Question 1

Imagine the Republicans control the majority in the House and are pushing for a major immigration reform bill, although several party members would like to vote against the proposed piece of legislation. Which of the following is a way in which party leaders may encourage party discipline among their members?

Accepted Answer

Party leaders may use the promise of support on future bills to encourage party discipline among their members. This is a common tactic used to secure votes from dissenting members. Offering alternative bills or amendments can also be used as a bargaining tool to secure party loyalty. Providing cash payments or filing ethics charges would be unethical and illegal, while preventing members from running for reelection would violate democratic principles.

Question 2

In your opinion, should congressional representatives act more as delegates or as trustees? Explain why.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In your opinion, should congressional representatives act...

Question 3

When Senator Strom Thurmond spoke for over 24 hours in an attempt to block a piece of civil rights legislation, he used the

Accepted Answer

Senator Strom Thurmond used a filibuster, which is a tactic used in the United States Senate to prevent a measure from being brought to a vote. This involves a senator speaking for an extended period of time in order to delay or prevent a vote on the legislation. In Thurmond's case, he spoke for over 24 hours in an attempt to block a civil rights bill. The other options (cloture motion, blowback method, blockade) do not accurately describe Thurmond's actions or tactics.

Question 4

When a network of small businesses across the country cooperated to oppose President Bill Clinton's health-care plan in 1993-94, it illustrated the power of which type of organization to influence congressional decision making?

Accepted Answer

The small businesses that cooperated to oppose President Clinton's health-care plan were a form of interest group. Interest groups are organizations that seek to influence public policy by getting their voices heard by policymakers. In this case, the small businesses were advocating against the health-care plan, and their collective action had an impact on congressional decision-making.

Question 5

Frequently, features of a bill are drafted initially or revised so as to be more inclusive, spreading the benefits of a policy among a broad set of beneficiaries. This is known as

Accepted Answer

The distributive tendency refers to the tendency of policy makers to draft or revise features of a bill so as to distribute benefits or resources among a broad set of beneficiaries. This is done in order to make the policy more inclusive and gain broader support. The other options are not relevant to the concept described in the question.

Question 6

In the American political system, the power to ratify treaties is held by the

Accepted Answer

The power to ratify treaties is granted to the Senate in the United States Constitution. Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 states that the President “shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur.” The House of Representatives does not have a role in the ratification of treaties. The Council on Foreign Relations is a non-governmental organization and does not have any official authority in the ratification of treaties.

Question 7

When Senator Thad Cochran inserted language into a bill funding the war in Iraq that provided $250 million of "disaster relief" for southern catfish farmers, it illustrated which principle of congressional action?

Accepted Answer

The language inserted by Senator Thad Cochran in the bill funding the war in Iraq that provided $250 million of "disaster relief" for southern catfish farmers illustrates the distributive tendency of congressional action. This tendency refers to the tendency of Congress to distribute benefits to a wide range of constituents or interest groups through legislation or spending programs. In this case, the disaster relief funding was directed at a specific group of farmers in the South, highlighting the distributive nature of congressional action.

Question 8

The power to impeach and remove from office is vested in

Accepted Answer

The power to impeach and remove from office is granted in the Constitution to the legislative branch of the federal government, which is Congress. Specifically, the House of Representatives has the power to impeach federal officials, including the President, Vice President, and federal judges, while the Senate has the power to conduct the trial and determine guilt or innocence. Therefore, choice A is the best answer.

Question 9

Which is an example of a special Senate power?

Accepted Answer

"Advise and consent" refers to the Senate's power to review and approve presidential appointments and treaties. This is a special Senate power, separate from the House of Representatives. Impeachment and declaring war are powers shared by both the House and Senate, while executive agreements are typically made without Congress's involvement.

Question 10

A rule allowing a three-fifths majority of U.S. senators to set a time limit on debate over a given bill is called

Accepted Answer

The rule allowing a three-fifths majority of U.S. senators to set a time limit on debate over a given bill is called cloture. This is a parliamentary procedure used to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote. The other options listed are not related to the use of cloture in the Senate.

Question 11

Would congressional term limits make American democracy more representative? Would term limits make congressional policy making more effective? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Would congressional term limits make American democracy...

Question 12

Which principle of politics best explains why the president, not Congress, is the predominant power regarding foreign policy even though the Constitution gives this power to Congress?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which principle of politics best explains why...

Question 13

Why is the U.S. Congress referred to as the first branch of government?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is the U.S. Congress referred to...

Question 14

In the House of Representatives, what is the term for elected individuals responsible for lining up party members on important votes and relaying voter information to the leaders?

Accepted Answer

The term for elected individuals responsible for lining up party members on important votes and relaying voter information to the leaders is whips. They play a crucial role in ensuring party unity and maintaining communication between party leaders and members. Options A, C, and D do not refer to this specific role in the House of Representatives.

Question 15

In the American political system, the power to approve the appointment of ambassadors lies with the

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Constitution, the president has the power to nominate ambassadors, but the Senate must approve the appointment with a simple majority vote. Therefore, the power to approve the appointment of ambassadors rests with the Senate.

Question 16

A bill's supporters generally prefer that the Rules Committee decide to use a(n) __________ rule.

Accepted Answer

A closed rule limits the amount of debate and amendments allowed on a bill, which makes it easier for the supporters to pass the bill quickly. Therefore, the bill's supporters generally prefer a closed rule.

Question 17

After the House has impeached the president, the president continues to serve unless the Senate votes to remove the president from office with a

Accepted Answer

The Constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote (or 67 votes) in the Senate to remove the president from office after being impeached by the House. This high threshold ensures that removal from office is not taken lightly and requires significant bipartisan support.

Question 18

When members of the Senate prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down, which tactic are they using?

Accepted Answer

A filibuster is a tactic used by senators to prevent action on legislation they oppose by endlessly holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down. This allows them to delay or even kill a bill. Cloture is the procedure for ending a filibuster, advise and consent pertains to the Senate's role in confirming presidential appointments, and blockade is not a parliamentary tactic used in the Senate.

Question 19

What happens if Congress sends the president a bill and then adjourns, and the president never signs the bill?

Accepted Answer

When Congress sends a bill to the president and then adjourns, if the president does not sign the bill within 10 days (excluding Sundays), it does not become law. This is known as a pocket veto. Unlike a regular veto, a pocket veto cannot be overridden by Congress.

Question 20

A congressional representative's statement to his legislative colleague that he will support her bill if she will support his is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of logrolling, where legislators make vote trades or deals to support each other's bills.

Quiz 6: Congress: The First Branch