Question 1

Explain the difficulties involving the representation function of Congress.How does the representation function conflict with the lawmaking function of Congress?

Accepted Answer

The representation function of Congress ...

Question 2

For a bill to pass in either chamber of Congress,it must

Accepted Answer

A)  receive the support of a third of its members.
B)  receive the support of a simple majority of its members.
C)  receive the support of two-thirds of its members.
D)  be passed within two weeks of its passage by the other chamber.
E)  be passed within a month of its passage by the other chamber.F) A) and B)
G) B) and C)

Question 3

In the 1970s,roll-call votes

Accepted Answer

A)  generally demonstrated the power of incumbents.
B)  generally demonstrated an increase in party loyalty.
C)  generally did not pit most Republicans against most Democrats.
D)  were less common than voice votes.
E)  were generally not used to record each member's vote.F) A) and B)
G) D) and E)

Question 4

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) All of the above
G) B) and E)

Question 5

What is the strategy employed in the Senate to prevent a bill from coming to a vote?

Accepted Answer

A)  mark up
B)  filibuster
C)  cloture
D)  pocket veto
E)  conference committeeF) C) and E)
G) None of the above

Question 6

Committee staffs within Congress

Accepted Answer

A)  concentrate on constituency relations.
B)  perform an almost entirely legislative function.
C)  concentrate on public relations.
D)  split their time between legislative functions and public relations.
E)  are devoted to logistical functions and committee public relations.F) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 7

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) A) and E)

Question 8

Congress typically takes presidential proposals

Accepted Answer

A)  only as a starting point.
B)  only if the dominant party is the same as the president's party.
C)  and most often fast-tracks them into law.
D)  and tables them until they expire.
E)  None of these answers is correct.F) B) and E)
G) D) and E)

Question 9

Which one of the following statements about the seniority principle is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The seniority principle is based on the length of time the member has spent in Congress.
B)  Because of seniority,committee chairs exercise absolute power over their committees.
C)  Seniority is no longer absolute in the selection of committee chairs,but it is usually followed.
D)  Seniority is no longer used at all in the choice of committee chairs.
E)  Seniority is used in the Democratic Party,but not the Republican Party.F) All of the above
G) A) and E)

Question 10

If the Rules Committee applies the "closed rule" to a bill,

Accepted Answer

A)  no amendments will be permitted.
B)  the bill will not be allowed a vote.
C)  the bill will require a 2/3 majority for passage.
D)  no further floor debate is allowed.
E)  no filibusters will be allowed to prevent a vote.F) A) and B)
G) B) and D)

Question 11

Congress's inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is 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) A) and B)
G) B) and D)

Question 12

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) D) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 13

What percentage of state legislators are women?

Accepted Answer

A)  less than 5 percent
B)  more than 20 percent
C)  about 50 percent
D)  about 60 percent
E)  more than 40 percentF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 14

Congressional staffers spend most of their time on

Accepted Answer

A)  constituency service and legislative matters.
B)  legislative matters.
C)  constituency service and public relations.
D)  legislative matters and constituency service.
E)  public relations.F) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 15

Senators are generally less likely to take directions from their leaders than House members because

Accepted Answer

A)  senators are prohibited by their state legislatures from taking orders from others.
B)  senators think of themselves as being equals and are only willing to be led by persuasion.
C)  senators are more highly paid than House members and are thus immune from financial threats.
D)  House rules mandate that all party members on major bills must vote according to the directions of their leaders.
E)  All these answers are correct.F) B) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 16

Nearly ________ percent of all PAC contributions go to the incumbents.

Accepted Answer

A)  10
B)  30
C)  50
D)  70
E)  90F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 17

Bills are formally introduced in Congress by

Accepted Answer

A)  members of Congress only.
B)  executive agencies.
C)  interest groups.
D)  the Supreme Court.
E)  All these answers are correct.F) D) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 18

Compared to House incumbents,Senate incumbents are more likely to face the problem of

Accepted Answer

A)  raising enough money to run a strong campaign.
B)  an electorate that is inclined to judge their fitness for reelection in the context of pork-barrel legislation and other favors for the local community.
C)  a strong challenger.
D)  name recognition.
E)  All these answers are correct.F) B) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 19

The dominant policymaking political institution during most of the nineteenth century was

Accepted Answer

A)  the president and the executive branch.
B)  Congress.
C)  the Supreme Court.
D)  the bureaucracy.
E)  the mass media.F) C) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 20

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 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) All of the above
G) B) and D)

Exam 15: Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

If the Rules Committee applies the "closed rule" to a bill,

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Which one of the following statements about the seniority principle is most accurate?

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Through a vote for cloture,the Senate

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What percentage of state legislators are women?

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Committee staffs within Congress

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Congressional staffers spend most of their time on

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Congress typically takes presidential proposals

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Senators are generally less likely to take directions from their leaders than House members because

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

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Bills are formally introduced in Congress by

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Explain the difficulties involving the representation function of Congress.How does the representation function conflict with the lawmaking function of Congress?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe representation function of Congress ...View AnswerShow Answer

Compared to House incumbents,Senate incumbents are more likely to face the problem of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The dominant policymaking political institution during most of the nineteenth century was

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

For a bill to pass in either chamber of Congress,it must

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In the 1970s,roll-call votes

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Nearly ________ percent of all PAC contributions go to the incumbents.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

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

What is the strategy employed in the Senate to prevent a bill from coming to a vote?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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The representation function of Congress ...
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