Week 2 Recap

Which of the following actions by a congressional representative is an example of "pork barreling"?

• misusing campaign contributions

• directing federal funds into the representative's district through legislation

• accepting money from a political action committee

• voting for a salary increase

• A

• B

• C

• D

Which of the following scenarios explains how demographic factors affect voter participation in

elections?

• Wealthier individuals are more likely to become involved in campaigns because they believe that their actions may influence the candidates.

• Individuals who belong to marginalized groups are likely to participate in elections because their issues are often highlighted by political party leaders.

• Political action committees (PACs) raise money from their donors, which they use to run television advertisements during campaigns.

• Gerrymandered districts are likely to produce competitive districts, which leads to lower turnout rates in elections.

The committee system is more important in the House than in the Senate because

• the Constitution mandates the type of committee structure in the House

• committee members are appointed by the president

• the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor

• the majority party in the House prefers to give priority to the work of the committees

The largest portion of "uncontrollable spending" in the federal budget is designated for which of the following?

• Interest on the national debt

• Entitlement spending

• Defense spending

• Environmental programs

A member of Congress votes in favor of a bill as a result of receiving many letters of support for the bill from constituents. Which form of democratic representation best describes this

voting decision?

• trustee

• delegate

• elite

• pluralist

The role of a conference committee in Congress is to

• hold hearings on proposed legislation

• oversee the actions of the executive branch of the government

• conduct hearings that make information available to the public

• reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

Which of the following is a reserved power under the U.S. Constitution?

• regulation of interstate commerce

• making all laws that are "necessary and proper"

• establishment of federal courts below the Supreme Court

• establishment of public school systems

Which of the following committees plays a major role in the House in shaping tax policy?

• Finance

• Ways and Means

• Appropriations

• Commerce

Sometimes litigants that are not part of the formal proceeding of Supreme Court oral arguments wish to have their points of view presented. What may they file?

• a per curium decision

• a certificate

• a writ of certorari

• an amicus curiae brief