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Congress is divided into __ chambers to limit the overall potential for legislative tyranny.. a. 2b. 3c. 4. d. 5e. 6. With a House of Representatives and Senate, the Congress is described as a __ legislature.. a. bisexualb. binaryc. dual ventricular . d. bicamerale. bifurcated. Every seat in the House of Representatives is up for election every __ years..
E N D
1. Berman & Murphy:Approaching Democracy Chapter 4: Congress
2. Answer: A
Page Ref: 136Answer: A
Page Ref: 136
3. With a House of Representatives and Senate, the Congress is described as a __ legislature. a. bisexual
b. binary
c. dual ventricular d. bicameral
e. bifurcated Answer: D
Page Ref: 136Answer: D
Page Ref: 136
4. Every seat in the House of Representatives is up for election every __ years. a. 1
b. 2
c. 3 d. 4
e. 5 Answer: B
Page Ref: 137Answer: B
Page Ref: 137
5. Until 1913, senators were selected by their state legislatures. The ratification of the __ Amendment provided for the direct, statewide election of senators. a. 16th
b. 17th
c. 18th d. 19th
e. 20th Answer: D
Page Ref: 137Answer: D
Page Ref: 137
6. Members of the Senate are elected to __-year terms. a. 1
b. 2
c. 4 d. 6
e. indefinite, or “life under good behavior” Answer: D
Page Ref: 137Answer: D
Page Ref: 137
7. The sweeping language in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, also called the __ clause, has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to allow Congress to develop its role broadly with regard to regulating commerce, borrowing money, and collecting taxes. a. infinite
b. elastic
c. malleable d. supremacy
e. “give a politician an inch and he’ll take a mile” Answer: B
Page Ref: 138Answer: B
Page Ref: 138
8. The only African-American senator currently serving is __ (D-IL), who was elected in 2004, and is an aspirant for the Democratic Party’s nomination for the 2008 presidential campaign. a. Alan Keyes
b. Hilary Rodham Clinton
c. Carol Mosley Braun d. J.C. Watts
e. Barak Obama Answer: E
Page Ref: 139Answer: E
Page Ref: 139
9. The Reapportionment Act of 1929 set the composition of the House of Representatives at __ voting members. a. 1,000
b. 935
c. 665 d. 435
e. 255 Answer: D
Page Ref: 140Answer: D
Page Ref: 140
10. Among the representation “winners” in the 2000 census reapportionment process included all of the following EXCEPT… a. California
b. Ohio
c. Arizona d. Texas
e. Florida Answer: B
Page Ref: 141Answer: B
Page Ref: 141
11. Among the representation “losers” in the 2000 census reapportionment process included all of the following EXCEPT… a. Oklahoma
b. New York
c. Pennsylvania d. Connecticut
e. Arizona Answer: E
Page Ref: 141Answer: E
Page Ref: 141
12. Redistricting raises the prospects of state legislatures drawing district boundaries to facilitate the election of Republican or Democratic candidates, in a process described as (a)… a. filibusters.
b. wang doodle.
c. gerrymander. d. tub thumping.
e. partisan mandates. Answer: CPage Ref: 142Answer: CPage Ref: 142
13. In the Supreme Court case __ (1993), the Court struck down a North Carolina redistricting plan that carved out a “minority-majority” district that Justice O’Connor acidly remarked “bears an uncomfortable resemblance to racial apartheid.” a. Lawrence v. Texas
b. Shaw v. Reno
c. Texas v. Johnson d. Buckley v. Valeo
e. Reynolds v. Sims Answer: B
Page Ref: 143Answer: B
Page Ref: 143
14. Legislators typically follow one of three dispositions in their representation of constituents. A representative or senator is behaving like a __ if feel bound to follow the wishes of their constituents, and make frequent efforts to learn the opinions of voters in their districts. a. trustee
b. weasel
c. automaton d. politico
e. delegate Answer: E
Page Ref: 145Answer: E
Page Ref: 145
15. Legislators typically follow one of three dispositions in their representation of constituents. A representative or senator is behaving like a __ when they feel authorized to use their own best judgment in considering legislation. a. automaton
b. politico
c. delegate d. trustee
e. weasel Answer: D
Page Ref: 145Answer: D
Page Ref: 145
16. The trustee role of legislator was best articulated by English philosopher and member of Parliament __ (1729-1797), who explained to his constituents that representatives should never sacrifice their own judgment to voter opinion (which later cost him his seat in Parliament!). a. Thomas Hobbes
b. Edmund Burke
c. Benjamin Disraeli d. John Locke
e. Arthur Wellesley Answer: B
Page Ref: 145Answer: B
Page Ref: 145
17. When legislators play the __ role, they follow their constituency when voters have clear, strong preferences, but vote their own best judgment either when the electorate’s desire is weak, mixed, or unclear, or when the member has strong views on the subject. a. weasel
b. trustee
c. politico d. delegate
e. automaton Answer: C
Page Ref: 145Answer: C
Page Ref: 145
18. From the 1950s to the 1999s, an average of __% of House incumbents who sought reelection were successful. a. 68
b. 77
c. 85 d. 92
e. 99 Answer: D
Page Ref: 145-46Answer: D
Page Ref: 145-46
19. Incumbents enjoy a number of advantages in any election contest. One such advantage is (are) the __, or free mailing of newsletters and brochures to their constituents. a. congressional post
b. Capitol Hill free postage zone
c. congressional postal amnesty d. Emollients of Office Act, which provides for…
e. franking privilege Answer: E
Page Ref: 147Answer: E
Page Ref: 147
20. Another incumbent advantage is __, or favors done as a service for constituents. Such favors build positive feedback, may help to minimize negative backlash from constituents, and gives legislators “point with pride” campaign material in reelection campaigns. a. red tape
b. patronage
c. influence peddling d. casework
e. administrative discretion Answer: D
Page Ref: 147Answer: D
Page Ref: 147
21. In 2002, the average cost of a campaign for the House of Representatives was… a. $400,000
b. $576,000
c. $642,000 d. $891,000
e. $2.1 million Answer: D
Page Ref: 147Answer: D
Page Ref: 147
22. In 2002, __ became the first state whose legislature voted to repeal term limits on their state legislators. a. Oklahoma
b. Idaho
c. California d. Wyoming
e. Utah Answer: B
Page Ref: Previous editionAnswer: B
Page Ref: Previous edition
23. The Supreme Court has ruled that state-imposed term limits on candidates for federal offices… a. were constitutional.
b. were unconstitutional on the grounds that it violated the supremacy clause.
c. were political questions that the Court could not answer. d. violated the “equal protection” clause of the 14th Amendment.
e. were unconstitutional because adding new requirements for federal office would require an amendment to the Constitution. Answer: E
Page Ref: 139Answer: E
Page Ref: 139
24. The public generally holds a “love my congressperson, hate the Congress” view of the institution, which the authors describe as… a. the “Janus” Effect.
b. “two Congresses.”
c. “Dr. Jackel/Mr. Hyde.” d. essentially irrational.
e. all of the above. Answer: B
Page Ref: Previous editionAnswer: B
Page Ref: Previous edition
25. Among the more powerful Speakers of the House of the 20th century, __ (D-TX) ruled the House from 1940 until his death in 1960. a. Thomas Reed
b. Joseph Cannon
c. John Nance Garner d. Sam Rayburn
e. Thomas “Tip” O’Neil Answer: D
Page Ref: 148Answer: D
Page Ref: 148
26. In the 1980’s, the powers of Speaker __ (D-MA) were expanded to include the power to refer bills to committees and dictate the order of floor proceedings. a. Carl Albert
b. Sam Rayburn
c. Thomas “Tip” O’Neil d. James Wright
e. Newt Gingrich Answer: C
Page Ref: 148Answer: C
Page Ref: 148
27. From 1995-1999, __ (R-GA) became the first Republican in 40 years to preside over the House of Representatives as Speaker. a. Trent Lott
b. Bob Livingston
c. Dennis Hastert d. Newt Gingrich
e. Tom DeLay Answer: D
Page Ref: 149Answer: D
Page Ref: 149
28. One of the most powerful House majority leaders in recent years was __ (R-TX), nicknamed “The Hammer,” who exerted enormous influence in his tenure as both majority whip and leader from 1994-2006. a. Dick Armey
b. Tom DeLay
c. Newt Gingrich d. Trent Lott
e. Strom Thurmond Answer: B
Page Ref: 149Answer: B
Page Ref: 149
29. The first woman elected to a leadership position in either party was __ (D-CA), who was first elected minority whip, and then leader, and then finally ascended to the Speaker’s position after the Democrats won the House in the 2006 midterm elections. a. Rebecca Woodhull
b. Edith Wilson
c. Hilary Rodham Clinton d. Carol Mosley Braun
e. Nancy Pelosi Answer: E
Page Ref: 148Answer: E
Page Ref: 148
30. The Constitution delegates the role of presiding officer of the Senate to the __, and who is usually present in the Senate only when needed to break tie votes. a. vice president
b. President pro tempore
c. Majority Leader d. chief justice of the Supreme Court
e. Speaker of the House Answer: A
Page Ref: 150Answer: A
Page Ref: 150
31. In the Senate, the essentially honorary role of __ goes by tradition to the majority party member with the longest continuous service. a. vice president
b. majority leader
c. president pro tempore d. majority whip
e. Grand Pubah Answer: C
Page Ref: 150Answer: C
Page Ref: 150
32. The real power in the Senate lies in the hands of the __, who is responsible scheduling legislation, directing committee assignments, and persuading members of his/her party to support the leadership’s legislative agenda. a. vice president
b. majority leader
c. prime minister d. president pro tempore
e. majority whip Answer: B
Page Ref: 149Answer: B
Page Ref: 149
33. Senate minority leader __ (D-NV) became the leader of the Senate after his party won six seats in the 2006 midterm elections. a. Trent Lott
b. Bill Frist
c. Ted Kennedy d. Harry Reid
e. Richard Durbin Answer: D
Page Ref: 149Answer: D
Page Ref: 149
34. One of the most powerful and influential leaders of the Senate was __ (D-TX), who held the leadership position from 1955-1961, and was famous for his intimidating physical presence and personal charm. a. Strom Thurmond
b. Lyndon Johnson
c. Richard Russell d. John F. Kennedy
e. Hubert Humphrey Answer: B
Page Ref: 151Answer: B
Page Ref: 151
35. Former Senate leader __ (R-MS) likened the job of leading the Senate to “herding cats.” a. Bill Frist
b. Mitch McConnell
c. Harry Reid d. Lyndon Johnson
e. Trent Lott Answer: E
Page Ref: 151Answer: E
Page Ref: 151
36. The only president (1913-1921) who was also a political scientist, described the committee system in the following terms, “Congress on the floor is Congress on public exhibition; Congress in committee is Congress at work.” a. Theodore Roosevelt
b. William Howard Taft
c. Woodrow Wilson d. Calvin Coolidge
e. Warren G. Harding Answer: C
Page Ref: 151Answer: C
Page Ref: 151
37. Permanent congressional committees that determine whether proposed legislation should be sent to the entire chamber for consideration are called __ committees. a. standing
b. ad hoc
c. select d. conference
e. joint Answer: A
Page Ref: 151Answer: A
Page Ref: 151
38. The House and Senate rarely pass identical versions of a bill, as required by the Constitution. As a result, a(n) __ committee comprised of members of both bodies meets to craft a compromise of the two bills. a. select
b. special
c. conference d. reconciliation
e. ad hoc Answer: C
Page Ref: 153Answer: C
Page Ref: 153
39. Televised hearings can help or hurt a congressional members’ careers. For example, after the 1998 impeachment hearings, California Republican __, a member of the House Judiciary Committee and one of the House managers, lost his 2000 reelection bid despite spending $10 million in one of the most expensive congressional campaigns ever. a. James Sensenbrenner
b. James Rogan
c. Lindsey Graham d. Henry Hyde
e. Bill McCollum Answer: B
Page Ref: 154Answer: B
Page Ref: 154
40. In the House of Representatives, once a bill has been approved by committee, it goes to… a. the floor for open debate.
b. the Rules Committee.
c. the Senate. d. the president.
e. the Supreme Court for review. Answer: B
Page Ref: 158Answer: B
Page Ref: 158
41. The ability to attach __ to a bill can sometimes help a senator secure passage of a pet project by attaching it to a piece of legislation that has wide support. a. red tape
b. “green slips”
c. provisos d. addendums
e. riders Answer: E
Page Ref: 159Answer: E
Page Ref: 159
42. In 1996, Congress passed the __, which gave the president the authority to reject specific elements of a bill. a. blanket veto
b. excision authority
c. line-item veto d. impoundment power
e. debt reduction provision Answer: C
Page Ref: 159Answer: C
Page Ref: 159
43. Senate debate has few restrictions, and opponents to legislation can threaten to __, or “hold the floor” in speech until the leadership pulls the bill from consideration. a. gerrymander
b. yammer fest
c. wang doodle d. stonewall
e. filibuster Answer: E
Page Ref: 159Answer: E
Page Ref: 159
44. The record of the longest speech from the floor of the Senate belongs to __ of South Carolina, who spoke in opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for an uninterrupted twenty-four hours and eighteen minutes. a. Ernest “Fritz” Hollings
b. Strom Thurmond
c. Wade Hampton d. Herman Talmadge
e. Jesse Helms Answer: B
Page Ref: 159Answer: B
Page Ref: 159
45. Recently, senators have been using a scheduling rule called a __ on proposed legislation to signal opposition and stall the bill. a. waver
b. red slip
c. calendar notice d. hold
e. rider Answer: D
Page Ref: 159Answer: D
Page Ref: 159
46. The only way to stop debate in the Senate is a procedure known as __, in which three-fifths (60) of the Senate can move to limit debate to thirty hours. a. filibuster
b. a hold
c. cloture d. unanimous consent agreement
e. a gerrymander Answer: C
Page Ref: 160Answer: C
Page Ref: 160
47. Among the unwritten rules of Congress, the traditional rule of __, in which a member’s rank in the House or Senate depends on length of service, has historically been particularly important. a. seniority
b. precedence
c. civility d. apprenticeship
e. veneration Answer: A
Page Ref: 160-61Answer: A
Page Ref: 160-61
48. As an illustration of the informal norm of __, Sam Rayburn (D-TX), a powerful Speaker of the House in the 1940’s and ’50’s, would frequently admonish junior members “To get along, go along.” a. seniority
b. precedence
c. civility d. apprenticeship
e. veneration Answer: D
Page Ref: 161-62Answer: D
Page Ref: 161-62
49. The informal norm of comity in the House and Senate leads members to describe one another with elaborate courtesy. The text describes this informal norm as… a. seniority
b. precedence
c. civility d. apprenticeship
e. veneration Answer: C
Page Ref: 162Answer: C
Page Ref: 162
50. In Congress, members of the __ are expected to develop a certain expertise on one or more issues as a way to help the body in its lawmaking role. a. Senate
b. House
c. congressional staff d. leadership
e. White House liason’s office Answer: B
Page Ref: 163Answer: B
Page Ref: 163
51. The informal norm of reciprocity often leads to what is called __, which are temporary political alliances between two policy actors who agree to support each other’s policy goals. a. vote auctions
b. bribery
c. arbitrage d. perjury
e. logrolling Answer: E
Page Ref: 163Answer: E
Page Ref: 163
52. A traditional form of vote trading is called __ legislation, where special interest spending provisions are added to appropriations bills. Such legislation pays for bridges, highways, dams, military installations, and other benefits for members’ states and districts. a. cracker-barrel
b. cheese-barrel
c. pork-barrel d. beer-barrel
e. Beefeater’s Answer: C
Page Ref: 163Answer: C
Page Ref: 163
53. The distribution of federal spending tends to follow the political clout of congressional leadership. For example, the text indicates that __, the home state of former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, received $850 billion in 1997. a. Tennessee
b. Mississippi
c. Kentucky d. Texas
e. Missouri Answer: B
Page Ref: 163Answer: B
Page Ref: 163
54. In 1997, Senator __ (D-WV) steered $6 million to his hometown of Leetown, WV is a particularly good illustration that even when a party is out of power in Congress, individual members can secure funding for pet projects. a. John Rockerfeller
b. Rush Holt, Sr.
c. John Warner d. Robert Byrd
e. Charles Robb Answer: D
Page Ref: 163Answer: D
Page Ref: 163
55. In recent years, Congress has created procedures for cutting spending, which is described in the text as __. An example of this contentious process was military base closings in the 1990’s. a. “pig skinning”
b. “poison earmarks”
c. “negative pork” d. “drawing the short stick”
e. “inverted log-rolling” Answer: C
Page Ref: 163Answer: C
Page Ref: 163
56. In votes with high visibility, constituents can exert considerable influence over their congressperson’s decisions. The text illustrates this fact with the example of Oklahoma Democrat __, a four-term representative who was defeated in a 1994 primary in his conservative district because it appeared that he had “lost touch” with his constituents. a. Mike Synar
b. Dan Boren
c. John Sullivan d. Tom Coburn
e. Brad Carson Answer: A
Page Ref: 164Answer: A
Page Ref: 164
57. The list bills submitted by members in any particular legislative session is described as the… a. bill of particulars.
b. congressional agenda.
c. legislative calendar. d. docket.
e. legislative diary. Answer: B
Page Ref: 166Answer: B
Page Ref: 166
58. Congressional members get ideas for legislation from a variety of sources, including… a. the President.
b. scholars and research institutions.
c. journalists and the media. d. lobbyists.
e. all of the above. Answer: E
Page Ref: 164-65Answer: E
Page Ref: 164-65
59. Subcommittee’s usually begin consideration of a bill by holding __, which are formal proceedings in which people are invited (or subpoenaed) to testify on a bill’s pros and cons. a. inquisitions
b. parliamentary debates
c. forensic examination d. hearings
e. inquests Answer: D
Page Ref: 155Answer: D
Page Ref: 155
60. To expedite matters, the House or Senate can act as a(n) __, in which all members can function as a committee rather than as a formal legislative body. a. levče en masse
b. Speaker’s committee
c. committee of the whole d. select ad hoc committee
e. academic conference Answer: C
Page Ref: 167Answer: C
Page Ref: 167
61. Once a bill has been approved by both chambers, it becomes a(n) __, and goes to the White House for the president’s approval or rejection. a. enrolled act
b. resolution
c. legislative proposition d. options a and b.
e. all of the above Answer: D
Page Ref: 168Answer: D
Page Ref: 168
62. If the president formally rejects a congressional bill, Congress must then seek to override this decision, which requires a __ vote of both houses. a. 40%
b. three-fifths
c. two-thirds d. “near consensus” (80%)
e. consensus Answer: C
Page Ref: 168Answer: C
Page Ref: 168
63. If the president has not signed a bill within ten days of congressional passage and Congress adjourns, the bill is null and void. This is called a(n)… a. pocket veto.
b. impoundment.
c. silent nullification. d. “invisible hand” rejection.
e. redaction. Answer: A
Page Ref: 170Answer: A
Page Ref: 170
64. One way for Congress to overcome legislative obstacles is to package the biggest and most important legislation into __ legislation. Such “megabills” hide controversial pieces of legislation from public scrutiny, and raise the consequences of defeating legislation that contains popular elements. a. comprehensive
b. omnibus
c. summary d. appropriations
e. eclectic Answer: B
Page Ref: 171Answer: B
Page Ref: 171
65. With the partisan polarization of Congress in recent years, leaders have increasingly been forced to resort to __ to provide stop-gap funding to keep the government running. a. supplemental funding
b. provisional appropriations
c. ad hoc spending proposals d. continuing resolutions
e. forced expropriations Answer: D
Page Ref: 171Answer: D
Page Ref: 171
66. One of Congress’ most important responsibilities is __, which involves monitoring the effectiveness of laws by examining the workings of the executive branch. a. supervision
b. oversight
c. instigation d. administrative discretion
e. the legislative veto Answer: B
Page Ref: 152Answer: B
Page Ref: 152
67. The __ is a legislative action that allows the president or an executive agency implement a law that is subsequently subject to congressional approval or disapproval by both houses of Congress. This action has been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, but is still used in modified form by Congress. a. rule-making process
b. impeachment
c. congressional administration d. congressional review
e. legislative veto Answer: E
Page Ref: 139Answer: E
Page Ref: 139
68. In 1974, Congress created the __ to expand Congress’ control over the budgetary process at a time when the president usually dominated the process. a. Office of Management and Budget
b. Federal Reserve Board
c. National Budgetary Task Force d. Congressional Budget Office
e. Department of Finance Answer: D
Page Ref: Previous EditionAnswer: D
Page Ref: Previous Edition
69. The most extreme action Congress can take in reining in other political actors is __, a process by which governmental actors may be removed from office for cause. a. persecution
b. censure
c. impeachment d. castigation
e. congressional denunciation Answer: CPage Ref: 138Answer: CPage Ref: 138
70. The “Republican Revolution” occurred in __, when the GOP won 54 seats in the House of Representatives and 8 seats in the Senate, taking control of both houses of Congress for the first time in forty-one years. a. 1988
b. 1992
c. 1994 d. 1996
e. 1998 Answer: C
Page Ref: 146Answer: C
Page Ref: 146
71. Many political observers consider __ (R-GA) to have been the “architect” of the Republican Revolution. He became Speaker of the House from 1995-1999. a. Dennis Hastert
b. Newt Gingrich
c. Bill Livingstone d. Tom DeLay
e. Bob Dole Answer: B
Page Ref: 162Answer: B
Page Ref: 162
72. The attempted impeachment of President __ in 1998 illustrated the partisan rancor in both Houses of Congress. a. Nixon
b. Carter
c. Johnson d. Clinton
e. Bush Answer: D
Page Ref: 154Answer: D
Page Ref: 154
73. Among the reasons Republicans found governing the Senate almost impossible includes all of the following EXCEPT… a. principled commitment to compromise on the part of the GOP senate leadership.
b. the lacked 60 votes to prevent Democratic filibusters.
c. lack of consensus among moderate and conservative Republicans. d. failure to develop a coherent policy agenda.
e. hard feelings of Senate GOP moderates who faced sponsored primary challenges by extremists. Answer: A
Page Ref: 172Answer: A
Page Ref: 172
74. The framers of the Constitution believed that the Congress would become the predominant branch of the national government. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 136Answer: True
Page Ref: 136
75. The purpose of exposing the entire House of Representatives to the electorate every two years was to ensure that representatives would reflect the popular will. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 137Answer: True
Page Ref: 137
76. The purpose of the Senate was to act as a brake on the momentary passions of public sentiment. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 137Answer: True
Page Ref: 137
77. Prior to 1913, members of the Senate were selected by state legislatures. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 137Answer: True
Page Ref: 137
78. The fact that every state receives equal representation in the Senate gives small states more power in that body. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 137-38Answer: True
Page Ref: 137-38
79. All 100 members of the Senate are up for reelection every six years. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 137Answer: False
Page Ref: 137
80. Although senators serve six-year terms, only one-third of the senate is up for reelection every two years. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 137Answer: True
Page Ref: 137
81. The first woman was elected to Congress in 1916. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: Previous EditionAnswer: True
Page Ref: Previous Edition
82. One-third of the members of the Senate are millionaries. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 139Answer: True
Page Ref: 139
83. Members of Congress are generally reflective of the socio-economic status of the average American. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 139Answer: False
Page Ref: 139
84. The general trend in congressional representation is toward greater diversity. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 139Answer: True
Page Ref: 139
85. In 1929, the House of Representatives formalized the size of the House at 435 members with the Reapportionment Act. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 140Answer: True
Page Ref: 140
86. The drawing of federal district boundaries for the House of Representatives is intensely political. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 143Answer: True
Page Ref: 143
87. As a result of “midterm redistricting” in Texas, Republicans actually lost seats in the House of Representatives in 2004. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 143Answer: False
Page Ref: 143
88. As a result of “midterm redistricting” in Texas, Republicans gained six seats in the House of Representatives in 2004. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 139Answer: True
Page Ref: 139
89. The number of members in the House of Representatives is based on a formula established in the Constitution. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 141Answer: False
Page Ref: 141
90. The Republican Party’s platform explicitly appeals to voters in large, urban districts. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 143Answer: False
Page Ref: 143
91. The Republican Party’s platform explicitly appeals to rural and suburban voters. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 143Answer: True
Page Ref: 143
92. The Democratic Party’s platform explicitly appeals to densely populated urban districts. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: Previous EditionAnswer: True
Page Ref: Previous Edition
93. The Democratic Party’s platform explicitly appeals to voters from rural and suburban districts. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: Previous EditionAnswer: False
Page Ref: Previous Edition
94. The Supreme Court has struck down “race-based” federal district boundaries. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 139Answer: True
Page Ref: 139
95. The Supreme Court has ruled that race can be taken into account in the drawing of federal district boundaries. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 139Answer: False
Page Ref: 139
96. The trustee model of more likely to be employed by representatives from “safe” districts. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 142Answer: True
Page Ref: 142
97. The incumbency advantage is typically greater for House than for Senate elections. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 146Answer: True
Page Ref: 146
98. In most recent electoral cycles, more than 95% of incumbents have won reelection. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 146Answer: True
Page Ref: 146
99. The advantage of incumbency is a relatively recent phenomenon. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 146Answer: True
Page Ref: 146
100. The Supreme Court upheld state-imposed term limits in 23 states. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 148Answer: False
Page Ref: 148
101. The Supreme Court struck down state-imposed term limits. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 148Answer: True
Page Ref: 148
102. Public opinion surveys have indicated that while most Americans hold Congress as a whole in low regard, they hold positive views of their individual senators and representatives. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: Answer: True
Page Ref:
103. The entire leadership of both houses of Congress is clearly laid out in the Constitution. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 148Answer: False
Page Ref: 148
104. The Speaker of the House is the only member of the leadership specifically mentioned in the Constitution. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 148Answer: True
Page Ref: 148
105. The powers of the Speaker of the House have varied over time. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 148-49Answer: True
Page Ref: 148-49
106. Among the House and Senate leadership, the term “whip” is a medieval term applied to the legislative process. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 149Answer: False
Page Ref: 149
107. Among the Senate and House leadership, the term “whip” is a fox-hunting term applied to the legislative process. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 149Answer: True
Page Ref: 149
108. The rise of congressional subcommittees contributed to the decentralization of Congress in the 1970s. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 155-56Answer: True
Page Ref: 155-56
109. In recent years, congressional committees have become less important in the lawmaking process. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 156Answer: True
Page Ref: 156
110. The Rules Committee has recently been described as the “handmaiden of the Speaker.” a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref:158Answer: True
Page Ref:158
111. The trend away from committee involvement led to the passage of legislation that was both improperly reviewed and lacked the necessary support of a majority of the members. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 158Answer: True
Page Ref: 158
112. The record for the longest filibuster in the Senate belongs to Texas’ Lyndon Johnson, who spoke against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for forty-eight consecutive hours. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 159Answer: False
Page Ref: 159
113. The record for the longest individual filibuster belongs to Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, who spoke against the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for an uninterrupted twenty-four hours and eighteen minutes. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 159Answer: True
Page Ref: 159
114. The increasingly partisan nature of politics has led to a sharp increase in the number of filibusters in the Senate. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 160Answer: True
Page Ref: 160
115. Despite the increasingly partisan nature of politics, filibusters in the Senate are still fairly rare. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 160Answer: False
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116. When the Senate adopted rules to shut down debate, they required a three-quarters vote of the total membership. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 160Answer: False
Page Ref: 160
117. When the Senate adopted rules to stop debate, they required a two-thirds vote of all present members. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 160Answer: True
Page Ref: 160
118. Filibusters compel the minority to heed the will of the majority, who after all represent the majority of the citizens of the United States. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 160Answer: False
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119. According to the text’s authors, the filibuster’s ability to give voice to minorities probably outweigh the frustrations it creates for the majority. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 160Answer: True
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120. The text’s authors contend that part of the value of unlimited debate in the Senate is that it gives voice to minorities. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 160Answer: True
Page Ref: 160
121. Recent years have seen increasing breakdowns in the norms of mutual respect and courtesy between Republican and Democratic congresspersons. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 162Answer: True
Page Ref: 162
122. Individual senators can bypass the committee process by proposing a bill as an amendment to a pending bill, even if the bill is completely unrelated. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 159Answer: True
Page Ref: 159
123. George W. Bush vetoed very few pieces of legislation during his term in office. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 169Answer: True
Page Ref: 169
124. A pocket veto is when the president, following a tradition set by Warren G. Harding, wraps the front page of a enrolled act around the “8 ball” of a pool set, and throws it through the window of a Speaker’s office. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 170Answer: False
Page Ref: 170
125. The legislative process generally favors those who oppose change. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 166Answer: True
Page Ref: 166
126. The legislative process virtually always favors whoever is in the majority. a. True b. False Answer: False
Page Ref: 166Answer: False
Page Ref: 166
127. On average, it is easier to kill than to pass a bill. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 166-68Answer: True
Page Ref: 166-68
128. Omnibus legislation refers to annual legislation dealing with transportation issues. a. True b. False Answer: FalsePage Ref: 171Answer: FalsePage Ref: 171
129. One way to pass controversial legislation is hide controversial bills in packages of bills known as “Omnibus legislation.” a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: 171Answer: True
Page Ref: 171
130. To date, only three presidents have faced the threat of impeachment. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: Previous EditionAnswer: True
Page Ref: Previous Edition
131. Bill Clinton was successfully impeached by the House of Representatives, but partisan rancor enabled him to escape removal by the Senate. a. True b. False Answer: TruePage Ref: 154Answer: TruePage Ref: 154
132. Bill Clinton’s impeachment ultimately led to the downfall and resignation of then-Speaker Newt Gingrich. a. True b. False Answer: True
Page Ref: Previous EditionAnswer: True
Page Ref: Previous Edition