Question 1

The term bicameralism refers to:

Accepted Answer

A)   the implied powers that Congress can use in fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities
B)   the tendency of legislators to listen to their constituents because they want to win elections
C)   the governmental structure, which includes two different houses in the legislature
D)   the redrawing of districts in the House of Representatives
E)   the separation of powers between the Congress and the president

Question 2

Roughly how many incumbents win reelection in the House and Senate during a given election year? What explains their rate of success?

Accepted Answer

In the United States, incumbents in the ...

Question 3

What are apportionment and redistricting? What factors influence the outcome of the processes,particularly with respect to redistricting? What impact does this have on elections to the House of Representatives and,therefore,on the politics of lawmaking?

Accepted Answer

Apportionment refers to the process of a...

Question 4

The manner in which members of the House relate to their districts is called:

Accepted Answer

A)   the incumbency advantage
B)   descriptive representation
C)   their home style
D)   casework
E)   substantive representation

Question 5

The textbook introduces the idea of the electoral connection,in which the behavior of members of Congress is understood relative to their desire to be reelected.Explain the three types of behavior we observe in Congress because of the electoral connection,providing examples of each one.

Accepted Answer

The three types of behavior we observe i...

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a criterion for determining the geographic boundaries of a House district?

Accepted Answer

A)   district size in terms of people
B)   relative compactness of the district
C)   number of square miles in the district
D)   an attempt to keep districts roughly equal in terms of population
E)   traditional natural boundaries

Question 7

A legislative veto occurs when:

Accepted Answer

A)   the Supreme Court rules that legislation is unconstitutional
B)   the president overturns legislative decisions
C)   Congress overturns a bureaucratic decision
D)   Congress overturns a decision by the president
E)   Congress overturns a decision by a state government

Question 8

When legislators help constituents with problems they have with government agencies and programs,legislators are engaged in:

Accepted Answer

A)   policy representation
B)   campaigning
C)   home style
D)   casework
E)   direct democracy D

Question 9

Why did the Founders believe that,as set forth in the Constitution,the Senate would be more responsive to national interests than the House?

Accepted Answer

A)   All states were equally represented.
B)   Senators were indirectly elected and served longer terms.
C)   Senators were popularly elected.
D)   The Senate had more constitutional authority than the House.
E)   All bills would originate in the Senate. B

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a role of money in congressional elections?

Accepted Answer

A)   scares off strong challengers
B)   pays for staff and travel
C)   increases a legislator's personal wealth
D)   helps make incumbents relatively safe
E)   pays for advertising

Question 11

The public has a low regard for Congress,in large part because people do not understand how the Congress operates.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which of the following best characterizes Americans' attitudes toward Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)   Legislators exhibit "grace under pressure."
B)   Legislators are focused on partisan bickering and can't solve problems.
C)   Legislators are willing to compromise to get things done.
D)   Legislators frequently stand on principle.
E)   Legislators are never self-interested or motivated by reelection concerns.

Question 13

When in committee,the final language of a bill is almost always determined through a collaborative process known as:

Accepted Answer

A)   a markup
B)   notice and comment procedure
C)   specialization
D)   multiple referral
E)   cloture

Question 14

The concept of advertising in the House of Representatives refers to:

Accepted Answer

A)   buying thirty-second spots on television to affect legislative debate
B)   appeals without issue content that get a member's name in front of the public
C)   claiming credit for things of value to voters, such as pork-barrel projects
D)   making public statements on things that interest constituents
E)   developing a member's Web page

Question 15

The process of determining the boundaries of House districts every ten years is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)   the census
B)   apportionment
C)   bicameralism
D)   redistricting
E)   malapportionment

Question 16

Which theory of legislative politics holds that committee assignments are based on legislators trying to best serve their districts and that the entire legislature therefore respects the committee's interests?

Accepted Answer

A)   distributive theory
B)   partisan theory
C)   conditional party government
D)   informational theory
E)   democratic theory

Question 17

The elastic clause in Article I of the Constitution created a situation in which Congress:

Accepted Answer

A)   took a lead role in the early American constitutional system
B)   was limited in its powers
C)   had legislative power separated between two houses
D)   had a small set of specific powers that guided its actions in early America
E)   is no longer relevant in the policy-making process A

Question 18

Why is the filibuster/vote of cloture an important legislative strategy for the minority party?

Accepted Answer

A)   It forces every member of the Senate to speak about the bill.
B)   It gives the majority party time to change key provisions in the bill before the vote.
C)   It allows the minority party to stop legislation with as few as 49 votes.
D)   It allows the minority party to stop legislation with as few as 41 votes.
E)   It provides positive media coverage for the minority party.

Question 19

Those in Congress who support the use of earmarks argue that they are necessary for the legislative process because:

Accepted Answer

A)   they provide consensus among both parties on federal spending priorities
B)   they secure the passage of larger bills
C)   they are distributed equally among the states
D)   they only represent the desires of members of Congress and not interest groups
E)   they are the only source of funding for local infrastructure projects

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT an informal norm that influences the structure of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)   universalism
B)   reciprocity
C)   conditional party government
D)   specialization
E)   seniority

Exam 9: Congress

The term bicameralism refers to:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Roughly how many incumbents win reelection in the House and Senate during a given election year? What explains their rate of success?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIIn the United States, incumbents in the ...View AnswerShow Answer

What are apportionment and redistricting? What factors influence the outcome of the processes,particularly with respect to redistricting? What impact does this have on elections to the House of Representatives and,therefore,on the politics of lawmaking?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIApportionment refers to the process of a...View AnswerShow Answer

The manner in which members of the House relate to their districts is called:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The textbook introduces the idea of the electoral connection,in which the behavior of members of Congress is understood relative to their desire to be reelected.Explain the three types of behavior we observe in Congress because of the electoral connection,providing examples of each one.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe three types of behavior we observe i...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following is NOT a criterion for determining the geographic boundaries of a House district?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A legislative veto occurs when:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When legislators help constituents with problems they have with government agencies and programs,legislators are engaged in:

Correct AnswerverifiedD

Why did the Founders believe that,as set forth in the Constitution,the Senate would be more responsive to national interests than the House?

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Which of the following is NOT a role of money in congressional elections?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The public has a low regard for Congress,in large part because people do not understand how the Congress operates.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following best characterizes Americans' attitudes toward Congress?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When in committee,the final language of a bill is almost always determined through a collaborative process known as:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The concept of advertising in the House of Representatives refers to:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The process of determining the boundaries of House districts every ten years is known as:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which theory of legislative politics holds that committee assignments are based on legislators trying to best serve their districts and that the entire legislature therefore respects the committee's interests?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The elastic clause in Article I of the Constitution created a situation in which Congress:

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Why is the filibuster/vote of cloture an important legislative strategy for the minority party?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Those in Congress who support the use of earmarks argue that they are necessary for the legislative process because:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is NOT an informal norm that influences the structure of Congress?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
In the United States, incumbents in the ...
View Answer

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Apportionment refers to the process of a...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
The three types of behavior we observe i...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
D

Correct Answer
verified
B

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
A

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified