chapter 7 test

Question 1

define appropriation

Answer 1

approval of government spending

Question 2

define continuing resolution

Answer 2

a resolution that keeps the government open and operating under the previous levels of appropriation during times when Congress can not agree on a new appropriation

Question 3

define tax

Answer 3

the money that people and businesses pay to support the activities of the government

Question 4

define closed rule

Answer 4

rule that forbids members of Congress to offer amendments to a bill from the floor

Question 5

define authorization bill

Answer 5

a bill that sets up a federal program and specifics how much money may be appropriated for the program

Question 6

define open rule

Answer 6

rule that allows floor debate and addition of amendments to the bill

Question 7

define appropriations bill

Answer 7

a proposed law to authorize spending money

Question 8

define earmark

Answer 8

part of a funding bill that will go toward a certain purpose

Question 9

define entitlement

Answer 9

a required government expenditure that continued from one year to the next

Question 10

define pork-barrel legislation

Answer 10

laws that are passed by Congress to appropriate money for local federal projects

Question 11

define logrolling

Answer 11

an agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each others bills

Question 12

define casework

Answer 12

the work a lawmaker does to help constituents with issues

Question 13

define interest group

Answer 13

a group of people who share common goals and organize to influence government and policy

Question 14

define lobbyist

Answer 14

a paid representative of an interest group who contacts government officials on behalf of these interests groups

Question 15

define lobbying

Answer 15

direct contact made by lobbyists to persuade government officials to support the policies their interest groups favor

Question 16

define veto

Answer 16

rejection of a bill by the president

Question 17

define simple resolution

Answer 17

a statement adopted to cover matters affecting only one house of Congress

Question 18

define public bill

Answer 18

a bill dealing with general matters and applying to the entire nation

Question 19

define rider

Answer 19

a provision included in a bill on a subject other than the one covered in the bill

Question 20

define pocket veto

Answer 20

when a president kills a bill passed during the last 10 days Congress is in session by simply refusing to act on it

Question 21

define private bill

Answer 21

a bill dealing with individual people or places

Question 22

define a hearing

Answer 22

a session at which a committee listens to testimony from people interested in the bill

Question 23

define joint resolution

Answer 23

a resolution passed in the same form by both houses

Question 24

define concurrent resolution

Answer 24

a resolution that covers matters requiring the action of the House and Senate but on which a law is not needed

Question 25

how is a bill introduced?

Answer 25

In the house, a bill is dropped into the hopper, and in the Senate, it is formally introduced by a Senator, and in both cases it is assigned to a committee

Question 26

what does the final vote require

Answer 26

the presence of a quorum and a third reading of the bill

Question 27

what power does the constitution give the House

Answer 27

the sole power to start all tax bills, most important work happening in the House Ways and Means committee

Question 28

what power does the Constitution give the Senate

Answer 28

they may propose amendments to tax bills passed by the House

Question 29

define PACs

Answer 29

political fund-raising organizations started by special interest groups, raising money to support lawmakers who agree with their position on certain issues.

Question 30

define advocacy

Answer 30

pleading the constituents interest

Question 31

when would lawmakers vote against the wishes of constituents

Answer 31

if they are issues such as foreign affairs, about which constituents know less or are less interested

Question 32

define an uncontrollable

Answer 32

when the government is already committed to a cost, and neither the president nor Congress can change them without changing the law