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U.S. Government > Chapters 10, 11, and 12 Test > Flashcards

Chapters 10, 11, and 12 Test Flashcards

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1
Q

each term of congress starts on _________ of odd numbered years and lasts for ___ years

A

january 3, 2

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2
Q

each term of congress is divided into two _____, or meetings

A

sessions

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3
Q

congressional sessions often last from after christmas (january) to ____________

A

november or next xmas holiday

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4
Q

congress remains in session until its members vote to ________

A

adjourn

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5
Q

house membership = _______ members that serve _____ terms

A

435, 2 year

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6
Q

senate membership = __________ members that serve ____ terms

A

100, 6 year

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7
Q

census - ________________ that occurs every ____ years

A

official count of population, 10

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8
Q

what is reapportionment

A

the act of redistributing the 435 representative seats every 10 years after the census

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9
Q

_________ occurs every 10 years, after the completion of census

A

reapportionment

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10
Q

re-districting - the process of ____________

A

realigning the districts after the reapportionment takes place

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11
Q

historically, legislatures have abused their power when re-districting…why?

A

in order to gain advantage for their party. this is called gerrymandering

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12
Q

what is gerrymandering

A

the political party controlling the state government draws a district’s boundaries to GAIN AN ADVANTAGE in elections

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13
Q

what is packing

A

drawing the lines so one’s district includes as many of the opposing party’s voters as possible

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14
Q

what is cracking

A

dividing an opponent’s voters into other districts

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15
Q

most members of congress are knowledgable at _________/_________

A

business, law

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16
Q

other __________ member include law, agriculture, education, public service, etc

A

occupations of congress

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17
Q

_________ - one who is already in a public office

A

incumbents

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18
Q

PACs = ___________

A

political actions committees

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19
Q

4 reasons why incumbents are often reelected

A
  1. easy to raise campaign funds
  2. district has been gerrymandered in their party’s favor
  3. have name recognition
  4. use their position in office to solve problems for their constituents
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20
Q

how long is a term in the house of representatives

A

2 years

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21
Q

the number of house members representing each state is recalculated every

A

10 years

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22
Q

when congress adjourns, it

A

ends a session

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23
Q

what does it mean to reapportion seats in the house of representatives

A

the number of house seats for each state is changed based on population changes

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24
Q

a house district drawn to give an advantage one political party is

A

a gerrymander

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25
Q

how many senators are up for reelection every two years

A

one third

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26
Q

because a majority of senators are always experienced, the senate is said to be

A

a continuous body

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27
Q

a member of congress who votes based on the wishes of his or her constituents operates in which of the following roles

A

delegate

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28
Q

to run for senate, a person must be at least how old

A

30

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29
Q

what is the historical reason for americans choosing a bicameral system

A

the british parliament and most colonial legislatures were bicameral

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30
Q

what is a practical reason for americans choosing a bicameral system

A

bicameralism settled the conflict between the virginia and new jersey plans of 1787 and reflected american federalism

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31
Q

what is a term of congress

A

the length of time elected officials served after being elected (every 2 years)

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32
Q

what is a session of congress

A

the regular period of time during which congress performs legislative work

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33
Q

how many sessions are there in a term of congress

A

two

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34
Q

(true/false) a term is a length of time between elections in congress

A

true

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35
Q

why is congress at the heart of the most basic governmental function of our democratic system

A

because congress makes the nation’s laws

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36
Q

which of the following is NOT a reason why the constitution established a bicameral legislature

A

many countries have bicameral legislatures

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37
Q

which of the following is the main reason that the president rarely has to call congress into special session

A

congress now meets nearly year round anyway

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38
Q

the house (size)

A

435

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39
Q

the senate (size)

A

100

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40
Q

the house (term length)

A

2 years

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41
Q

the senate (term length)

A

6 years

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42
Q

the house (date of elections)

A

tuesday following the first monday in november of each even numbered year

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43
Q

the senate (date of elections)

A

tuesday following the first monday in november of each even numbered year

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44
Q

the house (age)

A

at least 25 years

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45
Q

the senate (age)

A

30 years

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46
Q

the house (residence)

A

inhabitant of the state

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47
Q

the senate (residence)

A

inhabitant of the state

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48
Q

the house (originally)

A

by voters in district (direct election)

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49
Q

the senate (originally)

A

appointed by state legislature

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50
Q

the house (today)

A

by voters in district

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51
Q

the senate (today)

A

direct election

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52
Q

the senate is a _____________, that is, all of its seats are never up for election at the same time

A

continuous body

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53
Q

(true/false) a senator is required to meet the same requirements for office as a member of the house

A

false

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54
Q

(true/false) like the house, all the senate seats are up for election at the same time

A

false

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55
Q

(true/false) if a new state joins the nation, the total number of senators in the senate will remain the same

A

false

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56
Q

(true/false) the words continuous body, as applied to the senate, mean that all of its seats are never up for election at the same time

A

true

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57
Q

why is the senate called the upper house

A

it has stricter qualifications than the house, more prestige, a longer term of office, and has been a stepping stone to higher political office

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58
Q

why do members of the senate serve 6 years, whereas members of the house serve only 2

A

senators should not be as concerned with the pressures of election campaigns, so that they can focus on the “big picture” of government

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59
Q

before the adoption of the 17th amendment in 1913, who chose senators

A

state legislatures

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60
Q

legislator: what does a legislator do?

A

make laws

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61
Q

committee member: what do members do as part of the congressional committee

A

screen proposals that are referring to the committee in a chamber

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62
Q

trustee: how does a member of congress act as a trustee

A

call all issues a they see them

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63
Q

delegate: how does a member of congress act as a delegate

A

chooses solutions based on the agents of those who elected them

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64
Q

partisan: how does a member of congress act as a partisan

A

duty bound to cast votes in line with party platform and views of party leaders

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65
Q

politico: how does a member of congress act as a politico

A

attempt to combine basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles. balancing conflicting factors

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66
Q

list5/6 roles of a congress person

A
  1. legislator
  2. committee member
  3. trustee
  4. delegate
  5. partisan
  6. politico
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67
Q

non salary compensation: what are some fringe benefits for members of congress

A

tax deductions, travel allowance, lo cost health insurance, pension plan, money for offices and staffs, franking privilege

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68
Q

what is constituency

A

a body of voters in a specified are who elect a representative to a legislative body

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69
Q

what is oversight function

A

the process by which congress, through its committees, checks to see that the various agencies in the executive branch are working effectively and acting in line with the policies that congress has set by law

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70
Q

what is franking privilege

A

benefit to members of congress, allowing them to mail letters postage free

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71
Q

what is oversight function

A

job of checking to see if agencies in the executive branch are working efficiently and according to law

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72
Q

what is trustee

A

congress member who decides issues on merit alone

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73
Q

what is partisan

A

role of a member of congress as a follower of party leadership

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74
Q

what is politico

A

congress member who balances conflicting factors

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75
Q

which of the following is NOT a duty of a member of congress

A

to run a department of the executive branch

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76
Q

all of the following are non salary compensation for members of congress EXCEPT

A

free lunches

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77
Q

which of the following places a limit on the level of congressional pay

A

voter backlash

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78
Q

why does the constitution guarantee that the courts may not prosecute members of congress, no matter what they say in the house or senate

A

freedom of speech is vital to legislative debate

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79
Q

what is term

A

a two year period of time during which congress meets each term lasts for two years and is numbered consecutively (currently the 114th congress of the us)

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80
Q

what is session

A

a one year period of time during which congress assembles and conducts business; there are two sessions to each term of congress - one each year

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81
Q

what is adjourn

A

to suspend (by congress) until the next session

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82
Q

what is prorogue

A

to end; discontinue (a session of congress); this is a power of the president - but only when the two houses cannot agree on a date for adjournment

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83
Q

what is special session

A

a meeting to deal with some emergency situation (only the president may call special session of congress)

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84
Q

what is apportion

A

to distribute; the act of distributing house seats among the states (each state is guaranteed at least one seat in the house no matter how small its population)

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85
Q

what is reapportion

A

to redistribute; the act of redistributing the 435 representative seats among the 50 states (each 10 years after the census)

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86
Q

what is off year election

A

those congressional election years that occur in nonresidential years ex) 2006-2010-2014-2018

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87
Q

what is gerrymander

A

drawing the redistricting lines to the advantage of the political party that controls the state legislature

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88
Q

what is continuous body

A

all of the senate’s seats are never up for election at the same time; in 2010 - 34 seats; in 2012 - 33 seats; in 2014 - 33 seats

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89
Q

what is trustee

A

members of congress who believe that each question they face must be decided on its merits; conscience and independent judgment are their guides; they call issues as they see them, regardless of the views held by their constituents or by any of the other groups that seek to influence their decisions

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90
Q

what are partisans

A

lawmakers who owe their first allegiance to their political party; they feel duty bound to vote in line with the party platform and the wishes of their party’s leaders

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91
Q

what is politico

A

one who attempts to combine the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles

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92
Q

what is oversight function

A

the process by which congress, through its committees, check toes that the various agencies in the executive branch are working effectively and acting in line with the policies that congress has set by law

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93
Q

construction of the constitution (strict - definition)

A

narrow, literal interpretation of the constitution

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94
Q

construction of the constitution (liberal - definition)

A

broad interpretation of the constitution

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95
Q

construction of the constitution (strict - major proponent)

A

jefferson (states rights advocate/anti-federalist)

96
Q

construction of the constitution (liberal - major proponent)

A

hamilton (federalist)

97
Q

construction of the constitution (liberal - attitude toward implied powers)

A

use often and energetically

98
Q

construction of the constitution (strict - attitude toward national power)

A

should be restrained and limited, except for defense

99
Q

construction of the constitution (liberal - attitude toward national power)

A

should be strong and allowed to grow

100
Q

construction of the constitution (strict attitude toward state power)

A

should remain strong and keep most power

101
Q

construction of the constitution (liberal - attitude toward state power)

A

should be restrained

102
Q

the constitution gives powers to the congress in three ways: through the __________, or clearly stated powers

A

expressed

103
Q

the constitution gives powers to the congress in three ways: through the __________, powers (powers deducted from the clearly stated powers)

A

implied

104
Q

the constitution gives powers to the congress in three ways: through the __________, those possessed by all sovereign states

A

inherent

105
Q

(true/false) strict constructionists believed that congress should exercise only its expressed powers and those powers absolutely necessary to carry out those expressed powers

A

true

106
Q

(true/false) liberal constructionism was linked to a strong national government

A

true

107
Q

(true/false) implied powers are those reasonably deduced from the expressed powers

A

true

108
Q

which of the following is NOT a type of power that congress derives from the constitution

A

divine right

109
Q

which level of government has been MOST valued by the strict constructionists

A

state

110
Q

which of the following has been a value of liberal constructionists

A

the constitution must be interpreted broadly, with an eye toward change

111
Q

which of the following is a reason why liberal construction of the constitution prevailed

A

wars and economic crises called for national action, spectacular advances transportation and communication impacted the scope of the government, and the people themselves demanded more and more services from government

112
Q

what is direct tax

A

must be paid by the person on whom it is imposed

113
Q

what is legal tender

A

money that a creditor must by law accept in payment of debt (ex: debit card, silver coin, cash, checks, visa card, master card)

114
Q

what is bankruptcy

A

legal proceeding in which someone’s assets are distributed among those to whom a debt is owed

115
Q

what is indirect tax

A

first paid by one person, but then passed on to another

116
Q

what is public debt

A

all the money that the federal government has borrowed and not repaid

117
Q

which constitutional principle was involved in the gibbons v ogden case in 1824

A

the national government, not individual states, has the right to regulate interstate commerce

118
Q

which of the following is NOT an expressed power of congress

A

power to set a minimum wage

119
Q

what is eminent domain

A

right to take private property for public use

120
Q

what is patent

A

sole right to make or sell a new invention

121
Q

what is copyright

A

exclusive right to publish or sell written or creative work

122
Q

what is naturalization

A

making a non citizen into a citizen

123
Q

who has the constitutional power to declare war

A

only congress

124
Q

which of the following is NOT an expressed power of congress

A

commanding the armed forces

125
Q

which of the following does congress have the right to manage and control

A

federal military installations, the district of columbia, and national parks

126
Q

congress’s power to create federal courts is an example of

A

constitutional checks and balances

127
Q

(true/false) the necessary and proper clause is often called the elastic clause because it caused the powers of congress to snap

A

false

128
Q

(true/false) congress can appropriate money to different departments of the federal government

A

true

129
Q

(true/false) implied powers gives the federal government the authority to do anything on behalf of the general welfare and public interest

A

false

130
Q

which of the following is an expressed power

A

power to raise an army and navy

131
Q

which of the following is an implied power

A

power to establish federal aid to education programs

132
Q

which of the following is another name for the necessary and proper clause

A

elastic clause

133
Q

what is impeach

A

bring charges against

134
Q

what is successor

A

the next in line, the replacement

135
Q

which of the following issues of recent years is congress more vinously pursing to call a national convention to amend the constitution

A

congressional term limits

136
Q

after the house has impeached a president, what must happen next ignorer to remove the president from office

A

the senate must convict the president

137
Q

which institution has the responsibility of confirming or rejecting presidential appointees and treaties

A

the senate

138
Q

what are the 5 non legislative powers of congress

A
  1. investigate - look into anything that falls within its scope
  2. amendments - proposed amendments; call convention to propose amendments
  3. electoral - elect a president (house) and vice president (senate) if no winner in election
  4. impeachment - bring charges against federal officials (house), try impeachment cases (senate)
  5. executive - give “advice and consent,” approve presidential appointments, approve treaties
139
Q

what are expressed powers

A

those deflated powers granted by the constitution that are spelled out explicitly - in its specific wording; aka enumerated powers

140
Q

what are implied powers

A

those powers granted by the constitution that are suggested by the expressed powers set out in the constitution; those powers “necessary and proper” to carry out the expressed powers

141
Q

what are inherent powers

A

those powers granted by the constitution that are presumed to be delegated to the national government because it is the government of a sovereign state - the united states

142
Q

what is strict constructionist

A

one who argues a narrow interpretation of the constitution’s provisions, in particular those granting powers to the federal government; the constitutional interpretation ideology of thomas jefferson

143
Q

what is consensus

A

general agreement

144
Q

what is tax

A

a charge levied by government on persons or property to raise money to meet public needs

145
Q

what is direct tax

A

a tax that must be paid directly to the government by the person on whom it is imposed. ex: sales tax

146
Q

what is indirect tax

A

a tax that is first paid by one person but then passed on to another ex: income tax

147
Q

what is public debt

A

all of the money borrowed by the federal government over the years but on yet repaid + the accumulated interest on that money

148
Q

what is deficit financing

A

funding government spending by borrowing to make up the difference between spending and revenue (the government regularly spends more than it takes in each year)

149
Q

what is bankruptcy

A

the legal proceeding in which the bankrupt’s assets are distributed among those to whom debt is owed

150
Q

what is naturalization

A

the process by which a citizen of one country becomes a citizen of another country

151
Q

what is copyright

A

the exclusive right of an author to reproduce, publish, and sell his or her creative work

152
Q

what is patent

A

grants a person the sole right to manufacture, use, or sell “any new and useful art, machine, manufacture or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof”

153
Q

what is eminent domain

A

the inherent power of government to take private property to sell for public use

154
Q

what is appropriate

A

assigns to a particular use

155
Q

what is necessary and proper clause

A

constitutional clause that give the congress the power to make all laws “necessary and proper” for executing its power

156
Q

what is successor

A

a replacement; someone to fill the vacancy; the vice president is subject to a majority vote in both houses of congress; a person who inherits a title or office

157
Q

what is censure

A

a formal condemnation of behavior issued by the majority of the members of the senate

158
Q

the expressed powers of congress are

A

state directly in the constitution

159
Q

the consensus of american opinion favors

A

liberal interpretation of the constitution

160
Q

the commerce power of congress allows it to

A

regulate trade and business

161
Q

the power that allows congress to take private property for such uses as an interstate highway system or a national park is

A

the power of eminent domain

162
Q

the exclusive legal right an author has to his or her own work is protected by

A

a copyright

163
Q

a store must accept us dollar bills in payment because the dollar bill is

A

legal tender

164
Q

the power of the house of representatives to officially charge an official with wrongdoing is the power of

A

impeachment

165
Q

if no presidential candidate wins a majority of the electoral votes, the president is chosen in

A

the house of representatives

166
Q

which of the following must approve presidential appointments

A

the senate

167
Q

the most powerful leader in the house is the

A

speaker of the house

168
Q

the chairman of congressional committees are chosen by

A

seniority

169
Q

the president of the senate is

A

the vice president

170
Q

which is a joint committee

A

a conference committee

171
Q

the major job of the floor leaders is to

A

gather party members’ votes for upcoming bills

172
Q

in the steps of the legislative process, the event that would happen last in the house is

A

debate on the floor

173
Q

which of the following has the force of the law although it does not become a law

A

a joint resolution

174
Q

who is the speaker of the house

A

paul ryan

175
Q

who is the majority floor leader of the house

A

kevin mccarthy

176
Q

who is the minority floor leader of the house

A

nancy pelosi

177
Q

who is the president of the senate

A

joe biden

178
Q

who is the president pro tempore

A

orrin hatch

179
Q

who is the majority floor leader of the senate

A

mitch mcconnell

180
Q

who is the minority floor leader of the senate

A

harry reid

181
Q

what is speaker of the house

A

the elected presiding officer of the house and the acknowledged leader of its majority party

182
Q

what is president of senate

A

the senate’s presiding officer

183
Q

what is the president pro tempore

A

serves in the vice president’s absence. elected by the senate itself and is always a leading member of the majority party - usually its longest serving members

184
Q

what are liberal constructionists

A

one in favor of a liberal interpretation of the constitution, particularly those granting powers of the federal government; the constitutional interpretation ideology of alexander hamilton

185
Q

what is a standing committee

A

deal with issues of permanent legislative concern

186
Q

what are the committees’ functions

A

standing committees investigate, evaluate, and sift through proposed bills

187
Q

give 3 examples of stand committees (name at least 1)

A

house ways and means; senate finance, house national security

188
Q

what is a select commitee

A

deals with temporary issues, investigations

189
Q

what does a select committee do

A

select committees investigate some current matter for possible new laws or for special issues

190
Q

give 2 examples of a select committee from 1987 (one example)

A

house select committee to investigate (over arms transactions with iran, senate select committee on secret military assistance to iran and the nicaraguan opposition)

191
Q

what is a joint committee

A

consist of members of both houses usually created to deal with a specific issue

192
Q

what does a joint committee do

A

investigates and issues reports; deals with issues common to both houses; some have routine duties

193
Q

what is a conference committee

A

a conference committee is temporary and composed of members of both houses

194
Q

what does a conference committee do

A

irons out differences between similar bills in the house and senate and produces compromise bills

195
Q

(true/false) a standing committee is a permanent group

A

true

196
Q

(true/false) select committees are set up for a specific purpose for a limited time

A

true

197
Q

(true/false) the main job of a standing committees or their subcommittees is to conduct investigations

A

true

198
Q

which of the following is not a standing committee in the house

A

convert arms transactions with iran

199
Q

why must a conference committee meet on a compromise bill even if both houses pass similar bills

A

the bill must be identical when it goes to the president to sign

200
Q

why are party politics so important in congressional organization

A

the majority party always holds the chairmanship and a majority of the seats on each committee

201
Q

the main difference between a joint committee and a conference committee is

A

joint committees to perform investigative or housekeeping duties; conference committees iron out differences in bills from both houses

202
Q

most bills are introduced in congress by

A

the executive branch, interest groups, private citizens

203
Q

a joint resolution is like a bill because

A

it has force of law

204
Q

five courses of action a committee may take on a bill are:

A
  1. report bill favorably
  2. refuse to report the bill
  3. report bill in amended form
  4. report bill with an unfavorable recommendation
  5. report a committee bill
205
Q

five types of votes in the house are

A
  1. voice votes
  2. standing vote
  3. 1/5 quorum votes
  4. roll call vote
  5. record vote
206
Q

what is resolution

A

voted on by either house, but has no force of law

207
Q

what is rider

A

provision attached to an important measure

208
Q

what is quorum

A

majority of the full membership of either house

209
Q

which of the following has the possibility of gaining the force of law

A

joint resolution

210
Q

the following are methods of taking a floor vote, EXCEPT

A

mail in vote

211
Q

____________ usually deal with individual places or people

A

private bills

212
Q

__________ apply to the entire station. they may be controversial, dealing with such issues as ________, ________, or _________

A

public bills, raising taxes, national health issues, abortion

213
Q

_____________ deal with internal matters of only one house of congress

A

resolution

214
Q

when both houses of congress agree, they may pass a ___________, for example to correct an error in an ________ or to ____________ for a special purpose

A

joint resolution, earlier law, appropriate money

215
Q

_________, on the other hand, do not have the force of law and do not require the president’s signature. yet, to take effect, ________ of congress must pass them

A

concurrent resolutions, both houses

216
Q

fewer than 5% of the bills introduced in congress become public laws. three reasons that so few bills become laws are (only name 2):

A
  1. law making process is extremely long, complicated, and expensive
  2. many compromises are necessary to get most bills passed
217
Q

the ideas for new bills may come from _______, _________, __________, or officials in the ________ branch

A

private citizens, interest groups, president, executive

218
Q

to introduce a bill in the house, a member must

A

place bill in hopper

219
Q

to introduce a bill in the senate

A

the presiding officer must recognize the senator and the senator presents the bill

220
Q

what are hearings

A

sessions in which congressional committees listen to testimonies for bills

221
Q

what are interest groups

A

groups of people who are interested in an issue before congress

222
Q

what is quorum

A

number of people necessary to vote

223
Q

what is voice vote

A

hearing “aye’s” or “nay’s” to approve/disapprove of meetings and topics

224
Q

what is standing vote

A

a member stands to indicate their support for a vote

225
Q

what is teller vote

A

indicating one’s vote by walking down a certain aisle or exiting a certain door

226
Q

what is record vote

A

electronic voting where a membership uses an electronic device to indicate an “ay” or “nay”

227
Q

what is role-call vote

A

when the people’s names are read alphabetically aloud and state their vote

228
Q

what is veto

A

president rejects a bill

229
Q

what is pocket veto

A

president doesn’t act on a bill and lets it sit for 10 days

230
Q

what is line-item veto

A

presidential power to veto a sentence or line in a veto

231
Q

how a bill becomes a law through the house of representatives

A
  1. bill is introduced
  2. bill is read by title, numbered, and printed
  3. printed for the committee
  4. have hearings where changes could be added, it can be approved, or it can die
  5. sent to the house floor for debate
  6. bill passed by the house
232
Q

how a bill becomes a law through the senate

A
  1. titled, numbered, printed
  2. sent to a committee
  3. have hearings where changes are added, there are approvals, or death of a bill
  4. sent to senate floor for debate
  5. amended bill passed by senate
233
Q

who is in conference committee

A

members from both houses

234
Q

what is in conference committee

A

work out a compromise bill that both houses will accept

235
Q

what does the president do when a bill becomes a law

A

sign it becoming a law, veto it, or can pocket veto

236
Q

what is party caucus

A

a closed meeting of the members of each party in each house

U.S. Government (12 decks)

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