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Chapter 12- Congress

Total questions: 76

Worksheet time: 42mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Congress is__________; that is, it is divided into two separate chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate.
a)
bicameral
b)
bifurcated
c)
bisected
2.
The Framers specifically listed the powers of the legislature in the Constitution because they were afraid that the legislative branch would ________.
a)
stop being responsive to the people
b)
become too powerful
c)
become beholden to special interests
d)
follow only what the president wanted them to do.
3.
To be a member of the House of Representatives, an individual must _____.
a)
be at least 25 years old
b)
have been a U.S. citizen for seven years prior to running for office
c)
live in the district they represent
d)
all of these
4.
To be a senator, an individual must
a)
be appointed by the governor of the state that he or she represents.
b)
be at least 35 years old.
c)
be a U.S. citizen for at least nine years
d)
all of these
5.
The group of people a Congressperson represents is known as a
a)
constituency
b)
gerrymander
c)
bill
d)
caucus
6.
The House started with 65 members and eventually grew to __________ members by 1929, at which point the number was capped.
a)
100
b)
130
c)
435
d)
535
7.
When Congress exercises its power to allocate a set amount of federal dollars for a specific program or agency, it is using its ability to
a)
authorize.
b)
appropriate.
c)
bicameral
d)
redistrict
8.
What two clauses in Article 1, Section 8 provide congress with a great deal of flexibility and power to create laws that are not specifically outlined in the Constitution?
a)
The Revenue Clause
b)
The Necessary and Proper Clause
c)
The Legislative Work Clause
d)
The General Welfare Clause
9.
The war powers are shared between Congress and
a)
the judiciary.
b)
the people.
c)
the president.
10.
Who brings the formal charges in an impeachment?
a)
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
b)
House of Representatives
c)
president
d)
vice president
11.
The _________ is the only formal leadership position in the House of Representatives that is written into the Constitution.
a)
Speaker of the House
b)
House parliamentarian
c)
majority whip
12.
The leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives is known as the ________.
a)
Senate majority leader
b)
House minority leader
c)
Speaker of the House
13.
In the Senate, the majority party elects the _________, but unlike the Speaker of the House, this position is not written into the Constitution.
a)
Senate majority whip
b)
The Vice president
c)
Senate majority leader
14.
An extended debate in the Senate whose purpose is to delay or even prevent a bill’s passage is referred to as a(n)
a)
cloture.
b)
filibuster.
c)
hold.
15.
If Congress will be going out of session within ten days, the president can wait for Congress to go out of session and simply not sign a bill, a practice known as a(n)
a)
hold.
b)
override.
c)
pocket veto.
16.
With a two-thirds majority vote in each chamber, the Congress can _______ a presidential veto.
a)
bypass
b)
override
c)
accept
17.
Because House and Senate members aim to be responsive to their constituents, they
a)
provide their private e-mail addresses to the public.
b)
put campaign ads on TV
c)
establish offices in their home state so voters can get help with federal issues.
d)
Set up meetings with the president.
18.
To be a U.S. senator, an individual must be at least ________ years old, and have been a U.S. citizen for ________ years before taking office.
a)

25; seven

b)

25; nine

c)

30; nine

19.
What is the term of office for U.S. senators?
a)
2 years
b)
4 years
c)
6 years
20.
What is the term of office for members of the House of Representatives?
a)
2 years
b)
4 years
c)
6 years
21.
Because the Framers knew that the country would grow, they required a __________ of the population every ten years, after which the number of congressional districts in each state would be adjusted to reflect population changes.
a)
caucus
b)
census
c)
registration
22.
The House of Representatives is subject to _________, which is the redrawing of the boundaries of congressional districts in a state to make them approximately equal in population size.
a)
redistricting
b)
realignment
c)
oversight
23.
Article 1, Section 3, of the Constitution states that the _________ shall be the president of the Senate.
a)
vice president
b)
president
c)
Senate majority leader
24.
A political party needs ________ to gain majority control of the Senate.
a)
51 senators
b)
66 senators
c)
50 senators
25.
Constituents can best express their approval or disapproval for a candidate through
a)
voting
b)
emails and tweets.
c)
public opinion polling.
26.
Select the three purposes of Congress
a)
make laws
b)
preform constituent services
c)
government oversight
d)
carry out war
e)
judicial review
27.
The census, held every 10 years, determines how its members are divided among the states
a)
Senate (alone)
b)
House of Representatives (alone)
c)
Congress (both chambers)
28.
Representation is based on a state's population
a)
Senate (alone)
b)
House of Representatives (alone)
c)
Congress (both chambers)
29.
Representation is equal for all states
a)
Senate (alone)
b)
House of Representatives (alone)
c)
Congress (both chambers)
30.
Serves as the jury during impeachment process
a)
Senate (alone)
b)
House of Representatives (alone)
c)
Congress (both chambers)
31.

In addition to making laws, the legislative branch also has duties including

a)

proposing the federal budget, recognizing foreign nations, issuing executive orders

b)

issuing writs of certiorari, establishing judicial procedures, sentencing offenders, accepting amicus curiae briefs.

c)

conducting oversight investigations, instituting impeachment proceedings, approving treaties, passing resolutions

32.
the people who live in a congressional district or state
a)
constituents
b)
apportionment
c)
appropriation
d)
impeachment
33.
money that Congress has allocated to be spent
a)
appropriation
b)
impeachment
c)
oversight
d)
necessary and proper clause
34.
Charges against a president or judge approved by a majority of the House of Representatives
a)
impeachment
b)
oversight
c)
necessary and proper clause
d)
indirect tax
35.
the effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies
a)
oversight
b)
necessary and proper clause
c)
indirect tax
d)
direct tax
36.
constitutional authorization for Congress to make any law required to carry out its powers
a)
necessary and proper clause
b)
indirect tax
c)
direct tax
d)
deficit
37.
the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent
a)
gerrymandering
b)
constituents
c)
apportionment
d)
appropriation
38.

What is the main purpose of a WHIP in both the SENATE and the HOUSE?

a)

Assist higher level members in all issues

b)

Draft legislation for debate in committees and on the floor

c)

Represent their party and ensure party members vote for the parties interest OVER their own personal ideologies

d)

Ensure representatives are following their own interests and the interests of their constituents OVER the needs of the party.

39.
Which article sets up the legislative branch?
a)
Article 2 
b)
Article 3
c)
Article 4
d)
Article 1 
40.
Which of the following only votes in cases of a tie?
a)
President Pro Tempore
b)
Vice President
c)
Speaker of the House
d)
House majority leader
41.

What are Expressed Powers?

a)

Powers of U.S. government which have not been explicitly granted by the Constitution

b)

Powers of U.S. government which have not been explicitly granted by the Constitution

c)

Powers of U.S. government which have not been explicitly granted by the Constitution

d)

Powers of U.S. government which have been explicitly granted by the Constitution

42.

Term that describes the implied powers of the Federal government under the Constitution

a)

Necessary & Proper

b)

Constitutional

c)

Delegated

d)

Assumed

43.

Which is a special power given to the Senate?

a)

pass constitutional amendments

b)

introduce tax increase bills

c)

approving presidential appointments

d)

bring charges for impeachment

44.

What Congressional Leadership position is responsible for making sure that Congressmembers stay "in-line" with the party vote.

a)

Senior Committee Chairs

b)

Minority Leaders

c)

Whips

d)

Majority Leaders

45.

What is a Bill?

a)

A law

b)

An idea for a new law

c)

The introduction to the Constitution

d)

The Legislative Branch

46.

Where can a bill begin (select all that apply)?

a)

In the White House

b)

In the House of Representatives

c)

In the Senate

d)

In the Supreme Court

47.

After a bill is introduced in the House, where does it go?

a)

A House committee studies the bill

b)

A Senate committtee studies the bill

c)

To the full House votes

d)

to the full Senate votes

48.

What happens if the Senate committee votes no?

a)

The bill goes to the full Senate for a vote

b)

The bill goes to the full house for a vote

c)

The committee rewrites the bill

d)

The bill dies

49.

What happens if the Senate committee votes yes to the bill?

a)

It goes to the full Senate for a vote

b)

It goes to the full House for a vote

c)

The committee rewrites the bill

d)

The bill dies

50.

What happens if the president signs the bill?

a)

The bill dies

b)

The bill goes back to the Senate

c)

The bill goes back to the House of Representatives

d)

The bill becomes a law

51.

If the president vetoes a bill, what happens?

a)

It goes back to the side of congress where it started

b)

It goes to the Supreme Court

c)

Nothing, the bill is already a law

d)

It goes to the Vice President

52.

How many members need to vote "Yes" to override the veto?

a)

One half of both the House and the Senate

b)

Two-thirds of only the Senate

c)

Two-thirds of only the House of Representatives

d)

Two-thirds of both the House and the Senate

53.

Which body has the power to initiate revenue bills?

a)

Senate

b)

House of Representatives

c)

Supreme Court

d)

Executive Branch

54.

What is the term used to describe the division of power between the national and state governments?

a)

Checks and Balances

b)

Federalism

c)

Judicial Review

d)

Separation of Powers

55.

Who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President?

a)

Speaker of the House

b)

Majority Leader

c)

Chief Justice

d)

President Pro Tempore

56.
How many Senators come from each state?
a)
2
b)
4
c)
1
d)
3
57.
Which of the following is NOT a requirement to be a Representative?
a)
a resident of the district
b)
25 years old
c)
a resident of the state
d)
7 years a citizen of the USA
58.
The House of Representatives and the Senate are --- and they are the --- of the United States Federal government. 
a)
Congress, Executive Branch
b)
National Assembly, Executive Branch
c)
Congress, Judicial Branch
d)
Congress, Legislative Branch
59.
The following qualifications: 30 years old, citizen for at least 9 years, lives in state the person represents, best describes the qualifications for which government job 
a)
Senator
b)
House of Representatives
c)
Governor
d)
President
60.
The leader of the House of Representatives is the: 
a)
President
b)
Vice President
c)
Speaker of the House
d)
President pro tempore 
61.
The powers of the Legislative Branch are found in Article _______ of theConstitution
a)
I
b)
II
c)
III
d)
IV
62.
There are currently ___ people serving in Congress.
a)
100
b)
25
c)
535
d)
435
63.
Before  the 17th amendment, how were Senators selected?
a)
Popular vote
b)
the electoral college
c)
Governors or state legislatures
d)
courts 
64.
What leaders in the House of Representatives encourage members to vote with the party?
a)
House Speaker
b)
President Pro Tempore
c)
Whips
d)
Majority Leader 
65.
When a version of legislation is passed in the House and another version is passed in the Senate, it goes to...
a)
The Majority Leader
b)
Servicing
c)
The President
d)
Conference Committee
66.
Who typically wins a Congressional election?
a)
Incumbent
b)
Former Senators
c)
None of these
d)
Political Newcomers
67.
The number of members in the Senate is:
a)
Based upon population
b)
Equal for all states
c)
Decided upon by the voters
d)
Depends on the ruling party
68.

All of the following are tools that Congress uses to "check" the executive branch EXCEPT

a)

congressional hearings

b)

budgetary appropriations

c)

legislative veto

d)

congressional investigations

e)

confirmation hearings

69.

_______ is the process by which Congress "checks" the executive branch to ensure that laws are being administered in keeping with legislators' intentions.

a)

supervision

b)

oversight

c)

engagement

d)

regulation

e)

casework

70.

Committees that include members of both chambers of Congress are known as

a)

lead committees

b)

subcommittees

c)

select committess

d)

standing committees

e)

joint committees

71.

Which of these factors makes is more likely that incumbents will prevail in congressional elections?

a)

stronger name recognition

b)

easier access to media coverage

c)

the privilege of franking, or sending mail free of charge

d)

larger campaign contributions

e)

all of these are correct answers

72.

The practice of redrawing electoral boundaries for political advantage is known as

a)

majority-minority district formation

b)

gerrymandering

c)

reapportionment

d)

redistricting

e)

casework

73.
Jessalyn is 24 years old and is a U.S. Citizen. She is currently enrolled in Law School. She has lived in North Carolina for 10 years. Can Jessalyn be a Senator, Representative, both, or neither?
a)
Senator
b)
Representative
c)
Both 
d)
Neither
74.
Emily is 36 years old and was born in the U.S. She has graduated for Harvard Law School and has resided in California for 15 years. Can Emily be a Senator, Representative, both, or neither?
a)
Senator
b)
Representative
c)
Both
d)
Neither
75.
Mathew is 27 years old, is a U.S. citizen, and has lived in the the Texas for 10 years.  Can Mathew be a Senator, Representative, both, or neither?
a)
Senator
b)
Representative
c)
Both
d)
Neither
76.
To bring formal charges against a high official in government is called
a)
removal from office
b)
impeachment
c)
high crime
d)
infraction

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