Chapter 5 Test

Question 1

Constituents

Answer 1

people who live that area that a congressman represents

Question 2

bills

Answer 2

proposed laws

Question 3

whips

Answer 3

the representatives of each party whose duty is to encourage fellow party members to vote as the party leadership wants

Question 4

filibuster

Answer 4

tactic used when opponents of a measure seek to prevent it coming up for a vote in the Senate by refusing to stop talking in hopes of stalling action

Question 5

roll-call vote

Answer 5

a vote in which each member of Congress is required to publicly state his or her vote

Question 6

impeachment

Answer 6

the process of charging officials in the executive and judicial branches with wrongdoing and bringing them to trial

Question 7

cloture

Answer 7

the vote to end debate of a bill in the senate

Question 8

pocket veto

Answer 8

a means by which the president can reject a bill, when congress is not in session, by not signing it

Question 9

reapportionment

Answer 9

the redistribution of seats in the HoR among the states based on the results of the census

Question 10

rider

Answer 10

an addition to a bill that often has little relationship to the bill’s main topic

Question 11

party caucus

Answer 11

a meeting of all the House members from a particular party held to elect party officers

Question 12

gerrymandering

Answer 12

the drawing of district boundaries for political advantage

Question 13

quorum

Answer 13

the minimum number of members needed to legally conduct business

Question 14

necessary and proper clause

Answer 14

Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18, of the Constitution, which gives the national legislature the power to “make all laws that are necessary and proper”

Question 15

Relationship between Congressmen & Constituents

Answer 15

serve the needs of the people

represents all of the people in their area

Question 16

Importance and impact of Clause 18. Give examples

Answer 16

“carrying into execution the forgoing powers and all other powers vested by this constitution in the government of the US or in any department or officer thereof” Ex: establishment of National Bank, social security and medicare, “pressure the general welfare”, minimum wage, selective service

Question 17

Role of The Speaker of the House

Answer 17

Presiding figure in the House, rules over debates, assigns members to committees, 2nd in line of succession

Question 18

Role of the President of the Senate

Answer 18

usually the V.P. is largely ceremonial, presides over debates, in case of tie to be the breaker

Question 19

Role of majority/minority leaders

Answer 19

Serves as spokesperson and main strategist for the majority party on the Senate

Question 20

Explanation as to why the HoR is lower house and Senate is upper house

Answer 20

HoR-more in touch with the people, direct vote, controversy over selection, worry whether votes could be counted on to elect qualified people
Senate- members have greater prestige and more individual power, better known in public, must win state-wide elections, road to white house

Question 21

Qualifications to be a US Congressman

Answer 21

HoR- 25 yo, citizen at least 7 years
Senate- 30 yo, citizen at least 9 years
Both- inhabitant of state where elected, partly identification name familiarity, gender, ethnicity, military, background in political experience

Question 22

Benefits of being a US Congressman

Answer 22

tax deduction of 2 residencies, travel allowances, staff, low-cost health insurance, great retirement pension, franking privileges, gyms, restaurants

Question 23

Life of a bill

Answer 23

originate from anywhere, introduced by Congressman, bill assigned to most appropriate committee, hearings to seek input, call witnesses, full committee debates bill, bill is reviewed in close detail, committee members decide how to report the bill, both chambers debate and discuss their versions of the bill, president can choose whether to sign the bill into law or not, if veto happens both chambers of congress can decide if they want to override