Question 1

Which action is a joint committee most likely to carry out?

Accepted Answer

A)   examining the growing racial divide in the United States and recommending a solution
B)   working with members of both chambers to resolve differences between two versions of a bill
C)   keeping tabs on a federal agency that has been tasked with developing nuclear energy policy
D)   reviewing a bill that has just been proposed and deciding whether or not it should be voted onE) B) and C)
F) A) and D) C

Question 2

Aside from ensuring that policies regarding specialized areas are made by those with sufficient expertise and experience, why might Congress delegate its lawmaking authority?

Accepted Answer

A)   Some members of Congress dislike enacting policy.
B)   Congress often does not want as much power as the Constitution grants it.
C)   Delegating authority allows Congress to blame other agencies for policy failures.
D)   Congress is required to delegate a certain amount of its authority to other agencies.E) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 3

Suppose a bill regarding an increase in the federal minimum wage has just been passed successfully in the full House and Senate. The bill that passed through the House includes a provision that increases the minimum wage gradually over the course of five years, while the bill that passed through the Senate mandates that the minimum wage be implemented effective immediately. Who is responsible for resolving that difference?

Accepted Answer

A)   the House Ways and Means Committee
B)   a conference committee
C)   the president
D)   the Senate has final sayE) A) and B)
F) B) and D)

Question 4

Why do some people believe pork-barrel legislation is unfair?

Accepted Answer

A)   It benefits only cattle farmers and other agricultural interests.
B)   It gives federal funds to some localities but not others.
C)   Such funding is discriminatory against impoverished areas.
D)   Pork-barrel legislation borders on being unconstitutional.E) None of the above
F) All of the above

Question 5

Committees in Congress are primarily organized based on ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   seniority
B)   area of expertise
C)   partisanship
D)   wealthE) A) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 6

According to the text, what is a frequent criticism of Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)   It gives in too quickly to the president's requests.
B)   It is too slow and unresponsive.
C)   It makes decisions without careful consideration.
D)   It is too difficult to vote out representatives.E) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 7

Which statement summarizes the main function of a House whip?

Accepted Answer

A)   to serve as an administrative assistant to the Speaker of the House and the majority leader
B)   to count the votes on a piece of legislation and convince other party members to vote a certain way
C)   to energize the voters leading up to an election to convince them to vote for a certain candidate
D)   to shape the party's overall platform and legislative agenda and present it to the SpeakerE) B) and C)
F) C) and D)

Question 8

Who has the authority to introduce a bill to Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)   the president
B)   lobbyists
C)   American citizens
D)   members of CongressE) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 9

What do the House "managers" do?

Accepted Answer

A)   They present the articles of impeachment to the full House for consideration.
B)   They act as prosecutors and present the case for removal to the full Senate.
C)   They draft up the articles of impeachment to issue against a federal official.
D)   They complete all the administrative work required for impeachment.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 10

Maria is a member of the Senate and is on the Joint Economic Committee, which carefully monitors the actions taken by the Federal Reserve Board. Part of Maria's responsibilities on this committee is to ask questions about the policies and decisions the Fed has made and examine how those decisions have impacted the economy. In broader terms, what is Maria's responsibility on the Joint Economic Committee?

Accepted Answer

A)   to conduct congressional oversight into the Federal Reserve Board
B)   to investigate corruption within the Federal Reserve
C)   to work with the Federal Reserve to set monetary policy for the nation
D)   to decide when the interest rates must be increased or loweredE) All of the above
F) A) and C)

Question 11

Briefly define a standing committee and explain the basic function of those standing committees.

Accepted Answer

A standing committee is a permanent comm...

Question 12

Who serve as committee chairs in Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)   the most senior members in Congress
B)   members of the majority caucus
C)   those with the most expertise in the committee's area
D)   members of the minority caucusE) C) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 13

What motive do political parties have to engage in gerrymandering?

Accepted Answer

A)   Gerrymandering can give that party an advantage in elections.
B)   Political parties are able to attract more voters in gerrymandered districts.
C)   States give more money to the party that can gerrymander the best.
D)   Successful gerrymandering can convert some voters to a different party.E) All of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 14

Because of the colonists' fears that a central government would tax its citizens abusively, all bills regarding taxation and revenue must originate in which body of the federal government?

Accepted Answer

A)   the House of Representatives
B)   the Senate
C)   the Supreme Court
D)   the president's cabinetE) None of the above
F) B) and D) A

Question 15

Suppose the president has been presented with a bill that would provide every American with access to free health care services. The president believes that such a system would crush the American economy and cripple the health care system, and many Americans agree, so the president vetoes the bill. Congress is passionate about this legislation and wants to override the president's veto. What must Congress obtain to override his veto?

Accepted Answer

A)   a unanimous vote in both the House and the Senate
B)   a simple majority vote in the House
C)   a two-thirds majority vote in the House and the Senate
D)   a supermajority vote in the SenateE) A) and B)
F) B) and D) C

Question 16

Joint committees are responsible for resolving the differences between bills that have passed through the House and the Senate.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Who is primarily responsible for making a bill officially law?

Accepted Answer

A)   the Senate majority leader
B)   the Speaker of the House
C)   the president
D)   the American peopleE) C) and D)
F) A) and D)

Question 18

The establishment of Congress as a bicameral legislature was a compromise between those who wanted equal representation and those who wanted representation proportional to population.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Members of Congress who take the time to help their constituents understand the complexities of the federal bureaucracy are engaged in which type of activity?

Accepted Answer

A)   oversight
B)   campaigning
C)   casework
D)   delegationE) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 20

According to the Constitution, who is the president of the Senate?

Accepted Answer

A)   the Senate majority leader
B)   the Speaker of the House
C)   the president
D)   the vice presidentE) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

Exam 6: Congress

Which action is a joint committee most likely to carry out?

Correct Answer
verified
C

Aside from ensuring that policies regarding specialized areas are made by those with sufficient expertise and experience, why might Congress delegate its lawmaking authority?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Why do some people believe pork-barrel legislation is unfair?

Correct Answer
verified

Committees in Congress are primarily organized based on ______.

Correct Answer
verified

According to the text, what is a frequent criticism of Congress?

Correct Answer
verified

Which statement summarizes the main function of a House whip?

Correct Answer
verified

Who has the authority to introduce a bill to Congress?

Correct Answer
verified

What do the House "managers" do?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Briefly define a standing committee and explain the basic function of those standing committees.

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
A standing committee is a permanent comm...
View Answer

Who serve as committee chairs in Congress?

Correct Answer
verified

What motive do political parties have to engage in gerrymandering?

Correct Answer
verified

Because of the colonists' fears that a central government would tax its citizens abusively, all bills regarding taxation and revenue must originate in which body of the federal government?

Correct Answer
verified
A

Correct Answer
verified
C

Joint committees are responsible for resolving the differences between bills that have passed through the House and the Senate.

Correct Answer
verified

Who is primarily responsible for making a bill officially law?

Correct Answer
verified

The establishment of Congress as a bicameral legislature was a compromise between those who wanted equal representation and those who wanted representation proportional to population.

Correct Answer
verified

Members of Congress who take the time to help their constituents understand the complexities of the federal bureaucracy are engaged in which type of activity?

Correct Answer
verified

According to the Constitution, who is the president of the Senate?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 6: Congress

Which action is a joint committee most likely to carry out?

Correct AnswerverifiedC

Aside from ensuring that policies regarding specialized areas are made by those with sufficient expertise and experience, why might Congress delegate its lawmaking authority?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why do some people believe pork-barrel legislation is unfair?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Committees in Congress are primarily organized based on ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the text, what is a frequent criticism of Congress?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which statement summarizes the main function of a House whip?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Who has the authority to introduce a bill to Congress?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What do the House "managers" do?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Briefly define a standing committee and explain the basic function of those standing committees.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIA standing committee is a permanent comm...View AnswerShow Answer

Who serve as committee chairs in Congress?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What motive do political parties have to engage in gerrymandering?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Because of the colonists' fears that a central government would tax its citizens abusively, all bills regarding taxation and revenue must originate in which body of the federal government?

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Correct AnswerverifiedC

Joint committees are responsible for resolving the differences between bills that have passed through the House and the Senate.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Who is primarily responsible for making a bill officially law?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The establishment of Congress as a bicameral legislature was a compromise between those who wanted equal representation and those who wanted representation proportional to population.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Members of Congress who take the time to help their constituents understand the complexities of the federal bureaucracy are engaged in which type of activity?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the Constitution, who is the president of the Senate?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
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C

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Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
A standing committee is a permanent comm...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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A

Correct Answer
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C

Correct Answer
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