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120 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
1. Where does the power to declare war reside?
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The House and Senate collectively
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2. In the congressional setting, what does franking refer to?
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Members' right to send mail free of charge
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3. What is the House Judiciary Committee?
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a standing committee |
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4. Which of the following is another name for informal deal making between members?
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Logrolling
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5. Which of the following characterizes trustee behavior?
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Following the view he or she thinks is correct
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6. Any two-house legislature is also referred to as
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bicameral.
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7. Under the Constitution, senators serve a __________ year term.
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6 |
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8. State legislatures lost their control over the selection of senators through the __________ Amendment in 1913, which provides for the direct election of senators.
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17th |
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9. Under the Constitution, members of the House of Representatives are directly elected for a __________ year term.
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2 |
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10. The formal and enumerated powers of Congress are found in
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Article I, section 8.
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11. The most important power that Congress has is the power to
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make laws |
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12. Lawmaking powers are exercised by
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A. the president.
B. bureaucrats. C. Congress. D. all of the above. |
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13. The Congress has managed to increase the scope of its enumerated powers through the interpretation of the
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necessary and proper clause.
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14. The House of Representatives has the sole power to
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. initiate revenue bills.
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15. Throughout history, the House of Representatives has impeached how many presidents?
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2 |
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16. The Senate has the sole power to
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advise and consent on major presidential appointments
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17. In general, the House is/has __________ than the Senate.
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more centralized and formal |
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18. The House of Representatives and the Senate combined have __________ members.
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535 |
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19. The average representative makes __________ of trips home per year.
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35 |
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20. The process of solving constituent's problems dealing with the bureaucracy is called
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casework |
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21. The President performs his function as "symbol of the nation" when he:
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a. delivers his State of the Union Address.b. toasts foreign dignitaries.c. dedicates a National arts Center.d. all of the above.
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22. One of the three most important standing Committees in the House is the
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Ways and Means Committee
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23. Congressional STANDING COMMITTEES are formed to:
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hold hearings on bills and draft them.
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24. Congressional CONFERENCE COMMITTEES are formed to:
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reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
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25. The presiding officer of the Senate is: (According to the Constitution)
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. the vice president of the United States.
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26. The term FILIBUSTER refers to:
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c. prolonged debate in the Senate to prevent passage of a bill.
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27. Age requirements for Senators and Representatives are
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30 and 25 |
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28. The reelection rate of incumbents in the House is around
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90% |
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29. With gerrymandering, legislative districts are formed to benefit the majority parties in
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State legislatures.
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30. The functions of Congress include:
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a. representation and consensus-building.
b. lawmaking and policy clarification. c. overseeing and legitimizing. d. all of the above |
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31. Baker v. Carr was the first of several court rulings leading to the conclusion that
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Federal courts have jurisdiction over malapportioned legislative districts
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32. Congressional oversight means:
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Congress supervises bureaucratic agencies.
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33. The age requirement for election to the House and Senate are
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greater for the Senate
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34. Leaders of the House include all but
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President pro temp
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35. Congressional district lines in each state are drawn by
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state legislature |
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36. It is not one of the major functions of Congress to
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delegate authority to the states to draw district lines for the House seats
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37. A bill can be forced out of a House committee by
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discharge petition |
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38. The Senate Committee responsible for legislation raising revenue is the
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Finance Committee
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39. In the House floor debate is
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limited by the Rules Committee
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40. Taxation and other bills to raise money must be
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b. introduced in the House
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41. Has a six year term of office
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senate only |
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42. Has four year term of office
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neither house |
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43. Has possibility of filibusters
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senate only |
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44. The majority leader of the House
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acts as the chief supporter of the Speaker.
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45. One-third of the Senate is elected every
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2 years |
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46. Until 1913, U.S. senators were selected by
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state legistlatures |
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47. How many of the House seats are up for re-election every two years?
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all seats |
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48. The top leadership in the U.S. Congress is selected by
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a. party vote in the legislature.
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49. Which is true about membership in Congress?
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Lawyers outnumber other occupations.
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50. The concept of logrolling refers to
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a congressman offering to support a bill now in return for support for another bill in the future
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51. Individual members of Congress are expected by their constituents to
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act as brokers between the needs of private citizens and the needs of the federal government.
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52. Among Congress's explicit powers is the power to
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Raise an army and navy.
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53. Which of the following has prime constitutional responsibility for foreign policy
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President
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54. The most important officer in the House is the
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speaker |
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55. What is the tendency for sitting members of Congress to win reelection called?
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incumbency effect |
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56. The redrawing of congressional districts is called
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redistricting |
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57. The traditional weapon of obstruction and delay in the Senate is
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filibuster |
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58. Which of the following was an important attempt by Congress to assert its authority in the field of foreign affairs?
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the war powers resolution of 1973 |
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59. When the vice president is absent and the Senate is in session, which Senate officer presides?
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the president pro tempore
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60. The Senate committee that investigated the Watergate affair in 1973 is an example of
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a select committee
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61. Public confidence in Congress is quite low; about 50% of the public believe Congress is doing a good job. What percent of people believe that their representative is doing a good job?
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65% |
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62. The rate at which incumbents are reelected to the House of Representatives is __________%.
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97 |
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63. The first truly national legislature in the colonies was the
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the first continental congress |
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64. The Articles of Confederation were ratified by the states in
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1781 |
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65. Under the Articles of Confederation, the legislative branch was unsuccessful because it had
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no independent source of income |
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66. Which of the following characterizes delegate behavior?
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following the view of the district |
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67. In the House of Representatives, the states with the most power are those
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that have the largest population.
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68. In Congress, a major reason for the use of committees is that they
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allow members of Congress to specialize in certain policy areas.
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69. Congressional oversight refers to
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Checking on the administration of congressional policy.
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70. According to the Constitution, which of the following can initiate bills dealing with taxes?
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any member of the house |
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71. Powers of Congress that are explicitly stated in the Constitution are called
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Enumerated powers
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72. Congress's implied powers are based on the
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Necessary and proper clause.
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73. Presided over by the Speaker
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House only
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74. Bills are referred to standing committees
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both Houses
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75. Membership is affected by gerrymandering
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House only
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76. The real leadership power in the Senate rests in the hands of
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the majority leader of the Senate.
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77. The apportionment of committee seats in each house is determined by:
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the relative strength of the parties in each house.
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78. The committee that works out a compromise bill from different versions of a bill passed by the house and the Senate is:
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a conference committee.
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79. Since 1975, the Senate can shut off filibustering by a vote of:
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three-fifths of the full Senate.
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80. Getting money added to the budget for a new post office back home is an example of
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A pork barrel project.
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82. One of the advantages of being an incumbent is
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the franking privilege.
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83. In general, Congress is __________ than the rest of the United States.
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A. better educated
B. older and whiter C. more male and richer D. all of the above |
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84. The Senate has often been referred to as the
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Millionaire's Club.
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85. The 106th Congress has a record number of minorities including __________ African Americans, __________ Hispanics, __________ Asians, and __________ Native Americans.
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36, 19, 6, 2
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86. The 107th Congress has __________ women in it.
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72 |
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87. The idea that elected representatives should listen to their constituents' opinions and then use their best judgment to make decisions is called behaving as a
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politico
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88. A new Congress is seated every __________ years.
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2 |
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89. The leader of the House of Representatives is called the
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speaker |
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90. The only officer of House of Representatives specifically mentioned in the Constitution is the
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speaker of the house |
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91. The current Speaker of the House is
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none of the above |
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92. The most powerful Speaker of the House in since Joe Cannon was
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Newt Gingrich.
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93. The congressional leaders who do vote counts and line up members on partisan issues are called
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whips
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94. The presiding officer of the Senate who can vote only in the case of a tie is
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the vice president |
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95. The Senate is usually presided over by
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junior members.
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96. The true leader of the Senate is the
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Majority Leader.
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97. Committees to which proposed bills are referred are called __________ committees.
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standing
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98. A committee that is established on a temporary basis is called a(n) __________ committee.
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ad hoc
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99. Committees are controlled by the
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majority party.
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100. The "traffic cop" of the House is also known as the
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Rules Committee.
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101. In the House, a bill receives a __________ that determines the date a bill will be discussed, the time allotted for discussion, and what types of amendments can be offered.
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rule |
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102. The chair of a committee can prevent action on a bill, but the full House can force a bill to be reported to the floor through the use of a
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discharge petition.
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103. In the 107th Congress, the Senate has __________ committees and __________ subcommittees.
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16,68
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104. The average Senator serves on __________ committees.
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3 to 4
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105. The average House member serves on __________ standing committees.
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1 |
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106. Members of Congress often seek committee assignments based upon |
A. their own interests or expertise.B. party preference.C. opportunities for pork barrel legislation.D. all of the above.
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107. During the average congressional session, __________ bills are introduced.
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9000 |
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108. Of those bills introduced in Congress, __________ percent are enacted.
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5-10 |
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109. The first action on a bill takes place on/in
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committee
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110. The House can deliberate with only 100 members present or can expedite a bill by using a/the
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Committee of the Whole.
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111. A tactic by which a senator asks to be informed before a bill is brought to the floor that effectively stops it from floor consideration is called a
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hold
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112. Unlimited debate is allowed in the Senate and is called
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filibuster
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113. On issues of little interest to a legislator, they often trade votes, which is called
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logrolling
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114. When making decisions about complicated bills, legislators often look to a variety of sources for cues on how to vote, including
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A. constituents.B. their own personal beliefs.C. colleagues and party members.D. all of the above.
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115. Political Action Committees are a major source of congressional campaign funding. There are about __________ PACs organized by interest groups today.
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4,000 |
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116. Congressional review of the activities of an agency, department, or office is called
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oversight
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117. Congress's most visible and dramatic action is the
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televised hearing.
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118. Congress can also exercise its oversight function by allowing citizens to appeal adverse bureaucratic decisions, in a process adopted by the 104th Congress called
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congressional review.
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119. In Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha (1983), the Supreme Court ruled that the __________ veto was unconstitutional.
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legislative
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120. A process by which presidents generally defer selection of district court judges to the choice of senators of their own party who represent the state in which the vacancy occurs, is called
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senatorial courtesy.
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121. The impeachment process
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A. is rarely used.B. has few hard and fast rules.C. is discussed only vaguely in the Constitution.D. all of the above.
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