Question 1

Describe the typical process by which a bill becomes a law.

Accepted Answer

Once a bill is introduced by a member of the House or Senate,it is given a number and a title and referred to the relevant committee.The bill is then sent to one of the subcommittees.Most bills are tabled in subcommittees.Bills that are not tabled can then be examined through hearings.The bill can then be sent back to the committee where additional hearings may be held.During these steps,the bill can be marked up or revised.Once a bill has gained committee approval,it is reported out of committee and is scheduled for debate and possible amendment by the full chamber.In the House,the Rules Committee has power over scheduling decisions.In the Senate,the majority leader makes most of these decisions.Each chamber of Congress must pass the bill by a majority vote or it is killed.A bill must be passed in identical form by both chambers to become law.Any differences in bills passed by the two chambers can be worked out formally in conference committee.Any bill that has been altered must be passed again by both chambers.After both chambers have passed identical versions of a bill it goes to the president for his or her signature.If the president vetoes the bill,it takes a two-thirds majority vote of both houses of Congress to override the veto.

Question 2

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 Court

Question 3

Why is redistricting a problem for U.S.House members? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The U.S.House seats are reallocated ever...

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Political parties are unimportant in the organization of the U.S.Congress.
B)  Party-line voting rarely occurs in Congress.
C)  Party-line voting has increased in recent years.
D)  Partisanship makes virtually no difference in the votes cast in Congress.
E)  None of these answers is correct.

Question 5

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.

Question 6

Most of the legislative work of Congress is performed by

Accepted Answer

A)  the standing committees and their subcommittees with jurisdiction over particular policy areas.
B)  the joint committees chosen to coordinate actions between the two chambers of Congress.
C)  the select committees chosen to study special problems on a temporary basis.
D)  the steering committees that decide how the party stands on particular bills.
E)  party leaders in both chambers.

Question 7

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 8

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 9

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.

Question 10

Incumbents may have some problems in reelection campaigns if

Accepted Answer

A)  disruptive issues such as general public discontent with Congress become prominent.
B)  the incumbent is tainted with charges of personal misconduct or corruption.
C)  the election is a midterm election,and the incumbent is of the same party as the president.
D)  through redistricting,the incumbent is placed in a disadvantageous district.
E)  All these answers are correct.

Question 11

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. C

Question 12

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. E

Question 13

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.

Question 14

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.

Question 15

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 these answers are correct.

Question 16

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.

Question 17

Campaign spending tends to be a much greater challenge for

Accepted Answer

A)  challengers and nonincumbents than for incumbents.
B)  Republican candidates.
C)  Democratic candidates.
D)  candidates in urban areas than for candidates in rural areas.
E)  men than for women.

Question 18

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.

Question 19

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.

Question 20

A standing committee in the House or Senate

Accepted Answer

A)  is a permanent committee.
B)  has jurisdiction over a particular policy area.
C)  has authority to draft,amend,and recommend legislation.
D)  is usually organized according to the seniority principle.
E)  All these answers are correct.

Exam 11: Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

Describe the typical process by which a bill becomes a law.

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

Correct Answer
verified

Why is redistricting a problem for U.S.House members? Explain.

Correct Answer
verified
The U.S.House seats are reallocated ever...
View Answer

Which of the following statements is true?

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

Most of the legislative work of Congress is performed by

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified
Congress has a proliferation of leadersh...
View Answer

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

Correct Answer
verified
The representation function of Congress ...
View Answer

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

Correct Answer
verified

Incumbents may have some problems in reelection campaigns if

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified
C

The oversight responsibility of Congress is

Correct Answer
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E

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

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

Most members of Congress are

Correct Answer
verified

Campaign spending tends to be a much greater challenge for

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

Congress typically takes presidential proposals

Correct Answer
verified

A standing committee in the House or Senate

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 11: Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

Describe the typical process by which a bill becomes a law.

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is redistricting a problem for U.S.House members? Explain.

Correct AnswerverifiedThe U.S.House seats are reallocated ever...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following statements is true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most of the legislative work of Congress is performed by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

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

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Incumbents may have some problems in reelection campaigns if

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedC

The oversight responsibility of Congress is

Correct AnswerverifiedE

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most members of Congress are

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Campaign spending tends to be a much greater challenge for

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Congress typically takes presidential proposals

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A standing committee in the House or Senate

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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The U.S.House seats are reallocated ever...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Congress has a proliferation of leadersh...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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The representation function of Congress ...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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C

Correct Answer
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E

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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