Congressional Committees

What is the purpose of having committees in Congress?

• To draft and review legislation

• To conduct elections

• To enforce laws

• To manage the budget

Each committee has a special interest like Homeland Security or Finance and deals with matters related to that interest.

• True

• False

What happens once a bill reaches a committee?

• The bill is immediately passed into law.

• The committee reviews and may amend the bill.

• The bill is sent back to the original sponsor.

• The bill is discarded without consideration.

Fill in the blank: Almost 90% of bills '____' in committee.

• die

• pass

• thrive

• succeed

Why might a senator or representative try to serve on a particular committee?

• To gain expertise in a specific policy area

• To increase their chances of re-election

• To influence legislation that affects their constituents

• All of the above

Bias in journalism refers to:

• The objective reporting of facts without any personal opinion

• The inclusion of personal opinions or prejudice in news reporting

• The use of complex language to confuse readers

• The focus on entertainment rather than news

One method journalists use to minimize bias in their reporting is:

• Using anonymous sources

• Fact-checking information

• Avoiding controversial topics

• Writing opinion pieces

On May 10, 2018, the Chicago Tribune printed a story about the food stamp work requirement. What were the two perspectives mentioned in the article?

• The requirement helps reduce dependency and encourages employment.

• The requirement is unfair and burdensome to those in need.

• The requirement has no significant impact on employment rates.

• The requirement is beneficial for both the economy and individuals.

Which political party in the House has not voiced support for the bill as it’s written?

One reason why the work requirement proposal has been slow to gain support is:

• It is too expensive to implement.

• It lacks political backing.

• It is unpopular among the public.

• It is considered too lenient.