Congress in action

Congress in action

Multiple Choice

This table identifies congressional leaders at the opening of the 109th session. Based on this information, which statement about the 109th Congress is correct?

• Republicans had more influence than Democrats about which bills to consider
• Republican members had been in Congress longer than Democratic members
• Republicans could organize their members more easily than Democrats could
• Republicans had fewer members serving as committee chairs than Democrats did

Multiple Choice

The ____________ is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives.

• Majority Leader
• House Speaker 
• Main Whip 
• The Vice President

Multiple Choice

If the president of the Senate is absent, then the ___leads.

• president pro tempore
• Speaker of the House
• Representative
• no one; Congress doesn't meet.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following presides over the House of Representatives?

• Speaker of the House

• House Majority Leader

• House Majority Whip

• President Pro Tempore

Multiple Choice

The Constitution identifies which of the following as the head of the Senate?

• Vice President

• President Pro Tempore

• Senate Majority Leader

• Senate Majority Whip

Multiple Choice

When a bill regarding money and budgeting is proposed, who must originate the bill?

• President

• House of Representatives

• Senate

• Either house of Congress

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of a conference committee?

• propose bills for debate in either house

• a group of representatives and senators tasked with investigating alleged crimes and scandals

• a group of representatives and senators tasked with fixing differences in a bill so it can be sent to the president

• a group of representative and senators that share a common topic, such as veterans' affairs

Multiple Choice

The purpose of the party whips in Congress is to drum up support for bills and make sure that party members are in line.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The head of the Senate has which of the following powers in the Senate?

• Full power to propose bills, debate, vote, etc.

• Power to propose bills and debate, but cannot vote

• Power to propose bills, but cannot debate or vote

• Only votes in the case of a tie vote

Multiple Choice

Which of these is not an option for the President when presented with a bill?

• sign it into law

• veto it and reject it

• do nothing and the bill becomes law after 10 days

• do nothing and the bill does not become law if Congress adjourns within 10 days

• all of these are an option for the President

Multiple Choice

What unique power does the Senate have that essentially gives unlimited time to debate a bill?

• cloture

• censure

• filibuster

• pocket veto

Multiple Choice

If 60 senators vote to end a debate, they are invoking the power of

• cloture

• censure

• filibuster

• pocket veto

Multiple Choice

A closed meeting of party members to discuss party organization is called a

• caucus

• conference committee

• joint committee

• cloture

Multiple Choice

What is the role of the President Pro-Tempore of the United States Senate?

• Break ties

• Preside in the absence of the Vice President

• Chair every committee

• Whip the votes

Multiple Choice

Which of the following positions are the most powerful in Congress?

• Dean of the House

• Majority leader of the Senate

• President of the Senate

• Speaker of the House

Multiple Choice

Which committee is most likely to exercise the oversight function?

• Standing

• Sub

• Select

• Conference

Multiple Choice

Which is not an option the President has upon receiving a bill?

• Veto

• Do nothing

• Line-item veto

• Pocket veto

Multiple Choice

Which is the most common method of vote taking in the House?

• Teller

• Roll call

• Standing

• Voice

Multiple Choice

Which position is responsible for keeping party votes in line?

• Floor leader

• Dean

• Pro-Tempore

• Whip

Multiple Choice

Why is the Senate called the greatest deliberative body in the world?

• The Rules committee really limits debate

• Debate is almost completely unlimited

• The standing committees are the only ones who can debate the bill

• The two-speech rule

Multiple Choice

The practice of the most important positions in Congress going to the members with the longest record of service is called the...

• President Pro-Tempore

• Seniority Rule

• Dean of the House

• Filibuster

Multiple Choice

Which of the following committees is only in the House?

• Conference

• Standing

• Rules

• Joint

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a pocket veto?

• President rejecting a bill to Congress

• President signing a bill

• Congress overriding a bill that has been vetoed

• President's rejection by doing nothing after Congress has adjourned