Most democracies outside the United States have a(n)
parliamentary system.
Gerrymandering contributes to the
increasing pattern of polarization between the two parties in the House AND politics driven by ideology.
The drafting of most legislation is done in standing committees, and the proportions of Democrats and Republicans on a standing committee are controlled by the majority party in each house. The majority party gives the minority a percentage of seats on standing committees based on ____.
the minority party’s percentage of seats held in each house.
Shortly after World War I, President Woodrow Wilson submitted to the Senate the Treaty of Versailles, which contained the charter for the proposed League of Nations. The Senate took the following action on the proposed treaty:
The Senate rejected the proposed treaty.
The key feature of the Great Compromise was its provision for
population-based representation for states in the House and equal representation for states in the Senate.
Celebrities often testify before congressional committees in the hopes
that their star power will influence legislation, and in 2009, singer and teen idol ____ testified before a Senate committee to argue in favor of greater funding for research on Type 1 diabetes, a disease from
which the singer suffers:
Nick Jonas
Members of the Senate serve ____-year terms.
six
When an election immediately follows a new U.S. census, incumbents typically enjoy the advantage of
gerrymandered districts.
The most powerful person in the Senate is the
majority leader.
Which of the following statements concerning the Speaker of the House is incorrect?
B) The Speaker's duties are listed in the Constitution.
A major reason for the use of committees in Congress is that they
B) allow members of Congress to develop and use expertise in certain policy areas.
The national parties continue to be strong forces in the legislative process because
B) party leaders can help rank-and-file members get on preferred committees and climb the leadership ladder.
The text identifies ____ as an important "external source of influence" on Congress.
E) All of these
The Great Compromise concerned
A. representation between the states
Which of the following is not a power of
the U.S. Congress?
E. to regulate intrastate commerce
Which of the following are the current majority
in Congress?
C. college-educated lawyers and businessmen
Which of the following can occur after the
president vetoes a bill?
A. It becomes law if it is re-passed by at least two-thirds of those voting in each house.
Traditionally, the Senate allows unlimited
debate on measures before it votes, but there is a procedure for ending debate.
What is this procedure called?
A. cloture vote
What term is used for the formal charging of a
government official with “treason, bribery or other high crimes and
misdemeanors”?
B. impeachment
Every ten years we conduct a census which tracks
our population shifts. What do we call the procedure in the House of
Representatives to mirror these population shifts?
E. reapportionment
Which of the following is a power solely of the
U.S. Senate?
B. ratify treaties
Approximately what percentage of incumbent U.S.
representatives can expect to be reelected?”
A. 90 percent
What is the function of the Rules Committee in
the House?
D. It determines both the length of the debate and whether there are amendments.
11. What is the most visible way that Congress performs its oversight
function?
C. hearings
12. What do we call the temporary committee of Congress created to work out differences between the House and Senate versions of a specific piece of legislation?
A. conference committee
To convict a president of impeachment, what
portion of the Senate’s vote is necessary?
C. two-thirds majority
Where does the real power of the U.S. Senate
reside?
D. Senate majority leader
What term describes a delaying tactic used in
the Senate that prevents action on legislation?
C. filibustering
What term is used to describe a member of Congress who listens to what constituents want, but bases her or his vote on what she or he believes is best for them?
B. trustee
Approximately what percentage of bills pass
through conference committee?
A. 20 percent
What do we call the process of reviewing agency
operations to determine whether an agency is carrying out policies as Congress intended?
C. oversight
Which of the following is common under a
parliamentary system of government?
D. The leader of the majority party usually heads the government.
How many seats are currently approved for
occupation in the House of Representatives?
A. 435
Which of the following does not influence
legislators on how they vote?
A. foreign diplomats
What is the greatest disadvantage of coalition
governments?
C. They give great leverage to small parties that do not appeal to most of the constituents.
The growth of partisanship in Congress indicates
future growth in
C. majoritarianism.
first woman to become speaker of the house in 2007?
Nancy Pelosi
According to the Constitution, revenue (or tax) bill have to originate
from the House
Why do Americans hold Congress is such great disdain?
interest group influences
Which is NOT a power of Congress?
B) commission all officers
which agency holds the Impeachment Trial?
the Senate
Which agency confirms the presidention appointment of ambassadors, judges, and executive offices?
Senate
What is an advantage of being an incumbent?
franking privilage
What do we call meetings where committees & subcommittees actually debate & amend legislation?
