Terms and Elections of U.S. Representatives and Senators

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• Because members of the House have two-year terms, they are unlikely to support any legislation before a midterm election

• Because members of the House have two-year terms, they are unlikely to support a piece of legislation that may upset their constituents

• Because members of the House have six-year terms, they are unlikely to support a piece of legislation that helps a “lame-duck” president

• Because members of the House have six-year terms, they are unlikely to support a piece of legislation that may upset the median voter

Which of the following statements best explains the impact the necessary and proper clause has had on congressional power?

• It has weakened the power of Congress by restricting it to only those powers listed in the Constitution

• It has broadened the power of Congress by allowing it to limit the executive branch’s ability to commit the United States to an armed conflict

• It has weakened the power of Congress by allowing the Supreme Court to declare any law unconstitutional

• It has broadened the power of Congress to enact legislation addressing a wide range of economic, environmental, and social issues

What role do coalitions play in the policy making process?

• Politicians create coalitions to enact policy that has broad support from the public

• Politicians create coalitions to enact policy only when they are not in the minority party

• Politicians create coalitions to enact policy that the president supports

• Politicians create coalitions to enact policy that appeals to their base

Which of the following is an enumerated power Congress has in making foreign policy?

• Committing troops to military endeavors

• Negotiating treaties with other countries

• Appointing foreign policy officials

• Confirming ambassadors to foreign countries

Ohio has 16 representatives in the House of Representatives, but only two representatives in the Senate. Which of the following statements best explains the reason for this difference in representation?

• The House represents northern states, while the Senate represents southern states

• The House gives more representation to the political party that won the most recent election, while the Senate represents the states equally

• The House represents states according to the size of their population, while the Senate represents the states equally

• The House represents the total number of state legislators, while the Senate represents states equally

In 1972, Congress passed the Clean Water Act, which regulates the amount of pollutants there can be in waters of the United States and the quality standards for surface waters. Which of the following constitutional provisions granted Congress the power to pass environmental protection laws like the Clean Water Act?

• Supremacy clause in Article VI

• Enumerated powers in Article I

• Judicial review in Article III

• Necessary and proper clause in Article I

“Size explains much about why the two chambers differ. Because it is larger, the 435-member House . . . is a more structured body than the 100-member Senate. Indeed, the restraints imposed on representatives by rules and precedents are more severe than those affecting senators . . . The Senate is more involved than the House in cultivating national constituencies, forming questions for national debate, and gaining general public support for policy proposals.” -Walter J. Oleszek, Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process

Which of the following statements is most consistent with the author’s argument in the passage?

• Different chamber sizes and constituencies influence the formality of debate in each chamber

• Debate in the Senate is more formal than in the House because the Senate is bigger

• Formality of debate in the House and the Senate is virtually the same

• Debate in the House is more formal than the Senate because legislative districts in the House are bigger

pick

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• b

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• d

pick

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• b

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• d