in the House of Representatives is the

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Most of the actual work of legislating is

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A temporary funding law that Congress passes when an appropriations bill has NOT been passed by the beginning of the fiscal year is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Enumerated powers are

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A representative who is performing the role of a trustee is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 requires

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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The three most important powers that Con...
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