Unit #2 IATB - Congressional Structure and Functions

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

Which of the following is true of the seniority system of Congress in relation to committee leadership and committee staffing?

• Members of Congress with the longest continuous service are assured the chairmanship of major congressional committees.

• Members of Congress must be elected from safe seats to accrue committee seniority.

• Members of congressional committees are the most senior members of the body's majority party.

• The oldest members of Congress have the most seniority.

• The chairs of congressional committees tend to be senior members of the body's majority party.

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

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

• 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.

Refer to the Diagram Congressional Leadership for the following question.

Which of the following is true according to the diagram?

• The Senate minority leader is as powerful as the Senate Majority Whip.

• The Speaker of the House, in coordination with the House majority leader, appoints the House minority leader.

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

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

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the rules for debate used by the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate?

• In the House, debate is limited while in the Senate, debate is unlimited.

• In the House members can filibuster, while in the Senate members cannot filibuster

• In the House, debate is limited, while in the Senate, members can filibuster.

• In the House, members cannot filibuster, while in the Senate, only the majority leader can filibuster.

Which of the following accurately describes the composition of congressional committees?

• Committees are organized by the executive branch to ensure that both branches can communicate and negotiate policy goals.

• The United States Constitution requires that Congress organize itself into committees, whith each party having equal access to committee seats.

• Committees are organized by the majority party to maintain control of the policy-making process.

• Committees are organized by state delegations so that each state has some role in deviding which bills get passed.

Which of the following is an example of a power exclusively granted to the Senate in Article II of the Constitution?

• declaring war

• overriding a presidential veto with a 2/3 majority vote

• confirming ambassadors

• creating spending bills

All of the following are Congressional legislative powers EXCEPT:

• pardoning felons

• passing federal laws

• determining copyrights and patents

• appropriating federal funds

• establishing post offices

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

• The motion forces a bill out of committee so that the full House can vote on it

• The motion is applied to bills that failed in the previous session of Congress.

• The motion is applied only to appropriation bills.

• The motion is used by senators to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote.

• The motion will occur whenever a bill is reported out of committee.

The actual details of a bill are usually worked out in which of the following?

• a party caucus

• a standing committee's subcommittee

• the majority leader's office

• the floor of the House

• legislative hearings