Poly Sci Test 2

Front 1

Confrence committes

Back 1

Temporary comittes consistening of several members from both houses, most from standing commitees who handled the bill-set up to iron out differences in the bills house and senate versions.

Front 2

Filibuster

Back 2

A technique used by a minority of senators to delay action on a bill or to kill it by taking advantage of the custom and rule of unlimited debate in the senate.

Front 3

House rules committee

Back 3

A standing committee of the house of representatives that recieves a bill from its original standing committee before the measure can go its full membership for consideration.

Front 4

Incumbents

Back 4

Individuals whom hold public office and are likely to seek reelection. Despite mass disapproval by congress as an institution, Incumbents seeking reelection to the house or senate, typically win reelection at rates higher than 90%.

Front 5

political entrepreneurship

Back 5

The ability of politically ambisious people to sell themselves as political canidates to raise money for political contributors, to organize and motivate others to work on their campaigns, and to communicate effectively through the media.

Front 6

senatorial courtesy

Back 6

The custom whereby the president submits to senators of his own political party the names of nominees of major federal appointments,such as federal judges whom serve in the senators home state.If the senator declares the nominee unacceptable to him or her, the Senate will usually reject the nomination. This virtual veto power for individual senators means that the president typically will not formally submit a nomination to the Senate unless prior approval is given.

Front 7

seniority system

Back 7

The practice of appointing as committee chairperson the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on a committee. This practice guarantees conservatism in the legislative process by allowing a handful of senior members of Congress from noncompetitive districts to control major congressional decisions--to the possible detriment of majority preferences.

Front 8

Speaker of the House

Back 8

The leader of the House of Representatives, called for in the Constitution and elected by the majority party in the House. The speaker exercises more power over public policy than any other member of either house, wielding considerable authority in the House. Even in the face of recent turmoil, the position of speaker of the House remains among the highest in the national political elite. The speaker is second in succession to the presidency, behind the vice president.

Front 9

standing committees

Back 9

Permanent committees in both houses of Congress set up to deal with specific areas of legislation before proposed bills are brought before the full bodies for debate and a vote. By organizing Congress according to members' specialization and expertise, standing committees reduce the legislative workload to manageable proportions. This system, however, allows a minority of legislators, sometimes a single committee chairperson, to delay the lawmaking process and even kill proposed legislation.

Front 10

term limits

Back 10

A legislated limit on the number of terms an office holder can serve. Mass distrust of politicians has motivated a national movement to limit the terms of members of Congress and state legislators. The drive for congressional terms limits has encountered intense elite opposition, particularly from members of Congress itself. Although congressional term limits have been approved in several state referenda campaigns, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that such state action is unconstitutional.

Front 11

The number of women in Congress
a. increased as a result of congressional elections since 1992.
b. doubled between 1980 and 1990.
c. reflects the proportion of women in the population.
d. shows more in the Senate than in the House.

Back 11

B

Front 12

Which of the following statements is not descriptive of Congressional members?
a. They are among the most-educated groups in the U.S.
b. They are drawn more from the ranks of lawyers than any other profession.
c. They are proportionally representative of the large ethnic groups in the U.S.
d. They are underrepresentative of blacks and women.

Back 12

C

Front 13

A congressional member's relevant political constituency is
a. the general district population.
b. the members of the representative's political party.
c. those who traditionally vote for the representative.
d. the elite of the district.

Back 13

D

Front 14

The elite of a constituency tends to transmit messages to its representatives
a. that give detailed information on policy issues.
b. that are in agreement with the representative's known policy preferences.
c. that are much less clear than those transmitted by the masses.
d. through newspapers and other public media.

Back 14

B

Front 15

Since the 1970s, approximately what percentage of House members seeking reelection have succeeded in doing so?
a. 60 percent
b. 70 percent
c. 80 percent
d. 90 percent

Back 15

D

Front 16

Congress today
a. is widely mistrusted.
b. has gained back the respect of the public.
c. is generally misunderstood by the public.
d. is more popular than the president.

Back 16

A

Front 17

In the case of the "Keating Five"
a. all of the senators involved refused to help Charles Keating deal with bank regulators.
b. none of the senators ever received campaign contributions from Keating.
c. Keating contributed a total of $1. 5 million to their campaign chests and political causes.
d. three of the five senators were forced to resign their offices by the Senate Ethics Committee.

Back 17

C

Front 18

The impeachment and trial of Andrew Johnson in 1868 demonstrated that
a. Johnson was guilty of committing impeachable offenses.
b. impeachment is required by the Constitution in the case of impeachable offenses.
c. the Tenure of Office Act had been constitutional.
d. the movement to impeach Johnson was developed on political grounds.

Back 18

D

Front 19

Which of the following does not occur as a result of the elaborate procedures of Congress?
a. a fair and orderly legislative process
b. a strengthening of Congress' conservative role in policy making
c. advantage to those who oppose change
d. a legislation path that makes passage of major legislation relatively simple

Back 19

D

Front 20

Of the following, the most significant activity of Congress is
a. the assignment of members to committees.
b. floor debate on controversial issues.
c. investigating the ethic of members.
d. initiation of legislative programs.

Back 20

A

Front 21

The Senate filibuster
a. was banned by the 106th Congress.
b. is a means by which a minority can defend itself against majority preferences.
c. cannot be limited in any way.
d. can be vetoed by the president.

Back 21

B

Front 22

The most powerful committee in the House of Representatives is
a. the Ways and Means Committee.
b. the Foreign Relations Committee.
c. the Armed Services Committee.
d. the Rules Committee.

Back 22

D

Front 23

Among the governmental bodies created by the Constitution of 1787, the only one that was to be elected directly by the people was
a. the House of Representatives.
b. the Senate.
c. the Supreme Court.
d. the chief executive.

Back 23

A

Front 24

Debate in the U.S. Senate can only be limited by
a. a decision of the majority leader.
b. a simple majority vote of the entire body.
c. cloture.
d. a voluntary decision by an individual senator to yield the floor.

Back 24

C

Front 25

n the 2002 midterm congressional elections, the Republican party
a. lost seats in both houses of Congress.
b. gained seats in the House of Representatives but lost control of the Senate.
c. was hurt by President George W. Bush's vigorous campaigning on behalf of Republican candidates.
d. won back control of the Senate and strengthened its hold on the House of Representatives.

Back 25

D

Front 26

Among the governmental bodies created by the Constitution of 1787, only the House of Representatives was to be directly elected by the people.
True
False

Back 26

True

Front 27

Very little accounting takes place in congressional elections--incumbents rarely lose.
True
False

Back 27

True

Front 28

Elite opposition to term limits is very intense.
True
False

Back 28

True

Front 29

The Congress has been able to dominate the president through use of budgetary powers.
True
False

Back 29

False

Front 30

The seniority system is used primarily by congressional subcommittees in selecting chairpersons but no longer by full standing committees.
True
False

Back 30

False

Front 31

Next to the Speaker, the most influential party leaders in the House are the majority and minority floor leaders.
True
False

Back 31

True

Front 32

Conference committees have been dubbed the "third house" of Congress.
True
False

Back 32

True

Front 33

In 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the use of state referenda to impose term limits on members of Congress.
True
False

Back 33

False

Front 34

As a result of the 2002 midterm elections, the Republican party controlled the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives for the first time in nearly a half-century.
True
False

Back 34

True

Front 35

New rules were developed in 2002 which prevent members of both houses of Congress from changing party affiliation while in office.
True
False

Back 35

False

Front 36

appearance of objectivity

Back 36

The notion that judges who serve for life and are legally accountable to no one are not engaged in policy making and merely apply the law to specific cases. Many judicial thinkers dispute this belief.

Front 37

circuit courts of appeals

Back 37

The appellate courts of the federal system above the district courts and below the U.S. Supreme Court. They do not hold trials or accept new evidence but consider only the record of trial courts and oral or written arguments submitted by attorneys. Since most cases never reach the Supreme Court, the decision of the circuit court of appeals is usually final.

Front 38

federal district courts

Back 38

The trial courts of the federal system (i.e., courts of original jurisdiction). District courts hear criminal cases prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as civil cases. Each state has at least one district court, and larger states have more.

Front 39

fiction of nonpartisanship

Back 39

The belief that judges must not appear to base their decisions on partisan considerations or party platforms. The appearance of nonpartisanship allows the public to believe that courts dispense unbiased justice.

Front 40

judicial activism

Back 40

The argument of some legal scholars which asserts that the U.S. Constitution is a broad and flexible document and that the Supreme Court should shape its meaning to fit the needs of a changing society. The posture of judicial activism, combined with the lifetime appointment of justices, strengthens the elitist character of the Supreme Court.

Front 41

judicial review

Back 41

The power of the Supreme Court and other federal courts established in Marbury v. Madison (1803) to overturn acts of the president. Congress, and state governments that they believe are in conflict with the U.S. Constitution. This power illustrates the undemocratic character of judicial power in the United States.

Front 42

judicial self-restraint

Back 42

The argument of some legal scholars which asserts that Supreme Court justices should move cautiously and avoid direct confrontation with legislative and executive authority. The removal of unwise laws is better left to elected lawmakers and executives rather than to justices who are not popularly elected.

Front 43

original intent

Back 43

The doctrine that takes the values of the Founders as expressed in the text of the Constitution and applies them to contemporary society. Defenders of this principle argue that the Supreme Court should not set aside laws made by elected representatives unless they conflict with the original meaning of the words of the document.

Front 44

plea bargain

Back 44

Agreements in which prosecuting attorneys make special arrangements for criminal defendants to plead guilty in exchange for reduced charges. These agreements are necessitated by severe court congestion in the United States.

Front 45

special rules of access

Back 45

The rules under which federal courts function. These include limiting their jurisdiction only to cases and controversies and forcing them to assume a passive role and wait for cases to come to them before they can take action.

Front 46

stare decisis

Back 46

(Latin for let the decision stand) A fundamental principle in law which means that decisions made in similar earlier cases apply to contemporary cases and should be followed if at all possible. This reliance upon precedent gives stability to the law and limits the power of courts.

Front 47

U.S. Supreme Court

Back 47

The final interpreter of all matters involving the U.S. Constitution and federal laws and treaties. It has original jurisdiction in some cases, but appellate jurisdiction is the court's major function. Appeals may come from state supreme courts or lower federal courts. The Supreme Court determines for itself whether to accept an appeal or consider a case.

Front 48

The chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court who wrote the Marbury v. Madison decision was
a. Warren Burger.
b. Earl Warren.
c. John Marshall.
d. Roger B. Taney.

Back 48

C

Front 49

The Founders
a. distrusted popular majorities and the elected officials subject to their influence.
b. established a hierarchical system of federal courts.
c. established the jurisdiction of all of the federal courts.
d. set terms of office for the judges of the federal courts to make them more responsive to the people.

Back 49

A

Front 50

The confirmation hearing for Clarence Thomas was held before the
a. House Judiciary Committee.
b. joint Committee on the Judiciary.
c. Senate Judiciary Committee.
d. select Judiciary Committee.

Back 50

C

Front 51

The mechanistic theory of judicial objectivity suggests that
a. judges are not engaged in policy making.
b. judges' experiences have insulated them from partisanship.
c. the elites have less success influencing judges than they do other decision makers.
d. judges cannot avoid the policy making process.

Back 51

a. judges are not engaged in policy making.

Front 52

Federal courts do not
a. render advisory opinions.
b. initiate cases.
c. have elective judges.
d. all of the above

Back 52

D. all of the above

Front 53

The U.S. Supreme Court has
a. only appellate jurisdiction.
b. only original jurisdiction.
c. both appellate and original jurisdiction.
d. only jurisdiction given to it by Congress.

Back 53

c. both appellate and original jurisdiction.

Front 54

A political question is one that
a. the Supreme Court has difficulty deciding.
b. involves the political system.
c. the court refuses to decide.
d. involves the president's rule-making power.

Back 54

c. the court refuses to decide.

Front 55

Which of the following is not one of the Supreme Court's rules of restraint?
a. The Court will not anticipate a question of constitutional law.
b. The Court will not give advisory opinions.
c. A complainant must exhaust all remedies available in lower courts.
d. The Court will pass upon all constitutional questions that arise in a case.

Back 55

d. The Court will pass upon all constitutional questions that arise in a case.

Front 56

The doctrine of original intent
a. requires that the words of the Constitution be given their historical meaning
b. is supported by most jurists.
c. is not viewed as restraining courts from giving current interpretation to the Constitution.
d. has had a significant influence in restraining activist courts.

Back 56

a. requires that the words of the Constitution be given their historical meaning

Front 57

In the case of Roe v. Wade (1973), the Supreme Court
a. established the right to due process of law.
b. struck down racial quotas in hiring.
c. established a woman's right to an abortion.
d. refused to rule on the principle of original intent.

Back 57

c. established a woman's right to an abortion.

Front 58

The U.S. Supreme Court hears about how many cases each year?
a. 5,000
b. 50
c. 1,000
d. 200

Back 58

d. 200

Front 59

The number of federal judges that have ever been impeached and convicted by Congress is
a. 25.
b. 100
c. 5.
d. 20.

Back 59

c. 5.

Front 60

According to President Dwight Eisenhower, "the biggest damn mistake I ever made" was
a. running for president of the United States.
b. nominating Clarence Thomas for a seat on the Supreme Court.
c. selecting Republican governor Earl Warren to be the chief justice of the Supreme Court.
d. nominating Sandra Day O'Connor to be the first woman on the Supreme Court.

Back 60

c. selecting Republican governor Earl Warren to be the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Front 61

In 2002, the balance of power on the U.S. Supreme Court on key questions was held by
a. the liberal bloc.
b. the conservative bloc.
c. the moderate bloc.
d. none of the above--no bloc held the balance of power

Back 61

c. the moderate bloc.

Front 62

On the question of "partial birth" abortion
a. President Clinton supported a ban on this procedure.
b. Congress has failed to vote to ban this procedure.
c. no state has passed a law prohibiting this procedure.
d. the U.S. Supreme Court declared a Nebraska law prohibiting this procedure to be unconstitutional.

Back 62

d. the U.S. Supreme Court declared a Nebraska law prohibiting this procedure to be unconstitutional.

Front 63

The historic decision establishing judicial review was written by Chief Justice Warren.
True
False

Back 63

False

Front 64

More than 90 percent of the judges of the Supreme Court have been from socially prominent, politically influential, upper-class families.
True
False

Back 64

True

Front 65

Courts do not issue policy pronouncements, rules, or orders on their own initiative.
True
False

Back 65

False

Front 66

The jurisdiction of federal courts extends to all cases and controversies not assigned by the Constitution to state courts.
True
False

Back 66

False

Front 67

The Constitution deals with the federal judiciary in Article III.
True
False

Back 67

True

Front 68

In Roe v. Wade the Supreme Court held that the word "person" did not include the unborn child.
True
False

Back 68

True

Front 69

The doctrine of original intent has guided the Supreme Court in most of its decisions.
True
False

Back 69

False

Front 70

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld state laws prohibiting "partial birth" abortions.
True
False

Back 70

False

Front 71

Confirmation hearings for presidential nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court are held by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
True
False

Back 71

True

Front 72

Federal courts have increasingly responded to popular, congressional, and presidential pressures by "reforming" a number of their procedures in handling cases.
True
False

Back 72

False

Front 73

activist president

Back 73

The view of presidential power which asserts that presidents have the right and duty to do whatever the needs of the nation demand as long as such action is not forbidden by the Constitution or the laws. Activist presidents, particularly those who have led the nation through war or economic crisis, tend to be regarded by historians as the nation's greatest chief executives.

Front 74

character issue

Back 74

The traditional expectation of Americans that their presidents should be exemplary in their private lives, tested in recent years by a media eager to expose presidential scandal. Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky and his apparent lies about it were paradoxically met with high mass approval ratings of the president. This seemed to indicate that most Americans today believe that private moral conduct is irrelevant to the performance of public duties.

Front 75

dual presidency

Back 75

The concept of the dual nature of the modern presidency--global leadership combined with domestic policy making. Presidents are expected to carry out both areas of responsibility with equal effectiveness. This notion was illustrated by the presidency of George Bush, which was characterized by great success in the foreign policy arena but failure in the domestic policy arena. The response of the American people was limit Bush to one term in office.

Front 76

impeachment

Back 76

The process set forth in the Constitution by which the president can be removed from office for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. The House of Representatives first determines impeachable behavior and votes on the charges; then a trial takes place in the Senate to decide if the president should be removed. The attempt to remove Bill Clinton from office in 1998 clearly demonstrated that the judgment of the House and Senate in the impeachment process is strongly influenced by political, partisan, and personal considerations as well as public opinion.

Front 77

passive president

Back 77

The view of presidential power which maintains that presidents cannot exercise any power which is not specifically granted or clearly implied in the Constitution or the laws. Passive presidents tend to be ranked lower than activist presidents by historians.

Front 78

War Powers Act

Back 78

A measure passed by Congress in 1973 over President Nixon's veto designed to restrict presidential war making powers. Prompted by America's long involvement in Vietnam, this law stipulated that presidential commitments of U.S. military forces must be no longer than sixty days unless Congress specifically authorizes continued involvement. This highly controversial measure raises serious constitutional questions regarding congressional usurpation of presidential authority, and both Democratic and Republican presidents have largely ignored it when committing U.S. forces to major military actions on numerous occasions since its passage.

Front 79

White House staff

Back 79

The important group of aides and assistants who work closely with the president in the White House Office. Increasingly these staff members have come to exercise great power in the name of the president while the chief executive often has little direct oversight of their activities. In recent administrations these executive elites have often embarrassed the president, as demonstrated by the actions of Reagan administration staff members exposed in the Iran-Contra scandal.

Front 80

For the masses, the president is
a. a symbol of national unity.
b. an outlet to express their emotions toward government.
c. a vicarious means of taking political action.
d. all of the above

Back 80

D. All of the above

Front 81

The people
a. are particularly supportive of Congress over the president.
b. rarely agree with the decisions of the Supreme Court.
c. want to support the president.
d. are distrustful of all officeholders.

Back 81

C. want to trust the president

Front 82

Nothing inspires support of the president among the masses more than
a. a clear-cut position on major policy issues.
b. willingness to make tough decisions on domestic issues.
c. decisive military victory.
d. willingness to admit to character flaws.

Back 82

c. decisive military victory.

Front 83

The presidency stands outside elite interactions in the American political system.
True
False

Back 83

false

Front 84

The presidency stands outside elite interactions in the American political system.
True
False

Back 84

True

Front 85

In the end, established elites turned middle America against Richard Nixon and forced his resignation from office.
True
False

Back 85

True

Front 86

Dye and Zeigler argue that George W. Bush's rapid and resolute use of military action in Afghanistan following the "9/11" terrorist attack was the president's "finest hour."
True
False

Back 86

true

Front 87

Which of the following is not part of Greenstein's classification of the "psychological functions of the presidency?" The president
a. simplifies perception of government and politics.
b. is a symbol of social stability.
c. is a symbol of unity.
d. is the moral leader of the nation.

Back 87

d. is the moral leader of the nation.

Front 88

President Theodore Roosevelt believed that
a. the president does not have an "undefined residuum of power."
b. the office of the president was too powerful.
c. the president should defer to the power of Congress.
d. the president could act to meet the needs of the nation even if he could not find some specific authorization.

Back 88

d. the president could act to meet the needs of the nation even if he could not find some specific authorization.

Front 89

Which of the following presidents is consistently rated by scholars as the "greatest" American president?
a. Franklin Roosevelt
b. Abraham Lincoln
c. George Washington
d. Thomas Jefferson

Back 89

b. Abraham Lincoln

Front 90

In the face of sex scandals that surrounded Bill Clinton early in his second presidential term, his mass approval ratings
a. dropped to historic lows.
b. matched those of Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal.
c. continued the be over 60 percent--an impressive level for any president.
d. drop steadily to just under 50 percent as more details of his behavior were revealed in the media.

Back 90

b. matched those of Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal.

Front 91

The forced resignation of Richard Nixon occurred because
a. in part, he was too closely tied in with elites.
b. in part, he generally isolated himself from elites.
c. of his accommodating style of politics.
d. of his reliance on the "rules of the game."

Back 91

b. in part, he generally isolated himself from elites.

Front 92

The War Powers Act
a. has been upheld by the Supreme Court.
b. has significantly limited the president's war-making power.
c. has placed Congress largely in control of U.S. military policy.
d. raises serious constitutional questions.

Back 92

D. Raises serious constitutional questions

Front 93

President George H. W. Bush's domestic policies
a. were stronger than his foreign policies.
b. were praised because of a strong economy.
c. included his refusal to raise income taxes.
d. were a failure.

Back 93

d. were a failure.

Front 94

Bill Clinton's second presidential term was characterized by
a. his pursuing a strong liberal agenda.
b. further attempts to push a national health care system through Congress.
c. a "Small Deal" reflected in attempts to bring about small changes in American society.
d. major involvement by Hillary Rodham Clinton in the president's attempts to promote his domestic agenda.

Back 94

c. a "Small Deal" reflected in attempts to bring about small changes in American society.

Front 95

In matters involving the war powers of the president and Congress, the U.S. Supreme has
a. consistently sided with Congress.
b. usually supported the president.
c. refused to take jurisdiction in such matters.
d. often limited the ability of both the president and Congress to wage war.

Back 95

c. refused to take jurisdiction in such matters.

Front 96

President George W. Bush's response to the "9/11" terrorist attack
a. produced dramatic increases in his presidential approval rating.
b. prompted strong congressional opposition to his policies.
c. caused his support among the masses to drop.
d. did little to raise his approval ratings because of a serious economic recession.

Back 96

a. produced dramatic increases in his presidential approval rating.

Front 97

The recommendation to impeach President Bill Clinton was made by
a. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist.
b. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert.
c. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott.
d. Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr.

Back 97

d. Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr.

Front 98

George W. Bush's first elected public office was
a. mayor of Dallas, Texas.
b. member of the House of Representatives.
c. governor of Texas.
d. president of the United States.

Back 98

c. governor of Texas.

Front 99

Most Americans refuse to believe that most presidents have had extramarital affairs while they were president.
True
False

Back 99

True

Front 100

Richard Nixon's threatened impeachment and subsequent resignation were a result of specific misdeeds and improprieties in office.
True
False

Back 100

True

Front 101

In the end, established elites turned middle America against Richard Nixon and forced his resignation from office.
True
False

Back 101

true

Front 102

Early in his career in Arkansas state politics Bill Clinton identified himself as a "conservative."
True
False

Back 102

false

Front 103

During his first term as president, Bill Clinton's administration pursued no fixed goals other than securing reelection.
True
False

Back 103

true

Front 104

President George W. Bush's response to terrorism produced dramatic increases in his presidential approval ratings.
True
False

Back 104

True

Front 105

Dye and Zeigler assert that the word "impeached" will have less impact on mass perceptions of the legacy of Bill Clinton as time passes.
True
False

Back 105

False

Front 106

Dye and Zeigler argue that George W. Bush's rapid and resolute use of military action in Afghanistan following the "9/11" terrorist attack was the president's "finest hour."
True
False

Back 106

True