APGov test 2

Question 1

What is the Federal Budget?

Answer 1

a plan for the federal government’s revenues and spending for the coming year

Question 2

What is a Deficit?

Answer 2

An excess of federal expenditures over federal revenues

Question 3

What is National Debt?

Answer 3

The sum of government deficits over time

Question 4

What is Discretionary spending?

Answer 4

Federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process

Question 5

What are Entitlements?

Answer 5

Policies for which Congress has obligated itself to pay X level of benefits to Y number of recipients. Social Security benefits are an example

Question 6

What are Uncontrollable expenditures?

Answer 6

Expenditures that are determined by how many eligible beneficiaries there are for a program or by previous obligations of the government and that Congress therefore cannot easily control

Question 7

What is a Bill?

Answer 7

A proposed law

Question 8

An office mandated by the Constitution. The Speaker is chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant.

Answer 8

Speaker of the House

Question 9

A permanent committee is established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

Answer 9

Standing Committee

Question 10

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose

Answer 10

Select Committee

Question 11

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations

Answer 11

Joint Committee

Question 12

Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in a different form

Answer 12

Conference Committee

Question 13

An institution unique to the House of Representatives that reviews all bills (except revenue, budget, and appropriations bills) coming from a House committee before they go to the full House

Answer 13

House Rules Committee

Question 14

A strategy in the Senate where opponents of a legislative action use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the Senate from ever voting on a bill. Today, 60/100 votes are needed to break it

Answer 14

The Filibuster

Question 15

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate

Answer 15

Cloture

Question 16

Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return. In other words, other benefits are hidden in longer bills to benefit constituents.

Answer 16

Pork-barrel legislation

Question 17

A legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of his or hers. Members of Congress will negotiate with one another to vote for a bill they don’t like in exchange of an “I owe you”

Answer 17

Log-rolling

Question 18

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power

Answer 18

Gerrymandering

Question 19

The process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

Answer 19

Reapportionment

Question 20

One party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

Answer 20

Divided Government

Question 21

A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society

Answer 21

Trustee

Question 22

A person appointed or elected to represent others

Answer 22

Delegate

Question 23

Lawmaker who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles

Answer 23

Politico

Question 24

An essential part; a voter who elects a representative

Answer 24

Constituent

Question 25

“One man, one vote.” Ordered state legislative districts to be as near equal as possible in population; Warren Court’s judicial activism

Answer 25

Baker vs Carr 1962

Question 26

NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts

Answer 26

Shaw vs Reno 1993

Question 27

Bill passed to a house of congress; bill gets majority of votes in both houses; president can then pass bill into law or veto it. If vetoed, bill must attain 2/3 majority in both houses to become law

Answer 27

The legislative procces

Question 28

Confirm presidential appointments by a majority vote, ratify (approve) treaties made by the president by a 2/3 vote (67 senators), hold impeachment trial to remove a president

Answer 28

Powers of the Senate

Question 29

Start all appropriation/revenue bills, impeaches government officials, choose president if tie in the electoral college

Answer 29

Powers of the House

Question 30

30 years old, citizen for 9 years, resident of state

Answer 30

Requirements for Senate

Question 31

25 years old, 7 years a citizen, live in state which elected

Answer 31

Requirements for House

Question 32

Those already holding offices. In congressional elections, incumbents usually win. They have advantages in elections because they already hold office and aren’t likely to get removed.

Answer 32

Incumbents