Legislative Branch Review (AP Government)

After a national census has been taken, changes in population distribution cause the changing of congressional seats among the states. This effect is commonly called

• Congressional redistricitng

• Apportionment

• Gerrymandering

• Repportionment

Which of the following is NOT true of the Congress?

• Each house determines its own leadership and rules

• Terms of Congress last for two years

• Congress is unicameral in nature

• Only the president may call special sessions of Congress

Which of the following is true about the officers of the House of Representatives?

• It is the responsibility of the party whip to keep track of vote counts and pressure members to vote with the party?

• The presiding officer is the majority leader

• Minority leaders direct floor debates

• The major duty of the majority leader is to assign bills to committee.

Temporary committees appointed for the specific purpose of investigating a particular issue are called

• Joint committees

• Select committees

• Standing committees

• Investigating committees

Which of the following is NOT true of members of Congress?

• Members of Congress act as policymakers and make public policy through the passage of legislation.

• Members of Congress are constituent servants

• Members of Congress work to support their political party platform.

• After listening to constituents, members vote based on the opinions of thos constituents; that is, they become the trustee of the constituent

Which of the following best describes a nonlegislative power of Congress?

• Power to declare war

• Power to tax

• Impeachment power

• Power to regulate commerce

Which of the following is NOT a step that a proposed bill would encounter on its journey through Congress?

• The bill is debated

• The bill is voted on, at which time it may pass or fail

• The bill may be assigned to a subcommittee

• The bill is introduced by a president or by a member of the executive branch.

After a presidential veto of a bill, Congress may

• Sign the bill, and it become a law

• Override the bill if one house of Congress approves it

• Override the president's veto with a 2/3rds vote of both houses of Congress

• Pocket veto the bill, thereby allowing it to become law without the president's signature.

Which legislative tactic is most effectively used only in the Senate?

• Filibustering

• Logrolling

• Caucasing

• Riders

Which of the following is NOT considered to be a contributing factor to the incumbency effect?

• Name recognition

• Voting record

• Educational background

• Experience in campaigning