question

What best describes the structural makeup of the legislature in the United States?

answer

Bicameral; Two house legislature (The House of Representatives and The Senate).

question

Which branch or chamber of government was specifically created to closely represent the people's views?

answer

The House of Representatives

question

How often are House members elected?

answer

Every two years -- After each decennial (10 year) census

question

Which constitutional amendment shifted the power to elect senators from state legislatures to popular elections?

answer

The 17th Amendment

question

In 2010, how much did it cost on average, to make a successful bid for the U.S. Senate?

answer

$5.6 million

question

Which factors make it more likely that incumbents will prevail in congressional elections?

answer

1. Stronger name recognition 2. Greater access to attention from the media 3. The franking privilege 4. Greater campaign contributions 5. Casework on behalf of constituents in the home district

question

How often does reappointment and redistricting of seats occur in the House of Representatives?

answer

Every 10 years -- in the year ending in zero

question

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

answer

Gerrymandering

question

Which powers are granted by Congress by the Constitution?

answer

Enumerated Powers --To make laws, declare war, to raise an army/navy, coin money, regulate commerce, establish Federal courts, override a presidential veto, to make all laws necessary and proper, to carryout the above mentioned powers (this is known as the elastic clause)

question

Because of the elastic clause, Congress exercises how broad/narrow a scope of authority?

answer

A broad-scope of authority

question

What are the sources of congressional power and authority?

answer

The Constitution, Supreme Court decisions, the media, and the people

question

Within the instructed delegate model, how do elected representatives act?

answer

They vote in keeping with the constituents' views -- even if those views contradict the legislator's personal views

question

What was an important consideration for the Framers during the shaping of congressional functions?

answer

Limited government, Checks and balances, Separation of powers, Creation of the federal system

question

Most representatives in Congress employ which type of decision/voting model in their approach to governance?

answer

Trustee Model

question

When a member of Congress advocates on behalf of a constituent who has an issue with a bureaucratic agency, he or she is playing the role of what?

answer

Ombudsperson (this is called casework)

question

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

answer

Oversight

question

What are the tools that Congress uses to "check" the executive branch?

answer

Congressional hearings, Confirmation hearings, Investigations, Budgeting appropriations,

question

Identify the correct chronological order of a legislative bill's passage, from introduction through committee review(s):

answer

1. Introduction 2. Committee Review 3. House and Senate Approval 4. Conference Committee reconciliation 5. Presidential Approval

question

Permanent committees that exist from one session of congress to another with a defined legislative jurisdiction are known as what?

answer

Standing committee

question

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

answer

Joint committees

question

In an attempt to block the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the former Republican senator from South Carolina Strom Thurmond spoke for 24 hours 18 minutes on the Senate floor. This set the record for the Senate's longest what?

answer

Filibuster

question

In what position in the line of presidential succession is the Speaker of the House?

answer

Second in line -- following the Vice President

question

Which leader acts as a go-between the leadership and the majority party members in the house?

answer

Majority whip

question

Who is the constitutional president of the Senate?

answer

The Vice President of the United States

question

The reciprocal practice of trading votes is widely used in Congress and is known as what?

answer

Logrolling

question

In what month does the general presidential election campaign usually begin?

answer

January

question

How many electors must a presidential candidate secure in the Electoral College to be elected president?

answer

270 out of the 538 electoral votes (The majority)

question

What majority is needed for Congress to check presidential power by overriding a presidential veto?

answer

2/3 Majority Vote

question

Which president issued more vetoes than any other during his tenure?

answer

Franklin D. Roosevelt

question

What are the party roles performed by the president?

answer

1. Chief Economist - names key economic managers 2. Party Leader 3. Chief Legislator - the main initiator of bills, has veto power 4. Chief Diplomat - signs treaties, appoints ambassadors 5. Commander-in-Chief - commands all military 6. Chief Executive - administers the Federal Government 7. Chief of State - The ceremonial part - i.e. lighting the Christmas tree 8. Chief Crisis Manager

question

As Chief Diplomat, what functions does the president perform?

answer

Appoints ambassadors, signs treaties, recognizes other countries (Executive agreements with other countries without the Senate's approval)

question

Executive agreements are considered to be in force for how long?

answer

ONLY during the administration of the president who negotiates the agreement

question

What are the powers vested in the president by the Constitution?

answer

Expressed Powers Inherent Powers

question

What presidential role(s) are/is most ceremonial and symbolic?

answer

Chief of State

question

Most would-be presidents choose their vice presidential running mate based on their desire for an approach that provides diversity and maximizes electoral appeal across the United States. What is this approach called?

answer

Balanced Ticket

question

Who was the first black secretary of state?

answer

Colin Powell

question

The National Security Council (NSC) is a group of top foreign policy advisors and relevant cabinet officials that advise the president on foreign policy and national security issues. Who is the official chair of the NSC?

answer

The president

question

Which constitutional amendment, passed in 1967, determines the course of action in the case of a president being?

answer

The 25th Amendment

question

What are the presidential powers granted by the Constitution officially called (statutory?, inherent?, justiciable?, or?)?

answer

Expressed Powers

question

What are the presidential powers codified in Article II of the Constitution?

answer

-Veto power -Serves as commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces -Appoint heads if the executive departments, ambassadors, Supreme Court Justices, people to fill vacancies that occur during the recess of the Senate, and other positions -Enter into treaties, with 2/3 consent of the Senate -Give the State of the Union address to Congress -Convene the Congress -Receive ambassadors of other nations -Commission all officers of the United States

question

Which constitutional clause has been cited by presidents as the basis for their assertion of inherent powers?

answer

Take Care Clause

question

Thomas Jefferson's decision to initiate the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 was an early example of the exercising of what type of presidential power?

answer

Inherent Powers

question

President Bush's high approval ratings after his response to the September 11 attacks are an example of what type of effect?

answer

Rally 'Round the Flag Effect

question

Which president initiated the New Deal, a series of social programs that dramatically transformed people's views of the role of the federal government?

answer

Franklin D. Roosevelt

question

What event led to a deep decline in popular perceptions of the presidency?

answer

Watergate Scandal

question

During impeachment, which federal body conducts the TRIAL of the president?

answer

The Senate

question

During the Civil War, President Lincoln suspended the civil liberties of alleged agitators and drafted state militias into national service. He did this using what set of powers that are used during times of national crisis?

answer

Emergency Powers

question

What are presidential powers granted by congress officially called?

answer

Statutory Powers

question

What are presidential powers that have been granted by decisions of the Supreme Court officially called?

answer

Emergency Powers

question

Since 1960, which vice presidents succeeded in becoming president?

answer

Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford, and George Bush

question

Those workers who do the work of government but don't get a government paycheck, are known as what type of bureaucrats?

answer

Shadow Bureaucrats

question

According to Max Weber, bureaucracies possess which features?

answer

-A division of labor - Specialization of job tasks -Hiring systems based on worker competency -Standard operating procedures -Hierarchy with a vertical chain of command

question

Before the establishment of the civil service system in 1883, what system of hiring was used to staff the federal bureaucracy?

answer

Patronage

question

What is the name given to the book, published every four years, that lists the federal positions available through the presidential patronage?

answer

The Plum Book

question

The assassination of which president by an unsuccessful seeker of a patronage position spurred passed of the Pendleton Civil Service Act in 1883?

answer

James Garfield

question

The Pendleton Civil Service Act introduced a civil service system for the national government based on what type of hiring principle?

answer

Merit-Based "Civil Service System"

question

The civil service system created by the Pendleton Civil Service Act is guided by which hiring principle(s)?

answer

Open Competition Competence Political Neutrality

question

In 1939 Congress passed the Hatch Act, which did what?

answer

Limited civil servant's rights to engage in political activity

question

The process by which the federal government shifts greater responsibility to state and local governments, thereby putting the implementation of national policy in the hands of state and local bureaucrats, is known as what?

answer

Devolution

question

What title is given to the top political appointee who heads each of the national government's 15 (except the department of justice)?

answer

Cabinet Secretary

question

Which is the newest of the national government's 15 departments?

answer

The Department of Homeland Security, -post 9/11

question

What best describes the business or role of an independent regulatory agency?

answer

Regulate specific areas of the economy, but are not under direct control of the President or a department

question

Which type of federal agency or entity is expected to make enough money to cover its' own costs?

answer

Government corporation

question

Which type of federal agency/entity that is a hybrid agency that fits into more than one category of federal agency?

answer

The FDA

question

According to the politics-administration dichotomy, who implements public policy?

answer

Politically neutral and well-trained bureaucrats

question

What is the second stage in the public policy cycle?

answer

Policy formation

question

Under what authority do bureaucrats have the power to use their expertise and judgement to implement public policy?

answer

Administrative discretion

question

What mechanism is used by bureaucrats to determine if their rules have been broken and to impose penalties on violators?

answer

Administrative adjudication

question

Which groups, individuals, or institutions can hold federal bureaucrats accountable for their actions?

answer

-Through the use of Sunshine Laws and Watchdog Groups -Through executive control -Through Congressional oversight and control -Through Judicial control -Through internal accountability efforts

question

Which type of law opens up government functions and documents to the public, ensuring transparency and public access to decision making?

answer

Sunshine Law

question

What was one of the first laws designed to enhance federal bureaucratic accountability to the people?

answer

The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) of 1946

question

Which act of congress, passed in 1976, requires most multi-headed national agencies to conduct open, public meetings?

answer

Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976

question

What are the ways in which Congress encourages bureaucratic accountability?

answer

-Power to pass laws -Power to confirm or deny presidential appointments -Power to launch congressional investigations and congressional hearings

question

What type of clause in a law forces the expiration of a program or policy after a specified number of years without congressional reauthorization?

answer

Sunset Clause

question

What piece of legislation established the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), which is charged with preventing bureaucratic conflicts of interest?

answer

The Ethics in Government Act of 1978

question

The Supreme Court predominately acts as a court of what (in terms of different types of jurisdiction)?

answer

The high court of the land -It serves as the court of last resort in the U.S. Judiciary

question

The Judiciary Act of 1789 provided for what?

answer

It created the 3-tiered federal court system. -It added district courts and circuit courts to the federal structure -The 94 District Courts have original jurisdiction

question

Which early landmark Supreme Court case granted the Supreme Court its most significant power?

answer

Marbury vs. Madison

question

The authority of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of governmental action is known as what?

answer

Judicial Review

question

What is common law based on?

answer

which is made principally by judges reaching decisions in cases

question

The principle of stare decisis, a Latin phrase that means "let the decision stand", is the basis of the modern legal concept known as what?

answer

Precedent - Previous judicial rulings guide future court decisions.

question

What is considered the highest form of law?

answer

The U.S. and State Constitutions

question

Statutes are authored by whom or what?

answer

Congress or a State Legislature

question

The compilation of all the laws passed by the U.S. Congress is known as the what?

answer

U.S. Code

question

Who files suit in a case dealing with a violation of criminal law?

answer

The government (i.e. a prosecutor)

question

In a civil lawsuit, negligence that causes harm to another person's body or property is known as a what?

answer

Tort

question

What type of court system exists in the United States? (Single? dual? triple? multiple?

answer

Dual Court System

question

How many federal district courts are there in the U.S. court system?

answer

13

question

What is the function of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals?

answer

To review previous decisions made by courts in the federal or state judicial system.

question

Which special court has come under increased media scrutiny due to its use since the 9/11 attacks?

answer

FISA Courts (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act)

question

The leading justice on the Supreme Court, who provides both organizational and intellectual leadership, is known by what title?

answer

Chief Justice

question

Which Supreme Court appointees were nominated by President Obama?

answer

Sonia Sotomayer and Elena Kagan

question

Which federal bodies share power in the selection of federal court judges?

answer

The President and The Senate

question

Senatorial courtesy gives senators of the same political party as the president the right to veto judicial appointments to which level of federal courts?

answer

Federal District Court Judge in the Senators state

question

A request to the Supreme Court that they review a case that was already decided is done via a(n) what?

answer

Writ of Certiorari

question

Who is charged with drafting pool memos, which summarize the facts, describe the legal arguments, and make recommendation as to whether the court should take the case?

answer

Supreme Court Clerks

question

For the Supreme Court to hear a case, how many of the nine justices must vote/want to hear it?

answer

4

question

Which chief justices led a particularly activist Supreme Court?

answer

Earl Warren

question

Who or what is given power under the Constitution to grant individual pardons?

answer

The president

question

Who or what issues articles of impeachment for federal judges?

answer

The House

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