AP Government Unit 2 Review

Even with large majorities in their own party in Congress, presidents experience difficulty in exercising legislative leadership because

• the president must compete against state governors for influence
• the weak nature of political parties hampers the president's ability to control Congress
• the president's use of the veto is ineffective with Congress
• the president seldom addresses the same issues as members of Congress

Which of the following statements about gerrymandering is true?

• It has been banned by United States Supreme Court decisions starting with Baker v. Carr

• It was used traditionally to maintain urban control of the House of Representatives.

• It can be used by a political party to draw boundary lines to control as many districts as possible.

• It guarantees greater constituency control over elected representatives.

Which of the following statements about the Senate is true?

• Each state is represented in the Senate according to its population.

• The Senate, unlike the House, has a Rules Committee.

• The Senate is more responsible than the House for initiating appropriations legislation.

• Individual senators can exercise substantial influence over the legislative process.

Which of the following are cabinet departments of the bureaucracy?
I. Veterans Affairs
II. Agriculture
III. White House Counsel
IV. Transportation 

• I and IV only 
• I, II, and III
• I, II, and IV
• III and IV only

Which of the following is an example of congressional oversight?

• Assisting constituents with particular problems

• Holding hearings for review of an executive agency's activities

• Reporting campaign contributions to the Federal Election Commission

• Conducting ethics investigations of congressional leadership

The role Congress plays in ensuring that executive branch agencies are carrying out their legislated responsibilities is known as

• judicial review

• legislative oversight

• executive privilege

• bicameralism

Advocates of shifting the task of drawing United States House districts from state legislatures to independent commissions are likely to claim which of the following as an advantage of independent commissions?

• Independent commissions are more likely to create majority-minority districts districts where they are appropriate.

• Independent commissions are more likely to create districts where minor parties are victorious.

• House districts drawn by independent commissions are immune from challenges by the United States Department of Justice.

• Independent commissions significantly reduce the influence of partisan gerrymandering in the redistricting process.

The --- confirms or denies presidential appointments to the Federal bureaucracy. 

• Supreme Court
• Congress
• House of Representatives 
• Senate

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

In Federalist ___, it was argued that the best way to control the government was through separation of power between branches and the ability of each branch to check the power of each.

• 51

• 10

• 70

• 78