In the typical public opinion poll,
a.
Congress is the most popular branch of government.
b.
Congress is the least popular branch of government.
c.
Congress is more popular than the president, but not the judiciary.
d.
Congress is more popular than the judiciary, but not the president.
e.
the three branches of government are equally popular.
B
Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution confers on Congress all
of the following powers except
a.
the power to veto bills.
b.
the power to collect taxes.
c.
the power to declare war.
d.
the power to establish courts.
e.
the power to regulate commerce.
A
Besides the United States, which other nations have congresses?
a.
Great Britain only
b.
Most European nations and China
c.
Most European nations only
d.
Great Britain and most European nations only
e.
Many Latin American countries
E
Parliament comes from a French word, that means
a.
to talk.
b.
parity.
c.
to act.
d.
legislate.
e.
reconsider.
A
In Great Britain�s parliamentary system, candidates for Parliament
are selected by
a.
other members of Parliament, as in a private club.
b.
the people, through primary elections.
c.
delegates to the party conventions.
d.
the party.
e.
the prime minister.
D
A person becomes a candidate for representative of senator in the
U.S. Congress by
a.
a lottery of candidates held by each party.
b.
running in a primary election.
c.
majority vote of party leaders.
d.
the head of each party.
e.
two-thirds vote of a committee of party leaders.
B
Once they are in the legislature, members of a parliament discover
they can only make one important decision:
a.
whether or not to join a committee.
b.
what strategy they will use in their next primary election.
c.
whether or not to support the government.
d.
how to best please their constituents.
e.
how to best allocate the considerable resources of the office.
C
In a parliamentary system, when members of the government�s party
vote against the parliament, the leadership must
a.
form an alliance with the opposition.
b.
appeal to the people to influence their representatives.
c.
dissolve the parliament and form a new government.
d.
resign and name someone from the opposing party to lead the government.
e.
resign and join the opposing party.
C
A basic difference between a parliament such as Great Britain�s and
the U.S. Congress is
a.
that the principal role of Congress is to debate national issues.
b.
members of Parliament have more power and higher pay.
c.
members of Congress are more likely to vote the party line.
d.
Congress does not select a president.
e.
none of the above.
D
If the Framers had created a parliament instead of a congress, it is
reasonable to assume that its principal function would be
a.
representation and action.
b.
investigation and censure.
c.
involvement in the details of administration.
d.
conducting foreign policy.
e.
debate.
E
The principal work of Congress is
a.
debate.
b.
deliberation.
c.
representation.
d.
action.
e.
both C and D.
E
Which of the following statements concerning members of the British
House of Commons is correct?
a.
They are poorly paid.
b.
They have no offices of their own.
c.
They have virtually no staff.
d.
They are allowed small sums to buy stationery.
e.
All of the above.
E
The current salary for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives
is approximately
a.
$90,000.
b.
$120,000.
c.
$170,000.
d.
$230,000.
e.
$500,000.
C
The text suggests that the importance of congressional legislators,
compared with that of members of Parliament, can best be inferred from the
a.
resources they receive while in office.
b.
number of votes they receive in elections.
c.
number of votes they cast while in office.
d.
frequency with which they debate major bills.
e.
number of committee assignments they have.
A
Congress was designed by the Founders in ways that almost inevitably
make it
a.
efficient.
b.
popular.
c.
unpopular.
d.
proactive.
e.
respected.
C
The term bicameral, used to describe the U.S. legislature,
means that the legislature
a.
has two chambers, or legislative bodies.
b.
is elected every two years.
c.
consists of both committees and a main body.
d.
is based on a system of checks and balances.
e.
is apportioned once every ten years.
A
Under the original U.S. Constitution, members of the House, unlike
members of the Senate, were selected by
a.
direct elections.
b.
the president.
c.
state legislatures.
d.
primary runoffs.
e.
regional coalitions.
A
Under the original U.S. Constitution, members of the Senate, unlike
members of the House, were selected by
a.
direct elections.
b.
the president.
c.
state legislatures.
d.
primary runoffs.
e.
regional coalitions.
C
If Congress were to act quickly and decisively as a body,
a.
there would have to be strong central leadership.
b.
there would have to be restrictions on debate.
c.
there would have to be fewer opportunities for stalling tactics.
d.
there would have to be minimal committee interference.
e.
All of the above
E
The overriding political question throughout the evolution of
Congress has been the
a.
balance of power among Congress, the executive, and the judiciary.
b.
distribution of powers within Congress.
c.
curtailment of presidential activism.
d.
role of the parties in selecting members.
e.
rules pertaining to committee assignments.
B
By the end of the nineteenth century, the Senate was known as the
____________ Club.
a.
Recalcitrant
b.
BMOC
c.
Hunt
d.
Millionaire�s
e.
Vice President�s
D
The ________ changed the manner in which U.S. senators were selected.
a.
Thirteenth Amendment
b.
Fifteenth Amendment
c.
Sixteenth Amendment
d.
Seventeenth Amendment
e.
Twentieth Amendment
D
One irony of the first U.S. senatorial elections was that
a.
vote turnout was particularly low.
b.
very few incumbent members even bothered to run for reelection.
c.
most of the members of the Senate were replaced by members of the House.
d.
most of the Senators who lost were reelected to the House of Representatives.
e.
most of those who had been previously selected by the state
legislatures won reelection.
E
The purpose of a filibuster is to
a.
ensure that all sides of an issue are heard.
b.
delay action in a legislative body.
c.
protect majority rule.
d.
shift legislative power to Senate committees.
e.
magnify the impact of specific special interests.
B
The first serious effort to restrict the filibuster appeared in the
aftermath of a foreign policy clash between the Senate and President
a.
Wilson.
b.
Jefferson.
c.
Grant.
d.
Truman.
e.
Eisenhower.
A
All of the following statements concerning the filibuster are correct except
a.
it became a common feature of Senate life by the end of the
nineteenth century.
b.
it became an unpopular feature of Senate life by the end of the
nineteenth century.
c.
it was used by liberals and conservatives alike.
d.
there have been attempts to restrict its use.
e.
today, it takes seventy-five senators to end debate.
E
Today, it takes ___ members of the Senate to cut off debate.
a.
50
b.
51
c.
60
d.
75
e.
99
C
The typical member of Congress is a(n)
a.
middle-aged, white, Protestant businessman.
b.
older, white, Protestant businessman.
c.
older, white, Catholic lawyer.
d.
middle-aged, white, Protestant lawyer.
e.
young, white communications major.
D
In terms of the composition of its membership, the House since 1950
has become
a.
less male and less white.
b.
less male and more white.
c.
more male and less white.
d.
more male and more white.
e.
none of the above.
A
In terms of its percentage of women and nonwhite members since 1950,
the Senate, compared with the House, has
a.
been slower to change.
b.
changed at about the same rate as the House.
c.
been faster to change.
d.
fewer women and nonwhites in powerful positions.
e.
not changed at all.
A
The �Blue Dog� Caucus consists of Democrats who happen to be
a.
extremely liberal.
b.
moderately conservative.
c.
from the Southeastern United States.
d.
from districts that feature coastal waterways.
e.
senior to most of the members in their region.
B
Being a congressman was not regarded as a career during the 1860s because
a.
the federal government was not that important.
b.
it was difficult to travel to Washington.
c.
Washington was not considered a pleasant place to live.
d.
the job did not pay well.
e.
all of the above.
E
Serving in Congress had become a career by the
a.
1950s.
b.
1960s.
c.
1970s.
d.
1980s.
e.
1990s.
A
All of the following statements concerning term limits are correct except
a.
the movement to impose term limits began in the 1980s.
b.
the House approved a constitutional amendment to limit terms.
c.
a constitutional amendment to limit terms died in the Senate.
d.
the Supreme Court has struck down a state law limiting the terms of
members of Congress.
e.
the Supreme Court has struck down a state law limiting the terms of
members of state legislatures.
E
The 1992 and 1994 midterm elections brought scores of new members to
the House because
a.
of the redrawing of congressional districts after the 1990 census.
b.
of voter disgust at a variety of political scandals.
c.
the South became a Republican stronghold.
d.
All of the above
e.
None of the above
D
A marginal district is one in which
a.
voters frequently change party affiliation.
b.
the constituency is made up largely of minority groups.
c.
voters are not clear as to which candidate is the incumbent.
d.
gerrymandering has produced a loose affiliation of interest groups.
e.
the winner in an election gets less than 55 percent of the vote.
E
One proposed explanation for why congressional seats have become less
marginal is that
a.
the growing strength of the party system makes it less likely for
challengers to appeal to average voters.
b.
incumbents can use their powers to get programs passed that benefit
their districts, and thereby themselves.
c.
incumbents are less likely than challengers to become associated
with the �mess� in Washington.
d.
changing demographics have made an increasing number of districts
overwhelmingly Democratic or Republican.
e.
incumbents are less ideological than challengers and link themselves
with Congress as an institution.
B
In the last thirty congressional elections, the gap between votes and
seats in the House is illustrated by the fact that the
a.
Republican percentage of votes has been higher than the Republican
percentage of House seats.
b.
Republican percentage of votes has been lower than the Republican
percentage of House seats.
c.
Democratic percentage of votes has been higher than the Democratic
percentage of House seats.
d.
Democratic percentage of votes has been lower than the Democratic
percentage of House seats.
e.
Both A and D
A
Studies suggest the incumbency advantage is worth ______ percentage
points today.
a.
two
b.
three to four
c.
five
d.
six to eight
e.
thirty
D
The anti-incumbent mood that voters have directed toward members of
Congress in recent years has worked to the disadvantage of
a.
Democrats.
b.
Republicans.
c.
Democrats and Republicans equally.
d.
independents.
e.
Republicans and independents.
A
The conservative coalition in Congress consists of
a.
southern Democrats and Republicans.
b.
western Democrats and Republicans.
c.
southern Republicans and Democrats.
d.
western Republicans and Republicans.
e.
none of the above.
A
Since the 1980s, the conservative coalition has become less important because
a.
reapportionment has given moderates an advantage in policymaking.
b.
rules changes have weakened party discipline.
c.
congressional leadership changes hands more frequently.
d.
many southern Democrats in Congress have been replaced by southern Republicans.
e.
northern Republicans are more influential.
D
Recent changes in the composition of Congress have resulted in
a.
a more moderate Senate.
b.
a more moderate House.
c.
a more ideological and partisan House.
d.
a more nonpartisan Senate.
e.
a more nonpartisan House.
C
Members of Congress can influence legislation by
a.
voting.
b.
conducting hearings.
c.
marking up bills in committee hearings.
d.
offering amendments.
e.
all of the above.
E
The author�s suggest a Congressman�s final vote on a bill
a.
usually reflects the views of the president.
b.
may conceal as much as it reveals.
c.
rarely contradicts the views of leadership.
d.
is often unrecorded.
e.
is the best measure of his/her views.
B
The explanation for congressional voting behavior that assumes
members vote to please their constituents is referred to as
a.
representational.
b.
conventional.
c.
organizational.
d.
attitudinal.
e.
relational.
A
The explanation for congressional voting behavior that assumes
members vote to please their colleagues is referred to as
a.
representational.
b.
conventional.
c.
organizational.
d.
attitudinal.
e.
relational.
C
The explanation for congressional voting behavior that assumes
members vote on the basis of their individual beliefs is referred to as
a.
representational.
b.
conventional.
c.
organizational.
d.
attitudinal.
e.
relational.
D
One study reported in the text showed that the strongest correlation
between congressional voting and constituency opinion was in the area of
a.
social welfare.
b.
foreign policy.
c.
taxation.
d.
commercial regulation.
e.
civil rights.
E
A problem with the representational interpretation of congressional
voting behavior is that
a.
senior members of Congress have little need to be concerned about
public opinion.
b.
on many key issues, public opinion is weak or vague.
c.
such representation relates to the House but not to the Senate.
d.
most politicians are not theoreticians.
e.
most politicians have a strong academic background.
B
In the organizational view of congressional voting, the principal cue is
a.
race.
b.
gender.
c.
legal education.
d.
party.
e.
seniority.
D
The best way to understand how Congress carries out its business is
to think of it as
a.
a single, centralized bureaucracy.
b.
anarchy in a three-piece suit.
c.
a collection of different kinds of organizations.
d.
a temporary alliance between warring camps.
e.
a bureaucracy headed by a king.
C
The British House of Commons differs most obviously from Congress in
the role played in it by
a.
money.
b.
primaries.
c.
party organization.
d.
general elections.
e.
legislative roles.
C
If you wished to study the real leadership office in the Senate, you
would most likely focus on the
a.
president pro tempore.
b.
majority leader.
c.
party whip.
d.
chairperson of the Policy Committee.
e.
chairperson of the Judiciary Committee.
B
A member of the Senate has just been elected to a position that
requires him to keep the majority leader informed about the opinions
of other party members. He has just been elected
a.
majority party whip.
b.
president pro tempore.
c.
chairman of the Steering Committee.
d.
chairman of the Policy Committee.
e.
chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
A
From the standpoint of the ambitions of a newly elected Democratic
senator, the most important element in party organization is the
a.
Steering Committee.
b.
party whip.
c.
Foreign Relations Committee.
d.
president pro tempore.
e.
Judiciary Committee.
A
From the standpoint of the ambitions of a newly elected Republican
senator, the most important element in party organization is the
a.
Steering Committee.
b.
party whip.
c.
Foreign Relations Committee.
d.
president pro tempore.
e.
Committee on Committees.
E
The most important aspect of the process of selecting Senate members
for key leadership and committee positions is
a.
paying off political debts.
b.
finding the best person available for the job.
c.
selecting individuals who make an effective television appearance.
d.
achieving ideological and regional balance.
e.
returning political favors.
D
Members of the House of Representatives must have been a citizen of
the United States for at least ______ years.
a.
two
b.
four
c.
six
d.
seven
e.
nine
D
Members of the Senate must have been a citizen of the United States
for at least _______ years.
a.
two
b.
four
c.
six
d.
seven
e.
nine
E
___________ decide(s) the outcome of disputed congressional elections.
a.
Congress alone
b.
Congress and the Supreme Court
c.
The Supreme Court
d.
State legislatures
e.
Governors
A
The Supreme Court ruled that Senator William Proxmire was outside of
the protection of the �privileged speech� when he discussed _________
in the United States Senate.
a.
the mating habits of geese
b.
research on monkeys
c.
a controversial study of milk cows
d.
steroids
e.
drag racing
B
Among the many powers of the House Speaker is that he/ she
a.
determines the committee assignment of bills.
b.
assigns party members to the various committees.
c.
keeps party leaders informed about the opinions of their party members.
d.
schedules legislation.
e.
takes the minutes.
A
An unusual feature of the Democratic Study Group is that its members are
a.
extremely conservative.
b.
all above 70 years of age
c.
unpublicized.
d.
not running for reelection.
e.
chairs of major committees.
C
Most of the power in Congress is found in
a.
the chairmanship of committees and subcommittees.
b.
specialized caucuses.
c.
state delegations.
d.
party leaders.
e.
caucuses.
A
The typical Congress will feature over ______ subcommittees.
a.
a dozen
b.
two dozen
c.
50
d.
80
e.
100
E
The type of committee most likely to deal with a bill near the end of
its legislative process is the
a.
standing committee.
b.
select committee.
c.
conference committee.
d.
joint committee.
e.
rejoinder committee.
C
Because they are usually the only ones that can report out bills, the
most important committees are the
a.
joint committees.
b.
conference committees.
c.
standing committees.
d.
select committees.
e.
rejoinder committees.
C
Since the 1970s, the chairpersons of House committees have been
chosen by
a.
teller vote.
b.
voice vote.
c.
years of seniority.
d.
the Committee on Committees.
e.
secret ballot.
E
Where is the real work of Congress done?
a.
On the House floor
b.
On the Senate floor
c.
In the caucuses
d.
In floor sessions in both houses
e.
In the committees in both houses
E
If you were a newly elected member of Congress interested in becoming
an expert on a particular policy and influencing your colleagues on
this policy, you would probably ask to be assigned to the
a.
Appropriations Committee.
b.
Ways and Means Committee.
c.
Public Works and Transportation Committee.
d.
Ethics Committee.
e.
Post Office and Civil Service Committee.
B
In the Senate, committees such as Small Business, and Veterans�
Affairs are examples of
a.
major committees.
b.
minor committees.
c.
select committees.
d.
conference committees.
e.
rejoined committees.
B
Increased reliance on staff has made Congress more
a.
collegial.
b.
personal.
c.
deliberative.
d.
philanthropic.
e.
individualistic.
E
The original purpose of the General Accounting Office (GAO) was to perform
a.
research in the Library of Congress.
b.
audits of financial records.
c.
evaluations of technological advancements.
d.
employment application evaluations.
e.
audits of high-ranking military officers.
B
The staff agency that advises Congress on the probable economic
effect of different spending programs and the cost of proposed
policies is the
a.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
b.
General Accounting Office (GAO).
c.
Congressional Research Service (CRS).
d.
Office of Technology Assessment (OTA).
e.
Congressional Research Fund (CRF).
A
Which of the following statements about the speed with which bills
move through Congress is correct?
a.
It has been decreasing as Congress has grown.
b.
It has been increasing as a result of teller votes.
c.
It is depressingly slow in most cases.
d.
It has been increasing in the electronic age.
e.
It can vary enormously.
E
The complexity of the procedure for enacting a law gives the
advantage to the bill�s
a.
party supporters.
b.
opponents.
c.
congressional sponsors.
d.
supporters in the executive branch.
e.
supporters in the media.
B
A bill can be introduced in Congress by
a.
any member of the majority party.
b.
any member of Congress.
c.
any member of Congress or the president.
d.
members of the relevant committees only.
e.
committee chairpersons only.
B
Which of the following statements about introducing a bill in
Congress is correct?
a.
A bill not passed during the life of one congress cannot be
introduced again during the next congress.
b.
Bills are initiated by the president, not by Congress.
c.
A bill not passed during the life of one congress is dead.
d.
Most bills introduced today are private rather than public bills.
e.
None of the above
C
Which of the following statements about most joint resolutions is correct?
a.
They require the approval of both houses but not the signature of
the president.
b.
They require the approval of one house only along with the signature
of the president.
c.
They must be approved by a two-thirds vote of each house.
d.
They require the approval of both houses and the signature of the president.
e.
They must be approved by all members of both chambers.
D
To propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Congress would have
to pass a
a.
joint resolution.
b.
concurrent resolution.
c.
simple resolution.
d.
bill.
e.
bypass resolution.
A
Which of the following statements about revenue bills is correct?
a.
They must originate in the House.
b.
They must originate in the Senate.
c.
They must originate with the president.
d.
They can originate in either the House or the Senate.
e.
They must originate in the Senate Finance Committee.
A
A bill to raise taxes would first be referred to the
a.
House Ways and Means Committee.
b.
Senate Appropriations Committee.
c.
House Appropriations Committee.
d.
Congressional Budget Office.
e.
Senate Judiciary Committee.
A
A discharge petition is used by the House to
a.
make revisions and additions to a bill before it is voted on.
b.
get a bill that is stalled in committee onto the floor.
c.
amend a bill that has already passed one house but not the other.
d.
override a presidential veto.
e.
amend a bill in a manner that will make it quite unpopular.
B
A closed rule sets a strict limit on
a.
the time allotted for debate.
b.
the amendments that can be introduced to a bill.
c.
who can speak during debate.
d.
the role that lobbyists play in legislation.
e.
both A and B.
E
If a House bill has just been reported out of committee and its
sponsor is worried that floor amendments will substantially change it,
he or she would be most likely to request a(n)
a.
discharge petition from his/her colleagues.
b.
referral slip from a committee chairman.
c.
open rule from the majority leader.
d.
amendment from one of the select committees.
e.
closed rule from the Rules Committee.
E
The effect of allowing bills to be debated under open rather than
closed or restrictive rules is to
a.
reduce the time needed to vote on a final bill.
b.
increase the influence of special interests.
c.
set a time limit on debate.
d.
increase the number of amendments.
e.
give greater control to the committees.
D
Unlike in the House, the scheduling of legislation in the Senate is
a.
controlled by the Rules Committee.
b.
initiated by means of a discharge petition.
c.
governed by closed rather than open rules.
d.
determined by the majority and minority leaders.
e.
determined ad hoc.
A
The term quorum refers to the minimum number of members who
a.
must be present for business to be conducted.
b.
must support a bill.
c.
must vote on a piece of legislation.
d.
can speak during debate.
e.
can vote against a piece of legislation.
A
A rider is usually added to a bill to
a.
speed up the legislative process.
b.
slow down the legislative process.
c.
reward or punish certain interest groups.
d.
circumvent or influence presidential action.
e.
entice courts to question its constitutionality.
D
In the Senate, a filibuster can be ended by invoking
a.
a rider.
b.
a quorum.
c.
a markup.
d.
cloture.
e.
a meeting of the whole.
D
Which of the following statements about the current cloture rule is correct?
a.
It requires three-fifths of the entire Senate membership to pass.
b.
It sets a time limit on debate of five minutes per speaker.
c.
It requires half of the entire Senate membership to sign a petition
to move cloture.
d.
It is used more frequently by the House than by the Senate.
e.
It must be certified by a neutral magistrate or judge.
A
To prevent a filibuster from bringing the business of the Senate to a
grinding halt, _________ is/are employed.
a.
a remand
b.
a teller division
c.
side pacing
d.
double tracking
e.
all of the above
D
If you wanted to know what a member of Congress really thought about
a bill, you would be best advised to look at how he/she voted
a.
on the final passage of the bill.
b.
in the previous session.
c.
during the quorum call on the bill.
d.
on the referral of the bill.
e.
on amendments to the bill.
E
To find out how members of Congress voted on a particular bill, it is
most useful to have a
a.
voice vote or a division vote.
b.
roll-call vote or a teller vote.
c.
roll-call vote or a division vote.
d.
teller vote or a division vote.
e.
voice vote.
B
When a bill passes the House and Senate in substantially different
forms, the differences are resolved in
a.
a joint committee.
b.
a committee of the whole.
c.
the Rules Committee.
d.
a conference committee.
e.
a team-plan committee.
D
Which of the following statements about conference reports is correct?
a.
They can be amended.
b.
They cannot be rejected.
c.
They must be approved by a majority of each party delegation.
d.
They tend to favor the House version of a bill.
e.
They do not tend to favor either chamber�s version of the bill.
C
Typically, the final work of a conference committee slightly favors
a.
the president�s views.
b.
the views of the House of Representatives.
c.
the views of the Senate.
d.
the views of House leaders.
e.
the views of the Ways and Means Committee.
C
Most scholars agree that the legislative output of Congress
__________ during the 1980s and 1990s.
a.
continued to increase significantly
b.
continued to increase to some extent
c.
remained about the same as it had in the 1960s
d.
slowed or declined
e.
came to an abrupt halt
D
Pork-barrel legislation
a.
gives tangible benefits to constituents in hope of winning their votes.
b.
removes excessive spending in order to balance the budget.
c.
allows members of Congress to support bipartisan causes.
d.
places limits on spending near the end of the congressional term.
e.
does all of the above.
A
Most studies on the relationship between divided government and
legislative output suggest that such government might actually reduce
the passage of legislation that is
a.
far reaching.
b.
substantive.
c.
important.
d.
costly.
e.
Both A and D
E
Which of the following statements regarding earmarks is incorrect?
a.
They have tripled since 1994.
b.
They are legally binding.
c.
Few appear in the text of legislation.
d.
Most are hidden in conference reports, which are not subject to amendment.
e.
None of the above
E
One of the reforms discussed by the text that would have the effect
of reducing citizen subsidization of campaigns is
a.
banning legal bribes.
b.
fencing in the frank.
c.
trimming the pork.
d.
cutting committees.
e.
capping expenditures on bumper stickers.
B
The bipartisan Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 solved a key
problem that was the result of
a.
separated power.
b.
popular elections.
c.
checks and balances.
d.
federalism.
e.
the dual court system.
A
Members of the House and Senate cannot accept gifts in money, meals,
or things totaling ______ or more.
a.
$25
b.
$50
c.
$100
d.
$2,000
e.
$4,000
C
In recent years, the political beliefs of members of Congress have become
a.
more polarized than those of voters.
b.
close to the center of the political spectrum.
c.
moderately liberal.
d.
moderately conservative.
e.
more unified.
A