Congressional Structure and Procedure

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

When a bill passes the House and the Senate in different versions, the bill is resolved by which of the following types of committee?

• Conference

• Select

• Reconciliation

• Rules

• Standing

The boundary lines of congressional districts are drawn by

• the United States House of Representatives

• the United States Senate

• United States district courts

• state governors

• state legislatures

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.

A committee chair in the House of Representatives is always

• the member with the longest service on the committee

• the member with the longest service in the House

• a representative of the Speaker

• a member of the majority party in the chamber

• a trusted ally of the President

The seniority system plays no role in the House and therefore committees must play a larger role because:

• 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

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

• The House has more members than the Senate.

• Senators serve longer terms than House members.

• The Senate has the power to approve treaties.

• All of the above.

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?

• The Constitution’s framers intended it to reflect the will of the people.

• Minority party members can threaten to filibuster a bill the majority party wants to pass.

• Most legislative work takes place in the standing committees.

• The majority and minority parties control legislative scheduling and rules equally.

• The Constitution’s framers designed it to represent the interests of the states.

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

• House of Representatives: Debate is unlimited. / Senate: Debate is unlimited.

• House of Representatives: Members can filibuster. / Senate: Members cannot filibuster.

• House of Representatives: Debate is limited. / Senate: Members can filibuster.

• House of Representatives: Members cannot filibuster. / Senate: Only the majority leader can filibuster.

Which of the following is generally true of the gerrymandering of congressional districts?

• It results in more Democrats being elected to the House.

• It results in more Republicans being elected to the House.

• It guarantees that all minority parties will be equally represented.

• It creates districts that favor one political party over another.

• It violates the principle of one-person, one-vote.