Show Recommended textbook solutionsAmerican Government1st EditionGlen Krutz 412 solutions Criminal Justice in America9th EditionChristina Dejong, Christopher E. Smith, George F Cole 105 solutions American Corrections11th EditionMichael D. Reisig, Todd R. Clear 160 solutions Government in America: Elections and Updates Edition16th EditionGeorge C. Edwards III, Martin P. Wattenberg, Robert L. Lineberry 269 solutions 1. introduction- introduced in the Senate Sets found in the same folderWhat is the minimum age for serving in the House of Representatives? 21 25 Which of the following states has only one "at-large" member in the House of Representatives? Hawaii Alaska Which portion of the Constitution gives Congress the power to make laws? the Supremacy Clause the Necessary and Proper Clause Which of the following members of Congress would represent the greatest number of constituents? a representative from California a senator from California What are the term lengths for the members of each house of Congress? six years for representatives and two years for senators six years for senators and two years for representatives Which of the following powers is unique to the House? origination of revenue bills origination of revenue bills Which of the following can initiate impeachment proceedings? the House the House When did Congress pass a bill to limit its size? in 1929 in 1929 Which of the following provides the basis for proportional representation in our national legislature? unlimited congressional growth capacity the decennial census The deliberate manipulation of district lines for electoral advantage is known as what? redistricting gerrymandering How did the state of California attempt to overcome the problem of incumbent gerrymandering? it allowed all new district lines to be approved or rejected by voters in popular referendums. It appointed the state supreme court to oversee all redistricting. It established an independent redistricting commission composed of regular citizens. It mandated that the redistricting committee in the state legislature be composed of equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans. It established an independent redistricting commission composed of regular citizens. Which state gained the most seats in the House as a result of congressional reapportionment following the 2010 census? Florida Texas Which of the following is the first to see a bill after it is proposed? the Clerk of the House the Clerk of the House Once a bill has been introduced, where does the Speaker of the House send it? to the president to a committee At which point is a bill sent to the Senate for approval? after being dropped in the Hopper when it has been passed by the full House following debate and amendment Which of the following is unique to the Senate bill review process? potential for filibuster potential for filibuster What term is used to describe a situation in which the president does not sign a bill before Congress adjourns? pocket veto pocket veto Where do we find the roots of political parties? in 19th-century populist movements in the debate between the Federalists and the anti-Federalists Which of the following is true of parties and committees? They were invented by political operatives in the late 20th century. They impede Congress's ability to function productively and efficiently. They improve Congress's ability to function productively and efficiently. They are mentioned several times in Article I of the U.S. Constitution. They improve Congress's ability to function productively and efficiently. Who is the institutional leader of the House? the majority leader the Speaker What is a primary function of whips within Congress? to propose amendments to bills to enforce party discipline When does the vice president vote? in the absence of the Speaker in the event of a tie in the Senate unified government unified government - The situation occurring when the same party controls the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the White House. divided government The situation occurring when one party controls the White House and another party controls the House, the Senate, or both. How does the majority party exercise more power than the minority party in congressional proceedings? by determining which bills become laws by controlling the referral of legislation to committees standing committees - - A permanent committee of the House or the Senate that reviews and reports legislation to the full chamber. conference committees - A temporary committee composed of members from both the House and the Senate responsible for working out the differences between chamber versions of a bill. joint committees - A committee composed of members from both the House and the Senate with jurisdiction over specific issues of mutual interest. special committees - A temporary committee organized around a specific purpose. Also called a select committee or an ad hoc committee, a special committee is usually investigative in nature and lacks the authority to review legislation.
Which of the following is considered a standing committee? the Select Committee on Benghazi the Rules Committee When might a conference committee form? at the end of the legislative process at the end of the legislative process Which of the following describes the Committee on Homeland Security? a standing committee that later became a special committee a conference committee that later became a joint committee a joint committee that later became a conference committee a special committee that later became a standing committee a special committee that later became a standing committee Which of the following is MOST likely to influence whether a member is selected for a committee assignment? ethnic background demographic profile In which of the following ways do congressional committees exercise authority over the workings of the federal bureaucracy? by terminating government
programs by holding committee oversight hearings According to the text, why was Congress slow to act on President Obama's health care reform proposal? Republican Party leaders spoke out strongly in favor of the proposed reforms. Members faced conflicting pressures when evaluating the proposed reforms. Democratic Party leaders spoke out strongly against the proposed reforms. Members did not feel that the nation's health care system was in need of reform. Members faced conflicting pressures when evaluating the proposed reforms. Which of the following would be considered an institutional norm developed in Congress? regulation reciprocity Which of the following would generally be considered the PRIMARY personal goal of most members of Congress? assignment to the position of chair of their desired committee winning reelection Which of the following statements regarding interest groups and lobbyists is MOST accurate? Lobbyists consistently buy votes in both the House and the Senate. Interest groups have little to no influence over members of Congress. The number of lobbying firms in the Washington area has decreased over the past few years. Interest groups have little to no influence over members of Congress. The anti-Federalists worried about which of the following? the age of members of Congress a small Senate In which of the following categories is Congress most representative of the U.S. population at large? race religious affiliation Which of the following would be an accurate statement regarding women in Congress? Membership in the U.S. Congress reflects the real population of women in America. Membership in the U.S. Congress reflects the average membership of women in parliaments around the world. Female membership in the U.S. congress is far greater in proportion to that of legislatures in the Nordic countries. Membership in the U.S. Congress is less than 10 percent female. Membership in the U.S. Congress reflects the average membership of women in parliaments around the world. Approximately what percentage of Congress is female? 33 percent 19 percent What is the most common professional background among members of Congress? medicine law Membership in Congress can be generally described as which of the following? comprised of members that have rarely held political office mostly "old white guys" If we consider a member of Congress to be acting as a delegate, the member is doing which of the following? relying on his or her own judgment following the will of his or her constituency What is the term for the representational dynamic that each member of Congress develops to meet the specific expectations of his or her constituents? district rapport home style Which of the following members of Congress is most likely to get the committee assignment she most desires? members from larger congressional districts representing more people a member who has been extremely loyal to the party over the years How many votes are needed to effectively ensure a bill in the Senate will pass? 51 60 What is the minimum age for serving in the Senate? 35 30 Which of the following members of Congress would represent the greatest number of total constituents? a senator from Florida a senator from Florida In 1929, Congress passed a bill limiting the number of representatives in the House to how many members? 200 435 Approximately what percentage of Congress is female? 27 percent 20 percent Which of the following states has only one "at-large" member in the House of Representatives? Alaska Alaska Which of the following is generally considered the most important goal for members of Congress? achieving power and status within their party winning reelection Which of the following activities is most likely to be undertaken by a standing committee in Congress? an investigation into the attacks in Benghazi a bill to increase standards for public schools When does the vice president have a vote in Congress? in the event of a
tie in the Senate in the event of a tie in the Senate Which of the following BEST describes the power dynamic among the three branches of Texas government? All three branches of Texas government were designed to be strong, with the legislative branch the strongest of the three All three branches of Texas government were designed to be weak, with the legislative branch the least weak of the three. The judicial branch was designed to be stronger than the executive and legislative branches. The executive branch was designed to be stronger than the legislative and judicial branches. All three branches of Texas government were designed to be weak, with the legislative branch the least weak of the three. What are the two central functions of the Texas Legislature? Choose the BEST answer. to provide a check on the power of the governor and to provide a forum where citizens' voices can be represented through the lawmaking process to allow the representation of various interests and to provide a check on the power of the governor to provide a forum where parties with conflicting goals can reconcile their differences and to check executive power and authority to allow the representation of various interests and to provide a forum where parties with conflicting goals can reconcile their differences through the lawmaking process to allow the representation of various interests and to provide a forum where parties with conflicting goals can reconcile their differences through the lawmaking process What is a bicameral legislature? a legislature with
two chambers a legislature with two chambers What is the difference between house and senate representation in Texas? legislators in the senate represent smaller districts with fewer constituents and have shorter terms than house representatives. Legislators in the house represent smaller districts with fewer constituents and have shorter terms than senators. House districts are drawn according to geographical size, while Senate districts are drawn according to population density. House districts are drawn according to population density, while senate districts are drawn according to geographical size. Legislators in the house represent smaller districts with fewer constituents and have shorter terms than senators. How frequently, and for how long, does the Texas Legislature meet? for 100 days every year for 140 days every other year appropriations bill - A bill that authorizes the expenditure of money for a public purpose. In most instances, money cannot be withdrawn from the state treasury except through a specific appropriation. At the end of the last day of a legislative session, what happens to legislation that has not been approved by both houses? The legislation may be taken up by the governor. The legislation is dead. The governor may use the threat of a special session to what purpose? to encourage legislators to pass a higher volume of legislation during a regular session to incentivize the legislature to focus on policy areas of concern to the governor How many legislators does Texas have? 331 181 Why were single-member districts uniformly implemented for the 1972 elections? A lower court decided that the
previous system was old-fashioned and ineffective. The previous system was detrimental to the voting strength of minorities. How long are the terms of members of the Texas House of Representatives? two years two years How often does Texas go through the redistricting process? every ten years every ten years What is the purpose of staggering terms of office for senators? Choose the BEST answer.
It prevents the disruption that a political or economic upheaval might cause the chamber. It prevents the disruption that a political or economic upheaval might cause the chamber. According to the text, what is an effect of having "citizen legislators" who maintain careers outside of their jobs as public officials? -The system makes it easier for legislators to hire staff for their capitol offices, since they can use their business connections to find qualified candidates. -The system diminishes the need for lobbyists in the capitol, since legislators bring a diverse array of expertise in private business to their work as lawmakers. -The system creates potential conflicts of interest in which legislators may advocate for measures that benefit their own business interests. -The system allows legislators to enrich themselves by drawing huge government salaries in addition to their incomes from working in the private sector. -The system creates potential conflicts of interest in which legislators may advocate for measures that benefit their own business interests. Which of the following Texans would qualify for a position in the Texas Senate? a 21-year-old U.S. citizen who has lived in Texas for five years and his district for one year a 55-year-old U.S. citizen who has lived in Texas for six years and her district for five years Which of the following made it easier for minorities to participate in politics and drove many conservative, white Texans to join the Republican Party? a shift in the Texas population toward more females the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 In 2011, the Texas Legislature passed a measure that cut funding for family-planning programs by two-thirds. What demographic characteristics of the legislature might have played a role in this policy decision? the lack of female representation in both chambers the lack of female representation in both chambers The diversification of the state's economy, the growth of cities, and national political party transformation have all contributed to which of the following? the increasing diversity in the Texas legislature the increasing diversity in the Texas legislature What is one factor that causes incumbents to be reelected at such high rates? Interest groups compel voters to prefer incumbents because they always donate more money to challengers' campaigns. Voters tend to select candidates whose names they recognize on the ballot. The 2010 elections saw incumbents being defeated at higher rates than normal due to which of the following? the redrawing of congressional districts the rise of the Tea Party Which of the following is the principal power of the legislature? the power to investigate
the power to make laws What are the three types of bills that may be introduced? general, specific, and mezzo general, special, and local How does a concurrent resolution differ from a law? A concurrent resolution carries the force of
law but may not be subject to judicial review. A concurrent resolution is a formal statement of opinion but does not carry the force of law. Which branch impeaches, and which branch tries the case? The house of representatives may impeach, and the senate tries the case. The house of representatives may impeach, and the senate tries the case. What does it mean that legislators have certain "immunities"? They cannot be held legally accountable for any actions taken during the 140-day legislative session. Legislators may only be tried by the legislature, and they are immune from trial in a regular court of law. They cannot be sued for slander or otherwise held accountable for statements made during legislative proceedings. Legislators receive diplomatic immunity internationally as well as in other states. They cannot be sued for slander or otherwise held accountable for statements made during legislative proceedings. What is the primary purpose of redistricting? to gain more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives to balance the population and voting power among districts Who is responsible for redrawing congressional and legislative districts? the county commissioners the state legislature Which of the following statements BEST explains why the legislature takes redistricting seriously? Legislators want to become part of the LRB so that they can draw district lines to favor their party. Gerrymandering is illegal, and legislators want to root out those who are practicing it. The success or failure of a redistricting plan can have a great impact on legislators' reelection prospects. Legislators who attend the most redistricting meetings have a greater say in how the district lines are drawn. The success or failure of a redistricting plan can have a great impact on legislators' reelection prospects. Which of the following makes the lieutenant governor such a powerful figure in the legislature? The lieutenant governor can veto legislation that has been passed by both chambers. The lieutenant governor can assign bills to specific committees. The lieutenant governor can sign legislation that has been passed by both chambers. The lieutenant governor can initiate impeachment proceedings. The lieutenant governor can assign bills to specific committees. What is one reason that the position of lieutenant governor has lost some power in recent years? Institutional changes within the house of representatives have stripped the position of some formal powers. Governor Rick Perry's long tenure gave him unprecedented control over the executive branch. David Dewhurst relinquished some power in return for political popularity and favors within the Republican Party. The president of the senate's office has lost some staff and funding due to the economic downturn. Governor Rick Perry's long tenure gave him unprecedented control over the executive branch. How is the speaker of the house selected? The house votes to elect the speaker from a range of gubernatorial nominees. The house votes to elect the speaker from among its members. The governor appoints the speaker. The senate votes to elect a speaker for the house of representatives. The house votes to elect the speaker from among its members. Which of the following is a duty of the speaker of the house? He or she must approve all executive appointments made by the governor. He or she must preside over the Legislative Committee on Policy Priorities. He or she must maintain order during debate on the floor. He or she must override legislation that is vetoed by the governor. He or she must maintain order during debate on the floor. What does pro tempore mean? president-elect for the time being What is the difference between a senate standing committee and special committee? A standing committee is a committee that meets during the regular legislative session, while a special committee is a committee convened only during special sessions. A standing committee is a committee that deals only with substantive legislation, while a special committee deals largely with procedural legislation. A standing committee is a permanent committee, while a special committee is a subcommittee of a standing committee. A standing committee is a committee composed of members from each chamber, while a special committee is a temporary committee created by the lieutenant governor to address specific topics. A standing committee is a permanent committee, while a special committee is a subcommittee of a standing committee. Of the temporary committees in both houses, which one tends to play the largest role in affecting legislation? select committees conference committees A committee established to study specific issues is called what? an interim committee an ad hoc committee How are incumbents affected by committee membership, and why? Committee membership advantages incumbents because they can shape legislation in order to collect campaign contributions from interest groups. Incumbents reap financial rewards from committee membership because serving on committees is one of the ways that legislators can increase their salaries. Incumbents have to struggle to balance the demands of committee membership with the demands of reelection, which puts them at a disadvantage. Committee membership does not affect incumbents in any significant or measurable way, because serving on committees is typical for every legislator. Committee membership advantages incumbents because they can shape legislation in order to collect campaign contributions from interest groups. Which of the following allows for the representation of various interests and provides a forum where parties with conflicting goals can reconcile their differences through the lawmaking process? the Texas Legislature the Texas Legislature Who in the legislature has the power to assign bills to specific committees? committee chairs the lieutenant governor What effect has the 140-day legislative session typically had on the passage of legislation as the end of regular session approaches? Choose the BEST answer. The ample available time results in a lot of new legislation being introduced. There is a rush to pass bills, resulting in less careful consideration of legislation. Many important bills will not be considered and must be reintroduced during a special session. Because a bill must be deliberated for at least one hour, according to house rules, many bills die when the session ends. There is a rush to pass bills, resulting in less careful consideration of legislation. Which of the following is a power of the legislature? setting the court docket oversight of the executive branch Under what condition is legislation considered dead? It has not been approved by both houses on the last day of a legislative session. It has been vetoed by the governor after passing both houses of the legislature. The public has voted it down with a simple majority. The governor has called a special session. It has not been approved by both houses on the last day of a legislative session. What is an ad hoc committee? an informal subcommittee formed within a standing committee a joint committee established to resolve differences between bills dealing with the same issue passed by each house a committee formed to consider bills when the legislature is not in session a committee established to study specific issues a committee established to study specific issues Of the branches that make up the government of Texas, which is the strongest? the executive branch the legislative branch Which of the following changes has contributed to the increasing diversity within the Texas Legislature? growth of rural communities the diversification of the state's economy Which of the following is true regarding resolutions? A resolution may only be passed in the first ten days of the legislative session. A concurrent resolution is the mechanism used to propose amendments to the Texas Constitution. A simple resolution is a formal statement of opinion that does not require the signature of the governor. A joint resolution requires the signature of the governor, while a simple resolution does not. A simple resolution is a formal statement of opinion that does not require the signature of the governor. Which of the following types of committees does the house have? standing committees and special committees substantive committees and procedural committees How many members are in the
Texas Senate? 31 According to North, institutions _________. structure incentives all of these Joint committees are committees formed by: Members from the House and the Senate Members from the Congress and the Executive Members from the Republican and the Democratic Party New and old members of the Congress Members from the Congress and the Supreme Court Members from the House and the Senate The pivotal vote in the House is that of the _______ voter. mode median The ability for majority party leaders to keep bills off the agenda they dislike is called: Presidential power Negative power In the case of David Mayhew's "mysterious case of the vanishing marginals", marginal seats are what? Districts that are mostly all Democrat Districts where each party controls around 50% of the electorate; otherwise known as competitive districts Districts that have undergone a partisan alignment Districts that are mostly all Republican None of these Districts where each party controls around 50% of the electorate; otherwise known as competitive districts Which of the following is an example of descriptive representation? None of these A Latino representative in a majority Latino district All of these An African American A white representative in a majority African American district A Latino representative in a majority Latino district The Texas legislature is bicameral, meaning it consists of _______. A Senate only A House of Representatives only An Executive Branch and House of Representatives only An Execute Branch and Senate only A Senate and a House of Representatives A Senate and a House of Representatives What is the difference between a "delegate" and a "trustee"? There is no difference between a delegate and a trustee Trustees only care about winning elections Delegates usually vote as their constituents dictate Delegates use their own judgment when it comes to voting Trustees vote as their constituents dictate Delegates usually vote as their constituents dictate Following the 2000 census, the number of Representatives in the House of Representatives from Texas __________. Decreased by 2 seats because the population in Texas decreased Increased by 1 seat because the population in Texas increased Decreased by 1 seat because the population in Texas decreased Increased by 2 seats because the population in Texas increased Stayed the same because the population of Texas remained the same Increased by 2 seats because the population in Texas increased Who are the constituents of the House of Representatives quizlet?the people are called constituents - a person who is represented by an elected official. key congressional committees? - All 435 members of the House are up for reelection every two years!
Who is the most powerful member of the House of Representatives quizlet?The SPEAKER of the House is the most powerful member in the House of Representatives. ONLY a member of Congress can introduce a bill. A bill dies in committee when the majority of committee members do not support it. Floor leaders work to GUIDE bills through Congress.
Who is considered the most powerful member of the Senate quizlet?To help protect senators from public pressure, the Constitution originally gave state legislatures the power to choose senators. The vice president of the United States serves as the president of the Senate. The most powerful person in the Senate is the president pro tempore.
Which committee is considered the most powerful in all of Congress quizlet?The House Rules Committee is the most powerful in Congress because it has special responsibility of giving each bill a rule, or ticket, to the floor of the House and determines which, if any, amendments to a bill will be permitted and how long the bill can be debated.
|