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WorksheetsThe Legislative Branch-Congress Test Review
Total questions: 137
Worksheet time: 1hrs 9mins
Who decides whether a bill becomes a law?
The President
The Congressmen
The Senators
The local congressman
What happens if the President vetoes the bill?
The bill becomes a law
The bill goes back to Congress
The bill is sent to the Senate
The bill dies in committee
What is the final step for a bill to become a law?
Being signed by the President
Being debated in Congress
Being voted on by the Senate
Being introduced to Congress
Which of the following is required of all the members of Congress?
Must serve on the House Rules Committee
They must reside in the state they represent
Vote in the way the President requests they vote
Notarize a Presidential veto
Which of the following is NOT one of the three basic duties of a Congressman?
Serve on Committees
Preside and keep order
Represent their constituents
Make and pass laws
What term is used to define a Senator's attempt to 'talk a bill to death'?
Committee Debate
Filibuster
Graft
Special Session
What article of the U.S. Constitution states the powers of the legislative branch?
Article I
Article II
Article III
Article IV
What elected official serves as President of the Senate?
President
Representative
Vice President
Speaker of the House
In the event that something happens to a Congressman, who is to pick their replacement?
Chairman
Floor Leader
Senators
Governor
What is the title of the person responsible for assisting the floor leaders as well as tracking voting statistics?
Whip
Select Committee Chairman
Minority Floor Leader
Elections Commission
What document assists in determining how seats in the House of Representatives will be reapportioned every ten years?
Article I
Elastic Clause
First Amendment
Census
What term is used to define the redrawing of district lines to the benefit of one political party?
Single Member
Gerrymandering
Apportion
Reapportion
What type of power is given to Congress through the 'Necessary and Proper' clause?
Delegated Powers
Concurrent Powers
Implied Powers
Expressed Powers
In an impeachment trial, who is the 'jury'?
The House
The Supreme Court Justice
Ordinary citizens
The Senate
What term defines the time an official spends in office, or their time in office between elections?
Resolution
Term
Appointment
Chairman
What is the Senate often called, referring to the fact that not all of its seats are up for election at the same time?
Bicameral Body
Continuous Body
Non-elective Body
Compromising Body
Which of the following refers to powers directly stated in the Constitution?
Implied Powers
Executive Powers
Expressed Powers
Delegated Powers
Which fact disqualifies a person from representing Utah in the Senate?
The candidate was born in Guatemala.
The candidate is 43 years old.
The candidate lives in Utah but works in Idaho.
The candidate has been a citizen for eight years.
The regular period of time during which Congress conducts its business is called a
prorogue
session
special session
congressional meeting
Senators are elected to serve
Two-year terms.
Three-year terms.
Four-year terms.
Six-year terms.
Which of the following is a qualification for senators?
must have been born in the State from which elected
must have a degree in law
must have been a citizen for at least nine years
must be at least 40 years old
Congress is rarely called into special session because
their time in session is longer than it used to be.
their time in session is shorter than it used to be.
they do not have a reason to call a special session
there is nothing special about a special session.
All of the following are possible reasons why the Senate is called the 'upper house' EXCEPT
Its size
The length of a senator's term.
The size of each senator's constituency.
The qualifications for members.
What is the meaning of the Necessary and Proper Clause?
Congress’s ability to make laws is severely limited by the Constitution.
Congress is given limited authority to interpret reserved powers.
Congress must follow a concrete interpretation of the Constitution.
Congress can make any law that it deems appropriate to carry out its expressed powers.
27. After the impeachment of Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, the Senate:
voted to acquit
voted to impeach
withdrew deficit financing
declared bankruptcy
What feature of the position of the Speaker of the House makes it a more powerful position than that of the president of the Senate?
The Speaker of the House is the elected presiding officer and the leader of the majority party.
The Speaker of the House is not a member of the body over which he or she presides.
The president of the Senate is always the leader of the minority party.
The Speaker of the House is elected by the voters, whereas the president of the Senate is not.
If a bill receives congressional approval by both the House and the Senate, why does the bill not immediately become a law?
The bill still must receive the approval of the conference committee that sponsored the legislation.
The bill must be voted on in the next election.
The President has the option to sign it, veto it, or allow it to become law without signing it within ten days.
The bill must be formally presented to the President at the next State of the Union meeting.
Who introduces bills into the House of Representatives?
members of the House
the President of the United States
lobbyists
the Supreme Court
Strict constructionist is to _____ as liberal constructionist is to Alexander Hamilton.
James Madison
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
John Jay
What is the duty of a Conference Committee?
to write a bill
to find a compromise on a bill
to debate a bill
to pass a bill
What does the word 'impeach' mean?
To throw a high official out of office.
To bring charges against a high official
To reject a bill
To approve a bill
The total number of representatives in Congress is:
100
535
475
10
What is the title of the person who presides over a committee?
Committee Chairman
Committee President
House Rules Chairman
President of Committee
Who presides over impeachment trials?
The President of the United States
The President of the Senate
The Speaker of the House
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
What is the major function of Congress?
To make laws
To declare war
To approve Presidential appointments
To impeach
What is the term of office for a House member?
2 years
4 years
6 years
8 years
Who takes the place of the President of the Senate when they are absent?
President Pro-Tem
Majority Whip
Minority Whip
The Vice President
What is another term for The Legislative Branch?
The House of Representatives
The Senate
Congress
Congress is known as a _______________ or two-house legislature.
two-part
tricamelra
bicameral
quadcameral
Every state in America, regardless of the state's population, gets two Senators.
True
False
The House of Representatives has ___________ members.
235
335
436
435
The minimum age one has to be to join the House of Representatives is _______.
20
25
30
35
The minimum age one has to be to join the Senate is __________.
25
30
35
40
The powers found and listed in the Constitution are referred to as __________
listed powers
real powers
numbered powers
enumerated powers
What article and section provide Congress with its enumerated powers?
Article II Section 1
Article II Section 1
Article I Section 2
Article I Section 8
The Enumerated Powers (delegated powers) include
power to enforce laws
power to review laws
power to coin money
power to cancel laws
Implied Powers are based upon the Enumerated Powers of Congress.
true
false
When Congress impeaches the President, which chamber of Congress does the process always start with?
Executive
House of Representatives
Judicial
Senate
After a bill is introduced in the House or Senate...
it goes to the entire chamber 'floor' for a debate
it is sent to the committee
a vote is taken in the chamber in which the bill began
the president considers it
Once a bill is sent to a committee...
The committee may send it to a subcommittee for further study.
The committee may hold hearings.
The committee may send it to the entire chamber for a vote “as-is”.
All of the above.
What happens during markup?
A member of the committee may offer an amendment
A Senator may filibuster the bill
The president may veto the bill
All of the above
How can a filibuster be overcome?
A cloture vote must pass
The Speaker or Senate President calls for a recess
The Vice President issues a veto
A roll call vote is called, and a majority of Senators must prevail to stop it
What is the purpose of a Conference Committee?
To prevent a Senator from filibustering the bill
To consider the validity of any amendments offered on the bill
To call for a Voice Vote where all members shout “yea” or “nay”
To work out the differences in a bill if it is not identical to the bill that came out of the other chamber
Once a bill passes the House and the Senate, what can the President do?
Sign it into law
Pocket veto the bill
Veto the bill
All of the above
What is the threshold to overcome a presidential veto?
A majority vote in the Senate
A 2/3 majority vote in each chamber of Congress
A simple majority vote in each chamber of Congress
An upholding by the Supreme Court
A committee from both houses is formed to investigate the possibility of raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Which type of committee would this most likely be?
Standing
Special
Joint
Conference
The House and Senate both passed their own bills to protect Native Americans from the invasion of the North Dakota Access Pipeline. Which committee is needed to get this bill to the President?
Standing
Special
Joint
Conference
Wells Fargo is under scrutiny for unfair business practices. Which committee is most likely to handle this issue?
Standing
Select
Joint
Conference
Is a standing committee a temporary committee of Congress?
True
False
What created the bicameral legislature?
The Articles of Confederation
The Book of Mormon
The 3/5 Compromise
The Great Compromise
What is a bicameral legislature?
One chief executive to enforce laws
One legislature to make laws
Two-house legislature to make laws
Two judicial branches to interpret laws
After a bill is written by a congressman, what is the next step in its process of becoming a law?
The bill is sent to the floor for debate.
The bill is sent to the President to sign.
The bill is sent to a committee for consideration.
The bill is sent to a constituent for an idea.
What action has the committee taken when a bill is in committee and the committee votes by majority against the bill?
The bill has been killed
The bill has been replaced
The bill has been ignored
The bill has been marked up
Which committee controls the flow of bills to the House floor?
Rules Committee
Standing Committee
Subcommittee
Select Committee
Which committee handles all tax bills in the House?
Conference Committee
Rules Committee
Subcommittee
Ways and Means Committee
What is an important characteristic of a joint committee?
The public is invited to participate
It has both House and Senate members
The President sits in on the meetings
Governors sit in on the meetings
The most important influencers of the congressional agenda are the leaders of congressional committees. They play dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house. These leaders are usually members of the majority party with the most seniority on that committee.
Committee chairs
Conference Committee
Filibuster
House Rules Committee
What is the term length for elected members of the Senate?
2 years
4 years
6 years
8 years
How long must Senate candidates have lived in the US before they can run?
5 years
7 years
9 years
14 years
How many members are there in the Senate?
100
250
435
535
What is the process of counting the residents of the United States, conducted every ten years?
Survey
Census
Roll call
Reapportionment
What is the power given by the "necessary and proper" clause?
Implied powers
Inherent powers
Concurrent powers
Reserved powers
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, a Representative, both, or neither?
Senator
Representative
Both
Neither
Mathew is 27 years old, is a U.S. citizen, and has lived in Texas for 10 years. Can Mathew be a Senator, Representative, both, or neither?
Senator
Representative
Both
Neither
Emily is 36 years old, was born in the U.S., and has graduated from Harvard Law School. She has resided in California for 15 years. Can Emily be a Senator, a Representative, both, or neither?
Senator
Representative
Both
Neither
Each state has a specific number of senators. How many?
1
2
3
Based on the state's population
According to the Constitution, the President of the Senate is the
President of the USA
Vice-President of the USA
Secretary of State
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
How many representatives does each state have?
2
4
It is based on their population
Which of these are powers of Congress?
Raise & spend revenue, borrow money, print money, regulate trade, punish counterfeiting, decide rules for bankruptcy
Declare war, create armed forces, rules for armed forces, protect from pirates
Create post office, create Federal courts, create National capital, create copyrights/patents
All of the above
What is the main job of the Legislative Branch?
To enforce laws
To make judgments in court about whether or not laws are constitutional
To make the laws
To follow the laws
How many representatives does each district get?
2
3
1
4
What are the 2 requirements to get elected to the Senate?
25 years old & citizen for 7 years
25 years old & citizen for 9 years
30 years old & citizen for 7 years
30 years old & citizen for 9 years
These people assist the minority and majority leaders in Congress
whips
speaker of the house
clerk
quorum
Congress begins a new term in
odd numbered years
even numbered years
What type of bill must originate in the House of Representatives?
Judicial hearings
Bills to raise revenue
Which of these is NOT a real position in Congress?
Minority Whip
President pro tem
Majority chain
Speaker of the House
Delegated powers of the National Government that are expressly written in the Constitution.
Implied powers
Enumerated powers
Nonlegislative powers
Inherent powers
What is the ability to tax and spend public money for the National Government called?
Power of the purse
Implied powers
Oversight function
Inherent powers
Delegated powers of the National Government that are suggested by the enumerated powers set out in the Constitution; those “necessary and proper” to carry out the enumerated powers.
Implied powers
Enumerated powers
Nonlegislative powers
Inherent powers
Which powers are presumed to be delegated to the National Government by the Constitution because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community?
Implied powers
Enumerated powers
Nonlegislative powers
Inherent powers
Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature.
Pocket veto
Filibuster
Veto
Lobbying
A proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration.
Joint resolution
Bill
Concurrent resolution
Law
The term “bicameralism” refers to:
establishment of two legislative chambers that have different structures and rules
members of the House of Representatives having two-year terms
president having veto power over both chambers of Congress
members of the House and Senate having to appease their mutual constituencies
Congress has...
Veto Power
Power of the Sword
Power of the Purse
Discretionary Authority
A committee chair in the House of Representatives is always...
a member of the majority party in the chamber
the member with the longest service in the House
a trusted ally of the President
the member with the longest service on the committee
In The Federalist 78, Alexander Hamilton states, “A constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning.” Which of the following Supreme Court cases is most relevant to this statement?
Baker v. Carr (1962)
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Supreme Court justices were given life terms subject to good behavior by the Framers of the Constitution in order to ensure that...
justices are free from direct political pressures
justices are encouraged to make politically popular decisions
cooperation between the judicial and legislative branches is assured
justices remain accountable to the public
The part of the Constitution that describes the legislative branch is:
Preamble
Article I
Article II
Amendments
This house of Congress has 100 members and includes only 2 from each state.
House of Representatives
Senate
President
Supreme Court
This house of Congress has 435 members, with the number of members based on each state's population.
House of Representatives
Senate
President
Supreme Court
What is the main job of the legislative branch?
Determine if laws are unconstitutional
Veto laws
Make laws
Approve laws made by the President
What are the two requirements to get elected to the Senate?
25 years old and a citizen for 7 years
25 years old and a citizen for 9 years
30 years old and a citizen for 7 years
30 years old and a citizen for 9 years
Who is the president of the Senate and casts tie-breaking votes when needed?
Speaker of the House
Vice President
Majority Whip
Chief Justice
How frequently does the Census occur?
Every 5 years
Every 10 years
Every 3 years
Every year
Senators serve for how many years?
4 year terms
6 year terms
3 year terms
2 year terms
What is the term length of a member of the House of Representatives?
Life
2 years
4 years
6 years
Which of the following is a type of legislature with two houses?
Unicameral
Bicameral
Legislative Branch
Tricameral
The number of seats distributed to each state in the House of Representatives changes based on population.
reapportionment
apportionment
distribution
constituents
The redrawing of congressional districts to favor one political party over another is called?
Redistricting
Gerrymandering
Scamming
Apportionment
What is the upper house of Congress called, where membership is equal among states?
President
House of Representatives
Congress
Senate
How many members are in the Senate?
150
100
450
200
Which of the following is NOT a unique power of the Senate?
"Power of the Purse"
Ratify treaties
Hold impeachment trials
Make presidential appointments/confirmation power
Which age would NOT qualify you to be a member of the Senate?
40
35
30
25
Every two years, how many members of the House of Representatives are up for reelection?
1/3
1/4
1/2
All Members
Every two years, how many members of the Senate are up for reelection?
1/3
1/4
1/2
All Members
Mitch McConnell
Republican Leader in Senate
Chuck Schumer
Democratic Leader in the Senate
Hakeem Jeffries
Democratic Leader in the House
Kevin McCarthy
Speaker of the House
Patty Murray
President Pro Tempore
The staggered nature of Senate terms ensures that no more than 1/3 of its members must face the voters during a given election. What is this called?
Continuous Body
Session
Gerrymandering
Constituency
Match the term: The redrawing of congressional districts to favor one political party over another.
Redistricting
Gerrymandering
Scamming
Apportionment
What is the term for the period of time during which Congress meets to conduct legislative business?
Period
Session
Term
How many members are there in the House of Representatives?
433
435
100
150
This house has the power to vote yes or no on presidential appointments.
The House of Representatives
The Senate
This house has the power to vote 'yes' or 'no' on a treaty.
The House of Representatives
The Senate
This house has the power to increase taxes.
The House of Representatives
The Senate
This house has the power to allocate more funds for education and establish an annual budget.
The House of Representatives
The Senate
'Power of the Purse' is a power of...
The House of Representatives
The Senate
Who has the power to impeach the President with articles of impeachment and a 51% vote?
The House of Representatives
The Senate
Who has the power to impeach the President with articles of impeachment and a 51% vote?
The House of Representatives
The Senate
This house has the power to increase taxes.
The House of Representatives
The Senate
