Political Science Expert Q&A

The congressional practice of "ping ponging" occurs when

A) Congress passes a new version of a law that was previously struck down as unconstitutional by the federal judiciary.
B) Congress passes a new version of a law that was previously vetoed by the president.
C) there is a divided Congress and the House and Senate exchange amendments in order
To reach agreement on the final version of a bill.
D) a bill is passed in one house of Congress but not passed in the other.

Which of the following statements best describes the difference between a congressional
Hearing and a congressional investigation?

A) There are no important differences between a congressional hearing and a congressional investigation.
B) A hearing is held by members of both the House and the Senate while an investigation is conducted exclusively by members of a single chamber.
C) A hearing is held in order to analyze a specific bill that has already been proposed while an investigation examines a broad problem and concludes with recommendations for a proposed bill.
D) An investigation is held in order to analyze a specific bill that has already been proposed while hearing examines a broad problem and concludes with recommendations for a proposed bill.

The Senate and House Appropriations committees are important because

A) they determine the number of seats on each congressional committee.
B) they are placed in charge of redistricting after every census.
C) they decide how much funding various programs will receive and how the money
Will be spent.
D) they determine what conduct is ethically appropriate for elected representatives
And what the penalties associated with inappropriate conduct will be.

The president pro tempore of the Senate is usually

A) the minority party leader with the greatest seniority.
B) the minority party leader with the least seniority.
C) selected directly by the president.
D) the majority party member with the greatest seniority.

Congressional leaders form ________ committees when they want to take up an issue that falls between the jurisdiction of existing committees,to highlight an issue,or to investigate a
Particular problem.

A) conference
B) joint
C) select
D) standing

The House Rules committee is important because it

A) is placed in charge of selecting the Speaker of the House.
B) decides the order in which bills come up for a vote on the House floor and determines
The specific rules that govern the length of debate and opportunity for amendments.
C) reviews all applications regarding the formation of select committees.
D) determines the jurisdiction of every congressional standing committee.

Joint committees

A) are temporary,but have the power to present legislation.
B) are permanent and have the power to present legislation.
C) are temporary and do not have the power to present legislation.
D) are permanent,but do not have the power to present legislation.

A ________ specifies general rules and categories of behavior,people,and institutions while a ________ grants a relief,special privilege,or exemption to a particular individual.

A) private bill; public bill
B) public bill; private bill
C) continuing resolution; pork-barrel bill
D) consent decree; pork-barrel bill

What are the most common private bills proposed in Congress?

A) bills giving individuals or corporations tax relief
B) bills for permanent visas or citizenship for foreign nationals
C) bills for defense contracts in a representative's district
D) bills that declare certain foreign nationals enemies of the United States

Which of the following statements best describes the representation of women and minorities
In the U.S.Congress?

A) Representation of women and minorities has decreased by one-third since the 1970s.
B) Representation of women and minorities has increased over the past two decades but is not comparable to their proportions in the general population.
C) Women are underrepresented in Congress,but there is a disproportionate representation of minorities in Congress.
D) Since the mid-1990s,the number of women and minorities in Congress has roughly reflected their proportions in the general population.

Race became a major factor in drawing congressional district lines as a result of

A) Title IX of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
B) Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
C) the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v.Holder.
D) the 1982 amendments to the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

A bill proposed in Congress that grants citizenship to a specifically named individual from a
Foreign country would be an example of a(n)

A) public bill.
B) private bill.
C) executive order.
D) executive agreement.

What is the MOST common occupation among members of Congress before coming to Congress?

A) business executive
B) lobbyist
C) college professor
D) lawyer

The kind of representation that takes place when constituents have the power to hire and fire
Their representatives is called

A) agency representation.
B) sociological representation.
C) delegate representation.
D) trustee representation.

The frequency with which they must seek reelection makes members of the U.S.House of Representatives

A) more responsive to the needs of the elites in the states they represent.
B) less responsive to the needs of the elites in the states they represent.
C) less responsive to the needs of local interest groups in the districts they represent.
D) more responsive to the needs of local interest groups in the districts they represent.

The term "pork barrel" refers to

A) any piece of legislation that changes the number of agricultural subsidies provided to farmers by the federal government.
B) the collective set of law that regulates America's meat exports.
C) bills that grant a special privilege to a person named in the bill.
D) appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that are often not needed but that are created so that local representatives can win reelection in their home districts.

A member of the House of Representatives that helps a constituent apply for Social Security
Benefits is engaging in

A) constituency service.
B) quid-pro-quo-ism.
C) earmarking.
D) logrolling.

What is the primary function of a PAC?

A) to raise grassroots support for a particular interest
B) to build better networks between interest groups and political parties
C) to raise and distribute money to election campaigns
D) to produce and carry out an institutional advertising campaign

________ occurs when interest groups take out advertisements and hold marches.

A) Mobilizing public opinion
B) Partisan politics
C) Lobbying
D) Litigating

Which sort of representation is based on the principle that if two individuals are similar in background,character,interests,and perspectives,then one could correctly represent the other's views?

A) agency
B) sociological
C) trustee
D) delegate