AP Congress Quiz

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a member of Congress supporting pork-barrel legislation?

• A senator from a coal-producing state voting against a job-training program for coal miners

• A member of the House voting for urban renewal in exchange for increased funding for roads

• A senator from an agricultural state amending legislation to establish a potato research institute in his or her state

• A member of the House Armed Services Committee marking up a bill that will increase funding for military bases

The map shows the outline of a congressional district. Which of the following statements best explains the motivation behind the way in which it is drawn?

• It has been drawn by a political party to group together moderate voters.

• It has been drawn cooperatively by both political parties to ensure a fair election.

• It has been drawn to group together diverse voters to foster highly competitive elections.

• It has likely been drawn to pack together voters who are registered with the same party.

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the House of Representatives and the Senate?

• Only the Speaker of the House can initiate the legislative process by proposing bills

• Members can delay the policy-making process by invoking cloture

• Members are elected by the constituents in a local district based on population

• Members serve six-year terms

Which of the following methods is the formal method for ending a filibuster mentioned by McConnell in his speech? How many votes are needed for it to pass?

• abrogation; 50

• censure; 60

• cloture; 60

• discharge; 60

Which of the following is a difference between the House and the Senate?

• The House is based on equal representation by state and the Senate on population.

• Senators are elected via state legislatures and House members by the people

• House members serve for two-year terms and Senators for six-year terms.

• The majority of senators are the same party as the president and the House is not.

Which power of the Senate is used to approve federal judges and Cabinet Secretaries?

• Ratify treaties

• Checks and balances

• Advice and Consent

• Cloture

The vice president of the United States is the ceremonial leader of the Senate, but he or she has little real leadership responsibilities. Who is the true leader of the Senate?

• majority leader

• president pro tempore

• president of the Senate

• Speaker of the House

The House Rules Committee is an important part of the legislative process because it

• determines ethics rules for members' conduct

• determines whether a bill should be referred to a policy committee for consideration in the Senate.

• determines the terms and conditions of debate when a bill goes to the House floor

• has the authority to limit the Speaker and Minority leader in their use of patronage

To which of the following congressional committees would a proposal to reform the national income-tax system initially be sent?

• House Appropriations Committee

• House Ways and Means Committee

• House Budget Committee

If a presidential candidate does not receive the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency, how is the election decided?

• Vote in the Senate

• Majority vote in the House

• Supreme Court makes a ruling

• 2/3 vote by Congress