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WorksheetsMrs. B's GoPo Congress 2.1-2.3 Review
Total questions: 106
Worksheet time: 5hrs 56mins
How many people are in the House of Representatives?
435
100
535
50
How many people are in the Senate?
50
100
435
535
What is the term of a member of the House?
2 years
4 years
6 years
8 years
What is the term of a Senator?
2 years
4 years
6 years
8 years
About how many people are in each Congressional district?
Approximately 500,000
Approximately 700,000
Approximately 1,000,000
Approximately 1,500,000
Which two Congressional districts are in Prince William County?
1st and 2nd Congressional Districts
7th and 10th Congressional Districts
5th and 6th Congressional Districts
8th and 9th Congressional Districts
What is the minimum age requirement for the House?
25 years
30 years
35 years
40 years
What is the minimum age requirement for the Senate?
25 years
30 years
35 years
40 years
Can you serve in Congress if you were born in another country?
Yes, if you are a naturalized citizen.
No, you must be born in the United States.
Yes, if you have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.
No, only natural-born citizens can serve.
What is the constituency of a Senator?
State
City
District
County
What is the constituency of a member of the House?
A district or area they represent
The entire country
A specific political party
The state they represent
Is a Senator more or less likely than a member of the House to form coalitions with members of the other party?
More likely
Less likely
Equally likely
Not likely at all
Of the House or Senate, which has stricter rules to operate?
Senate
House
Who is/are the person(s) who oversees rules and procedures in the House and Senate?
Speaker of the House and President of the Senate
Majority and Minority Leaders
Parliamentarians
Whips
What is the operating methodology used to conduct business in Congress?
Roberts Rules of Order
Atwood's Rules
Federalism
Confederalism
What is the general time limit on speaking about a bill in the House?
No time limit
5 minutes
1 hour
10 minutes
Is there a time limit on speaking about a bill in the Senate? If so, generally what is it?
Yes, generally one hour
Yes, generally 30 minutes
No, there is no time limit
Yes, generally 2 hours
What is it called when a Senator speaks to stall or stop a bill from going to a vote?
Filibuster
Cloture
Quorum
Caucus
What is the procedural move called that stops a filibuster?
Cloture
Veto
Amendment
Recess
What is the term for amendments to bills that *do* have to do with the bill itself?
Germane amendments
Non-germane amendments
Rider amendments
Supplementary amendments
In the House, what does it mean that amendments to bills must be germane?
Amendments must be related to the subject matter of the bill.
Amendments can introduce new subjects unrelated to the bill.
Amendments must be approved by the Senate first.
Amendments can only be proposed by the bill's sponsor.
In the Senate, are there requirements that amendments to bills must be germane?
Yes, amendments must be germane.
No, amendments do not have to be germane.
Only in certain cases, amendments must be germane.
It depends on the type of bill.
Who is the person in the House who controls who speaks and what business gets done?
Speaker
Secretary
Politico
Member
What is the name of the powerful committee in the House who controls which bills advance or are assigned to committees?
Ways and Means Committee
Appropriations Committee
Rules Committee
Judiciary Committee
Does the Senate have more of a hierarchy than the House? Why or why not?
No, because the Senate has longer terms and fewer members, leading to more equality among them.
No, because both the Senate and the House have similar hierarchical structures.
Yes, because the Senate has more committees than the House.
No, because the House has more leadership positions than the Senate.
During a filibuster, what can Senators speak about?
Any topic they choose
Only topics related to the bill
Only topics approved by the majority leader
Only topics related to their state
Aside from political parties, what are the common names for groups that members of Congress separate themselves into?
Committees
Caucuses
Factions
Assemblies
Which of the following are examples of caucuses and conferences in Congress?
Congressional Black Caucus
House Freedom Caucus
Senate Democratic Conference
All of the above
What are enumerated powers?
Powers specifically granted to a governmental branch by a constitution
Powers assumed by a governmental branch without explicit constitutional provision
Powers shared by multiple branches of government
Powers that are implied but not explicitly stated in a constitution
Which of the following are examples of enumerated powers that Congress has?
The power to declare war, the power to coin money, the power to regulate commerce
The power to appoint judges, the power to grant pardons, the power to veto legislation
The power to conduct foreign policy, the power to negotiate treaties, the power to appoint ambassadors
The power to interpret laws, the power to enforce laws, the power to adjudicate disputes
Where do implied powers come from in the Constitution?
The Preamble
The Bill of Rights
The Necessary and Proper Clause
The Supremacy Clause
What is another name for the Necessary and Proper Clause?
Elastic Clause
Supremacy Clause
Commerce Clause
Establishment Clause
Which of our required SCOTUS cases that we have covered so far depends on implied powers?
McCulloch v Maryland (1819)
Plessy v Ferguson (1896)
Smith v Valle (1854)
Shaw v Reno (1993)
What is a practical example of an implied power of Congress that we can relate to today?
Establishing a minimum wage
Declaring war
Coining money
Regulating interstate commerce
Who has the Power of the Purse?
The President
The Congress
The Supreme Court
The Federal Reserve
What is the Power of the Purse?
The ability to control government spending
The power to make laws
The authority to interpret the constitution
The right to veto legislation
Where does the Constitution require all taxing and spending bills to originate?
The Senate
The House of representatives
The Supreme Court
The President's Office
What does the term “legislate” mean?
To create or enact laws
To interpret laws
To enforce laws
To repeal laws
What is an examples of constituent services?
Helping people who have issues with a federal agency
Providing legal advice on Supreme Court cases
Offering financial loans to purchase a home
Conducting medical examinations
What might congressional oversight entail?
Reviewing and monitoring federal agencies
Passing new legislation
Appointing federal judges
Conducting foreign diplomacy
What might congressional oversight entail?
Holding hearings about issues that impact Americans.
Changing an environmental law to be more strict
Ignoring an old regulation on businesses
Ratifying a trade agreement
Which chamber is often called the Upper House?
House of Representatives
Senate
Parliament
Congress
Which chamber is often called the Lower House?
Senate
House of Representatives
Parliament
Congress
What does a Majority or Minority Whip do in the House and Senate?
They preside over the sessions of the House and Senate.
They are responsible for maintaining party discipline and ensuring members vote according to party lines.
They draft legislation and propose bills.
They represent their party in media and public appearances.
What is the primary role of a Majority or Minority Leader in the House and Senate?
To preside over the sessions and maintain order
To represent their party's interests and coordinate legislative strategy
To draft all legislation and present it to the floor
To oversee the budget and financial matters of the chamber
What is the position that runs day-to-day business and voting in the Senate?
President of the Senate
President Pro Tempore
Majority Leader
Speaker of the House
Who is the President of the Senate?
Vice President of the United States
Speaker of the House
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Secretary of State
What is the main job of the President of the Senate (while in the Senate)?
To break ties on votes
To vote on all legislation
To draft new laws
To represent the Senate in international affairs
What is a Standing Committee?
A temporary committee formed for a specific task
A permanent committee that meets regularly
A committee that only meets during emergencies
A committee formed for ceremonial purposes
What do Select Committees do?
They review and report on specific topics and government departments.
They pass laws in the parliament.
They conduct elections.
They decide who goes on which committees in Congress.
How long do Select Committees last?
Select Committees last for a fixed term of one year.
Select Committees last for the duration of a congressional session.
Select Committees last indefinitely until dissolved by a new resolution.
Select Committees last for a specific task and are dissolved after completing it.
What is a Joint Committee?
A committee formed by members of a single house of a legislature
A committee formed by members of both houses of a legislature
A committee formed by members of the executive branch
A committee formed by members of the judiciary and Congress
Why does Congress need committees? What are their purpose(s)?
To streamline the legislative process and manage workload
To increase the number of bills passed
To reduce the power of individual members
To eliminate the need for debates
Which of the following is an example of how the structure/day-to-day functioning of Congress has changed/evolved over time?
The introduction of many committees
The establishment of the Supreme Court
The increase of extreme partisanship
The creation of the Federal Reserve
What is Agenda Setting and how does it impact policy-making?
Agenda Setting is the process of determining which issues are prioritized in policy-making, impacting the focus and direction of policies.
Agenda Setting is a method of evaluating the effectiveness of policies after implementation.
Agenda Setting refers to the final stage of policy-making where policies are implemented.
Agenda Setting is the process of drafting policy documents for legislative approval.
How can members of Congress use structures, institutions, and processes to obstruct policy-making?
By using filibusters and stalling in committee
By passing new legislation
By increasing government spending
By supporting executive orders
What are the differences between Positive Agenda Control and Negative Agenda Control?
Positive Agenda Control allows for the introduction of new topics, while Negative Agenda Control prevents certain topics from being discussed.
Positive Agenda Control prevents certain topics from being discussed, while Negative Agenda Control allows for the introduction of new topics.
Both Positive and Negative Agenda Control allow for the introduction of new topics.
Both Positive and Negative Agenda Control prevent certain topics from being discussed.
What does the “Origination Clause” say?
The Origination Clause requires all bills for raising revenue to originate in the House of Representatives.
The Origination Clause allows the Senate to originate any bill, including those for raising revenue.
The Origination Clause mandates that all bills must originate in the Senate.
The Origination Clause states that the President must approve all revenue bills before they are introduced.
What is a CR and what does it do?
A CR is a Continuing Resolution, and it is used to continue funding the government while a new budget is being worked out.
A CR is a Customer Review, and it is used to provide feedback on a product.
A CR is a Credit Report, and it is used to assess financial history.
A CR is a Compliance Report, and it is used to ensure regulatory adherence.
What does OMB stand for?
Office of Management and Budget
Organization of Medical Boards
Office of Military Benefits
Order of Merit Badge
What does the OMB do?
Oversees the implementation of the federal budget
Manages the United States' foreign policy
Regulates the stock market
Enforces federal laws
The OMB primarily assists which of the following?
The President of the United States
The United States Congress
The Supreme Court of the United States
The Federal Reserve
What does CBO stand for?
Chief Business Officer
Congressional Budget Office
Community Based Organization
Cost Benefit Optimization
Who is part of the CBO and who does the CBO primarily support?
Party representatives, Political parties
Nonpartisan accountants; President
Nonpartisan accountants; Congress
Senators; Congress
When is the Federal fiscal year?
January 1 to December 31
April 1 to March 31
July 1 to June 30
October 1 to September 30
What happens during Reconciliation? What is its purpose?
It is a process of a bill going back and forth between the Senate and House until they agree on and vote to approve all details.
It is a method of establishing which house of Congress has the correct legislation.
It is a financial audit procedure that establishes jurisdiction in Congress.
It is a way to improve communication skills.
What must happen in Congress before a bill can go to the President for signature?
The bill must be approved by a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The bill must be signed by the Speaker of the House.
The bill must be reviewed by the Supreme Court.
The bill must be debated in a joint session of Congress.
What impact does a divided Congress have on policy-making and passing laws?
It speeds up the legislative process.
It leads to more bipartisan cooperation.
It often results in legislative gridlock.
It has no impact on policy-making.
What impact does a divided government (President and Congress) have on policy-making and passing laws?
It facilitates faster policy-making and passing of laws.
It leads to more bipartisan cooperation and compromise.
It often results in gridlock and slower legislative processes.
It has no significant impact on policy-making.
Define revenue
Revenue is the total income generated by taxes (individual and business), payroll taxes like Social Security, and other income on government holdings.
Revenue is the total expenses incurred by the government during a Fiscal Year (FY).
Revenue is the net profit after all government expenses have been deducted from total income.
Revenue is the amount of money the government owes to its creditors.
Which of the following are sources of revenue for the government?
Taxes
Donations
Loans
Grants
What is Mandatory Spending? Give an example.
Mandatory spending is government spending on certain programs that are required by existing law. An example is Social Security.
Mandatory spending is optional government spending on programs that can be adjusted annually. An example is defense spending.
Mandatory spending is government spending on infrastructure projects. An example is highway construction.
Mandatory spending is government spending on education programs. An example is student loans.
What is Discretionary Spending by the government?
Mandatory spending on entitlement programs
Spending that is set by annual appropriation levels decided by Congress
Spending on interest payments on the national debt
Spending that is automatically adjusted based on inflation
What is Pork-barrel Spending?
Pork-barrel spending refers to government spending for localized projects to bring money to a representative's district.
Pork-barrel spending is a type of government spending that focuses on national defense projects.
Pork-barrel spending is a term used for government spending on healthcare and education.
Pork-barrel spending is a strategy used by businesses to increase their market share.
What are earmarks?
Earmarks are funds provided by the Congress for specific projects or purposes, often benefiting a small group or locality.
Earmarks are a type of tax imposed on luxury goods.
Earmarks refer to the interest rates set by the Federal Reserve.
Earmarks are regulations imposed on environmental protection.
What are grants-in-aid?
A JavaScript task runner that can be used to run tasks when watched files change
Money that helps healthcare workers provide services during war
agree or admit to (someone) that (something) is true
A transfer of money from one level of government to another, or from a government to an individual or institution, for a specific purpose
Grants-in-aid encourage which kind of Federalism?
Dual Federalism
Cooperative Federalism
Obligate Federalism
Frederalism
What is logrolling? Choose the correct option.
A legislative practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation.
A method of rolling logs down a river for transportation.
A technique used in gymnastics to perform a rolling maneuver.
A strategy in business negotiations to lower prices.
Define a Partisan.
Believing and acting on the ideas of a political party or group
An official who is expected to vote independently based on their judgement of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator
An official who is expected to represent the views of their constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator
An official who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles
Define a Trustee.
Believing and acting on the ideas of a political party or group
An official who is expected to vote independently based on their judgement of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator
An official who is expected to represent the views of their constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator
An official who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles
Define a Politico.
Believing and acting on the ideas of a political party or group
An official who is expected to vote independently based on their judgement of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator
An official who is expected to represent the views of their constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator
An official who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles
Define a Delegate (in the context of Congress).
Believing and acting on the ideas of a political party or group
An official who is expected to vote independently based on their judgement of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator
An official who is expected to represent the views of their constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator
An official who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles
In which house of Congress are we more likely to see a Trustee?
House of Representatives
Senate
In which house of Congress are we more likely to see a Delegate?
House of Representatives
Senate
Partisanship is best defined as:
A strong allegiance to one's own political party, often leading to unwillingness to compromise with the opposing party.
A neutral stance in political matters, avoiding any party affiliation.
The act of switching political parties frequently based on personal gain.
A belief in the superiority of one political ideology over all others.
How does Partisanship impact policy-making?
It fosters bipartisan cooperation.
It leads to more efficient policy-making.
It often results in gridlock and polarization.
It has no impact on policy-making.
In political terms, what does the term 'gridlock' refer to?
A situation where legislative progress is halted due to political stalemate
A type of mechanical failure in vehicles
A method of organizing files in a computer system
A strategy in board games to prevent opponent's advancement
What is brinksmanship and what is the analogy we learned in class?
Brinksmanship is a strategy of pushing dangerous events to the verge of disaster to achieve favorable outcomes; the analogy learned in class is a game of chicken.
Brinksmanship is a method of negotiation that involves compromise and mutual agreement; the analogy learned in class is a handshake.
Brinksmanship is a strategy of avoiding conflict by maintaining a safe distance; the analogy learned in class is a balancing act.
Brinksmanship is a technique of gradual escalation to test the opponent's limits; the analogy learned in class is a ladder.
What are three effects of divided government?
Increased bipartisanship, faster legislation, and unified policy direction
Legislative gridlock, increased oversight, and more negotiation
Decreased political tension, streamlined decision-making, and reduced checks and balances
Enhanced executive power, reduced legislative influence, and diminished party competition
The United States conducts a census every how many years?
5 years
10 years
15 years
20 years
What is the process of counting people who live in the country called?
Census
Survey
Inventory
Audit
What kinds of information is collected with a census?
Demographic information such as age, gender, and race
Economic data like income and employment status
Housing information including ownership and occupancy
All of the above
How is information from the census used by the federal government?
To allocate government funding and resources
To determine the number of schools needed
To plan public transportation routes
To assess the population's health needs
What is reapportionment? What does it have to do with redistricting?
Reapportionment is the process of redistributing seats in the House of Representatives based on population changes, and it affects redistricting by determining how district lines are drawn.
Reapportionment is the process of redrawing district lines within a state, and it affects redistricting by changing the number of districts.
Reapportionment is the process of allocating federal funds to states, and it affects redistricting by influencing state budgets.
Reapportionment is the process of conducting a census, and it affects redistricting by providing population data.
What are some examples of “traditional” standards for redistricting?
Compactness and contiguity
Population equality
Respect for political boundaries
All of the above
What is the definition of gerrymandering?
The practice of drawing district boundaries to favor a particular political party
The process of counting votes in an election
The act of campaigning for a political position
The method of selecting candidates for a political party
Which party is guilty of gerrymandering?
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Both parties
Neither party
What is disenfranchisement, in relation to voting?
The right to vote
The process of counting votes
The denial of the right to vote
The act of campaigning for votes
Is partisan gerrymandering constitutional?
Yes, it is constitutional.
No, it is not constitutional.
It depends on the state.
The Supreme Court has not ruled on this.
Is racial gerrymandering constitutional?
Yes, it is constitutional.
No, it is not constitutional.
It depends on the context.
The constitution does not address it.
What does “packing” refer to when it comes to congressional districts?
The process of drawing district lines to include as many of one party's voters as possible in a single district.
The act of distributing voters of one party across many districts to dilute their influence.
The method of creating districts with equal population sizes.
The strategy of ensuring all districts have a similar geographic area.
What are the names of the two parts or the two houses (also called chambers) that make up Congress?
The U.S. Constitution and the Branches
The Executive Branch and Judicial Branch
The Senate and the House of Representatives
How many senators are there for each state?
10
1
2
17
Two house legislature
Bicameral
Federalists
Legislature
Unconstitutional
This was the agreement that in Congress, States be represented equally in the Senate and by population in the House.
Declaration of Independence
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Connecticut Compromise
