Legislative Branch Study Guide

Question 1

“Congress has a split personality. One the one hand, it is a lawmaking institution and makes policy for the entire nation. In this capacity, all the members are expected to set aside their personal ambitions and perhaps even the concerns of their constituencies. Yet Congress is also a representative assembly, made up of 535 elected officials who serve as links between their constituents and the National Government. The dual roles of making laws and responding to constituents’ demands forces members to balance national concerns against the specific interests of their states or districts.” What is the best summary of this quote?

Answer 1

They balance the intrest of their constituencies along with national concerns

Question 2

Read the chart. Then choose an answer that best completes the statement: Roles of the Members of congress
based on this chart, a senator’s role as a politican might interfere with his or her role as:

Answer 2

their role as a representative

Question 3

choose the answer that best completes the sentence. This political cartoon from the past probably comments on problems caused by…

Answer 3

gerrymandering

Question 4

This graph compares the number of congressional members from the first congress to 2012. What statement is most likely supported by the graph?

Answer 4

Numbers of senators rose from 1900-2012 as several states where added to the union

Question 5

How does the commerce power differ from the currency power?

Answer 5

commerce is trade and currency power is a stable monitary system.

Question 6

Read this exerpt from the text. “The Framers of the Constitution intended to create a new and stronger National Government. The ratification of their plan was opposed by many, and that opposition was not silled by the adoption of the Constitution. Rather, the conflict between the Federalist and the Anti-Fedaralist continued into the early years of the Republic.” What was the ultimate resolution of this conflict in the McCulloch V. Maryland case?

Answer 6

The liberal contructionist prevailed and the implied powers of the federal government have grown ever since.

Question 7

Read this excerpt from the text about the power of congress to carry out investigations. “Both houese may choose to conduct investigations for anyone or a number of reasons. Most often, those inquires are held to (1) gather information necessary to the framing of legislation, (2) oversee the operations of various agencies in the executive branch, (3) focus public attention on some particular matter, (4) expose the questionable activities of some public offcial or private person or group, and/or (5) promote the particular intrests of some members of congress.” A recent investigation into the unfair process of reviewing tax exemptions within the IRS by groups calles “Patriots” would fall under which reason?

Answer 7

2nd reason

Question 8

The political cartoon shows president George Bush about to give a state of the union address as speaker of house Nancy Pelosi sits behind him. What is the cartoons main message.

Answer 8

congress often tries to undermind the presidents message in the state of the union

Question 9

What is one way the Speaker of the house differs from the President of the senate.

Answer 9

Speaker of the house is voted by colleagues while the president of the senate is the vice president.

Question 10

What does this image most likely show?

Answer 10

Congressional committee meeting

Question 11

Read this quote from the United States Senate website. “The chair of each committee and a majority of its members represent the majority party. The chair primarily controls a committees business. Each party assigns its own members to committees, and each committee distributes its members among its subcommittees. The senate places limits on the number and types of panels any one senator may serve on and chair.”- The United States Senate. What would most likely happen in the wake of the Democrats taking over the Senate from the Republicans after an election?

Answer 11

Both the chairs and most of the republican committee members will be replaced by democrats.

Question 12

Use the chart to answer the question. A representative is preparing to vote on a bill that her party opposes. If she votes as a partisan, she will:

Answer 12

she will vote an opposition to the bill in support of her party.

Question 13

Use the chart to choose the asnwer that best completes the sentence. Representation in Congress is closest to the general population in terms of:

Answer 13

Ethnicity

Question 14

What does this political cartoon suggest about congressional elections in the United States.

Answer 14

canidates mostly tell the public what they want to hear.

Question 15

If representatives in the House wish to adjourn a session for more than three days they must seek approval from.

Answer 15

senate

Question 16

use this map of congressional seats across the united states in 2010 to answer the question. What does this map suggest about regional population change.

Answer 16

the south both west and east have experienced a slight rise in population.

Question 17

“…Several States used the general ticket system. Under that arrangement, all of the states seats were filled at-large- that is, elected from the state as a whole, rather than from particular districts. Every voter could vote for a canidate for each on of the states seats in the house. what is one possible ramification of this system to elect representatives

Answer 17

a party with even a small majority could control all the house seats in a state.

Question 18

The congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the US but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform states to regulate commerce with foreign nations. and among the several states, and with the indian trubes. This section of the constitution falls under expressed powers relate to

Answer 18

trade and borrowing

Question 19

the best way to understand the expressed powers of congress is to

Answer 19

read a description of the expressed powers in the constitution.

Question 20

What is the best explanation of the debt ceiling.

Answer 20

it can be moved by congress when ever it seems politically necessary

Question 21

what statement best characterizes the implied powers of the federal government

Answer 21

sensable assumptions based on the expressed powers of the constitution

Question 22

the 2009 government bailout of automotive companies was an example of

Answer 22

implied powers of federal government.

Question 23

the senate will turn down such…

Answer 23

sentatorial courtesy.

Question 24

the clerk calls the chamber…

Answer 24

opening day in the house

Question 25

at such meeting, the presisdent is most likely

Answer 25

oulining policies in the state of union adress.

Question 26

what does this suggest about the speakers influence

Answer 26

the speaker has to use his influence to reach a compromise in both chambers.

Question 27

this political cartoon suggest the senate investigations.

Answer 27

are so rigerous and throughout that the process can be painful

Question 28

what are the simlarities and differences of public bills and private bills

Answer 28

both measures introduced by congress, public apply to the nation, private apply to certain people and places.

Question 29

what is the main explanation for this occurence.

Answer 29

manny bills are intruduced on behave of constituents not because the sentae or representative feels strongly about

Question 30

a filibuster to block a vote on a bill is possible

Answer 30

happens in the senate because floor debate is unrestrained.