A senator represents a northern industrial state that produces automobiles. Which of these committee assignments should the member request from party leadership in order to increase chance of winning reelection?

• Banking, housing and urban affairs

• Commerce, science and transportation

• Environment and public works

• Small business and entrepreneurship

What is the major way the executive branch can act as a check on the legislative branch?

• declaring legislation unconstitutional

• refusing to ratify treaties

• proposing constitutional amendments

• vetoing bills

This person presides over the Senate.

• speaker of the house

• vice president

• whip

• president

In addition to the ability to override a veto, congress has this power over a president.

• mandate

• pardon

• impeachment

• veto

Government corporations differ from private corporations because

• government corporations receive their funding from congress rather than private investors

• private corporations charge for the services but government corporations do not

• private corporations attempt to make a profit while government corporations do not

• this is a trick question because there is no such thing as a government corporation

The president, in his capacity as head(or chief) of state is responsible for

• conducting the foreign policy of the nations

• determining which countries the United States will have diplomatic relations with

• engaging in activities that are largely symbolic or ceremonial in duties

• leading the legislative process by submitting legislation

The most important duty of the president may be to ensure that all

• citizens have homes

• military bases are in use

• congress members control spending

• laws are "faithfully executed"

This item is an example of presidential judicial power

• pardon non-federal criminals

• reduce a federal prisoners sentence

• pardon people convicted of state crimes

• appoint city judges

The seventeenth amendment changed how U.S. senate positions were filled by

• allowing the president to appoint senators

• allowing senators to serve a life term

• allowing U.S. citizens to directly elect senators

• allowing U.S. representatives to elect senators

Which leader is second in line of succession to the presidency?

• President pro-tempore of the senate

• Secretary of state

• Speaker of the house of representatives

• Vice-president