CHAPTER 8: Congress: The Legislative Elite

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. According to the text, Congressmen

a. spend most weekends in DC raising money from interests groups.
b. spend minimal time in DC and long weekends in their home district or state.
c. spend most weekends in caucus meetings in DC.
d. spend most weekends on junkets paid for by lobbyists.

ANS: B REF: 182

2. Prior to taking office, the majority of Senators hailed from which of the following professional
background?
a. Business c. Law
b. Education d. Physician or scientist

ANS: C REF: 182 | 183

3. For the first time in the House of Representative, the 113th Congress saw
a. women outnumber men.
b. business people outnumber lawyers.
c. most incumbents lose their seats.
d. preachers outnumber business people.

ANS: B REF: 183

4. Overall, the number of African-American congressmen has ______________________.

a. increased c. remained the same
b. decreased d. become stagnant

ANS: A REF: 183 | 184

5. The second largest ethnic group in America (after whites) is

a. African America. c. Asian America.
b. Hispanic or Latino/a. d. none of the above.

ANS: B REF: 185

6. Approximately what percent of Senators have previously served as a member of the House of
Representatives?
a. 25% b. 50%
c. 60% d. 40%

ANS: B REF: 183

 7. In recent decades, party control of the House and Senate
a. has remained stable.
b. has seen both houses change party leadership.
c. has seen the House become nearly completely republican.
d. has seen the Senate overwhelmingly controlled by the democratic party.

ANS: B REF: 186

8. Constituent service, or casework, is a form of retail politics where politicians

a. hold press conferences to announce campaign plans.
b. solicit campaign funds through the mail.
c. help people on a personal level.
d. have town hall meetings to reach out to constituents.

ANS: C REF: 190

9. A legislators most relevant constituents are

a. the major donors within their districts.
b. the people in their district who voted for them.
c. active and resourceful elites in their district.
d. all of the above.

ANS: C REF: 190

10. The efforts of Senators and Representatives to bring federal money home to their districts in the form of
extra spending on various projects are called
a. beef. c. cream.
b. pork. d. tofu.

ANS: B REF: 190

11. Which of the following is not an advantage incumbents have in seeking reelection?
a. Name recognition c. A great voting record
b. Franking privilege d. A War Chest with political donors

ANS: C REF: 193 | 194

12. Smart money backs a winner, so most campaign donations go to

a. challengers. c. Democrats.
b. incumbents. d. Republicans.

ANS: B REF: 194

13. Which of the following is seen as a benefit for enacting term limits?
a. More professional legislators
b. More competitive open-seat elections
c. Less influence by special interests
d. Lower election costs

ANS: B REF: 194

14. In a typical two-year congressional session, about 10,000 bills are introduced, but the 111th Congress
passed fewer than _____________ bills.
a. 1,200 c. 800
b. 4,000 d. 2,000

ANS: C REF: 194

15. Which of the following is not one of the three most powerful committees of the House of
Representatives?
a. Rules c. Foreign Affairs
b. Ways and Means d. Appropriations

ANS: C REF: 198

16. Which of the following is not one of the three most prestigious committees of the Senate?
a. Armed Forces c. Finance
b. Foreign Relations d. Appropriations

ANS: A REF: 198

17. Homestyle representation includes ___________________.

a. personal appearances in home districts c. bringing pork to their district
b. using staff to focus on constituents services d. all of the above

ANS: D REF: 190

18. Applying the Theory of Democracy, the masses should ___________________.

a. vote out all incumbents c. re-elect the incumbents
b. insist on a balanced budget amendment d. invoke term-limits

ANS: A REF: 191 | 192

19. The purpose of committee hearings is to

a. influence interest groups.
b. make major decisions on policy.
c. influence public opinion.
d. hear all available information on an issue.

ANS: C REF: 198

20. Republicans in the House of Representatives assign committee memberships through

a. the Speaker of the House. c. seniority.
b. the Majority leader. d. a Committee on Committees.

ANS: D REF: 198 | 199

21. The role of committee and subcommittee chairpersons is to

a. select which bills are considered.
b. select which issues will receive public hearings.
c. establish the agenda.
d. All of the above are true.

ANS: D REF: 199 | 200

22. Experienced legislators are more likely to vote for unpopular bills because
a. they know their constituents arent likely to respond.
b. will maintain party support and funding.
c. they have sufficient support amongst their colleagues.
d. they represent safe districts and will not lose re-election.

ANS: A REF: 199

23. Rules Committee membership is dominated by

a. powerful campaign fundraisers.
b. senior members from noncompetitive districts.
c. party leaders favorites.
d. popular colleagues with party support.

ANS: B REF: 200

24. A Senate filibuster can only be ended by

a. a quorum call. c. motion for formal debate.
b. a cloture vote. d. nothing, as it is final.

ANS: B REF: 200

25. Most amendments to a bill come during the part of the legislative process known as the
a. committee meeting. c. floor vote.
b. subcommittee meeting. d. conference committee.

ANS: C REF: 201

26. The role of a Conference Committee is to

a. rewrite bills to ensure passage.
b. reconcile House and Senate versions of a bill.
c. introduce legislation .
d. debate amendments to a bill.

ANS: B REF: 201

27. Most Congressmen and Senators are worth over ___________________.

a. $1.2 million c. $900,000
b. $500,000 d. $2 million

ANS: C REF: 189

28. Which of the following is a power of the Speaker of the House of Representatives?
a. Referring bills to committee
b. Appointing conference committees
c. Recognizing those who wish to speak on the floor
d. All of the above are powers of the Speaker.

ANS: D REF: 204 | 205

29. The __________ presides over the Senate in the absence of the vice president.
a. Speaker of the House c. president pro tempore
b. majority leader d. majority whip

ANS: C REF: 205

30. Political party whips

a. ensures congressional members are present for all votes.
b. play an important role in legislation.
c. solicit support for the leadership.
d. all of the above.

ANS: D REF: 205

31. Polarization on Capitol Hill

a. has produced more conflict between political parties.
b. has brought about less bipartisan cooperation.
c. caused legislative gridlock causing fewer bills to be passed during session.
d. all of the above

ANS: D REF: 206

32. Members of Congress who maintain their own personal Political Action Committees
a. are violating the new campaign finance reform law.
b. can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money on any election.
c. can cause fellow Congressmen to lose their seats due to campaign contributions.
d. none of the above.

ANS: D REF: 206

33. The biggest divide in American politics remains

a. the size and role of the military.
b. the size and role of corporations.
c. the size and role of the budget and spending.
d. the size and role of the government.

ANS: D REF: 207

34. This is likely the most important power that Congress can use: _______________.
a. the power to declare war c. the power of the purse
b. the power to increase taxes d. all of the above

ANS: C REF: 208

35. The difference between a legal campaign donation and a bribe is

a. bribes specifically require official actions in return.
b. campaign donations do not depend on getting influence.
c. bribes are for larger amounts of money.
d. negligible.

ANS: A REF: 210

FILL-IN-THE-BLANK

1. Congress members principally represent ____________________ in order to ensure their own re-election.

ANS: themselves

REF: 181

2. The ability and desire to sell oneself as a candidate, raise money, and organize others to work on ones
campaign is called ____________________.

ANS: political entrepreneurship

REF: 182

3. The most common professional background in Congress has consistently been ________________.

ANS: law

REF: 182 | 183

4. Most Congressmen sacrifice local ties and succumb to the attractions of Washingtons
_________________________ social lifestyle.

ANS: inside the beltway

REF: 182

5. The Republican revolution under Newt Gingrich brought control of Congress to the GOP in
____________________.

ANS: 1994

REF: 186

6. Democrats lost ____________ seats in the House of Representatives in the 2010 mid-term election.

ANS: 65

REF: 186

7. The theory of representative democracy implies that dissatisfied voters will defeat incumbents and do what
they call ____________________.

ANS: throw the rascals out

REF: 191

8. Due to the mass distrust of politicians, there is popular support to implement ______________.

ANS: term limits

REF: 194
9. Most pork or additional federal money brought to a Congressmens district is done by ____________ on
bills.

ANS: earmarks

REF: 190

10. The 2001 PATRIOT Act was classified as __________________to get it passed quickly.

ANS: fast-track legislation

REF: 202

11. _____________________ are alliances of leaders from executive agencies, congressional committees, and
private business and industry.

ANS: Iron triangles

REF: 200

12. Senators talking for hours about a bill to block further action is known as the ____________________.

ANS: filibuster

REF: 200

13. Based on recent polls, Congressional approval rating typically range between ______________.

ANS: 10 20 %

REF: 192

14. The single most powerful person in the entire Congress is the ____________________.

ANS: Speaker of the House

REF: 204

15. The assistant floor leader, or ____________________, has the function of keeping members informed and
seeing that they are present for important floor votes.

ANS: whip

REF: 205

16. The President of the Senate is also the ____________________ and serves as the tie-breaker for votes

ANS: Vice president

REF: 205
17. A ____________________ is a type of fundraising organization used by members of Congress to increase
their influence.

ANS: leadership PAC

REF: 206

18. A roll-call vote in which a majority of voting Democrats oppose a majority of voting Republicans is called
a ____________________.

ANS: party line vote

REF: 207

19. The ultimate congressional power over the president is ____________________.

ANS: impeachment

REF: 209

20. President ____________________ twice vetoed budget resolutions, causing the federal government to
temporarily shut down.

ANS: Clinton

REF: 209

TRUE/FALSE

1. The Founding Fathers intended that Congress be the most powerful branch of government.

ANS: T REF: 181

2. The most recent election saw more members of the 113th Congress being from the business profession.

ANS: T REF: 183

3. Members of Congress are disproportionately better educated compared to the masses.

ANS: T REF: 181 | 182

4. Former President Clinton is seen as one of the most successful presidents working with Congress under
divided government.

ANS: T REF: 208

5. The 112th Congress has been the least productive in the history of the United States.

ANS: T REF: 207

6. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid changed the voting rules for confirmations, making only a simple
majority necessary for all confirmations.

ANS: T REF: 201

7. Two out of the top three wealthiest members of Congress live in New York.

ANS: F REF: 189

8. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is the wealthiest woman in the House of Representatives.

ANS: T REF: 189

9. Congress is the most popular branch of government.

ANS: F REF: 191 | 192 | 193

10. The paradox of Congress is that most voters disapprove of Congress as a whole but like their own
representatives.

ANS: T REF: 192

11. Roughly 60% of Americans can name a Senator from their state.

ANS: T REF: 189

12. The elaborate procedures of Congress ensure that few of the bills introduced are ever passed.

ANS: T REF: 195

13. The Rule Committee can kill a bill by shelving it indefinitely.

ANS: T REF: 194 | 195

14. The House of Representatives has about 150 subcommittees.

ANS: T REF: 200

15. Reconciled versions of bills that emerge from Conference Committees must represent the views of both
houses of Congress.

ANS: F REF: 201 | 202

16. The Constitution grants greater formal power to Senators than House members.

ANS: T REF: 202 | 203

17. In general, the President receives greater support from his own party than from the opposition party in
Congress.

ANS: T REF: 208 | 209

18. Most Americans prefer control of government to be split between the parties.

ANS: T REF: 208

19. Personal financial information must be made public by members of Congress.

ANS: T REF: 188 | 189

20. Tom Delay (R-TX) was just one congressman forced to resign as a result of a congressional investigation.

ANS: T REF: 210

ESSAY

1. Explain how Congress can restrain the power of the President. Does Congress exercise their powers
against the President?

ANS: Students answers will vary.

2. How has the membership of Congress changed in the recent decades in terms of demographics?

ANS: Students answers will vary.

3. Describe how a bill becomes a law. What functions do committees play in this process?

ANS: Students answers will vary.

4. Congress has a low approval ratings historically, never getting over 50% approval. Why do you think
Congress people disapprove of Congress?

ANS: Students answers will vary.

5. Members of Congress are well-educated compared to the general population and this is used as an example
of their elite nature. Why would having leaders who are more educated be a problem in American politics?

ANS: Students answers will vary.

6. Explain how Congress members can effectively kill a bill or get a bill passed very quickly.

ANS: Students answers will vary.

7. Describe the role of Congressional committees.

ANS: Students answers will vary.

8. Using the text, why is getting reelected to Congress so easy? Support your answer.

ANS: Students answers will vary.

9. There is little doubt that the Senate is more powerful than the House of Representatives. Identify the major
power positions and powers of both houses of Congress.

ANS: Students answers will vary.

10. Does Congress demonstrate elitism or pluralism? Why?

ANS: Students answers will vary.