Test 2: Congress

Question 1

House of Representatives

Answer 1

Population-based on districts over 700,000
Direct election in district
2 year terms 
25 or older
Originated all money bills 
435 members

Question 2

Senate

Answer 2

Equality of representation by state
At-large election in state
6 year terms
30 or older
Advisory role
more stability and deliberation
100 members
approve treaties

Question 3

Congress has the two most important powers given to any government:

Answer 3

The power of force (control of military)

the power over money

Question 4

constituency

Answer 4

the district making up the area from which an official is elected

Question 5

delegates

Answer 5

a representative who votes according to the preferences of his or her constituency

Question 6

trustees

Answer 6

a representative who votes based on what he or she thinks is best for his or her constituency

Question 7

agency representation

Answer 7

type of representation according to which representatives are held accountable to their constituents if they fail to represent them properly
(constituents have the power to hire and fire)

Question 8

money bill

Answer 8

bill solely concerned with taxation or government spending

Question 9

incumbency

Answer 9

Holding the political office for which one is running

Question 10

casework

Answer 10

effort by members of Congress to gain the trust and support of constituents by providing personal services

Question 11

patronage

Answer 11

the resources available to higher officials, usually opportunities to make partisan appointments to offices and confer grants, licenses, or special favors to supporters

Question 12

pork-barrel legislation

Answer 12

appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that often are not needed but are created so that local representatives can carry their home district in the next election

Question 13

gerrymandering

Answer 13

apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to one political party

Question 14

party caucus or conference

Answer 14

normally closed meeting of a political or legislative group to select candidates or leaders, plan strategy, or make decision regarding legislative matters

Question 15

Speaker of the House

Answer 15

Chief presiding offer of the HoR
elected at the beginning of every Congress on a straight party vote
most important party and House leader

Question 16

majority leader

Answer 16

elected leader of the party holding a majority of the seats in the HoR or Senate

Question 17

minority leader

Answer 17

elected leader of the party holding less than a majority of the seats in the House or Senate

Question 18

standing committee

Answer 18

a permanent legislature committee that considers legislation within its designated subject area; basic unit of deliberation in the House and Senate

Question 19

gatekeeping authority

Answer 19

The right and power to decide if a change in policy will be considered

Question 20

Proposal power

Answer 20

the capacity to bring a proposal before the full legislature

Question 21

after-the-fact authority

Answer 21

the authority to follow up on the fate of a proposal once it has been approved by the full chamber

Question 22

conference committee

Answer 22

a joint committee created to work out a compromise for HoR and Senate versions of a piece of legislation

Question 23

oversight

Answer 23

the effort by Congress through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to executive agencies

Question 24

seniority

Answer 24

the priority or status ranking given to an individual on the basis of length of continuous service on a congressional committe

Question 25

agency loss

Answer 25

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