CH. 11 AP

Which statement best summarizes the public’s view of Congress?

• Congress as a whole is doing what the public wants even though individual members of Congress are not.

• Individual members of Congress are doing what their constituents want, but Congress as a whole is not.

• The public generally likes Congress because of its penchant for gridlock.

• Public approval of Congress is increasing as the scope of government gradually expands.

Which of the following persons would be eligible to be a member of the U.S. House of Representatives?

• someone who is age 30 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen as a teenager

• someone who is age 23 and a natural-born U.S. citizen

• someone who is age 68 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen two years before

• a noncitizen who is age 35 and has permanent residency in the United States

Which group is most underrepresented in Congress?

• African Americans

• White people

• Latinos/Latinas

• women

What is one reason that there are not more women in Congress?

• Women with children are less ambitious about running for office.

• Women who run for the House of Representatives usually lose.

• Women voters are reluctant to vote for women candidates for fear of being stereotyped.

• Women must be perceived as less qualified (and therefore less threatening) than men in order to win the support of crucial independent voters.

Which of the following is an advantage congressional incumbents possess in seeking reelection over challengers?

• outsider status

• publicly funded reelection campaigns

• progressive taxes

• recognition in their districts

Which task is an example of casework?

• analyzing an incumbent’s policy positions before a debate

• analyzing water quality in a district

• helping a constituent resolve a problem involving the Veterans Administration

• giving a political speech at a party convention

How does the pork barrel aid the district of a member of Congress?

• by diverting unallocated funds to another government agency

• by bringing federal funds and projects to a district

• by increasing government revenue through private market investment

• by lowering taxes on corporations so they will provide health insurance for employees

Which statement expresses one advantage incumbents have in winning reelection?

• The House engages in reapportionment before each election in order to shore up districts for marginal incumbents.

• Incumbents have little need to do casework, while challengers may be overwhelmed by the need to do casework.

• The most effective potential challengers are often scared off by the thought of competing against a powerful incumbent.

• Majority and minority whips work tirelessly to ensure that voters support the incumbent.

How must states draw their congressional districts?

• without regard to party

• without regard to race or ethnicity

• with equal population across districts

• so as to create as much electoral competition as practical

When is a congressional incumbent most likely to be defeated?

• between major political tidal waves

• after a state legislature redraws congressional district boundaries

• when the challenger is involved in a scandal

• when the presidential candidate belongs to the same party as the congressional incumbent