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WorksheetsLegislative/Executive quiz
Total questions: 45
Worksheet time: 23mins
A senator represents a northern industrial state that produces automobiles. Which of these committee assignments should the member request from party leadership in order to increase chance of winning reelection?
Banking, housing and urban affairs
Commerce, science and transportation
Environment and public works
Small business and entrepreneurship
What is the major way the executive branch can act as a check on the legislative branch?
declaring legislation unconstitutional
refusing to ratify treaties
proposing constitutional amendments
vetoing bills
This person presides over the Senate.
speaker of the house
vice president
whip
president
In addition to the ability to override a veto, congress has this power over a president.
mandate
pardon
impeachment
veto
Government corporations differ from private corporations because
government corporations receive their funding from congress rather than private investors
private corporations charge for the services but government corporations do not
private corporations attempt to make a profit while government corporations do not
this is a trick question because there is no such thing as a government corporation
The president, in his capacity as head(or chief) of state is responsible for
conducting the foreign policy of the nations
determining which countries the United States will have diplomatic relations with
engaging in activities that are largely symbolic or ceremonial in duties
leading the legislative process by submitting legislation
The most important duty of the president may be to ensure that all
citizens have homes
military bases are in use
congress members control spending
laws are "faithfully executed"
This item is an example of presidential judicial power
pardon non-federal criminals
reduce a federal prisoners sentence
pardon people convicted of state crimes
appoint city judges
The seventeenth amendment changed how U.S. senate positions were filled by
allowing the president to appoint senators
allowing senators to serve a life term
allowing U.S. citizens to directly elect senators
allowing U.S. representatives to elect senators
Which leader is second in line of succession to the presidency?
President pro-tempore of the senate
Secretary of state
Speaker of the house of representatives
Vice-president
Which of the following would prevent someone from running for president?
not being 35 years old
not being wealthy
not having a college degree
not holding another office
How can other party members influence a member of congress?
they can give advice about how to vote on a bill
they may meet with the congress members constituents about a topic
they may provide tax breaks if the congress member votes in a certain way
they may take a congress members place and cast a vote for him or her
Which of these statements best represents one purpose of the state of the union address?
to discuss current bills with members of congress
to inform citizens about the laws that have been passed during the year
to present congress with the president's legislative priorities
to support congressional members of the president's party
What is a drawback of the winner take all system of electoral college voting?
it allows states to decide how they chose electors
it gives third party candidates the ability to win elections
it makes it possible for candidates to lose the popular vote, yet win the election
it makes it possible for candidates to lose the popular vote, yet lose the election
A prospective employee will have to take a civil service exam before getting a job as a
postal worker
presidential appointee
presidential cabinet member
White house assistant
Protecting citizens lives and property is the responsibility of
local and federal government
local and state government
state and federal government
state, federal, and local government
When playing the role of chief diplomat, the president must get approval from congress for which of these?
executive agreement
reprieve
treaty
veto
Which of the following is a regulatory commission that protects human health and the environment?
Department of health and human services
Environmental protection agency
Federal deposit insurance corporation
Federal trade commission
Which of these presidents used inherent powers to significantly expand the executive branch by enacting many new economic programs?
Abraham Lincoln
Franklin D. Roosevelt
George W. Bush
Harry Truman
What is the main reason that people find it easier to participate in local government than at any other level?
donation of time
like-mindedness of people
number of candidates
proximity of government
Which is a key difference between the senate and the house?
In the senate, bills on the floor must pass unanimously
In the senate, each state has an equal voice during debate
In the senate, many more bills are passed than in the house
In the senate, political parties have no significant influence
Which of these statements describes what happens to a bill in conference committee?
research is done on the bill, and results are reported to another committee
the bill is reviewed and testimony is taken on the content
the bill is revised based on input from members and the public
the differences between the two versions of the bill are resolved
The Supreme Court decision in Baker v. Carr, impacted political divisions by creating the ruling stated
city mayors would have the final decision on district boundries
being registered and voting in multiple districts was prohibited
federal courts could decide conflicts over drawing district boundaries
the census data should not be considered when drawing district boundaries
One political party has consistently won a house seat in a particular district with 75-80% of the vote. Then, one year, the other party wins with 85% of the vote. The results could be evidence of which of the following?
censure
gerrymandering
incumbent advantage
reapportionment
Politically, what is a major concern when states redraw their districts?
giving cities more votes than rural areas
giving in to or being charged with nepotism
giving one party a better chance of winning
giving rural areas more votes than cities
Which of these statements is true about congressional districts and representation?
congressional districts are determined by special elections
each congressional district has a comparable number of citizens
each senator represents around the same number of citizens
redistricting generally produces more diverse representation
Which is the typical sequence of events in the appointment process?
a senator makes a nomination and the president approves it or vetoes it
nomination, Senate committee hearings, confirmation
Senate committee hearings, senate debate, nomination, confirmation
Senate debate, nomination, senate committee hearings, confirmation
A president cannot exceed this number of years in office.
4 years
6 years
10 years
8 years
A president can use armed forces abroad
only after consulting with congressional leaders
after a declaration of war has been issued by congress
at his own discretion as long as he notifies congress within 48 hours
once congress has approved the decision
Which type of debate in congress is a bill most likely to pass without interference or opposition?
open rule
closed rule
revenue
special interest
Why is it difficult for a bill to become a law?
bills require unanimous approval from the house and senate
house and senate members rarely agree
the president vetoes most bills that are sent for approval
the process includes a system of checks and balances
How is the spending of money approved by Congress?
a general vote is taken
First, an appropriations bill is needed
First, an authorization bill is needed
the senate makes all decisions about spending
The best defense of pork-barrel legislation is that it
can bring jobs and money to a state or district
helps improve the federal deficit
keeps the federal treasury from wasting funds
provides money and aid to the largest populations
After one house in a bicameral legislature passes a bill, the bill proceeds
directly to the president for signature or veto
directly to the voting public to decide if it passes
through a similar process in the second house
to a special committee for research and revision
Congress can work to protect the rights of individual citizens by
supporting the work of lobbyists
voting on budgets
working in committees
writing and passing legislation
Entitlements would include which area of the federal budget?
military salaries
highway spending
Medicare
special interest projects
When agencies, congressional committees, and client groups work together it is called
an iron triangle
civil service
liaison officers
injunction
To release a person from legal punishment is to
serve with an executive order
pardon
give amnesty
to give a reprieve
The newest cabinet department is the
department of veteran affairs
department of education
department of homeland security
department of energy
The right of a president to refuse to testify before congress or a court is called
de facto
executive privilege
executive orders
executive mandate
The main purpose of the national security council is to
carry out secret operations in other countries to further the nation's security
provide financial advice to the military
advise the president on all domestic, foreign, and military aspects of the nation's security
provide support staff for the work of agencies like the FCI
Which of the following statements about impeachment is correct?
The senate impeaches the president and his trial is held before the supreme court
the house of representatives impeaches the president and the senate acts as the jury
the senate impeaches the president and the vice-president assumes his duties
once a president is impeached, he is held under house arrest
Which statement is true about a standing committee in the senate?
chairpersons of each committee change after each session
only the chair can all meetings of the standing committee
the member with the most seniority always becomes chairperson
the party make-up of each committee can shift after each election
Which type of committee has the greatest powers over the movement of a bill through congress?
joint committee
the house rules committee
standing committee
select committee
To virtually eliminate the threat of a filibuster, the senate would have to have a minimum of how many members from one party?
50
55
60
65
