If the Rules Committee applies the "closed rule" to a bill
No amendments will be permitted.
In Beyond Ideology political scientist Frances Lee shows that
Even on low stake issues, lawmakers exploit negotiation and floor debate to attack their opponent and promote their part's image.
The most powerful federal official (after the president) is most often said to be
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In the nation's first century
Service in Congress was not seen as a lifetime career for most members.
The modern Congress is different from the nineteenth century Congress in that most members
Are now professional politicians who want to stay in Congress.
Incumbents may have some problems in reelection campaigns if
-Disruptive issues such as general public discontent with Congress sometimes becomes prominent.
-The incumbent is tainted with charges of personal misconduct or corruption.
-The election is a midterm election and the incumbent is of the same party as the president.
-Through redistricting, the incumbent is placed in a disadvantageous district.
**All these answers are correct**
Which of the following statements about the seniority principle is most accurate?
Seniority is no longer absolute in the selection of committee chairs, but it is usually followed.
Because of the inherent tension in Congress between the need for strong leadership at the top and the individual congressional member's need to act according to local concerns,
Power in Congress is widely dispersed.
A pocket veto differs from a regular presidential veto in that a pocket veto
Can take effect only when the Congress is not in session.
Congress's inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is due to
The fragmented nature of Congress.
Congress typically takes presidential proposals
Only as a starting point.
In the 1970s, roll-call votes
Generally did not pit most Republicans against most Democrats.
What is the biggest reason that Congress does not vigorously pursue their oversight function?
The sheer magnitude of the task.
Most members of Congress are
Concerned with national issues, but more concerned with local ones.
Most of the work on legislation in Congress is done
By committees and their respective subcommittees.
The scheduling of bills in the Senate is left up to
The Senate majority leader.
News media coverage of Congress and the president is
Heavily tilted toward presidential coverage.
There are currently _____ voting members of the U.S. House of Representatives and ______ voting members in the Senate.
435; 100.
For a bill to pass in either chamber of Congress, it must
Receive the support of the simple majority of its members.
The dominant policymaking political institutions during most of the nineteenth century was
Congress.
Defining the conditions and scheduling a bill for floor debate in the House of Representatives is the responsibility of the
Rules committee.
"Mark up" of a bill means that
**No answers are correct.**
Committee kills more than _____ percent of the bills submitted in Congress.
90.
Nearly _____ percent of PAC contributions go directly to the incumbent.
90.
A bill has been approved in the House and Senate, albeit in slightly different versions. The bill now goes to
Conference committee.
Congressional staffers spend most of their time on
Constituency service and public relations.
Legislation whose tangible benefits are targeted solely at a particular legislator's constituency is
Pork-barrel legislation.
Compared with the Senate majority leader, the Speaker of the House has more power because
-The House places more limits on debate
-The House is a larger chamber in terms of membership.
-The House has less of a tradition as a chamber of equals.
-The Speaker is that chamber's presiding officer.
**All these answers are correct.**
A standing committee in the House or Senate
-It is a permanent committee.
-Has jurisdiction over a particular policy area.
-Has the authority to draft, amend, or recommend legislation.
-Is usually organized according to the seniority.
**All these answers are correct.**
One must be _____ years of age to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, and _____ years of age to serve in the Senate?
25; 30.
Campaign spending tends to be a much greater challenge for
Challengers and non-incumbents.
Which nation does NOT have a one-house dominant legislature?
The United States.
By and large, partisanship is
A huge source of cohesion and division within Congress.
What is the strategy in Senate to prevent a bill from coming to a vote?
Filibuster.
What percentage of state legislators are women?
More than twenty percent.