AP Legislative Branch Quiz

The Constitution states that all revenue bills must originate in

• a White House budget resolution.

• the Congressional Budget Office.

• the United States Senate.

• The United States House of Representatives.

• the Office of Management and Budget.

Created a one person, one-vote standard for reviewing congressional districts.

• Baker v. Carr (1962)

• The 17th Amendment

• The 16th Amendment

• Shaw v. Reno (1993)

• The 19th Amendment

What type of committee resolves different versions of a bill when it passes both the Senate and the House of Representatives?

• Select

• Reconciliation

• Rules

• Conference

• Standing

Which of the following is true according to the diagram?

• The Majority Leader holds a lot of influence.

• Both chambers make use of a system of majority and minority whips.

• Unlike the House of Representatives, the Senate does not recognize political parties.

• The Senate minority leader is as powerful as the Senate majority leader.

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

• Committee members are appointed by the President.

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

• the constitution mandates the type of committee structure in the House.

• the seniority system plays no role in the House and therefore committees must play a larger role.

Which of the following statements about motions for cloture is true?

• They are used by senators to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote.

• They are applied only to appropriation bills.

• They are applied to bills that failed in the previous session of Congress.

• They force a bill out of committee so that the full House can vote on it.

Which of the following statements about gerrymandering is true?

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

• It guarantees greater constituency control over elected representatives.

• 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.

The term “pork barrel” refers to legislation specifically designed to

• encourage a balanced federal budget

• distribute excess produce to the poor

• provide funding for local projects that are intended to benefit constituents

• ensure the careful inspection of farm goods and other foodstuffs

Of the following, which is the most powerful figure in Congress?

• The Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee

• The Chair of the Senate Finance Committee

• The Speaker of the House

• The Majority Whip of the House

The voting patterns of members of Congress correlate most strongly with

• their political party affiliation

• their educational level

• their economic background

• the population density of their districts