American Government Unit 3 Exam - TCC

What tends to be the main function of congressional whips?

to act as official spokespersons for their chambers

to help the Speaker schedule proposed legislation for debate

to meet with members of the executive cabinet

to persuade party members to toe the party line

to persuade party members to toe the party line

Which of the following is NOT a constitutional requirement for members of the House of Representatives?

Must be a resident of the state they represent

Must be well-versed in domestic and foreign affairs

Must be a U.S. citizen for at least seven years

Must be at least twenty-five years old

Must be well-versed in domestic and foreign affairs

Which of the following is NOT a power given to Congress?

Propose amendments to the Constitution

Levy taxes

Punish law breakers

Declare War

Punish law breakers

The efforts of senators and representatives to bring federally funded projects, grants, and contracts that primarily benefit the constituencies of a single district or state is called ________.

perks and privileges.

honoraria.

pork barreling.

retail politics

pork barreling.

Every department in the executive has a congressional committee charged with oversight powers.

True or False

True

What type of debate in the Senate only requires a majority for cloture?

judicial nominees

appropriation bills

treaty ratification discussions

environmental bills

judicial nominees

Any representative legislative body that consists of two separate chambers or houses is called ________.

bicameral.

unicameral.

bi-legislative.

bi-chambered

bicameral.

The free use of the U.S. mail by members of Congress to send their constituents newsletters, questionnaires, and information is called _______.

perks.

mailing privilege.

franking privilege.

honoraria.

franking privilege.

If you see yourself as serving as a trustee, which of the following would you most likely do before a critical vote in Congress?

a. act independently and trust your own judgment on how best to serve the public interest

b. follow a strict interpretation of the Constitution in deciding your vote

c. consult the proper congressional committees in deciding how to vote on an issue

d. poll your constituents to find out what they think of the issue so you can vote as they desire

a. act independently and trust your own judgment on how best to serve the public interest

In the House of Representatives, the key leadership figure is the

Speaker of the House.

majority leader.

minority leader.

whip.

Speaker of the House.

A committee with members from both houses of congress that works out the details of a bill passed on both floors is called a ________.

arbitration committee.

conference committee.

joint committee.

select/special committee.

conference committee.

When the Vice President, the leader of the Senate, is not in chamber, the ___________ takes his place.

majority leader

minority leader

majority whip

President pro tempore

President pro tempore

In the House of Representatives, a bill travels which of the following paths?

a. bill is introduced; referred for floor action; referred to committee; referred to subcommittee for markup; referred for committee action; sent to the Rules Committee; debated on the floor

b. bill is introduced; referred to committee; referred to subcommittee for markup; referred for committee action; sent to the Rules Committee; referred for floor action

c. bill is introduced; referred to committee; referred to subcommittee for markup; referred for committee action; referred for floor action, sent to the president

d. bill is introduced; referred to committee; referred to subcommittee for markup; referred for committee action; sent to the Rules Committee; referred for floor action; sent to the president

b. bill is introduced; referred to committee; referred to subcommittee for markup; referred for committee action; sent to the Rules Committee; referred for floor action

A permanent legislative committee that meets regularly is known as which of the following?

select committee

standing committee

joint committee

conference committee

standing committee

Powers specifically granted to the government in the constitution are called

enumerated powers

implied powers

concurrent powers

excised powers

enumerated powers

When the President makes an appointment to the court, they have to be confirmed by which of the following?

both the House and the Senate

the Senate

the House

only the justice committee

the Senate

What type of jurisdiction does the Supreme Court have?

Original Jurisdiction

Appellate Jurisdiction

Both

Neither

Both

Federal judges are appointed to __________ terms.

three-year

life

10-year

20-year

life

Courts that are hearing a case for the first time are exercising what type of jurisdiction?

appellate

federal

original

trial

original

When a justice writes an opinion that does not support the majority, the opinion is called a(n) ________.

concurring opinion.

dissenting opinion.

agreeing opinion.

institutional opinion.

dissenting opinion.

A written legal argument presented to a court by one of the parties in a case is called...

a brief

a writ

precedent

an argument

a brief

Who has the responsibility for nominating judges to the federal bench?

president

vice president

chief justice

Senate

president

Which judicial body brings indictments in federal trial courts?

a grand jury

an accusatory jury

a petit jury

a decisis jury

a grand jury

The Supreme Court established the idea of judicial review in the case

Marbury v Madison

Dred Scot v Sandford

McCullough v Maryland

Gideon v Wainwright

Marbury v Madison

How many justices must agree to grant a review of a case?

three

four

seven

nine

four

There are ____ district courts in the US and ____________ Circuit courts.

Show

94; 13

97; 10

50; 13

95; 9

94; 13

Senatorial Courtesy is defined as which of the following?

a. allowing more senior senators to lead the hearings on Supreme Court nominees

b. the president asking the Senate for a list of candidates they would accept for the Supreme Court prior to making an appointment

c. allowing the Senate to take the lead when impeaching Supreme Court nominees

d. the president asking for recommendations from the Senators in each state prior to making district court appointments

d. the president asking for recommendations from the Senators in each state prior to making district court appointments

When a court interprets and overturns the actions of the executive and legislative branches, it is engaged in which of the following actions?

original jurisdiction

strict construction

judicial review

stare decisis

judicial review

How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

four

seven

nine

fifteen

nine

A petition requesting the Supreme Court to review the ruling of a lower court is called a ________.

writ of certiorari.

writ of habeas corpus.

writ of mandamus.

jus sanguinus.

writ of certiorari.

When the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to review a case from a circuit court, it is exercising what type of legal jurisdiction?

original

constitutional

mandatory

appellate

appellate

Which of the following is a way George Washington expanded the power of the

presidency?

He refused to run again after serving two terms

He appointed the heads of various federal departments as his own advisors

He worked with the Senate to draft treaties with foreign countries

He submitted his neutrality proclamation to the Senate for approval

He appointed the heads of various federal departments as his own advisors

Which of the following skills is critical to the success of a president?

ability to negotiate treaties

ability to write legislation

charisma

persuasion

persuasion

Executive agreements are negotiated between two countries but not ratified by a legislature.

True or False.

True.

What was discovered in the 1796 presidential election?

The president and vice president could be elected from different political parties

A president could lose the popular vote but win the Electoral College vote

A president could win fewer Electoral College votes than the vice presidential

candidate

Presidential electors were fundamentally unfair

The president and vice president could be elected from different political parties

Which of the following is a power that the president shares with the Senate?

issuing executive agreements

granting pardons

issuing executive orders

making treaties

making treaties

Treaties are easier to ratify than executive agreements.

True or False.

False.

What has to happen in Congress in order for the president to be removed from office?

a. The House impeaches by a simple majority vote; the Senate needs a two-thirds majority vote

b. The House impeaches by a two-thirds vote; the Senate only needs a simple majority vote

c. The House impeaches with a two-thirds majority; the Senate does not have a vote

d. The Senate impeaches with a two-third majority; the House does not have a vote

a. The House impeaches by a simple majority vote; the Senate needs a two-thirds majority vote

Presidential legacies are often see in long-term policy outcomes.

True or False.

True.

The people who make up the modern president's cabinet are the heads of the major federal departments and __________.

once in office are subject to dismissal by the Senate

serve two year terms

are selected on the rules of patronage

must be confirmed by the Senate

must be confirmed by the Senate

How did the election of 1824 change the way presidents were elected?

a. following this election, presidents were directly elected

b. the selection of the candidate with fewer electoral votes triggered the rise of party control over nominations

c. Jackson's supporters decided to create a device for challenging the Electoral College

d. the election convinced many that the parties must adopt the king caucus as the primary method for selecting presidents

b. the selection of the candidate with fewer electoral votes triggered the rise of party control over nominations

The presidential primary and caucus system has resulted in less expensive and shorter presidential campaigns.

True or False.

False.

The Articles of Confederation outlined an executive branch and president.

True or False.

False.

__________ is the time frame in which presidents have the most influence and

given the most benefit of the doubt by the public)

The first year in office

The first two years in office

The first three years in office

The entire presidency

The first two years in office

The passage of the Tenure of Office Act of 1867 was just once instance in a long line of _________.

struggles for power between the president and the Congress

unconstitutional presidential power grabbing

impeachment trials

arguments over presidential policy

struggles for power between the president and the Congress

Under which circumstance are presidents more likely to justify the use of executive orders?

natural disaster

mass confusion

national security

when no one is paying attention

national security

"Malign neglect" refers to which of the following?

the House's refusal to hold hearings

the president's refusal to appoint Cabinet members

the Senate's refusal to hold hearings

none of the above

the Senate's refusal to hold hearings

Which president issued the most numerous pardons in the 20th century?

Harry S. Truman

Richard Nixon

George H. W. Bush

George W. Bush

Harry S. Truman

First ladies have often served as political advisors to the president.

True or False.

True.

____________ are issued by a president when agreeing to legislation that indicate

how the president will interpret and enforce the legislation.

Signing statements

Executive orders

Executive agreements

Pardons

Signing statements