question

Each state has __________ senators elected every __________ years.

answer

two, six

question

__________ is the process of allotting congressional seats to each state according to its proportion of the population.

answer

Apportionment

question

What form of legislature did the U.S. Constitution create?

answer

Bicameral

question

In the House of Representatives, who is second in authority to the Speaker of the House?

answer

Majority leader

question

A(n) __________ is an unlimited debate in which one senator or a group of senators keeps talking without interruption unless three-fifths of the chamber votes to end the discussion.

answer

Filibuster

question

The __________ model of representation holds that legislators should feel free to follow their own judgment on matters where the public remains silent.

answer

Politico

question

"Pork" legislation may aid the district of a member of Congress by __________. a. diverting unallocated funds to the service sector

answer

Increasing jobs and revenue with federally funded projects.

question

Successful members of Congress share the same policy interests as voters, according to the __________. a. conscience model of representation

answer

Delegate model of representation

question

Congressional whips serve what main function?

answer

Persuade party members to toe the party line.

question

__________ is the only formal method for ending a filibuster and requires the approval of __________ senators.

answer

Cloture, sixty

question

On average, each member of the House represents __________ voters.

answer

670,000

question

What is the name of the provision in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, giving Congress implied powers not otherwise enumerated?

answer

Necessary and proper clause

question

Once a bill has been introduced in Congress, what is typically the next step in the process? a. conference committee

answer

Referral to a committee

question

What were the three most common occupations of members of the 112th Congress? a. business, law, and public service/politics

answer

Law, public service/ politics, and science

question

Which statement is true of the House of Representatives?

answer

Members are elected every two years and apportioned to states based on population.

question

From Figure 6.1, Representing the Will of the People, the __________ model of representation holds that legislators should feel free to follow their own judgments on matters in which the public remains silent.

answer

Politico

question

In a New York Times/CBS poll taken in October 2011, 84 percent of respondents said they __________.

answer

Disapproved of the job Congress was doing.

question

Why are there currently 435 members in the House of Representatives?

answer

The number is fixed at this limit by Congress.

question

The number of __________ in state legislatures is a bit higher than in Congress, but parity seems a long way off.

answer

Women

question

A rise in party unity is indicative of __________.

answer

Low bipartisan levels

question

The Blue Dog Coalition and the Republican Study Committee are two examples of a__________.

answer

Caucus

question

____ committees exist in both the House and Senate, may be temporary or permanent, and usually have a focused responsibility.

answer

Select/Special

question

A unanimous consent agreement specifies __________.

answer

when a bill will be taken up on the Senate floor, what amendments will be considered, and when a vote will be taken.

question

The true leader of the Senate is the __________, elected by the majority party.

answer

majority leader

question

What advantage does a subcommittee offer the legislative process?

answer

Greater division of labor.

question

The president pro tempore __________.

answer

is a honorific office awarded to the senior senator of the majority party

question

Which model of representation is enacted when a representative follows the will of the people until he or she truly believes it is in the best interests of the nation to act differently?

answer

Conscience

question

The role of Senate minority leader is important because __________.

answer

he or she represents the opposition

question

The true leader of the House of Representatives is the __________, elected by the majority party.

answer

Speaker

question

What did the Supreme Court decide in Baker v. Carr (1961)?

answer

That redistricting is constitutional.

question

What is the purpose of a dislodge petition?

answer

To force a vote on a House bill within an opposing committee.

question

Which statement best characterizes the hearing process of a formal bill?

answer

Most formal bills receive a hearing, but few are marked up and sent to the floor.

question

A committee report is written __________.

answer

before going to the Rules Committee, but after a measure is marked up

question

What does the conscience model of representation tell us about representation?

answer

A legislator follows the will of the people in most instances until conscience pulls him or her in a different direction.

question

__________ is another term for reciprocity among congressional colleagues.

answer

Logrolling

question

Which is an example of logrolling in Congress?

answer

Supporting a bill in exchange for support of one's own bill.

question

What is the typical trajectory of a bill in the House of Representatives?

answer

Introduction Committee referral Subcommittee Full committee report Rules committee Full House vote Conference committee Send to President

question

A special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate is called a(n) _________ committee.

answer

Conference

question

In which event was there congressional oversight?

answer

The Watergate Scandal

question

Members of Congress differ from the larger American population in that they are disproportionately__________.

answer

White, upper-middle-class, middle-aged, and male

question

Packing and cracking both draw district lines to the favor of the majority party, and thus, are two types of __________.

answer

gerrymandering

question

A __________ is one tactic to signal the leadership that a Senate member may have objections to a bill.

answer

hold

question

The House minority leader __________.

answer

is elected by minority party

question

Charged with the responsibility to __________, the __________ is almost certainly the most powerful committee in either chamber of Congress.

answer

grant and set procedural rules, House Rules Committee

question

This individual keeps close contact with all members of his or her party, counts votes for key legislation, prepares summaries of bills, and acts as a communications link within the party.

answer

Majority/ Minority whip.

question

How might a bill become law if it has been pocket vetoed?

answer

Congress may override the pocket veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber.

question

What was the ultimate result of the Baker v. Carr (1961) decision?

answer

House districts were standardized to contain equal numbers of constituents.

question

Which kind of committee can be convened to conduct a special investigation in the event of a major scandal?

answer

Joint

question

Which example best demonstrates a legislator acting as a trustee of his or her constituency?

answer

Considering public opinion, then using his or her own best judgment about what is good for the nation as a whole.

question

__________ is a good example of Congressional casework.

answer

Assistance to a constituent in obtaining a Social Security check

question

Which of the following is true of majority-minority districts?

answer

Creation of majority-minority districts was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

question

Which example best demonstrates a legislator acting as a delegate of his or her constituency?

answer

following the public opinion of the constituency, regardless of his or her personal viewpoint

question

Executive deference to senior committee members is an example of __________.

answer

senatorial courtesy

question

In comparison to the House of Representatives, which of the following are considered to be general characteristics of the Senate?

answer

More media coverage, somewhat less partisan.

question

How are committee chairs traditionally selected in the House?

answer

Interviews to determine party loyalty.

question

In comparison to the Senate, which of the following are considered to be general characteristics of the House of Representatives?

answer

Less flexible rules, more partisan

question

Which response best reflects the dilemma of pork in legislation?

answer

Programmatic requests favor one district at the expense of all American taxpayers.

question

What best represents the trend of party polarization over the last three decades?

answer

Party polarization has increased as bipartisanship has decreased.

question

A member of Congress guided by the politico model of representation __________.

answer

follows his or her own judgement unless the constituency objects

question

Due to the large number of women who ran for office in 1990, that year has been called the "Year of the Woman."

answer

F

question

Close observers of the legislative branch argue that in the past few decades, members of Congress have become more ethical.

answer

T

question

Although the delegate perspective was dominant in the early years of the Republic, several changes have made the delegate model more popular today.

answer

T

question

A bill goes through markup in a full committee after a subcommittee votes in favor of it.

answer

T

question

When the vice president is not present, the House is formally led by its elected president pro tempore.

answer

F

question

The House currently has 435 members, but this number increases every ten years with the taking of the census, as mandated by the Constitution.

answer

F

question

Using the conscience model of representation, a legislator follows the will of the people, until conscience pulls him or her in a different direction.

answer

T

question

Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution stipulates that each state will have two senators elected for terms of six years each.

answer

F

question

Most of the day-to-day lawmaking and oversight of Congress occur at the subcommittee level.

answer

F

question

The __________ model of representation holds that a legislator should consider the will of the people but then do what he or she thinks is best for the nation as a whole and in the long term.

answer

Trustee

question

A conference committee is comprised of members from the House and Senate committees that originally considered the bill.

answer

T

question

In the face of inaction by House membership, a dislodge petition signed by a majority can force a bill out of a committee and to the floor.

answer

T

question

The vast majority of bills receive a subcommittee hearing, but not full passage.

answer

F

question

Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution enumerates the powers of Congress: powers are specific and limited rather than implied.

answer

F

question

Although the Constitution allows states to create their own legislative boundaries, gerrymandering in favor of any partisan or racial group is expressly forbidden by law.

answer

F

question

Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution stipulates that each House member must reside in the district he or she represents.

answer

T

question

_______ is the counterpart to the majority leader in the House opposition party.

answer

MINORITY LEADER

question

_______ committees are standing committees that include members from both houses of Congress, and are set up to conduct investigations or special studies.

answer

JOINT

question

_______ is a vote to end debate which requires a three-fifths vote of the entire membership of the Senate.

answer

CLOTURE

question

Congress may override a presidential veto with a(n) _______ vote in each chamber.

answer

TWO-THIRDS

question

The Constitution specifies that the presiding officer of the Senate is the vice president; however, the _______ presides in the vice president's absence.

answer

PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

question

Only one member of Congress may _______ a bill at its introduction, though other members show support by placing their names on the legislation

answer

SPONSOR

question

Figure 6.2, That's Not a Salamander; It's a Gerrymander! illustrates the origins of __________ and __________, the two main ways redistricting is abused.

answer

PACKING/CRACKING

question

After the Speaker, the next most powerful person in the House is the _______.

answer

MAJORITY LEADER

question

Article I, Section 1, of the Constitution established a _______ legislature.

answer

BICAMERAL

question

Cloture is the only way to end a(n) _______.

answer

FILIBUSTER

question

Although individual senators are perceived as more powerful than their House counterparts, the Senate _______ is less powerful than the Speaker of the House.

answer

MAJORITY LEADER

question

Because the Senate lacks a rules committee, it relies instead on a _______ negotiated by the majority and minority leaders, to govern consideration of a bill.

answer

UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT

question

_______ decides who shall be recognized to speak on the House floor, rules on points of order, and has the power of referral.

answer

SPEAKER

question

Because they continue from one Congress to the next, _______ committees are permanent fixtures to which bills are referred for consideration.

answer

STANDING

question

House members each represent approximately _______ per district.

answer

670,000

question

JUDICIARY

answer

SECTION

question

The legal system used by the United States and other countries in which a judge plays a relatively passive role as attorneys battle to protect each side's interests is known as the __________ system. a. adversarial b. inquisitorial c. dual court d. courts of last resort e. common law

answer

adversarial

question

Separate systems of state and federal courts throughout the United States are known as the __________ system. a. adversarial b. inquisitorial c. dual court d. courts of last resort e. common law

answer

dual court

question

The __________ Act of 1789 established the federal court system. a. Federal Courts b. Appellate c. Confirmation d. Interpretation e. Judiciary

answer

Judiciary

question

How many justices currently serve on the Supreme Court? a. five b. six c. twelve d. nine e. eight

answer

nine

question

In which of the following cases did the Supreme Court first claim the right of judicial review? a. Chishom v. Georgia b. Brown v. Board of Education c. United States v. Nixon d. Dred Scott v. Sandford e. Marbury v. Madison

answer

Marbury v. Madison

question

In which court do cases generally begin? a. trial b. appellate c. original d. constitutional e. state

answer

trial

question

When a case is granted review in an appellate court, the parties submit written __________ presenting their arguments. a. ledgers b. motions c. briefs d. opinions e. plans

answer

briefs

question

A writ of __________ is a request submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court decision. a. mandamus b. prohibition c. capias d. attachment e. certiorari

answer

certiorari

question

For a case to be heard in the Supreme Court, a minimum of how many justices must vote to hear the case? a. one b. four c. five d. nine e. six

answer

four

question

10. Following oral arguments, the justices gather for a __________, during which they discuss the case and cast preliminary votes. a. conference b. meeting c. hearing d. review e. circuit

answer

conference

question

How many levels does the federal judiciary have? a. two b. six c. four d. three e. five

answer

three

question

The highest appellate courts in the state and federal systems are known as __________. a. courts of last resort b. adversarial courts c. inquisitorial courts d. dual courts e. courts of common law

answer

courts of last resort

question

Elected state and national legislators draft laws referred to as __________ that judges must interpret. a. writs b. briefs c. decrees d. statues e. ordinances

answer

statues

question

The power of American judges to nullify decisions and actions by other branches of government, if the judges decide those actions violate the U.S. Constitution or the relevant state constitution, is known as __________. a. judicial implementation b. judicial review c. common law d. public trust e. constitutional law

answer

judicial review

question

What is the name of the process in Congress that can remove the president, federal judges, and other high officials from office? a. entrenchment b. judicial review c. the Judiciary Act d. impeachment e. arraignment

answer

impeachment

question

Which of the following nominates U.S. federal judges? a. president b. vice president c. chief justice d. Senate e. Supreme Court

answer

president

question

According to Table 9.4, Primary Methods of Initial Judicial Selection for State Judges, which of the following states selects judges through partisan elections? a. Michigan b. Oregon c. Pennsylvania d. Maine e. South Carolina

answer

Pennsylvania

question

Which of the following is the authority vested in a particular court to hear and decide the issues in a particular case? a. jurisdiction b. judicial review c. jurisprudence d. confirmation e. filibuster

answer

jurisdiction

question

What is the name given to the power of the courts to interpret, and overturn, the actions of the executive and legislative branches? a. original jurisdiction b. strict construction c. judicial review d. precedent e. stare decisis

answer

judicial review

question

Which president made an unsuccessful proposal known as the "court-packing plan," which would have permitted the appointment of additional justices to the U.S. Supreme Court? a. Bill Clinton b. John Adams c. Thomas Jefferson d. Franklin Roosevelt e. James Madison

answer

Franklin Roosevelt

question

Federal judges are appointed to __________ terms. a. two-year b. three-year c. life d. ten-year e. twenty-year

answer

life

question

The authority to be the first court to hear a case is which type of jurisdiction? a. appellate b. constitutional c. federal d. original e. trial

answer

original

question

A(n) __________ brief is submitted by someone who is not a party to the case. a. amicus curiae b. appellate c. habeas corpus d. outsider e. coram nobis

answer

amicus curiae

question

Only a(n) __________ court can review the decisions of a lower court. a. trial b. original c. administrative d. constitutional e. appellate

answer

appellate

question

The U.S. courts of appeals are divided into __________ numbered circuits and two unnumbered circuits. a. nine b. twelve c. thirteen d. eleven e. six

answer

eleven

question

The ruling in which of the following cases declared racial segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional, but did not desegregate schools? a. Gideon v. Wainwright b. McCulloch v. Maryland c. Brown v. Board of Education d. Marbury v. Madison e. Plessy v. Ferguson

answer

Brown v. Board of Education

question

Which of the following is an opinion written by a justice in the majority that outlines additional considerations he or she thinks are important? a. concurring b. en banc c. majority d. per curiam e. dissenting

answer

concurring

question

Who attempted to expand the number of Supreme Court justices in 1937? a. Chief Justice Warren b. President Hoover c. Chief Justice Marshall d. President Roosevelt e. President Wilson

answer

President Roosevelt

question

Proponents of which of the following believe that judges should use their power broadly to further justice? a. judicial restraint b. judicial constructionism c. judicial activism d. judicial originalism e. judicial implementation

answer

judicial activism

question

The existence of two court systems within each state reflects American __________, under which state governments and the federal government both exercise authority over law and public policy. a. federalism b. supremacy c. constitutionalism d. originalism e. statism

answer

federalism

question

In which federal courts are trials conducted? a. circuit b. district c. common d. original e. public

answer

district

question

According to Table 9.3, Judicial Review, which case showed the Supreme Court rejecting arguments about the president's power to hold suspects indefinitely without any rights, any contact with attorneys, or any access to the courts? a. Marbury v. Madison b. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission c. McDonald v. City of Chicago d. Hamdi v. Rumsfeld e. Arizona Free Enterprise Club's Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett

answer

Hamdi v. Rumsfeld

question

Courts provide a statement of the legal reasoning behind their decisions in written __________. a. briefs b. arguments c. opinions d. laws e. pamphlets

answer

opinions

question

Which of the following represents an approach to understanding judicial decision-making that emphasizes the importance of courts' structures and processes as well as the courts' role in the governing system? a. new institutionalism b. strategic voting model c. attitudinal model d. judicial intention e. flexible interpretation

answer

new institutionalism

question

Atkins v. Virginia used which type of interpretive approach to conclude that execution of those with mental and developmental disabilities was an unconstitutional punishment? a. originalist b. flexible c. institutional d. attitudinal e. judicial restraint

answer

flexible

question

Congress cannot expand the Supreme Court's __________ jurisdiction. a. appellate b. constitutional c. criminal d. original e. civil

answer

original

question

What are the two types of jurisdiction courts can have? a. original and appellate b. trial and appeals c. constitutional and statutory d. active and restrained e. legislative and constitutional

answer

legislative and constitutional

question

Which of the following is within the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court? a. federal criminal matters b. tax disputes c. military tribunals d. controversies between the states e. property disputes

answer

controversies between the states

question

When the Supreme Court decided that the Eighth Amendment prohibition on "cruel and unusual punishments" forbids the application of the death penalty to offenders with mental development disabilities (Atkins v. Virginia, 2002), the majority of justices used a(n) __________ approach that claimed society's views about punishments for such individuals had changed over time. a. attitudinal model b. strategic voting model c. flexible interpretation d. new institutionalism e. judicial intention

answer

flexible interpretation

question

An interest group may sponsor or present a __________ case in the court pathway to influence public policy. a. curiae b. lobbying c. grassroots d. jurisdictional e. test

answer

test

question

According to Table 9.1A, Structure of the American Court System, which type of court would have original jurisdiction over cases involving foreign ambassadors? a. U.S. Supreme Court b. state supreme courts c. U.S. courts of appeal d. state courts of appeal e. U.S. district courts

answer

U.S. district court

question

According to Table 9.1A, Structure of the American Court System, which type of court has no original jurisdiction because no cases are first filed in these courts? a. U.S. Supreme Court b. state supreme courts c. U.S. courts of appeal d. state courts of appeal e. U.S. district courts

answer

U.S. courts of appeal

question

Appellate courts have appellate jurisdiction, meaning they review specific __________ that allegedly occurred in trial court processes or in decisions of appellate courts beneath them in the judicial hierarchy. a. pleas b. verdicts c. appeals d. errors e. briefs

answer

errors

question

How many courts of appeals are in the federal system? a. two b. six c. thirteen d. eleven e. five

answer

thirteen

question

A legal rule established by a judicial decision that guides subsequent decisions in court rulings is known as which of the following? a. per curiam b. case precedent c. coram nobis d. amicus curiae e. common law

answer

case prrecedent

question

In a process known as __________, presidents generally allow senators from the state in which a judicial vacancy occurs to block the nomination. a. advice and consent b. presidential deference c. judicial review d. senatorial courtesy e. Senate confirmation

answer

senatorial courtesy

question

Members of the minority political party in the Senate may block a vote on the appointment of a judge through a __________. a. judicial election b. confirmation hearing c. partisan election d. judicial implementation e. filibuster

answer

fillibuster

question

The attitudinal model analyzes judicial decision making by looking at the decision __________ of individual judges to identify attitudes and values guiding those decisions. a. outcomes b. reasoning c. timing d. patterns e. style

answer

patterns

question

When the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear a case appealed to it from a circuit court, it is exercising its __________ jurisdiction. a. original b. constitutional c. mandatory d. appellate e. legislative

answer

appellate

question

According to the principle of __________, a court should not overturn prior judicial decisions unless it is absolutely necessary. a. original intent b. judicial review c. case precedent d. prior restraint e. judicial privilege

answer

case precedent

question

What type of law governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights? a. positive b. civil c. criminal d. constitutional e. personal

answer

civil

question

Which of the following can modify a decision of the Supreme Court? a. an executive order from the president b. a federal statute passed by the Senate c. a lower court decision d. the agreement of at least five justices that a prior decision was wrongly decided e. a writ of certiorari

answer

the agreement of at least five justices that a prior decision was wrongly decided

question

All federal judicial nominations are first referred to which of the following for a hearing? a. House Judiciary Committee b. Senate Nominations Committee c. Supreme Court d. Senate Judiciary Committee e. attorney general

answer

Senate Judiciary Committee

question

If a judge believes that she should only strike down laws that clearly violate the Constitution, she likely believes in which of the following? a. judicial activism b. judicial conservatism c. judicial originalism d. judicial restraint e. judicial construction

answer

judicial restraint

question

The conference of the U.S. Supreme Court is __________. a. open to the justices and the public b. limited to the justices themselves c. open to the justices and other court staff d. open to the justices and the president e. open to the justices and all members of Congress

answer

limited to the justices themselves

question

In Federalist No. 78, why did Alexander Hamilton call the judiciary the "least dangerous" branch of government? a. It lacked the power of the "purse." b. It could force people to obey only constitutional laws. c. It lacked the power of the "sword." d. It had no legitimate power. e. It lacked the power of the "purse or sword."

answer

It lacked the power of the "purse or sword".

question

Which of the following limits judicial power? a. judicial review b. judicial activism c. case precedent d. constitutional courts e. senatorial courtesy

answer

case precedent

question

A court that hears and weighs evidence in order to reach the first decision in a civil or criminal case is a court of __________ jurisdiction. a. appellate b. constitutional c. trial d. original e. mandatory

answer

0riginal

question

Which of the following justices on the Roberts Court believes that constitutional interpretation must follow original intent in order to avoid judicial activism? a. John Roberts b. Elena Kagan c. Ruth Bader Ginsburg d. Anthony Kennedy e. Clarence Thomas

answer

Clarence Thomas

question

Which of the following did the Supreme Court invalidate in Dred Scott v. Sandford? a. Connecticut Compromise b. Virginia Compromise c. Missouri Compromise d. New Jersey Compromise e. Maryland Compromise

answer

Missouri Compromise

question

decisions

answer

T

question

district courts

answer

T

question

appellate courts

answer

F

question

Supreme Court

answer

F

question

rationale

answer

F

question

again

answer

T

question

values

answer

F

question

The U.S. courts of appeal have no original jurisdiction.

answer

T

question

The Supreme Court regularly exercises its original jurisdiction.

answer

F

question

appeals

answer

T

question

review

answer

T

question

justice

answer

T

question

state courts

answer

F

question

There are no juries in _____ courts.

answer

appellate

question

Trial courts are courts of _____ jurisdiction, meaning they receive cases first, consider the available evidence, and make the initial decision.

answer

original

question

In the federal system, the U.S. Supreme Court is the court of last _____.

answer

resort

question

_____ represents the body of prior judicial decisions.

answer

Case precedent

question

_____ interpretation is an approach to interpreting the U.S. Constitution that permits the meaning of the document to change with evolving values, social conditions, and problems.

answer

Flexible

question

The circuit courts hear appeals from the _____ courts.

answer

federal district

question

According to Table 9.2, Supreme Court Justices, Justice _____ is the most conservative member of the current court.

answer

Alito

question

An alternative theory of judicial decision-making, known as the _____ model, states that Supreme Court justices' opinions are driven by their attitudes and values.

answer

attitudinal

question

New _____ is an approach that emphasizes understanding courts as institutions and seeing the role of courts in the larger political system.

answer

Institutionalism

question

For effective advocacy in litigation, _____ is essential.

answer

expertise

question

Interest groups seek to find an appropriate _______ case that will serve as the vehicle to persuade judges to change law & policy.

answer

test

question

Because of the country's _____ court system, there is often a choice to be made about whether state or federal courts are more likely to produce outcomes favorable to a group's interests.

answer

dual

question

Judges who do not agree with the outcome of a case write _____ opinions.

answer

dissenting

question

If North Dakota sues South Dakota, the case will be heard by the _____.

answer

Supreme Court

question

Judicial _____ encourages deference to the policy judgments of elected branches of government.

answer

self restraint

question

Interest groups seek to find an appropriate _______ case that will serve as the vehicle to persuade judges to change law & policy.

answer

test

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