Question 1

__________ committees exist in both the House and Senate,may be temporary or permanent,and usually have a specific focus.

Accepted Answer

Select committees are established in both the House of Representatives and the Senate and can be either temporary or permanent, focusing on specific issues not covered by standing committees.

Question 2

Members of Congress are generally __________ than the general population.

Accepted Answer

Members of Congress are generally wealthier than the general population due to their salaries, benefits, and often pre-existing wealth.

Question 3

Whips serve what function?

Accepted Answer

Whips are responsible for ensuring party discipline and persuading party members to support the party's priorities and vote according to the party line.

Question 4

In the House of Representatives,who is second in authority to the Speaker of the House?

Accepted Answer

The Majority Leader is second in authority to the Speaker of the House in the House of Representatives, serving as the party leader for the majority party and helping to set the legislative agenda.

Question 5

Over the past three decades,the distance between the political parties in Congress has been growing steadily.As the parties have pulled apart ideologically,they also have become more __________ internally.

Accepted Answer

As political parties in Congress have become more ideologically distinct, they have also become more homogeneous internally, meaning that there is less ideological diversity within each party.

Question 6

The __________ makes economic projections about the performance of the economy,the costs of proposed policies,and the economic effects of taxing and spending alternatives.

Accepted Answer

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is responsible for making economic projections about the performance of the economy, evaluating the costs of proposed policies, and analyzing the economic effects of taxing and spending alternatives.

Question 7

The pork barrel may aid the district of a member of Congress by __________.

Accepted Answer

Pork barrel spending refers to the allocation of federal funds to local projects primarily to bring money to a representative's district, not necessarily for the overall benefit of the country. This can lead to increased jobs and revenue within the district through federally funded projects.

Question 8

Members of the House are apportioned to states based on __________.They serve __________-year terms.

Accepted Answer

Members of the House of Representatives are apportioned to states based on population, and they serve two-year terms.

Question 9

Which of the following is an advantage congressional incumbents possess in seeking reelection over challengers?

Accepted Answer

The franking privilege allows incumbents to send mail to their constituents at the government's expense, providing them with a significant communication advantage over challengers.

Question 10

Most of the work of Congress goes on in __________.

Accepted Answer

Most of the legislative work of Congress is conducted in committees, where bills are drafted, discussed, and amended before being presented to the full Congress for a vote.

Question 11

__________ is a good example of congressional casework.

Accepted Answer

Casework refers to the assistance provided by members of Congress to constituents in navigating federal bureaucracy and addressing their individual concerns, such as issues with the Veterans Administration.

Question 12

A __________ is a group of members of Congress who share some interest or characteristic;its goal is to promote the interests around which it is formed.

Accepted Answer

A caucus is a group of members of Congress (or any legislative body) who meet to pursue common legislative objectives.

Question 13

To increase turnover in the membership of Congress,some reformers have proposed __________ for representatives and senators.

Accepted Answer

Term limits are proposed to limit the number of terms an elected official can serve, thereby increasing turnover in Congress by preventing long-term incumbencies.

Question 14

A filibuster can be ended through __________;it requires the approval of __________ senators.

Accepted Answer

Cloture is the process used to end a filibuster in the United States Senate, and it requires the approval of sixty senators.

Question 15

Each state has __________ senators,each of whom serves a __________-year term.

Accepted Answer

Each state in the United States has two senators, and each senator serves a six-year term.

Question 16

The English politician and philosopher Edmund Burke advocated the concept of legislators as __________ who use their best judgment to make policy in the interests of the people.

Accepted Answer

Edmund Burke is known for advocating the concept of legislators as "trustees," meaning they should use their own judgment to make decisions in the best interests of the people, rather than acting merely as a mouthpiece for the wishes of their constituents.

Question 17

Party leaders from the two chambers of Congress sometimes use __________ legislation that addresses numerous and perhaps unrelated issues to create winning coalitions and force members to support the entire bill to obtain the individual parts.

Accepted Answer

Omnibus legislation is a single document that is accepted in a single vote by a legislature but packages together several measures into one or combines diverse subjects. This strategy is often used by party leaders to consolidate support for various issues into one bill, making it more likely for members to vote in favor of the entire package to secure the parts they support.

Question 18

The vice president of the United States is the ceremonial leader of the Senate,but he or she has little real leadership responsibilities.The leader of the Senate responsible for the brunt of the work of the majority party is the __________.

Accepted Answer

The Majority Leader of the Senate is the primary leader responsible for the majority party's agenda and legislative strategy, taking on the main leadership role beyond the Vice President's ceremonial position as President of the Senate.

Question 19

Which incumbency advantage involves efforts to highlight an incumbent's service to individuals and to the district?

Accepted Answer

Credit claiming involves efforts by incumbents to highlight their achievements and service to their constituents and the district, showcasing their efforts and successes in serving their community.

Question 20

The Constitutional Convention decided on what form of legislature?

Accepted Answer

The Constitutional Convention decided on a bicameral legislature, which consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives, as part of the Great Compromise.

Quiz 11: Congress