Chapter 12: Congress: Representation, Organization, and Legislation

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. Congress is separated into two chambers that are increasingly divided along ______ lines.

a. partisan

b. democratic

c. authoritarian

d. demographic

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.1: Use the lens of women running for Congress in 2018 to explore how questions of representation involve political and institutional considerations as well as the identities of those who would represent and those who would be represented.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Introduction

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. Which of the following do all of the members of the U.S. Congress have in common?

a. They are delegates for elitist factions.

b. They have a populist agenda.

c. They are there to represent voter interests.

d. They each represent their own personal interests.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.1: Use the lens of women running for Congress in 2018 to explore how questions of representation involve political and institutional considerations as well as the identities of those who would represent and those who would be represented.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Introduction

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. The act of “standing for” one’s constituents in government is defined as ______.

a. delegation

b. representation

c. constituency

d. populism

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.1: Use the lens of women running for Congress in 2018 to explore how questions of representation involve political and institutional considerations as well as the identities of those who would represent and those who would be represented.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Introduction

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. The director of the Environmental Protection Agency has been in the news recently for overspending on luxuries for his office, such as a $250,000 bathroom renovation. A Congressional committee investigation is instigated. This is an example of ______.

a. appropriation

b. budget reconciliation

c. police patrol oversight

d. fire alarm oversight

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the Constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Oversight

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. President John Q. Smith has committed a series of “high crimes and misdemeanors” and has been impeached by the House of Representatives by a vote of 315-120. He now ______.

a. is removed from office, replaced by his vice president

b. faces a trial in the Senate, wherein a two-thirds majority is needed to convict

c. must resign in disgrace by the close of the congressional session

d. needs to stand for re-election by the people to retain his office

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the Constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Other Congressional Powers Involve Advice and Consent, Senatorial Courtesy, and Impeachment

Difficulty Level: Hard

6. Of the various types of congressional committees, which two are most important for the passage of legislation?

a. joint and standing

b. select and conference

c. conference and joint

d. standing and conference

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Types of Committees

Difficulty Level: Hard

7. In Congress, 1992 was known as the first year of ______.

a. democracy

b. civil disobedience

c. the woman

d. youthful exuberance

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.1: Use the lens of women running for Congress in 2018 to explore how questions of representation involve political and institutional considerations as well as the identities of those who would represent and those who would be represented.

REF: Cognitive Domain: knowledge

Answer Location: In 2018, Women Ran in Historic Numbers

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. The difference between open rules and closed rules that the House Rules Committee place on a bill under consideration have to do with ______.

a. the threshold of votes the bill needs to pass the chamber

b. the allowance for debate on bill under consideration

c. the ability of representatives to offer amendments on the bill

d. the makeup of the conference committee that has to consider the bill

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Consideration in the House of Representatives

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. Why have party leaders preferred ping-ponging a bill instead of going to conference in modern Congresses?

a. Conferencing removes party leader control over the process.

b. Conference is subject to a potential filibuster.

c. Ping-ponging is more efficient.

d. Ping-ponging allows for fewer amendments.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: The House and Senate Resolve Differences between Their Bills

Difficulty Level: Hard

10. A bicameral legislature with distinct differences between the House and the Senate established ______ within Congress and not just between Congress and the other branches.

a. separation of powers

b. a wall of separation

c. checks and balances

d. distinct barriers

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The House and Senate Serve Different Roles

Difficulty Level: Medium

11. A bicameral legislature is(was) ______.

a. a result of compromise between the slave states and non-slave states

b. composed of two chambers, the House of Representatives and the House of Commons

c. an example of a check and balance system within Congress

d. designed in such a way as to pass legislation quickly and efficiently

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: The House and Senate Serve Different Roles

Difficulty Level: Hard

12. Which of the following statements is not true about the differences between the two chambers of Congress?

a. House members serve two-year terms while Senators serve six-year terms.

b. All House members face reelection every 2 years but only one-third of Senators face reelection every 2 years.

c. The age requirement for Senators is older than that for House members.

d. House members are more insulated from public opinion than their Senate colleagues.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: The House of Representatives Is Designed for Greater Accountability; The Senate Is Designed for Greater Stability

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. Two important ways in which the framers of the Constitution tried to contain the dangers of faction were through ______.

a. the Bill of Rights and liberalism

b. tyranny and regulation

c. federalism and separation of powers

d. confederalism and collaboration

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The House and Senate Serve Different Roles

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. Members of the House of Representatives are ______.

a. indirectly elected through an electoral college system

b. appointed and assigned by state legislatures

c. directly elected by eligible voters

d. recruited from the majority party in a state

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The House of Representatives Is Designed for Greater Accountability

Difficulty Level: Medium

15. The Framers believed that the requirements for legislative service in the House of Representatives should be based on ______.

a. merit

b. wealth

c. influence

d. education

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The House of Representatives Is Designed for Greater Accountability

Difficulty Level: Medium

16. In contrast to members of the House, Senators were meant to be more ______.

a. in touch with their constituency

b. representative of their state legislatures

c. wealthy and powerful elites

d. insulated from the public

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Senate Is Designed for Greater Stability

Difficulty Level: Medium

17. The most important power of Congress is ______.

a. oversight

b. impeachment

c. lawmaking

d. agenda setting

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Legislative Authority

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. In contrast to members of the House, Senators must be ______.

a. older

b. wealthier

c. more educated

d. property holders

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Senate Is Designed for Greater Stability

Difficulty Level: Medium

19. Which of the following best describes the three broad areas of Congressional power?

a. representation, law enforcement, and organization

b. lawmaking, budgeting, and oversight

c. constitutionalism, republicanism, and federalism

d. governance, leadership, and development

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Congress Has Three Key Powers: Lawmaking, Budgeting, and Oversight

Difficulty Level: Medium

20. The most important power of Congress is its ______.

a. representative responsibility

b. governance and organization

c. oversight power

d. legislative authority

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Legislative Authority

Difficulty Level: Medium

21. The body of law that Congress creates is called ______.

a. constitutional law

b. regulatory law

c. statutory law

d. ordinance law

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Legislative Authority

Difficulty Level: Medium

22. Among legislative bodies in the world’s democracies, the U.S. Congress is the most active and independent in terms of its ability to make ______.

a. constitutional policy

b. national policy

c. foreign policy

d. state and local policy

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Legislative Authority

Difficulty Level: Medium

23. Many of the rules governing the budgetary process in Congress were set in ______.

a. the Federal Budget Authorization Act of 1997

b. the Federal Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1990

c. the Congressional Budget Act of 1974

d. the Budget Control Act of 2011

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Budgeting Process

Difficulty Level: Medium

24. Congress funds the activities of bureaucratic agencies through the process of ______.

a. reconciliation

b. appropriation

c. fiscal responsibility

d. omnibus legislation

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Budgeting Process

Difficulty Level: Medium

25. In comparison to other bills in Congress, the process for reconciliation bills is more ______.

a. complicated

b. thorough

c. debated

d. streamlined

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Budgeting Process

Difficulty Level: Medium

26. The Constitution grants Congress the power to legislate in various areas. These legislative powers written into the Constitution are called the ______.

a. enumerated powers

b. implied powers

c. elastic powers

d. reserved powers

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Legislative Authority

Difficulty Level: Easy

27. The agency whose role is to provide information and estimates of the likely budgetary consequences of funding the agencies and programs created by Congress is the ______.

a. General Accounting Oversight Administration

b. Legislative Review Board

c. Congressional Budget Office

d. Management and Budget Agency

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Budgeting Process

Difficulty Level: Medium

28. If a member of Congress wishes to get a project funded without writing a separate bill, they can attach it to a larger funding bill in the form of a(n) ______.

a. earmark

b. filibuster

c. cloture

d. oversight

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Budgeting Process

Difficulty Level: Medium

29. When Congress exercises authority to ensure that laws are implemented in the way that Congress intended when it passed them, the process is described as ______.

a. earmark

b. filibuster

c. cloture

d. oversight

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Oversight

Difficulty Level: Medium

30. In order to ensure that funds appropriated for programs are being spent efficiently, legally, and in accordance with the law’s intent, Congress may conduct ______.

a. oversight investigations

b. appropriations audits

c. committee and subcommittee hearings

d. formal fiduciary studies

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Oversight

Difficulty Level: Medium

31. When Congress wanted to look into an on-going political crisis, it called immediate hearings, which are described as ______.

a. police patrol oversight

b. fire alarm oversight

c. omnibus oversight

d. legislative oversight

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Oversight

Difficulty Level: Medium

32. When Congress continually monitors the actions of a bureaucracy, it participates in ______.

a. police patrol oversight

b. fire alarm oversight

c. omnibus oversight

d. legislative oversight

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Oversight

Difficulty Level: Medium

33. When branches of government are allowed a level of oversight over each other, it is best described as ______.

a. separation of powers

b. legislative authority

c. governmental oversight

d. checks and balances

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Other Congressional Powers Involve Advice and Consent, Senatorial Courtesy, and Impeachment

Difficulty Level: Medium

34. The ideas of Senatorial ratification of treaties and Congressional power to declare war were designed to force the ______ to work together.

a. executive and legislative branches

b. two houses of Congress

c. judicial and legislative branches

d. president and the cabinet

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Other Congressional Powers Involve Advice and Consent, Senatorial Courtesy, and Impeachment

Difficulty Level: Medium

35. The norm of ______ generally allows senators to nominate lower-lever federal judges to serve in their states with the expectation that they will be confirmed without significant opposition.

a. congressional oversight

b. senatorial courtesy

c. advice and consent

d. state federalism

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Other Congressional Powers Involve Advice and Consent, Senatorial Courtesy, and Impeachment

Difficulty Level: Medium

36. To remove an official from federal office, the House of Representatives votes to ______ and the Senate has the authority to ______, which will then remove the official from office.

a. impeach; convict

b. accuse; censure

c. censure; review

d. convict; impeach

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Other Congressional Powers Involve Advice and Consent, Senatorial Courtesy, and Impeachment

Difficulty Level: Medium

37. The power to impeach is found in ______ of the Constitution.

a. Article I, Section 3

b. Article II, Section 4

c. Article IV, Section 1

d. Article V, Section 2

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Other Congressional Powers Involve Advice and Consent, Senatorial Courtesy, and Impeachment

Difficulty Level: Medium

38. Which of the following presidents have faced successful House resolutions of impeachment?

a. John Quincy Adams and Benjamin Harrison

b. William Henry Harrison and Richard M. Nixon

c. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton

d. Andrew Jackson and Warren G. Harding

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Other Congressional Powers Involve Advice and Consent, Senatorial Courtesy, and Impeachment

Difficulty Level: Medium

39. The event that crystalized the commitment of women to run for Congress in 1992 was ______.

a. the failure of the Equal Rights Amendment

b. the rise of the National Organization of Women

c. the growing population of women in the United States

d. the Senate confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: A Singular Event Galvanizes a New Field of Candidates

Difficulty Level: Medium

40. The confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas were marred by allegations of ______.

a. sexual harassment

b. fiscal impropriety

c. gross misconduct

d. a lack of qualifications

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: A Singular Event Galvanizes a New Field of Candidates

Difficulty Level: Medium

41. The group of women members of Congress, led by Representative Barbara Boxer, who actively protested the confirmation of Justice Clarence Thomas, was nicknamed the ______ by the press.

a. “opposition”

b. “women of Iwo Jima”

c. “dragon ladies”

d. “Boxer rebellion”

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Practicing Political Science: Gender and Metaphors of Power in Image

Difficulty Level: Medium

42. Many first-time candidates for Congress bring with them a set of ______ rather than one specific issue.

a. policy objectives

b. constituent mandates

c. representational requirements

d. political ideals

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Experience and Money Legitimizes Candidates

Difficulty Level: Medium

43. Perhaps the most important factor paving the way for newcomers to run for Congress in 1992 was the ______.

a. changing demographic landscape

b. rising discord with incumbents

c. record number of open seats

d. intense constituent agenda

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Constituency, Incumbency, and Other Electoral Factors Lay the Groundwork

Difficulty Level: Medium

44. For political scientists Linda Fowler and Robert McClure, the main factor that sets declared candidates apart from “the unseen candidates” is political ______.

a. agenda

b. constituency

c. power

d. ambition

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Political Ambition Launches Careers

Difficulty Level: Medium

45. The framework for the boundaries of constituency is set in the ______.

a. Bill of Rights

b. Constitution

c. rules of Congress

d. state legislatures

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Constituency, Incumbency, and Other Electoral Factors Lay the Groundwork

Difficulty Level: Medium

46. Qualified challengers for congressional office often ______ before running for office.

a. rationally wait for an open seat

b. base their decision on constituency

c. seek political mandates

d. acquire political power

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Constituency, Incumbency, and Other Electoral Factors Lay the Groundwork

Difficulty Level: Medium

47. When challengers decide to stand for office, above all else, they need ______.

a. experience and money

b. power and stamina

c. political agendas and resources

d. constituent support and momentum

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Experience and Money Legitimize Candidates

Difficulty Level: Medium

48. Congress can expedite legislation through a more streamlined process. This is called ______.

a. concurrent work

b. reconciliation

c. co-sponsorship

d. joint resolution

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Budgeting Process

Difficulty Level: Medium

49. Members of Congress gain power and influence ______.

a. as soon as they are elected

b. through the mandate of their constituency

c. by way of congressional leaders

d. as their congressional careers develop

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Congress Is Organized around Formal and Informal Rules

Difficulty Level: Medium

50. Much of the formal structure of Congress revolves around the role of ______.

a. political constituency

b. monetary contributions

c. political leadership

d. political parties

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Political Parties Shape How Congress Is Structured

Difficulty Level: Medium

51. Congressional party leaders work through ______ in order to set up goals, choose leaders, assign members to committees, and try to present a unified voice to the American electorate through the media.

a. formal leadership positions

b. party caucuses and party conferences

c. constituency groups

d. special interests

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Political Parties Shape How Congress Is Structured

Difficulty Level: Medium

52. The only House leadership position described in the Constitution is the ______.

a. Speaker of the House

b. Majority Leader

c. Party Whip

d. Minority Leader

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Party Leadership in the House of Representatives

Difficulty Level: Easy

53. The usual prerequisite for a would-be House Speaker is ______.

a. a strong relationship with major donors

b. support from bipartisan interest groups

c. a record of successful service in the House

d. strong advocacy from political constituents

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Party Leadership in the House

Difficulty Level: Medium

54. An increasingly important prerequisite in selecting a Speaker is the ability to ______.

a. raise money for other members of one’s party

b. connect and interface with other party members

c. exhibit leadership skills within and outside the party

d. recruit and maintain new party members

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Party Leadership in the House

Difficulty Level: Medium

55. The most direct assistant to the Speaker of the House is the ______.

a. House minority leader

b. majority whip

c. House majority leader

d. minority whip

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Party Leadership in the House

Difficulty Level: Easy

56. An individual in the House or Senate chosen by their party members whose job is to ensure party unity and discipline is called the ______.

a. party whip

b. majority leader

c. minority leader

d. leadership committee chair

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Party Leadership in the House

Difficulty Level: Easy

57. To divide the workload, both the House and the Senate have established the ______ system.

a. party leadership

b. committee

c. partisan

d. regulatory

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Work of Congress Is Done through the Committee System

Difficulty Level: Easy

58. Committee membership is determined and negotiated by ______.

a. bipartisan support

b. partisan constituency

c. party leaders

d. direct election

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Committee Membership and Leadership

Difficulty Level: Easy

59. Committee chairs have considerable influence, especially in setting ______.

a. legislative schedules

b. congressional rules

c. committee membership

d. the committee’s agenda

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Committee Membership and Leadership

Difficulty Level: Easy

60. As the size of the American republic and the complexity of issues before Congress have both grown, so has the size of ______.

a. congressional staff

b. inside lobbying

c. political action committees

d. congressional representation

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Congressional Staff and the Congressional Bureaucracy Help Members Represent Their Constituents

Difficulty Level: Easy

61. The ______ keeps track of agencies created and funded by Congress.

a. Congressional Budget Office

b. Government Accountability Office

c. House Rules Committee

d. Senate Oversight Committee

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Congressional Staff and the Congressional Bureaucracy Help Members Represent Their Constituents

Difficulty Level: Easy

62. ______ has challenged the role of norms in constraining member behavior in recent years.

a. The increasing use of inside lobbying efforts

b. The growing impact of outside political contributions

c. Animosity between members of the two political parties

d. A sizable increase in the number of political movements

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Norms Are Informal Contributors to Congressional Organization

Difficulty Level: Medium

63. Political scientist Barbara Sinclair used the term “______” to describe the realities of the modern legislative process.

a. unrealistic representation

b. partisan regulation

c. traditional legislation

d. unorthodox lawmaking

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Legislative Process Is Complex by Design

Difficulty Level: Medium

64. Who may introduce a bill into Congress?

a. any citizen

b. any registered voter

c. any governmental employee

d. any member of Congress

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The First Step is Bill Introduction

Difficulty Level: Medium

65. The process of ______ describes the assignment of a bill to more than one committee, especially if the bill is large and complex.

a. multiple referral

b. dual legislation

c. interactive consideration

d. collective agency

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Referral to Committee Involves Political Strategy

Difficulty Level: Medium

66. The ______ allows committee members to make changes to a bill before the committee reports it to the floor.

a. concurrent meeting

b. assistive process

c. collective delegation

d. markup session

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Bills Are Altered—and Die—Due to Committee and Subcommittee Action

Difficulty Level: Medium

67. In the House, a member may file a ______ to free a bill from an unfriendly committee and move it to the House floor for a vote.

a. cloture amendment

b. filibuster request

c. discharge petition

d. quorum call

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Bills Are Altered—and Die—Due to Committee and Subcommittee Action

Difficulty Level: Medium

68. Having successfully passed out of committee, bills proceed to ______.

a. consideration on the floors of the House and the Senate

b. subcommittee debate for further recommendation

c. the executive branch for presidential signature

d. either the House or the Senate for singular consideration

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Voting Takes Place during Floor Consideration

Difficulty Level: Medium

69. An important difference between the House and the Senate is the role of the ______ in the House legislative process, which has no equally powerful counterpart in the Senate.

a. Congressional Budget Office

b. House Rules Committee

c. General Accounting Office

d. House Majority Leader

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Consideration in the House of Representatives

Difficulty Level: Medium

70. When a bill comes to the floor of the House or Senate for a “yea,” “nay,” or “present” indication by members of Congress in order to be recorded, the process is called a(n) ______.

a. public forum

b. roll-call vote

c. congressional caucus

d. open debate

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Consideration in the House of Representatives

Difficulty Level: Medium

71. For most noncontroversial issues, a simple ______ request may be used in the Senate.

a. plurality vote

b. majority vote

c. unanimous consent

d. floor debate

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Consideration in the Senate

Difficulty Level: Medium

72. If a Senator wishes to delay a vote on a piece of legislation by continuously talking/debating the issues, he/she has initiated a ______.

a. cloture

b. filibuster

c. floor debate

d. consent request

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Consideration in the Senate

Difficulty Level: Medium

73. In order to stop a filibuster, a 3/5 vote of Senators known as a ______ must be achieved.

a. cloture

b. filibuster

c. floor debate

d. consent request

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Consideration in the Senate

Difficulty Level: Medium

74. In order to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill, a bill is referred to ______.

a. the whole floor of both houses

b. subcommittees in both houses

c. a conference committee

d. the president for a decision

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The House and Senate Resolve Differences between Their Bills

Difficulty Level: Medium

75. When House and Senate versions of a bill are amended and sent back and forth between the two chambers until the process has produced a single text, it is known as ______.

a. ping-ponging

b. mutual consideration

c. collective bargaining

d. bilateral agreement

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The House and Senate Resolve Differences between Their Bills

Difficulty Level: Medium

76. Once the differences between House and Senate versions of a bill are resolved and voted on successfully in each chamber, the bill is then sent for ______.

a. final action in the House and Senate

b. presidential signature or veto

c. further committee consideration

d. submission to subcommittees for review

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The President Takes Action

Difficulty Level: Medium

77. If a president chooses not to sign or veto a piece of legislation, the president’s third option is to ______.

a. return the bill unsigned

b. request further revision

c. pocket veto the legislation

d. ask for another floor vote

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The President Takes Action

Difficulty Level: Medium

78. In order for Congress to avoid a pocket veto, it may opt to ______.

a. request the president return the bill for further debate

b. ask for a 2/3 vote to signal its intent to override the veto

c. conduct a quorum call to require all voting members to return

d. leave one or more members behind while everyone else goes home

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

Answer Location: The President Takes Action

Difficulty Level: Medium

79. When voters select representatives who reflect and share their policy preferences, identities, interests, and lived experiences, they are also transmitting information to members of Congress that political scientist Richard F. Fenno, Jr., describes as ______.

a. home style

b. constituent identification

c. representative delegation

d. partisan collaboration

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.6: Connect the issues surrounding the representation of women in Congress to the challenges involving representation of other individuals in America.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Members Represent Constituents by How They Act and Who They Are

Difficulty Level: Medium

80. A long tradition of research in political science has shown that on most issues, the majority of constituents are ______.

a. well educated

b. highly motivated

c. poorly informed

d. uninterested

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.6: Connect the issues surrounding the representation of women in Congress to the challenges involving representation of other individuals in America.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Representatives’ Actions Are Shaped by Level of Constituent Knowledge

Difficulty Level: Medium

81. Political scientists, congressional observers, and some members of Congress have become increasingly concerned about trends in ______.

a. constituent backlash

b. partisan polarization

c. representative demographics

d. legislative gridlock

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.6: Connect the issues surrounding the representation of women in Congress to the challenges involving representation of other individuals in America.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Partisan Polarization Strongly Affects Voting and Cooperation

Difficulty Level: Medium

82. Intense partisanship can lead to an inability of Congress to pass legislation, known as ______.

a. constituent backlash

b. partisan polarization

c. representative demographics

d. gridlock

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.6: Connect the issues surrounding the representation of women in Congress to the challenges involving representation of other individuals in America.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Partisan Polarization Strongly Affects Voting and Cooperation

Difficulty Level: Medium

83. A situation in which control over the House of Representatives, the Senate, and/or the presidency is split between political parties is defined as ______.

a. divided government

b. partisan separation

c. legislative gridlock

d. descriptive representation

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.6: Connect the issues surrounding the representation of women in Congress to the challenges involving representation of other individuals in America.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Partisan Polarization Strongly Affects Voting and Cooperation

Difficulty Level: Medium

84. The degree to which a body of representatives in a legislature does or does not reflect the diversity of that nation’s identities and lived experiences is known as ______.

a. divided government

b. partisan separation

c. legislative gridlock

d. descriptive representation

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.6: Connect the issues surrounding the representation of women in Congress to the challenges involving representation of other individuals in America.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Descriptive Representation

Difficulty Level: Medium

85. Some scholars have argued that seeing a diversity of faces in Congress may, in the eyes of the American electorate, ______.

a. take away from the legislative power of elected representatives

b. aggravate the partisan political process of congressional leadership

c. lead to increasingly devastating periods of legislative gridlock

d. confer greater legitimacy on the institution and the policies it passes

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.6: Connect the issues surrounding the representation of women in Congress to the challenges involving representation of other individuals in America.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Descriptive Representation in Congress

Difficulty Level: Medium

86. The risks posed by linking individuals’ lived experiences to policy preferences, whether by identifying those individuals by those policies or excluding them from advocating different policy objectives, is described as ______.

a. deliberation

b. representation

c. essentialism

d. complexity

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.6: Connect the issues surrounding the representation of women in Congress to the challenges involving representation of other individuals in America.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Problem of Essentialism

Difficulty Level: Easy

87. The degree to which elected representatives or Senators do or do not represent the interests and policy preferences of their constituents is called ______.

a. legislative deliberation

b. substantive representation

c. congressional essentialism

d. executive complexity

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.6: Connect the issues surrounding the representation of women in Congress to the challenges involving representation of other individuals in America.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Substantive Representation Connects How Members Act and Who They Are

Difficulty Level: Easy

88. The act of considering, debating, and revising preferences by elected representatives is defined as ______.

a. legislative deliberation

b. substantive representation

c. congressional essentialism

d. executive complexity

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.6: Connect the issues surrounding the representation of women in Congress to the challenges involving representation of other individuals in America.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Deliberation May Be Improved by Substantive Representation

Difficulty Level: Easy

89. By bringing unconsidered issues to Congress’s table and making them salient, members of Congress are, according to political scientist Jane Mansbridge, acting as ______.

a. delegated constituencies

b. surrogate representatives

c. congressional essentialists

d. representative analysts

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.6: Connect the issues surrounding the representation of women in Congress to the challenges involving representation of other individuals in America.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Deliberation May Be Improved by Substantive Representation

Difficulty Level: Medium

90. Earmarks are popular for all of the following reasons EXCEPT ______.

a. constituents benefit from them

b. representatives can use them to claim credit for bringing money home

c. representatives can increase their chances of reelection because of them

d. they put the needs of a few beneficiaries ahead of the needs of the nation as a whole

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: The Budgeting Process

Difficulty Level: Hard

91. The two things that most influence election results are ______.

a. money and name recognition

b. money and positive media coverage

c. money and experience

d. experience and name recognition

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Experience and Money Legitimize Candidates

Difficulty Level: Medium

92. Which of the following is a true statement regarding the first step in the legislative process?

a. A bill must first be introduced in the House.

b. A bill must first be introduced in the Senate.

c. Only members of the House and Senate can introduce a bill in their respective chambers.

d. A bill introduced in both the House and Senate should be in identical form.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The First Step Is Bill Introduction

Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. The Constitution requires House members to be property holders.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The House of Representatives Is Designed for Greater Accountability

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. While the Constitution did not prohibit women from holding office, most of the states did.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the Constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The House of Representatives Is Designed for Greater Accountability

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. The Congressional power of impeachment applies only to the president of the United States.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the Constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Other Congressional Powers Involve Advice and Consent, Senatorial Courtesy, and Impeachment

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. In 2011, the House of Representatives was unable to institute a ban on earmarks.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Budgeting Process

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. Among legislative bodies in the world’s democracies, the U.S. Congress is the least active and independent in terms of its ability to make national policy.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Legislative Authority

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Many first-time candidates for Congress bring with them a set of policy objectives rather than one specific issue.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Experience and Money Legitimize Candidates

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Only those candidates with the strongest personal desire to act in politics decide to face the long odds against success.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Political Ambition Launches Careers

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. First-timers, regardless of political party, gender, racial or ethnic identity, or religious preference, are all driven in part to advance and advocate for a set of policy goals in order to change the political conversation

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Political Ambition Launches Careers

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. After making the decision to run for office, first-timers face a rather smooth path, as incumbents are fairly easy to defeat.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Constituency, Incumbency, and Other Electoral Factors Lay the Groundwork

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. In the 1992 election, women’s PACs played a relatively minor role in financing and advising the campaigns of women’s elections.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Experience and Money Legitimize Candidates

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. Congressional elections are usually not conducive to amateurs, who often lack the knowledge, political organization, and well-honed political skills required for success in the high-stakes enterprise of a national campaign.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Experience and Money Legitimize Candidates

Difficulty Level: Easy

12. The Speaker of the House is second in the line of succession (behind the vice president) to the presidency in the event of the president’s death, resignation, removal from office, or inability to conduct the office’s duties.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

Cognitive Domain; Knowledge

Answer location: Party Leadership in the House of Representatives

Difficulty Level: Easy

13. Congress has three types of committees: standing, joint, and select.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer location: Types of Committees

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. Joint committees contain members of both the House and the Senate.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer location: Types of Committees

Difficulty Level: Medium

15. Unorthodox lawmaking has become increasingly rarely used, particularly with regard to major legislation.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

Cognitive Domain; Comprehension

Answer location: The Legislative Process Is Complex by Design

Difficulty Level: Medium

16. The first stage of the legislative process is the assignment of a bill to a committee and/or subcommittee for consideration.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer location: The First Step Is Bill Introduction

Difficulty Level: Medium

17. Most House rules are found in the Constitution.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer location: Congress Is Organized around Formal and Informal Rules

Difficulty Level: Medium

18. Only a vote of 3/5 of senators, called cloture, can end a filibuster.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer location: Consideration in the Senate

Difficulty Level: Medium

19. The power of a presidential veto lies as much in its threat as in the use of the actual veto.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer location: The President Takes Action

Difficulty Level: Medium

20. Voting on the House and Senate floor is the most public legislative act members of Congress undertake.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.6: Connect the issues surrounding the representation of women in Congress to the challenges involving representation of other individuals in America.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer location: Acting in Congress Involves Visible and Invisible Legislative Work

Difficulty Level: Medium

21. The filibuster has existed in the same form and according to the same rules since it was first used in the Senate in 1789.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Consideration in the Senate

Difficulty Level: Easy

22. All bills to raise revenue must originate in the House, and the Senate does not get involved in this process.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: The First Step Is Bill Introduction

Difficulty Level: Medium

Short Answer

1. The act of “standing for” one’s constituents in government is defined as ______.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.1: Use the lens of women running for Congress in 2018 to explore how questions of representation involve political and institutional considerations as well as the identities of those who would represent and those who would be represented.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Introduction

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. A written law established by a legislative body is defined as a ______.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Legislative Authority

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. A traditional norm in which presidents consult with senators from the states when considering potential nominees to the lower levels of the federal judiciary is defined as ______.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Other Congressional Powers Involve Advice and Consent, Senatorial Courtesy, and Impeachment

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. An individual House or Senate member, chosen by their party members, whose job is to ensure party unity and discipline is described as a ______.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Party Leadership in the House of Representatives

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. If a bill is passed in two different forms by the House and the Senate, it will generally go to a ______ committee in order to iron out differences and create a single bill for submission to the president.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Types of Committees

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. You are the senior senator for New Jersey and a member of the president’s party. There is a vacancy in the federal court in the state. You expect the president to call you any day now and request your nomination for that vacancy per the norm of ______.

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the Constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Other Congressional Powers Involve Advice and Consent, Senatorial Courtesy, and Impeachment

Difficulty Level: Easy

Essay

1. How does the structure of Congress demonstrate the intended differences that the framers devised in separating between the House and the Senate?

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.2: Describe how the constitution created Congress, including its structure and powers.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: The House of Representatives Is Designed for Greater Accountability; The Senate Is Designed for Greater Stability

Difficulty Level: Hard

2. What obstacles do first-time candidates for Congress face? How can they overcome those obstacles?

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Constituency, Incumbency, and Other Electoral Factors Lay the Groundwork; Experience and Money Legitimize Candidates

Difficulty Level: Hard

3. How do the rules of the House and the Senate shape the legislative outcomes of these two bodies?

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.3: Describe the rules, institutions, and processes that Congress itself has created to carry out its constitutional role | 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Congress is Organized around Formal and Informal Rules; The Legislative Process is Complex by Design

Difficulty Level: Hard

4. Describe the stages of passing legislation in Congress. How does the flow of legislation through Congress differ from the “textbook” descriptions of the process?

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.4: Explain the steps of the legislative process and how it can diverge from traditional “textbook” descriptions.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: The Legislative Process Is Complex by Design

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. In what ways can we learn from the efforts of women to obtain elected positions in the House and the Senate? What does the demographic description of the House and the Senate say about who is most likely to get elected to Congress today?

TOP: Learning Outcome: Explain the main institutions of American government, including their roles and interrelationships.

KEY: Learning Objective: 12.5: Use the lens of the congressional elections of 1992 to explore the factors that influence an individual’s decision to run, and the resources and skills that successful candidates need.

REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Getting to Congress Involves Personal, Professional, Electoral, and Financial Factors

Difficulty Level: Medium