question

The framers of the Constitution conceived of __________ as the center of policymaking in America.

answer

Congress

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The foremost attraction for the job of serving in Congress is

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the power to make key public policy decisions

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_________ privileges refers to the free use of the mails enjoyed by Congress.

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"Franking"

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The United States House of Representatives has ________ members.

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435

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The United States Senate has _________ members.

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100

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How many senators are elected from each state?

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2

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Which of the following is true about the minimum age requirements for members of Congress set forth in the Constitution?

answer

25 for a House member and 30 for a Senator

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The members of the Senate closely reflect the nation in terms of

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E. none of the above (not race, economic status, prior occupation or gender)

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The income and occupations of members of Congress

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would make them members of the elite in American Society

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Women constitute _________ of the United States Senate.

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the most underrepresented group

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In terms of religion, most members of Congress are

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Protestant

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The most common prior occupation for members of Congress is

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law

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Incumbents are those

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already holding office

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In most congressional elections, challengers

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lose

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The single most important advantage to someone trying to get elected to Congress is

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being an incumbent

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The pork barrel and casework are examples of

answer

opportunities for credit-claiming by members of Congress

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Federal grants and contracts that members of Congress try to obtain for their constituents are collectively referred to as

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the pork barrel

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What accounts for the success of congressional candidates?

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advertising, credit-claiming, and position-taking

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Party loyalty at the voting booth is

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still a good predictor of voting behaviour

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When Political Action Committees contribute money to members of Congress they are usually seeking

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access to policy makers

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Bicameralism means that a legislative body is one

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with two houses, providing checks and balances on policy making

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To be sent to the president, a bill must be passed by

answer

both the House and the Senate

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The House ________ Committee reviews most bills coming from other committees before they go on to the full House, thus performing a traffic cop function.

answer

Rules

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Articles of impeachment must be passed by

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the House

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House seats are up for election every

answer

two years

question

A Senate seat is up for election every

answer

six years

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Which of the following is true about the Senate as compared to the House?

answer

more centralized, stronger leadership, more influential on the budget, smaller in number, less powerful and prestigious, seniority is more important in determining power

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According to the Constitution, revenue bills must originate in the

answer

House

question

Nominees to the United States Supreme Court must be confirmed by

answer

the Senate

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According to the Constitution, once impeached, federal officials are then tried in the

answer

Senate

question

The House Rules Committee

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reviews most bills coming from committee befroe they go to the full House

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One of the key differences between the House and Senate is that the House

answer

has more policy specialization

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One of the key differences between the House and Senate is that the Senate

answer

is less dependent on seniority for determining power

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The real differences between the House and the Senate lie in their

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organization and centralization of power

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_________ members present and voting can halt a filibuster by voting for cloture.

answer

60

question

The filibuster is a technique used in the

answer

Senate (to prolong debate in order to kill a bill)

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To cut off debate and end a filibuster is known as

answer

cloture

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Which of the following congressional offices is mandated by the Constitution

answer

Speaker of the House

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The _________ is next in line after the vice president to succeed a president who resigns, dies in office, or is impeached.

answer

Speaker of the House

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The minority whip

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keeps a close head count on key votes and attempts to keep party members in line

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The __________ has the job of presiding over the Senate, breaking ties when necessary.

answer

Vice President

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The most powerful person in the Senate is the

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majority leader

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Most of the business of Congress takes place

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in committees and subcommittees

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A _________ committee is one appointed for a limited, specific purpose, such as that set up to investigate the Watergate scandal.

answer

select

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Appropriations, Judiciary, and Armed Forces are all examples of _________ committees.

answer

standing

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When the House and the Senate pass different versions of the same bill

answer

a conference committee is appointed to resolve differences

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Legislative _________ is the process of monitoring the bureaucracy and its administration of policy.

answer

oversight

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When members of Congress hold a hearing to question a cabinet member on how a law is being carried out, they are engaging in

answer

legislative oversight

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Traditionally, Congressional committee chairpersons have been chosen through

answer

the seniority system

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Members of Congress who informally band together in groups to promote and protect mutual interests (e.g., mushroom growers) form what are called

answer

caucuses

question

Only _________ can formally submit a bill for congressional consideration.

answer

members of the House or Senate

question

Most bills formally submitted for consideration in Congress

answer

are quietly killed off early in the process

question

The president's most common method of attempting to influence Congress is to

answer

hold regular meetings with the party's leaders in Congress

question

The best way constituents can influece congressional voting on legislation is to

answer

elect a representative or senator who agrees with their views

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