Unit 3 Test

Question 1

Legislation whose tangible benefits are targeted solely at a particular legislator’s constituency is

A. pork-barrel legislation
B. logrolling
C. gerrymandering
D. private legislation
E. public interest legislation

Answer 1

A. pork-barrel legislation

Question 2

Compared to House incumbents, Senate incumbents are more likely to face the problem of

A. raising enough money to run a strong campaign
B. an electorate which is inclined to judge their fines for reelection in the context of pork-barrel legislation and other favors for the local community
C. a strong challenger
D. name recognition
E. all these answers are correct

Answer 2

C. a strong challenger

Question 3

Compared to other congressional campaigns, open-seat races tend to have all of the following characteristics except

A. a higher overall level of campaign spending
B. more evenly matched competitors
C. a higher overall level of campaign spending and more evenly matched competitors
D. a more predictable outcome
E. none of these answers are correct

Answer 3

D. a more predictable outcome

Question 4

Compared to the Senate majority leader, the Speaker of the House has more power because

A. the House places more limits on debate
B. the House is the larger chamber in terms of membership
C. the House has less of a tradition as a chamber of equals
D. the Speaker is that chamber’s presiding officer
E. all these answers are correct

Answer 4

E. all these answers are correct

Question 5

In contrast to the Speaker of the House, the Senate majority leader

A. plays a key role in formulating the majority party’s legislative positions
B. seeks to develop influential relationships with his/her colleagues
C. is not the presiding officer of his/her chamber
D. holds a position that is defined in the Constitution
E. none of these answers are correct

Answer 5

C. is not the presiding officer of his/her chamber

Question 6

A standing committee in the House or Senate

A. is a permanent committee
B. has jurisdiction over a particular policy area
C. has authority to draft, amend, and recommend legislation
D. is usually organized according to the seniority principle
E. all these answers are correct

Answer 6

E. all these answers are correct

Question 7

When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill, the differences are resolved by a

A. conference committee
B. standing committee
C. select committee
D. rules committee
E. joint committee

Answer 7

A. conference committee

Question 8

Committee staffs within Congress

A. concentrate on constituency relations
B. perform almost an entire legislative function
C. concentrate on public relations
D. split their time between legislative functions and public relations
E. are devoted to logistical functions and committee public relations

Answer 8

B. perform almost an entire legislative function

Question 9

Campaign spending tends to be greatly more important

A. for challengers and non-incumbents rather than incumbents
B. for Republican candidates
C. for Democratic candidates
D. for candidates in urban areas that for candidates in rural areas
E. for men rather than women

Answer 9

A. for challengers and non-incumbents rather than incumbents

Question 10

Incumbents may have some problems in reelection campaigns if

A. disruptive issues such as a general public discontent with Congress become prominent
B. the incumbent is tainted with charges of personal misconduct or corruption
C. the election is a midterm election, and the incumbent is of the same party as the president
D. through redistricting, they are placed in a disadvantageous district
E. all these answers are correct

Answer 10

E. all these answers are correct

Question 11

Because of the inherent tension in Congress between the need for strong leadership at the top and the individual congressional member’s need to act according to local concerns,

A. Congress is unable to take effective action to counter the growth in the power of the president
B. power in the Congress is widely dispersed
C. power in the Congress is highly centralized in the Speaker and the Senate president pro tempore
D. members of Congress prefer to address international issues because the tension between local and national issues is less substantial in this situation
E. Congress has been made unable to take effective action to counter the growth in the power of the Supreme Court

Answer 11

B. power in the Congress is widely dispersed

Question 12

WHich one of the following statements about the seniority principle is most accurate?

A. the seniority principle is based on length of time the member has spent in Congress
B. because of seniority, committee chairs exercise absolute power over their committees
C. seniority is no longer absolute in selection of committee chairs, but it is usually followed
D. seniority is no longer used at all in the choice of committee chairs
E. seniority is used in the Democratic party, but not in the Republican party

Answer 12

C. seniority is no longer absolute in selection of committee chairs, but it is usually followed

Question 13

Senators are generally less likely to follow orders of their leaders than House members because

A. senators are prohibited by their state legislatures from taking orders by others
B. senators think of themselves as being equals and are only willing to be led by persuasion
C. senators are more highly paid than House members and are thus immune from financial threats
D. House rules mandate that all party members on major bills must vote according to the directions of their leaders
E. all these answers are correct

Answer 13

B. senators think of themselves as being equals and are only willing to be led by persuasion

Question 14

Most of the legislative work of Congress is performed by

A. the standing committees and subcommittees with jurisdiction over particular policy areas
B. the joint committees chosen to coordinate actions between the two chambers of Congress
C. the select committees chosen to study special problems on a temporary basis
D. the steering committees that decide party stands on particular bills
E. party leaders in both chambers

Answer 14

A. the standing committees and subcommittees with jurisdiction over particular policy areas

Question 15

Through a vote for cloture, the Senate

A. confirms presidential appointees
B. can end a filibuster
C. overrides a presidential pocket veto
D. accepts the House version of a bill
E. closes its legislative session for the year

Answer 15

B. can end a filibuster

Question 16

Congress’s inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is due to

A. the lack of talented leadership in Congress
B. the fragmented nature of Congress
C. constitutional restrictions on Congress’s lawmaking powers
D. the constant threat of a presidential veto
E. opposition from the mass media

Answer 16

B. the fragmented nature of Congress

Question 17

In which area has Congress been more likely that the president to exert leadership?

A. world affairs
B. national economic policy
C. policies affecting special interests
D. social welfare policy
E. environmental policy

Answer 17

C. policies affecting special interests

Question 18

In initiating broad legislative proposals, the president enjoys all of the following advantages over Congress except

A. the president is more likely to take a national perspective on policy issues
B. the president is granted more authority by the Constitution in the area of lawmaking
C. the president’s actions receive more attention from the national media
D. the president has the authority to make policy decisions even when there are conflicting views within the executive branch, while congressional leaders cannot impose their views on other members who disagree with them
E. a lack of fragmentation

Answer 18

B. the president is granted more authority by the Constitution in the area of lawmaking

Question 19

Most members of Congress are

A. concerned with national issues, but even more concerned with local ones
B. controlled by special interest groups
C. interested only in the work of the subcommittee on which they serve
D. opposed to the seniority system
E. more interested in oversight than in making laws

Answer 19

A. concerned with national issues, but even more concerned with local ones

Question 20

By and large, partisanship is

A. irrelevant to the work of Congress
B. a huge source of cohesion and division within Congress
C. relevant only in the context of local representation
D. important in lawmaking and representation but not in oversight
E. more important in foreign policy than domestic policy

Answer 20

B. a huge source of cohesion and division within Congress

Question 21

The biggest obstacle to effective congressional oversight is

A. the sheer magnitude of the task
B. its inadequacy as a means to control the bureaucracy
C. its inadequacy as a means to control the power of the president
D. its inadequacy as a way to generate publicity for members of Congress
E. its inadequacy as a means to control the judiciary

Answer 21

A. the sheer magnitude of the task

Question 22

The major function of Congress is to

A. enact legislation
B. check the president
C. appease special interests
D. inform the people
E. check the Supreme Court

Answer 22

A. enact legislation

Question 23

The scheduling of bills in the Senate is left up to

A. the Senate Scheduling Committee
B. the Senate majority leader
C. each of the Senate committees
D. the Senate historian
E. the Senate parliamentarian

Answer 23

B. the Senate majority leader

Question 24

For a bill to pass in either chamber of Congress,

A. it must receive the support of a third of its members
B. it must receive the support of a simple majority of its members
C. it must receive the support of two-thirds of its members
D. it must be passed within two weeks of its passage by the other chamber
E. it must be passed within a month of its passage by the other chamber

Answer 24

B. it must receive the support of a simple majority of its members

Question 25

Defining the conditions and scheduling a bill for floor debate in the House of Representatives is the responsibility of the

A. Ways and Means Committee
B. Rules committee
C. Budget Committee
D. Appropriations Committee
E. Judiciary Committee

Answer 25

B. Rules committee

Question 26

If the Rules Committee applies the “closed rule” to a bill,

A. no amendments will be permitted
B. the bill will not be allowed a vote
C. the bill will require a 2/3 majority for passage
D. no further floor debate is allowed
E. no filibusters will be allowed to prevent a vote

Answer 26

B. the bill will not be allowed to vote

Question 27

Political parties serve

A. to link the public with its elected leaders
B. to transform conflict into political choices for voters
C. as a basis for organizing interests into ongoing political coalitions
D. to provide potential leaders an opportunity to attain public office
E. all these answers are correct

Answer 27

E. all these answers are correct

Question 28

Proportional representation systems encourage the formation of smaller parties be enabling parties to

A. win legislative seats even though they do not receive a majority of votes in elections
B. receive campaign funds from government in proportion to their support in opinion polls
C. win legislative seats by lottery for parties that have no chance of winning majority support
D. share in patronage appointments which serve as an incentive to lure campaign workers
E. advertise on television

Answer 28

A. win legislative seats even though they do not receive a majority of votes in elections

Question 29

Democrats and Republicans have endured as the two major U.S. parties primarily due to

A. the stability of their ideologies
B. the lack of good third party candidates
C. a high degree of part discipline
D. their ability to adapt to changing circumstances
E. none of these answers are correct

Answer 29

A. the stability of their ideologies

Question 30

If a minor party gains a large following, it is most certain that

A. the major parties will join together to attack the minor party
B. Congress will enact legislation to make it difficult for the minor party to get on the ballot
C. party in-fighting will tear it apart
D. the major parties will try to capture its supporters
E. the media will attack the minor party

Answer 30

D. the major parties will try to capture its supporters

Question 31

THe major reason for the persistence of the American two-party system is

A. there are naturally only two sides to political disputes
B. regional conflict
C. the existence of single-member election districts
D. the existence of state laws prohibiting the placement of a third party on the ballot
E. proportional representation

Answer 31

E. proportional representation

Question 32

The American tendency toward _______ encourages the two major parties to build broad coalitions.

A. big government
B. idealism
C. political activism
D. radicalism
E. moderation

Answer 32

E. moderation

Question 33

The Democratic Party’s long-time regional stronghold, the Solid South, stemmed from a realignment during which historical period?

A. Civil War era
B. 1890s
C. Great Depression
D. 1980s
E. none of these answers are correct

Answer 33

A. Civil War era

Question 34

The Democratic coalition today includes the following groups except

A. women
B. African Americans
C. Latino Americans
D. the Christian Coalition
E. gays and lesbians

Answer 34

D. the Christian Coalition

Question 35

Most states conduct ________ primaries.

A. closed
B. open
C. blanket
D. nonpartisan
E. White

Answer 35

A. closed

Question 36

Advantages that Republicans and Democrats have over minor party candidates include

A. voting loyalty of party identifiers
B. an automatic place on the ballot in every state
C. millions of dollars in campaign donations
D. both an automatic place on the ballot in every state, and millions of dollars in campaign donations
E. all of these answers are correct

Answer 36

E. all of these answers are correct

Question 37

American party organizations

A. are about to die out
B. are more powerful today than at any time in history
C. have more power than their Western European counterparts
D. are still important, but their role in campaigns is secondary to that of candidates
E. are unimportant in the political system today

Answer 37

D. are still important, but their role in campaigns is secondary to that of candidates

Question 38

Organizationally, the U.S. major parties are

A. decentralized and weak
B. centralized and weak
C. decentralized and strong
D. decentralized and strong
E. no longer in operation

Answer 38

A. decentralized and weak

Question 39

By definition, the interest-group system consists of all interests that are _____ and seek _____ goals.

A. organized; political
B. cohesive; narrow
C. mobilized; ideological
D. small; narrow
E. none of these answers are correct

Answer 39

A organized; political

Question 40

A primary difference between a political party and a typical interest group is that the party

A. promotes public policies
B. adapts its policy positions
C. supports candidates for public office
D. influences policymakers
E. addressed a narrow range of issues

Answer 40

B. adapts its policy positions

Question 41

The theory that nearly all interests are adequately presented through group activity is

A. republicanism
B. constitutionalism
C. elitism
D. pluralism
E. interest-group liberalism

Answer 41

D. pluralism

Question 42

THe most fully organized interests are those that represent

A. agriculture
B. business
C. civil liberties
D. labor
E. the environment

Answer 42

E. business

Question 43

A basic reason for the existence of so many interest groups in the United States is

A. the American tradition for free association
B. the extent of diverse interests in American society
C. America’s federal system of government
D. both the American tradition of free association and America’s federal system of government
E. all these answers are correct

Answer 43

E. all these answers are correct

Question 44

Some groups pursue public or collective goods. A public good is one that

A. cannot be selectively granted or denied to individuals; it must be shared
B. is provided by a public service organization
C. is secured by the president
D. is secured by Congress
E. none of these answers is correct

Answer 44

A. cannot be selectively granted or denied to individuals; it must be shared

Question 45

The situation where individuals are tempted not to contribute to a cause because they will get the benefits even if they do not participate is called

A. the size factor
B. the free-rider problem
C. the special interest paradox
D. the disincentive factor
E. the zero-sum game

Answer 45

B. the free-rider problem

Question 46

A flaw in pluralism theory is the fact that

A. the interest group system is unrepresentative because some interests are far better organized and more powerful than others
B. the public interest is never served by policies that promote special interests
C. larger groups always prevail politically over smaller groups
D. political parties better represent different interests that do interest groups
E. all these answers are correct

Answer 46

A. the interest group system is unrepresentative because some interests are far better organized and more powerful than others

Question 47

In acknowledging the dilemma inherent in group activity, James Madison

A. argued that the free-rider problem would hurt some groups more than others
B. claimed that government could listen to all groups, but should only enact policies that promote the interests of majority groups
C. worried that government would be overly dominated by groups, but recognized that a free society is obliged to permit the advocacy of self-interest
D. argues that government most restrict the activities of groups, so that political parties could act as the major instrument of democracy
E. all these answers are correct

Answer 47

C. worried that government would be overly dominated by groups, but recognized that a free society is obliged to permit the advocacy of self-interest

Question 48

Effective inside lobbying is based upon

A. countering the aims of other groups
B. providing useful and persuasive information to key officials
C. mobilizing the group's members
D. bribing or threatening officials
E. using the media to exert pressure

Answer 48

B. providing useful and persuasive information to key officials

Question 49

A main difference between iron triangle and issue networks is

A. an iron triangle includes members or the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, while issue networks bypass the judicial branch
B. issue networks involve a stable group of bureaucrats, legislators and lobbyists, while iron triangles exclude lobbyists in an attempt to reach impartial decisions
C. issue networks are generally less stable than iron triangles, such that the members of an issue network may change as the issue develops
D. issue networks, being less formal, rely on outside lobbying only, while iron triangles use inside lobbying only
E. all these answers are correct

Answer 49

C. issue networks are generally less stable than iron triangles, such that the members of an issue network may change as the issue develops

Question 50

Outside lobbying does not include

A. developing and maintaining close contacts with policymakers
B. the use of campaign contributions to legislators who favor the interest group
C. cultivating favorable coverage from the news media
D. targeting group resources on key election races
E. rousing citizens to contact their elected officials and express their support

Answer 50

A. developing and maintaining close contacts with policymakers