Chapter 11: Congress

Question 1

The process by which seats in the House of Representatives are distributed among the fifty states

Answer 1

Apportionment

Question 2

The political process that results from dividing a legislature into two separate assemblies

Answer 2

Bicameralism

Question 3

Proposed legislation under consideration by a legislature

Answer 3

Bill

Question 4

A parliamentary process to end a debate in the Senate, as a measure against the filibuster; invoked when three-fifths of senators vote for the motion

Answer 4

Cloture

Question 5

The relationship between Congress and the United States as a whole, and whether the institution itself represents the American people

Answer 5

Collective representation

Question 6

A special type of joint committee that reconciles different bills passed in the House and Senate so a single bill results

Answer 6

Conference committee

Question 7

The body of voters, or constituents, represented by a particular politician

Answer 7

Constituency

Question 8

A model of representation in which representatives feel compelled to act on the specific stated wishes of their constituents

Answer 8

Delegate model of representation

Question 9

The extent to which a body of representatives represents the descriptive characteristics of their constituencies, such as class, race, ethnicity, and gender

Answer 9

Descriptive representation

Question 10

The powers given explicitly to the federal government by the Constitution to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs

Answer 10

Enumerated powers

Question 11

A parliamentary maneuver used in the Senate to extend debate on a piece of legislation as long as possible, typically with the intended purpose of obstructing or killing it

Answer 11

Filibuster

Question 12

The powers not specifically detailed in the U.S. Constitution but inferred as necessary to achieve the objectives of the national government

Answer 12

Implied powers

Question 13

The powers neither enumerated nor implied but assumed to exist as a direct result of the country’s existence

Answer 13

Inherent powers

Question 14

A legislative committee consisting of members from both chambers that investigates certain topics but lacks bill referral authority

Answer 14

Joint committee

Question 15

The leader of the majority party in either the House or Senate; in the House, the majority leader serves under the Speaker of the House, in the Senate, the majority leader is the functional leader and chief spokesperson for the majority party

Answer 15

Majority leader

Question 16

The amending and voting process in a congressional committee

Answer 16

Markup

Question 17

The party member who directs the activities of the minority party on the floor of either the House or the Senate

Answer 17

Minority leader

Question 18

The right to review and monitor other bodies such as the executive branch

Answer 18

Oversight

Question 19

A model of representation in which members of Congress act as either trustee or delegate, based on rational political calculations about who is best served, the constituency or the nation

Answer 19

Politico model of representation

Question 20

Federal spending intended to benefit a particular district or set of constituents

Answer 20

Pork-barrel politics

Question 21

The senator who acts in the absence of the actual president of the Senate, who is also the vice president of the United States; the president pro tempore is usually the most senior senator of the majority party

Answer 21

President pro tempore

Question 22

An elected leader’s looking out for his or her constituents while carrying out the duties of the office

Answer 22

Representation

Question 23

A small legislative committee created to fulfill a specific purpose and then disbanded; also called an ad hoc, or special, committee

Answer 23

Select committee

Question 24

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives and the leader of the majority party; the Speaker is second in the presidential line of succession, after the vice president

Answer 24

Speaker of the House

Question 25

A permanent legislative committee that meets regularly

Answer 25

Standing committee

Question 26

A theory proposing that the surge of stimulation occurring during presidential elections subsides during midterm elections, accounting for the differences we observe in turnouts and results

Answer 26

Surge-and-decline theory

Question 27

A model of representation in which representatives feel at liberty to act in the way they believe is best for their constituents

Answer 27

Trustee model of representation

Question 28

In the House and in the Senate, a high leadership position whose primary duty is to enforce voting discipline in the chambers and conferences

Answer 28

Whip

Question 29

Congress is

Answer 29

The most important branch of the US government

Question 30

Which of the following is not a power of the House of Representatives? * can impeach the President * appropriations bills must originate in the House * decide the Presidential election in the case of a tie * can overturn decisions made by Federal courts

Answer 30

Can overturn decisions made by Federal courts

Question 31

How are the number of individuals in the Senate determined?

Answer 31

There are always 2 per state

Question 32

How old do you have to be to run for Congress?

Answer 32

25 House, 30 Senate

Question 33

Why are terms in the house shorter than in the Senate?

Answer 33

The House is structured so that it is more responsive to the changing opinions in each district

Question 34

What is one of the reasons elections are fairly frequent?

Answer 34

If a politician has to run often, they are more likely to have to pay attention to what constituents actually want.

Question 35

Members of the House are up for election every ___ years, while Senators are up for elections every ___ years.

Answer 35

2, 6

Question 36

Which of the following are characteristics of most good political candidates? Check all that apply. * unblemished record * friends in high places * ivy league education * ability to raise money

Answer 36

An unblemished record and the ability to raise money

Question 37

A _____ is a person holding an office who runs for that office again.

Answer 37

Incumbent

Question 38

Generally speaking, _______ have a much higher chance of winning an election.

Answer 38

Incumbents

Question 39

What are the 4 types of committees?

Answer 39

Standing, select, joint, temporary

Question 40

Joint committees are made up of

Answer 40

Members from both the House and the Senate

Question 41

Congress uses the committee system because

Answer 41

It is easier for small groups to write legislation than a large group

Question 42

In most cases, who refers each bill to a committee?

Answer 42

The Speaker of the House

Question 43

Which Speaker greatly heightened the power of the position of Speaker?

Answer 43

Newton Gringrich

Question 44

Who elects the Speaker of the House?

Answer 44

The majority party

Question 45

Major task of the__________ includes counting votes on important pieces of legislation

Answer 45

Majority whip

Question 46

After a bill is introduced, what is the next step?

Answer 46

It is referred to a committee

Question 47

Open and closed rules refer to what?

Answer 47

Whether or not amendments are allowed for a bill or not

Question 48

A __________ is a committee comprised of members of both houses.

Answer 48

Conference committee

Question 49

A Presidential veto can be overturned by________.

Answer 49

A 2/3 majority vote in both the House and the Senate

Question 50

Which 2 of the following are ways that a bill can die? * Refusal of the Speaker or Majority Leader to refer the bill to committee * Refusal of the Senate to schedule a vote * Poor grammar and spelling * The House Ways and Means Committee refuses to review it

Answer 50

Refusal of the Speaker or Majority Leader to refer the bill to committee and refusal of the Senate to schedule a vote