All of the following make it difficult for Congress to All of the following make it difficult for Congress to make policy EXCEPTmake policy EXCEPT

A.A. Congress must worry about voters Congress must worry about voters preferences, so it engages in arguments on preferences, so it engages in arguments on important issues.important issues.

B.B. Congress does not choose the president, so Congress does not choose the president, so there is no guarantee a bill will become law. there is no guarantee a bill will become law.

C.C. Congress operates through coalitions of Congress operates through coalitions of several political parties, each of which several political parties, each of which represents different interests. represents different interests.

D.D. Congress is bicameral, and a bill must pass Congress is bicameral, and a bill must pass through both houses.through both houses.

E.E. Each member of Congress faces reelection, Each member of Congress faces reelection, and the interests of the members of his or and the interests of the members of his or her district must be considered.her district must be considered.

C. Congress operates through coalitions of C. Congress operates through coalitions of several political parties, each of which several political parties, each of which

represents different interests. represents different interests.

E. Although representation does E. Although representation does not mirror the population as not mirror the population as

a whole, there are more a whole, there are more minorities and women.minorities and women.

What role does incumbency play in What role does incumbency play in congressional elections?congressional elections?

A.A. Incumbents are more likely to be reelected in Incumbents are more likely to be reelected in the House of Representatives than in the the House of Representatives than in the Senate.Senate.

B.B. More than 90 percent of all incumbent More than 90 percent of all incumbent members of Congress are reelected.members of Congress are reelected.

C.C. Incumbents are more likely to be reelected in Incumbents are more likely to be reelected in the Senate than in the House of the Senate than in the House of Representatives.Representatives.

D.D. Incumbency is helpful only when the economy Incumbency is helpful only when the economy is strong; more than half of all incumbents lose is strong; more than half of all incumbents lose their reelection bids in a weak economy. their reelection bids in a weak economy.

E.E. There is no correlation between incumbency There is no correlation between incumbency and reelection.and reelection.

A. Incumbents are more likely to be A. Incumbents are more likely to be reelected in the House of reelected in the House of

Representatives than in the Senate.Representatives than in the Senate.

During the 1960’s and 1970’s a conservative coalition was an important During the 1960’s and 1970’s a conservative coalition was an important factor in Congress. Why is that coalition less important today?factor in Congress. Why is that coalition less important today?

A.A. Because African American Southern Democrats Because African American Southern Democrats have become more moderate in their ideologyhave become more moderate in their ideology

B.B. Because white southern Republicans have Because white southern Republicans have become less conservativebecome less conservative

C.C. Because many southern Democrats in Because many southern Democrats in Congress have been replaced by Republicans.Congress have been replaced by Republicans.

D.D. Because the regional issues that brought the Because the regional issues that brought the coalition together, like race relations, have been coalition together, like race relations, have been resolved through civil rights legislation.resolved through civil rights legislation.

E.E. Because the southern states have changed and Because the southern states have changed and are less conservative than they were in the past. are less conservative than they were in the past.

C. C. Because many southern Because many southern Democrats in Congress have Democrats in Congress have

been replaced by been replaced by Republicans.Republicans.

The representational view of Congress is based onThe representational view of Congress is based on the assumption that members want to get reelected the assumption that members want to get reelected and therefore vote to please their constituents. Underand therefore vote to please their constituents. Under what circumstances is a member of Congress most what circumstances is a member of Congress most likely to vote according to this view?likely to vote according to this view?

A. When a bill will bring “pork” to the congressman’s district.A. When a bill will bring “pork” to the congressman’s district.B. When constituents have a clear view on a issue and theB. When constituents have a clear view on a issue and the issue has attracted attention.issue has attracted attention.C. When constituents have a clear view on an issue and C. When constituents have a clear view on an issue and the member of Congress agrees with the constituent’s views.the member of Congress agrees with the constituent’s views.D. When there is a close race for reelection and a memberD. When there is a close race for reelection and a member of Congress is eager to please constituents.of Congress is eager to please constituents.E. When a small group of constituents goes to great lengthsE. When a small group of constituents goes to great lengths to make its views known to their senator or representative.to make its views known to their senator or representative.

B. B. When constituents have a When constituents have a clear view on a issue and the clear view on a issue and the issue has attracted attention.issue has attracted attention.

Of the following members of Congress, who will most likely be chosen Of the following members of Congress, who will most likely be chosen to head the House Appropriations Committee when the majority is to head the House Appropriations Committee when the majority is Republican?Republican?

A.A. SmithSmith

B.B. JonesJones

C.C. GonzalesGonzales

D.D. WilsonWilson

E.E. JeffersonJefferson

B. JonesB. Jones

A congressional committee was created toA congressional committee was created to investigate any intelligence failures that investigate any intelligence failures that might have occurred prior to the terroristmight have occurred prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. What attacks of September 11, 2001. What kind of committee does this represent? kind of committee does this represent?

A.A. StandingStanding

B.B. JointJoint

C.C. Select Select

D.D. Conference Conference

E.E. OversightOversight

C. SelectC. Select

The chart above best supports which of the following The chart above best supports which of the following conclusions?conclusions?

A.A. From 1980 until 2000, both House and From 1980 until 2000, both House and Senate committees saw a growth in staffs.Senate committees saw a growth in staffs.

B.B. Senators have larger staffs than members of Senators have larger staffs than members of the House of Representatives.the House of Representatives.

C.C. Most congressional staffers work on Most congressional staffers work on committees.committees.

D.D. In 1999 there was a decline in the number of In 1999 there was a decline in the number of staff members in both houses of Congress, staff members in both houses of Congress, as well as on committees.as well as on committees.

E.E. There are more committees in the House There are more committees in the House than in the Senate; as a result, there has than in the Senate; as a result, there has been more growth in House committee staffs.been more growth in House committee staffs.

D. In 1999 there was a decline in D. In 1999 there was a decline in the number of staff members the number of staff members in both houses of Congress, in both houses of Congress, as well as on committees.as well as on committees.

The House Rules Committee does all of the following The House Rules Committee does all of the following EXCEPTEXCEPT

A.A. Adopts procedures under which the Adopts procedures under which the House will consider a billHouse will consider a bill

B.B. Set times limits on debateSet times limits on debate

C.C. Permits or forbids certain amendments Permits or forbids certain amendments on the flooron the floor

D.D. Review bills and places them on a Review bills and places them on a calendarcalendar

E.E. Establishes the number of votes needed Establishes the number of votes needed for a bill to pass in the Housefor a bill to pass in the House

E.E. Establishes the number of Establishes the number of votes needed for a bill to votes needed for a bill to

pass in the Housepass in the House

A filibuster in the Senate can be used toA filibuster in the Senate can be used to talk a bill to death. A cloture vote can end talk a bill to death. A cloture vote can end a filibuster. Taken together, what is the a filibuster. Taken together, what is the impact of these practices? impact of these practices?

A.A. Neither political party can control the Senate unless it Neither political party can control the Senate unless it has at least sixty votes.has at least sixty votes.

B.B. A party with fifty-one votes can get most of its A party with fifty-one votes can get most of its legislative agenda passed.legislative agenda passed.

C.C. The Senate rarely passes legislation on controversial The Senate rarely passes legislation on controversial issues.issues.

D.D. Most important decisions are made in committees Most important decisions are made in committees because it is difficult to pass a bill in the Senate as a because it is difficult to pass a bill in the Senate as a whole.whole.

E.E. The president’s party has a significant advantage The president’s party has a significant advantage because the vice president of the United States can because the vice president of the United States can vote to break a tie in the Senate.vote to break a tie in the Senate.

A.A. Neither political party can Neither political party can control the Senate unless it control the Senate unless it

has at least sixty votes.has at least sixty votes.