EXAM CONGRESS Flashcards
The Constitution gives the House of Representatives the power to
initiate all revenue bills
How many senators are elected from each state?
two
Which of the following is not true about incumbents?
they usually face very tough challengers
Accoriding to the Constitution, revenue bills must originate in the
House
The filibuster is a technique used in the
Senate to prolong debate in order to kill a bill
Legislators who use their best judgement to make policy in the interests of the people are called
trustees
The members of the Senate closely reflect the nation in terms of
Gender
Race
Prior occupation
Economic status
none of the above
Articles of impeachment must be passed by
the House
The pork barrel and casework are examples of
oppurtunities for credit-claiming by members of Congress
One of the key differences between the House and the Senate is that the House
has more policy specialization
Nominees to the US supreme Court must be confirmed by
The Senate
Members of Congress who informally band together in groups to promote and protect mutual interests form what are called
caucuses
Incumbents are those
already holding office
Which is responsible for responding to congressional requests for info and providing non-partisan studies?
Congressional Research Service
The foremost attraction for the job of serving in Congress is
the power to make key public policy decisions
According to the Constitution, once impeached, federal officials are then tried in the
Senate
Some prefer the concept of legislators as ______, mirroring the preferences of their constituents
instructed delegates
Which of these candidates would most likely get elected
a representatives running for reelection
An example of casework by a member of Congress is
helping a constituent gain citizenship
House seats are up for election every
two years
After each federal census,
the membership of the House is reapportioned
Which of the following did the framers of the Constitution concieve of as the center of policymaking in America?
Congress
Which of the following is true about the Senate as compared to the House?
more influential in foreign affairs
The ______ is the list of federal prjects, grants, and contracts available to cities, businesses, colleges, and institutions which members of Congress seek to locate in their district to promote the interests of their constituency
pork barrel
Only ________ can formally submit a bill for congressional consideration
members of the House or senators
The House _____ Committee reviews most bills coming from other committees before they go on to the full House, thus performing a traffic cop function
Rules
To cut off debate and end a filibuster is known as
cloture
An especially important asset for incumbents running for reelection is their
service to constituents
Bicameralism means that a legislative body is one
with two houses, providing checks and balances on policymaking
A senate seat is up for election every
six years
Legislative ______ is the process of monitoring the bureaucracy and its administration of policy
oversight
The US House of Representatives has
435
Most of the business of Congress takes place
in committees and subcommittees
The single most important advantage to someone trying to get elected to Congress is
being an incumbent
_____ members present and voting can halt a filibuster by voting for cloture
Sixty
When the House and the Senate pass different versions of the same bill
a conference committee is appointed to resolve differences
What accounts for the success of congressional candidates?
advertising, credit claiming, and position-taking
What’s true about the minimum age requirements for members of congress set forth in the Constituion?
One must be at least 30 years old to serve in the Senate?
The ______ is next in line after the Vice President to succeed a president who resigns, dies, or is impeached
Speaker of the House
Members of Congress engage in each of the following activities that increase the probability of their reelections EXCEPT
party voting
The House Rules Committee
reviews most bills coming from committee before they go to Full House
A ______ committee is one appointed for a limited purpose
select
In most congressional elections, challengers
lose
Which of the following does the Speaker NOT play a role in?
recommending which members should be expelled from the House for failure to support the party’s positions on bills
______ privileges refers to the free use of the mails enjoyed by Congress
Franking
The US Senate has
100
Members of Congress seek committees that will help them achieve each of the following goals EXCEPT
a salary increase
The most common prior occupation for members of Congress is
law
The framers of the Constitutions concieved of _______ as the center of policymaking in America
Congress
The filibuster
is unique to the Senate
Traditionally, Congressional committee chairpersons have been chosen through
the seniority system
To be sent to the president, a bill must be passed by
both the House and the Senate
All of the following may increase the likelihood that an incumbent is defeated EXCEPT
campaign funding
The minority whip
keeps a close head count on key votes, and teempts to keep party members in line
Which of the following congressional offices is mandated by the Constitution?
Speaker of the House
On average, most of the money raised by a candidate for Congress comes from
individual contributions
the best way constituents can influence congressional voting on legislation is to
elect a representative or senator who agrees with their views
Which of the following is NOT one of the 3 primary activities that members of Congress engage in to increase the probability of their reelection?
oversight
Federal grants and contracts that members of Congress try to obtain for their constituents are collectively reffered to as
the prok barrel
The _______ has the job of presiding over the Senate, breaking ties when necessary
vice president
