Chapter 11- 2310

Question 1

Which of the following correctly describes how committees and subcommittees serve to decentralize power in Congress?

A. They serve party leadership goals at the expense of individual members’ power needs.

They dilute the power of the parties and increase bipartisan negotiations.

C. They allow more members to hold leadership positions.

D. They give the minority party’s members the same power as the majority party’s members.

Answer 1

C. They allow more members to hold leadership positions.

Question 2

If a “turf war” erupts as different committees vie for jurisdiction over a bill, who or what decides the committee assignment?

A. It is assigned to the most senior of the ranking members of the committees in question.

B. The Speaker of the House decides the committee assignment.
C. It is assigned to the most senior committee chairs in question.
D. Party leaders decide the committee assignment.

Answer 2

D. Party leaders decide the committee assignment.

Question 3

True or false: House committees have the power to make suggestions for changing a bill in a process known as markup.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

If the majority of the members of the House of Representatives are Republican, then every committee and subcommittee in the House will_____________
A. have a majority of Republican members
B.have a majority of Democratic members
C. has a minority of Republican members
D. divided between Republican and Democratic members

Answer 4

A. have a majority of Republican members

Question 5

If the Rules Committee places a “closed rule” on a piece of legislation, Blank______ amendments are permitted.
A. no
B. many
C. any
D. some

Answer 5

A. No

Question 6

The most powerful leader in the House of Representatives is the______
A. minority leader
B. majority leader
C.president pro tempore
D.Speaker of the House

Answer 6

D.Speaker of the House

Question 7

True or false: After clearing the committee stage, floor debate on a bill is usually led by the majority party’s leadership in the House.

Answer 7

True

Question 8

Choosing committee chairs based on which member has the longest continuous tenure on a standing committee is an example of the________system.

Answer 8

seniority

Question 9

Every bill must be approved by both the House and the Senate in ______________ form before it can be sent to the president.

Answer 9

Identical

Question 10

A limit of ______ exists for how long a Republican member can chair a particular committee.
A. two terms
B. two years
C. four years
D. six years

Answer 10

D. six years

Question 11

Whether or not Congress takes the lead in the making of laws usually depends on ___________
A. how involved the president is in the legislative process
B. the type of policy at issue
C.if the Speaker of the House feels strong or weak in his or her position

Answer 11

B. The type of policy at issue

Question 12

In the House, both the full committee and a subcommittee may ______, or propose changes to, a bill.
A. filibuster
B.pocket veto
C.mark up
D.log roll

Answer 12

C.mark up

Question 13

Ensuring that laws are being administered by the executive branch in the way intended by Congress is an important function of Congress and is known as _____

Answer 13

Oversight

Question 14

A(n) _________, rule allows members to propose amendments that are relevant to any section of the bill.

Answer 14

Open

Question 15

On major bills, it is increasingly typical for the majority party’s leaders to:
A. step back and allow committees to take the lead
B. shape the bill’s broad content
C.prevent the minority party from participating
D. direct the floor debate after the bill leaves the committee

Answer 15

B. shape the bill’s broad content
D. direct the floor debate after the bill leaves the committee

Question 16

The sole purpose of a conference committee is to___________
A.propose new legislation to both the House and Senate
B. reconcile differences in the House and Senate versions of a bill
C. end unlimited debate on the Senate floor
D. provide legislators with the opportunity to filibuster

Answer 16

B. reconcile differences in the House and Senate versions of a bill

Question 17

An example of Congress’s______________occurs when Congress passes legislation that creates incentives for the development of alternative energy sources.
A. oversight function
B.checks and balances
C.executive function
D.lawmaking function

Answer 17

D.lawmaking function

Question 18

Which function describes the process by which the legislature checks on the executive branch to make sure it is carrying out the laws in the way Congress intended?
A. representation
B. oversight
C. lawmaking
D. logrolling

Answer 18

B. oversight