Congress and the Presidency

1. Every two years, ________ of the Senate must stand for reelection. [A] one-third [B] one-fourth [C] one-half [D] all 2. The number of seats granted to each state in the House of Representatives [A] is reapportioned every 10 years after the national census. [B] was set by the U.S. Constitution. [C] is reapportioned every two years at the time of each congressional election. [D] is reapportioned only when a new state is admitted to the Union. 3. Until 1913, U.S. senators were selected by [A] the House of Representatives. [B] the people. [C] state legislatures. [D] the electoral college. 4. The size of the House of Representatives [A] changes after each election. [B] is fixed by law at 100. [C] changes after each census. [D] is fixed by law at 435. 5. A president can be impeached by the ________ and tried and removed from office by the ________. [A] House; Senate [B] House and Senate; Supreme Court [C] House; House [D] Senate; House 6. The power to declare war resides with the [A] House and Senate together. [B] House of Representatives alone. [C] Senate only. [D] president only. 7. Which of the following is a direct result of the incumbency effect? [A] A general reduction in name recognition of all candidates [B] A greater likelihood for senators than for House members to be reelected [C] An increase in rate of defeat of House members seeking reelection [D] An extremely high likelihood that House members seeking reelection will win their election 8. The American public generally holds [A] Congress in higher regard than it holds the president. [B] individual members of Congress in higher regard than it holds Congress as an institution. [C] neither Congress nor its members in high regard. [D] Congress as an institution in higher regard than it holds individual members of Congress. 9. The redrawing of congressional districts is called [A] redistricting. [B] the incumbency effect. [C] electioneering. [D] reapportionment. 10. ________ refers to redrawing district lines for partisan advantage. [A] Gerrymandering [B] Electioneering [C] Redistricting [D] Reapportionment 11. In the congressional setting, franking refers to [A] members’ being honest with their constituents. [B] members’ right to send mail free of charge. [C] members’ helping constituents with problems. [D] challengers’ demanding honesty of incumbents. 12. An underlying assumption of the concept of descriptive representation seems to be that [A] elected representatives should follow their own conscience. [B] any citizen can be represented by any congressional representative. [C] representatives should carefully heed public opinion polls. [D] minorities can be effectively represented only by people of their own kind. 13. In the 1980s, Congress and the Supreme Court encouraged states to [A] maintain a segregated electoral process. [B] be “color-blind” in the drawing of districts. [C] consider race in an affirmative way in drawing district lines. [D] decrease the number of electoral districts. 14. The essence of the Supreme Court decisions in Shaw v. Reno, Miller v. Johnson, and Abrams Johnson is that [A] states cannot use race as the predominant factor in drawing district lines. [B] all districts must be approximately equal in population. [C] illegal aliens must be granted public services that are offered to citizens. [D] states must act affirmatively to maximize black congressional representation. 15. Most of the day-to-day work of drafting legislation takes place [A] in conference committees. [B] in standing committees. [C] in the Committee on Committees. [D] on the floor of the House and Senate. 16. Differences in the House and Senate versions of a particular bill are ironed out by [A] the party leadership of the two chambers. [B] the House and Senate committees that originally considered the bill. [C] a conference committee. [D] the president and congressional party leadership. 17. Committee chairpersons in Congress are usually chosen on the basis of [A] membership in the majority party and length of service on the committee in question. [B] willingness to support the president’s legislative agenda. [C] length of service in the legislative chamber. [D] loyalty to the majority party. 18. The minority counterpart to a committee chairperson is called a(n) [A] ranking minority member. [B] minority whip. [C] vice chairperson. [D] assistant chairperson. 19. A congressional committee that holds a hearing to determine whether the Department of Agriculture is administering the food stamp program as Congress intended is engaging in [A] legitimating behavior. [B] agenda setting. [C] legislative oversight. [D] logrolling. 20. The leader of the majority party in the House is the [A] president pro tempore. [B] speaker of the House. [C] House parliamentarian. [D] vice president of the United States. 21. The top leadership in the U.S. Congress is elected by [A] a vote by each of the two parties in both houses. [B] national party committees. [C] committee chairpersons. [D] the president. 22. The ________ is the most powerful person in the Senate. [A] president pro tempore [B] majority whip [C] majority leader [D] vice president of the United States 23. The Senate delay tactic of talking a bill to death is called [A] cloture. [B] logrolling. [C] gerrymandering. [D] filibuster. 24. Floor debate in the House is governed by [A] no one. [B] the Rules Committee. [C] unanimous consent. [D] standing committees. 25. Floor debate in Congress is usually characterized by [A] the norm of courtesy, whereby even opposing legislators treat each other with deference. [B] loss of temper and physical sparring. [C] oral attacks on the personality and morals of opposing legislators. [D] presentations given by clerks or staff members acting in the name of the legislator. 26. English political philosopher Edmund Burke argued that legislators are obligated to [A] vote as they think best—to use their own best judgment about important issues. [B] avoid ambition by serving only one term. [C] ignore constituents’ opinions as being ignorant and petty. [D] vote the way their constituents want. 27. A congressional representative is following the trustee philosophy when he or she [A] takes instructions from party leaders on how to vote. [B] consults with the president before an important vote. [C] votes according to his or her conscience, even if doing so means going against the wishes of the majority back home. [D] votes in accordance with the perceived wishes of the citizens back home. 28. Which of the following describes delegate behavior by a representative? [A] Voting according to his or her conscience, even if doing so means going against the wishes of the majority back home [B] Voting in accordance with the perceived wishes of the citizens back home [C] Taking instructions from party leaders on how to vote [D] Consulting the president before an important vote 29. Parliamentary governments most closely fit the _______ model of democracy. [A] majoritarian [B] separation of powers [C] direct [D] pluralist 30. One impact that the September 11 terrorist attacks had on President Bush was that [A] economics moved to the top of his agenda. [B] he became dramatically partisan in his attacks against Democrats. [C] he began to focus more on developing international cooperation. [D] he began to work more independently in the international arena. 31. The constitutional qualifications for the person elected president of the United States include all of the following except [A] residence. [B] citizenship. [C] experience. [D] age. 32. The U.S. Constitution does not give the president power to [A] veto legislation. [B] declare war. [C] serve as commander-in-chief of the military. [D] serve as administrative head of the nation. 33. How does the presidency today compare with the Framers’ conception of it? [A] The presidency is about as strong as the Framers’ conception. [B] The presidency is weaker than the Framers’ conception. [C] The presidency is far stronger than the Framers’ conception. [D] There is no basis for comparison because the Framers had no vision of presidential power. 34. A presidential action based on inherent power usually becomes a precedent for future chief executives unless the action was [A] quickly rebuffed by another branch of government. [B] based on a congressional delegation of power. [C] taken during a national emergency. [D] not based on an explicit constitutional grant of power. 35. When Congress willingly gives the president responsibility to administer programs, which of the following is occurring? [A] Congressional oversight [B] Caving in to presidential demands [C] Delegation of powers [D] Use of inherent power 36. Many of the steps taken by President Franklin Roosevelt to address the economic problems of the Great Depression were [A] taken under congressional delegation of power. [B] actions required of the president by the U.S. Constitution. [C] justified on the basis of his need to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” [D] in direct violation of congressional intent. 37. The purpose of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 was to [A] limit the president’s ability to pursue armed conflict without explicit congressional approval. [B] give the president greater flexibility in using the military to protect U.S. interests abroad. [C] provide retroactive congressional approval for U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. [D] end U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. 38. According to Richard Neustadt, the essence of presidential power is [A] the power to persuade. [B] statutory authority granted by Congress. [C] the right of command. [D] the responsibility to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” 39. The basic strategy for winning the popular vote for the presidency seems to be [A] putting together a platform of clear, well-reasoned policy proposals that will appeal to the intelligence of voters. [B] putting together a majority by assembling a coalition of small factions, groups, and interests. [C] exploiting the party organization and emphasizing party unity above all else. [D] finding the key issue on which the majority of Americans agree and appealing to that majority. 40. The phrase divided government refers to [A] specialization in Congress based on committees. [B] different parties controlling the presidency and Congress. [C] the separation of powers among three branches. [D] the Democrats and Republicans agreeing on a coalition government. 41. The organization of the White House staff is [A] constitutionally mandated. [B] subject to Senate approval. [C] determined by the party leadership in Congress. [D] determined by each president according to personal need. 42. The Executive Office of the President employs approximately [A] 18 people. [B] 1,800 people. [C] 18,000 people. [D] 180 people. 43. The cabinet is composed primarily of the [A] White House executive establishment whose purpose is to assist the president. [B] heads of the departments in the executive branch. [C] president’s closest personal advisers. [D] heads of departments in the executive branch and the leadership of the president’s party in Congress. 44. Lyndon Johnson’s policies consisted of a [A] renewed emphasis on economic freedom. [B] reduction of social welfare programs in favor of defense spending. [C] wide range of federal programs designed to promote social equality. [D] belief that the president should not get involved in the legislative process. 45. Reflecting his political values, Ronald Reagan’s second inaugural address emphasized [A] social service programs. [B] equality. [C] freedom. [D] justice. 46. The main day-to-day communication link between the White House and Congress consists of [A] close friends of the president who are members of Congress. [B] the vice president and his staff. [C] the legislative liaison staff. [D] party leaders. 47. One of the most effective weapons the president has to influence the content of legislation is the [A] power of the purse. [B] power to convene Congress. [C] power to declare war. [D] veto. 48. Presidents act as “fundraiser in chief” for [A] congressional operations. [B] their political party. [C] the White House. [D] All of these. 49. Which of the following is considered a model of effective crisis management? [A] Ronald Reagan and the TWA hijacking [B] Jimmy Carter and the Iranian hostage crisis [C] John Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis [D] Ronald Reagan and the Grenada invasion 50. The character issue” [A] was never mentioned until after the 1992 election. [B] made foreign governments distrust Clinton in negotiations. [C] weakened Bill Clinton’s image in the eyes of the public. [D] has never been raised about presidential candidates other than Bill Clinton. 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