Question 1

One of the most important functions of _____ is its oversight of the executive branch and its many federal departments and agencies.

Accepted Answer

Congress has oversight of the executive branch and its many federal departments and agencies.

Question 2

Congress exercises jurisdiction over the impeachment of _____.

Accepted Answer

Congress has the authority to impeach and remove from office the President, Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." Governors, members of interest groups, party supporters, and opinion leaders are not subject to impeachment by Congress.

Question 3

Under which of the following programs are Social Security benefits provided to people?

Accepted Answer

Social Security benefits are provided under entitlement programs, which are government programs that guarantee certain benefits to a particular group or segment of the population, such as retirees, based on established rights or legislation.

Question 4

Appropriation is the first part of the budgeting process .

Accepted Answer

Appropriation is a part of the budgeting process where funds are set aside for specific purposes, but it is not the first part. The first part typically involves planning and proposing a budget.

Question 5

The House of Representatives has twice exercised its impeachment power against a president.

Accepted Answer

The House of Representatives has impeached two presidents: Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998.

Question 6

When Congress is unable to pass a complete budget by the beginning of the fiscal year, it usually passes _____, which enable the executive agencies to keep on doing whatever they were doing the previous year with the same amount of funding.

Accepted Answer

Continuing resolutions are temporary measures passed by Congress to fund government agencies and keep them operational when a full budget has not been approved. These resolutions typically extend funding at current levels until a specific date or until the full budget is passed.

Question 7

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Defense convenes to expand a clause in its proposed bill on military assistance for counter-terrorism operations in the United States. In this case, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Defense is _____.

Accepted Answer

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Defense is holding a markup session when it convenes to expand a clause in its proposed bill. Markup sessions are meetings where committees go through the process of debating, amending, and rewriting proposed legislation.

Question 8

Which of the following is an oversight body for the U.S. Congress?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an oversight...

Question 9

Which of the following statements is true of the advice and consent powers of the Senate?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution requires the Senate to confirm the president's appointments to the Supreme Court, which is an example of the Senate's advice and consent powers.

Question 10

When a committee chairperson sets a bill aside to ignore it rather than to send it to a subcommittee, the bill has been _____.

Accepted Answer

Pigeonholing refers to the practice where a committee chairperson sets a bill aside without sending it to a subcommittee, effectively ignoring it and preventing it from progressing further in the legislative process.

Question 11

_____ is the second part of the budgeting process in which Congress determines how many dollars will actually be spent in a given year on a particular government activity.

Accepted Answer

Appropriation is the step in the budgeting process where Congress decides the specific amounts of money that will be allocated for various government activities in a particular fiscal year.

Question 12

Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution states that the president may appoint certain officers of the United States " with the Advice and Consent of the Senate. " The Constitution leaves the precise nature of how the Senate will give this " advice and consent " up to the lawmakers .

Accepted Answer

The Constitution specifies that the President can appoint officers with the Senate's "Advice and Consent," but it does not detail the process, allowing the Senate to determine how it will provide this consent.

Question 13

In the past, members of Congress often took advantage of the vote to raise the debt ceiling to _____, to show off their opposition to federal spending.

Accepted Answer

The correct term is "grandstand," which means to perform or speak in a way that is intended to attract attention, impress, or show off, often in a political context. In this case, members of Congress would use the vote on the debt ceiling as an opportunity to showcase their opposition to federal spending, rather than directly influencing the outcome.

Question 14

In any year in which the federal government spends more than it takes in, _____.

Accepted Answer

When the federal government spends more than it takes in, the resulting deficit adds to the national debt. This is because the government needs to borrow money to cover the shortfall, increasing the total amount it owes.

Question 15

Which of the following statements is true of impeachment?

Accepted Answer

Impeachment in the United States involves the House of Representatives bringing charges against a federal official, and if the House votes to impeach, the accused is then tried in the Senate. The Senate's role is to determine whether the official will be removed from office, requiring a two-thirds majority vote for conviction and removal, not a one-third majority as stated in option E. The president does not have the power to impeach members of Congress, as stated in option B. Impeachment is not related to legislative debate to prevent action on a bill, which eliminates option C. Finally, not only civil officers but also the President and Vice President can be impeached and removed from office, which contradicts option D.

Question 16

If the president decides to veto a bill, Congress cannot get the bill enacted into law.

Accepted Answer

Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, allowing the bill to become law.

Question 17

The Senate brings a bill to the floor by:

Accepted Answer

The Senate typically brings a bill to the floor by unanimous consent, which allows for the expedited consideration of legislation without a formal vote.

Question 18

The constitutional option is also known as the _____.

Accepted Answer

The constitutional option, often referred to in the context of the United States Senate, is more commonly known as the "nuclear option." It is a parliamentary procedure that allows the Senate to override a standing rule of the Senate, such as the 60-vote rule to close debate, by a simple majority of 51 votes, rather than the two-thirds supermajority normally required to amend the rules. This option has been considered or used in the context of confirming presidential nominations and changing Senate rules.

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of an entitlement program?

Accepted Answer

Entitlement programs are government programs that provide individuals with personal financial benefits. "Obamacare," or the Affordable Care Act, is an example of such a program, as it provides health insurance coverage to eligible individuals.

Question 20

Which of the following is true of the senatorial holds?

Accepted Answer

Senatorial holds are informal practices in the United States Senate where a senator informs the floor leader that they wish to delay action on a particular piece of legislation or nomination. This can effectively pause proceedings on that item, making it a tool for delaying legislation.

Quiz 11: The Congress