Congress Quiz #1

the role of a conference committee is to:

• hold hearings on proposed legislation
• oversee the actions fo the executive brnach
• conduct hearings
• reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

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

• a)      the seniority system plays no role in the House and therefore must play a larger role
• a)      the Constitution mandates the type of committee structure in the House
• a)      the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor
• a)  the majority party in the House prefers to give priority to the work of the committees

 Which of the following statements about rules of procedure in the House and Senate is correct?

• a)      The House operates more by formal rules, while the Senate operates more on informal understandings.  
• The rules are specified in Article I of the Constitution
• The rules in each chamber are determined by the majority whip
• a)  The rules can be changed by the President during a national emergency.

 Which of the following committees of the House of Representatives sets the conditions for debate and amendment of most legislation?

•     Ways and Means
• Agriculture
• Rules
• Governemnt operations

 Congressional district boundaries are usually redrawn every ten years by the

• State Legislatures
•     Bureau of the Census
• President
• Governer

 Which of the following is generally true of the gerrymandering of congressional districts?

•       It results in more Democrats being elected to the House.
• It results in more Republicans being elected to the House
• It guarantees that all minority parties will be equally represented
• It creates districts that favor one political party over another

A major difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate is that

•   filibusters are possible only in the House
•    revenue bills must originate in the Senate
•   there is unlimited debate in the Senate but not in the House
•   each state has equal representation in the House but not in the Senate

The United States Constitution says that Congress has the power to coin money. This is an example of

• an enumerated power

• an implied power

• an inherent power

• a reserved power

Answer explanation

Enumerated Powers are the powers granted to Congress by the Constitution including spending and raising money, printing money, declaring war, passing laws, and performing congressional oversight.

Congressional oversight refers to...

• Congress's power to control executive agencies using the budget, confirming leaders, as well as clarifying legislation to make rule enforcing more specific

• Controlling monetary policy though taxing and spending

• Confirming judicial branch appointees.

• A committee's power to approve or reject new bills

Which of the following statements about Congress is true?

• Members of Congress only occasionally are interested in and pay attention to constituents.

• The legislative process is frequently lengthy, decentralized, and characterized by compromise and bargaining.

• The growth in the size of Congress as an organization is the principal cause of growth in the federal budget deficit.

• Debate in both houses is structured by elaborate rules enacted by leaders of the majority party.