WorksheetsLawmakers, Legislators, and Congressional Lawmaking
Total questions: 17
Worksheet time: 9mins
Which of these is the best definition of constituents?
Donors who contribute cash or services to an electoral campaign.
Residents of an electoral district represented by an elected official.
Citizens nationwide who benefit from an elected official's programs.
Voters in an elected official's home state who belong to the same party.
Where do most members of Congress begin their political careers?
as lobbyists
in the military
in local politics
as staff assistants
Which of these events triggers reapportionment of seats in the House of Representatives?
A change in House leadership
A census conducted every 10 years
The election of representatives every 2 years.
The decision of the House to authorize redistricting
What determines the number of seats in the Senate?
The Constitution specifies the exact number of seats.
The number of seats depends on the number of states.
Congress fixed the maximum number of seats in 1911.
The number of seats depends on each state's population.
In saying “The power of the speaker of the House is the power of scheduling,” Tip O’Neill was referring chiefly to the speaker’s power to do which of the following?
The Speaker of the House chooses the hours of breaks and meals.
The Speaker of the House controls the meeting dates of committees.
The Speaker of the House determines the timing of national elections.
The Speaker of the House decides which bills will be debated and when.
Which of these groups handles most of the detailed work of lawmaking in Congress?
Joint Committees
Select Committees
Standing Committees
Conference Committees
What does the Necessary and Proper Clause also called the Elastic Clause, give Congress the power to do?
Make any laws to carry out its constitutional functions.
Intervene in state legislatures.
Authorize the use of troops without declaring war.
Impeach federal officials for wrongdoing.
What do the powers of oversight, confirmation, impeachment, ratification, override, and amendment have in common?
They keep Congress from becoming too powerful.
They enable Congress to dominate the other two branches.
They help Congress check the power of the other two branches.
They force the two chambers of Congress to cooperate with each other.
Which of the following might apply to state lawmakers but not to members of Congress?
advantage of incumbency
minimum age qualifications
residency requirements
term limits
What is meant by logrolling?
Trading Votes
Delaying Legislation
Meeting with Lobbyists
Doing favors for Constituents
What is the process used in the Senate to end a filibuster called?
Cloture
Devolution
Prior Restraint
Vote of No Confidence
In their oath of office, lawmakers swear to support and defend ____________________?
Their Party
The Congress
The Constitution
Their Constituents
Which of these is a key factor in choosing committee chairs?
Age
Senority
Education
Experience
Before a bill can be sent to the president, both chambers of Congress must vote to ___________?
Approve the same version.
Restore the original language.
Have a supermajority in favor.
Authorize the president to change it.
How can Congress override a presidential veto?
Congress must wait until after the next election to reconsider the bill.
Congress must agree to amend the bill to meet the president's objections.
Congress must approve the bill again by a majority vote in both chambers.
Congress must approve the bill again by a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
What does a committee or subcommittee do during markup?
Call outside experts to testify.
Determine the final language of a bill
Place a bill on the calendar for discussion.
Take an initial informal vote before debate
Which kind of vote in Congress tells constituents how their lawmakers voted?
Voice Vote
Roll-Call-Vote
Standing Vote
Up-or-Down Vote
