1135 Questions & Blanks

Question 1

Every state has a __________

Answer 1

written constitution

Question 2

Every state has a__________________________ and a ___________ both elected by popular vote

Answer 2

representative lawmaking body

governor

Question 3

Only _________ has a unicameral legislature, and only ____________ has a legal system based on Roman law rather than on English common law.

Answer 3

Nebraska

Louisiana

Question 4

In the original states, the ___________ had more power than the ____________

Answer 4

legislative branch

executive branch

Question 5

The ____________ is less detailed and rigid than _____________

Answer 5

federal Constitution

state constitutions

Question 6

An amendment is always ratified by _____________

Answer 6

popular referendum

Question 7

Representation in ______ houses is based on ________ or _________ or __________;
Representation in ______ houses is based on ________ or _________________

Answer 7

lower, towns, counties, districts

upper, counties, senatorial districts

Question 8

Powers of ______________ include those not granted to the _____________________________________ branches or _______ governments and those not denied to it by the Constitution

Answer 8

state legislatures
executive or legislative
local

Question 9

____________ handle cases involving the state constitution, state laws, and county or municipial ordinances; and _____________ handle only cases involving interstate matters, violations of federal law, or intrastate matters on an appelate basis.

Answer 9

State courts

federal courts

Question 10

________ and ___________ are both classified as local governments

Answer 10

county

municipial governments

Question 11

A body of __________ or _______________ administers county governmetn

Answer 11

supervisors

commissioners

Question 12

Police and fire protection are two major responsibilities of ______ governments

Answer 12

city

Question 13

___________ governements have, for the most part, taken over responsibility for road construction and maintenance and the operation of school systems

Answer 13

State

Question 14

In some areas, one large ____________________ has been formed by merging towns, cities, and counties.

Answer 14

metropolitan area

Question 15

Things true of congressional districts

Answer 15

1. All congressional districts must have nearly equal population
2. The population of a congressional district cannot deviate more than 15% from the average
3. Each district must be as compact as possible
4. No district boundary can cross unified areas such as cities, counties, etc.

Question 16

Factors contributing to the decision to establish a bicameral legislature

Answer 16

1. The experiences of England and the colonies confirmed the superiority of a bicameral legislature.
2. The system helped reconcile conflicting interests between small and large states.
3. Each house checks the other, and neither democracy nor aristocracy dominates the government.

Question 17

The _____________ is the basis for each state’s representation in the _____________________

Answer 17

number of residents

House of Representatives

Question 18

___________________________ are drawn by state legislatures

Answer 18

Congressional district lines

Question 19

When are congressional elections held?

Answer 19

Congressional elections are held the Tuesday after the first Monday of November in even-numbered years.

Question 20

All candidates must keep careful records of _________________________________

Answer 20

their campaign income and expenditures

Question 21

Corporations and other groups cannot make ____________ to a campaign

Answer 21

direct contributions

Question 22

A PAC, or ____________, is allowed to contribute to a political campaign.

Answer 22

political action committee

Question 23

___________ is the major function of Congress.

Answer 23

Lawmaking

Question 24

Congress may delegate legislative powers to the ________________ but not to _____________

Answer 24

executive branch (President)
the states or the people

Question 25

Congress has given to certain _________________, specific __________

Answer 25

regulatory commissions | legislative duties

Question 26

The nonlegislative functions of Congress

Answer 26

``` judicial powers constituent powers executive powers administrative control investigative powers electoral functions ```

Question 27

Enumerated powers of Congress

Answer 27

to borrow money to coin money to declare war to establish post offices to impose and collect taxes to provide and maintain a navy to raise and support armies to call out the militia to suppress insurrections to establish rules of naturalization to exercise authority over Washington D.C. to fix standards of weights and measures to pass copyright and patent laws to pass laws necessary to carry out other powers to regulate foreign and interstate commerce

Question 28

Congressional terms begin on _________ following an election

Answer 28

January 3rd

Question 29

A specific Congress exists for ___ years and must meet ______ during that time.

Answer 29

2 | twice

Question 30

The ___________ may call a special session of Congress but may neither __________ nor ____________

Answer 30

President dissolve it suspend its sessions

Question 31

A regular congressional session may not be longer than

Answer 31

12 months

Question 32

Both houses have a system of ______, ________, _______, ________, and ___________ to help them carry out their tasks

Answer 32

``` committees subcommittees rules procedures customs ```

Question 33

Of the two houses of Congress, only the _________ has had a continuous existence

Answer 33

Senate

Question 34

The most powerful man in the House is the _____________

Answer 34

Speaker of the House

Question 35

The first two men who follow the President in succession

Answer 35

Vice President -> Speaker of the House

Question 36

The average congressional committee has ___ members, and its chairman is usually the ______________ committee member with the most __________

Answer 36

35 majority party seniority

Question 37

The seniority system equates seniority with ______ and ________

Answer 37

ability | competence

Question 38

The President of the Senate has less power than the Speaker of the House because he ______________

Answer 38

can vote only in case of a tie cannot participate in debate must recognize Senators as they rise

Question 39

Bills for raising revenue must originate in the ___________________

Answer 39

House of Representatives

Question 40

The _____________ in the House sets the time allotted for debate and the limitations on changes to a bill.

Answer 40

Rules Committee

Question 41

Unlike the House, speeches and debate in the Senate are not subject to a _________

Answer 41

time limit

Question 42

Congress is _________ and ____________ in its actions because it represents a multitude of constituents and mirrors the conflicts in our society

Answer 42

slow | deliberate

Question 43

Features common to all of the states

Answer 43

1. equal status within the U.S. 2. inherent powers 3. constitution 4. system of checks and balances 5. an elected governor 6. judiciary 7. separation of powers

Question 44

Features common to all state constitutions include ___________

Answer 44

1. a preamble 2. provisions for amendment 3. a bill of rights. 4. more details than the federal Constitution 5. provisions for education, etc. 6. description of the organization of the branches 7. provisions for voting and election procedures

Question 45

The primary duty of a governor is to carry out and enforce the _____________, including the federal Constitution, the ________________, and the ________ and _____________ ______________

Answer 45

``` law of the state state constitution state national legislation ```

Question 46

the chief lawyer, prosecutor, and defender of the state in court

Answer 46

attorney general

Question 47

In every state, the ___________ and __________ are elected separately and may not be members of the same party

Answer 47

governor | lieutenant governor

Question 48

A body of ___________ or ___________ is the lawmaking body that administers county government. The _______________ is the head of that body and serves as the county's executive officer

Answer 48

county supervisors commissioners county judge

Question 49

Counties are a product of a ____________, but the U.S. is becoming more __________

Answer 49

rural society | urbanized

Question 50

Critics of the bicameral system believe the ___________ often obstructs the ____________

Answer 50

Senate will of the voters

Question 51

A congressman elected by a _________________ district represents residents of his district, but one elected ______________ represents residents of his entire state

Answer 51

single-member | at-large

Question 52

Congressional authority includes both ___________ and ______________

Answer 52

implied | enumerated powers

Question 53

The ____________ of both houses of Congress is essential because of the number of bills introduced each year.

Answer 53

committee system

Question 54

The Rules Committee determines the ____________

Answer 54

scheduling of bills