Interactions Among the Branches of Government

After a bill is introduced in the House of Representatives, what is the next step in the legislative process?

• The bill is introduced in the Senate because both houses of Congress must consider all proposed legislation

• The bill is referred to a committee

• The majority-party caucus votes whether or not to support the bill

• The bill dies unless a committee chair decides to “mark up” the bill.

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

• judicial nominations originate in a House committee

• there is unlimited debate in the Senate but not in the House

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

• Senate Budget Committee

All of the following are ways that the legislative branch can check the powers of the executive branch EXCEPT:

• Congress may remove the president through its impeachment and conviction powers

• Congress may override a presidential veto

• Congress may pass a law declaring a presidential action unconstitutional

• The Senate may refuse to approve a presidential appointment

Which of the following powers do Congress and the president share over agencies and departments in the federal bureaucracy?

• The power to influence budgets

• The power to issue executive orders

• The power to sign executive agreements

• The power to hold oversight hearings

When independent regulatory agencies make rules, enforce those rules, and adjudicate disputes arising under those rules, they risk violating the constitutional concept of:

• Equal protection of the laws

• Due process of law

• Federal supremacy

• Separation of powers

Nominations to the Supreme Court must be approved by a:

• Simple majority vote in the Senate only

• Simple majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate

• Two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives only

• Two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate

All of the following make it difficult for presidents to control the actions of federal agencies EXCEPT

• the civil service system

• issue networks (iron triangles)

• bureaucratic inertia

• the appointment of cabinet heads

Executive agreements have been cited as evidence that

• modern presidents often try to avoid legislative checks and balances on their authority

• the executive branch has become too large and bureaucratic

• presidents have less power in handling foreign policy than in handling domestic policy

• interest groups have too much power in the contemporary governmental system

Most of the work of legislating in Congress takes place in

• joint committees

• select committees

• conference committees

• standing committees/subcommittees