Untitled Flashcards Set

(H) Civics                                                                                Name:

Mr. Royce                                                                                                                                   100 Points

Unit 4 Test: The Legislative Branch

Part A.) Matching (3 points each – 30 points total)

Directions: Match the letter next each of the following key terms from Unit 4 with its description below.

A. Special Session  B. Constituents  C. Gerrymandering  D. Oversight Function  E. Term                F. Prorogue  G. President Pro Tempore  H. Speaker of the House  I. Incumbent              J. Floor Consideration   K. Whip  L. Prorogue  M. Bill  N. Pigeonholed  O. Caucus

____01. The process by which Congress checks to see that the executive branch carries

              out the policies Congress has set by law.

____02. A power granted to the President to end a session of Congress if the House of

              Representatives and the Senate cannot mutually agree on a date to do so.

____03. A “closed-door” meeting of members of Congress who belong to the same party

              and/or usually vote in a similar way.

____04. An assistant to the Majority and Minority Leaders of Congress that helps

              maintain order/discipline within a party or caucus.

____05. An emergency meeting of Congress called by the President.

____06. When committees set a bill aside and no longer consider it.

____07. The practice of drawing district lines to favor one political party.

____08. The residents of a given state who voted a politician into office and who that

              politician is, therefore, representing.

____09. A candidate for political office who currently holds that office and is seeking

              reelection.

____10. Refers to a potential law being debated and, potentially, voted on by the

              full membership of the House of Representatives or Senate.

Part B.) Multiple Choice (3 points each – 60 points total)

Directions: For each of the following questions, choose the best answer provided.

____01. Everyone elected to the House of Representatives are members

              of which of the following?

a.       The Committee of the Whole

b.      The Quorum

c.       The Party Planning Committee

d.      The Rules Committee

____02. Which of the following best represents the main idea of the Supreme Court’s

              decision in the case of Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)?

a.       The Constitution requires that all congressional districts contain at least one urban center.

b.      The Constitution requires that congressional districts be drawn in such a way as to favor one political party over the other.

c.       The Constitution requires that the States draw congressional districts of substantially numerically equal populations.

d.      The Constitution requires that congressional districts be drawn in such as way as to take the form of a square with four equal sides.

____03. A proposal for action that has the force of law when passed in the House of

              Representatives is called…

a.       A Concurrent Resolution

b.      A Rider

c.       A Joint Resolution

d.      A Quorum

____04. Why is the national census taken every ten years important when considering

              each state’s congressional representation?

a.       The national census might indicate substantial shifts in the population of the United States that could result in the reapportionment of congressional representatives.

b.      The national census provides the United States Government with a better idea of how many illegal immigrants are currently residing with our national borders.

c.       If the national census produces results deemed inaccurate, some members of Congress might lose their jobs.

d.      This is a trick question as the national census plays no role in determining congressional representation.

____05.  Which of the following is passed as a statement explaining the       

               government’s position on an issue?

a.       A Concurrent Resolution

b.      A Rider

c.       A Joint Resolution

d.      A Quorum

____06. Which of the following best represents one of the main idea of the

              Reapportionment Act (1929)?

a.       It set the “permanent” size of the House of Representatives at 425 members.

b.      It set the “permanent” size of the House of Representatives at 500 members.

c.       It set the “permanent” size of the House of Representatives at 345 members.

d.      It set the “permanent” size of the House of Representatives at 435 members.

____07. Which of the following refers to additions to bills unrelated to the new law itself

              but are added to help it become law due to their popularity with some members

              of Congress?

a.       Concurrent Resolutions

b.      Riders

c.       Joint Resolutions

d.      Quorums

____08. Why is the Senate considered a “continuous body” while the House of

              Representatives is not?

a.       Members of the House of Representatives terms are staggered while all Senators must win reelection every six years.

b.      Senators’ terms are staggered while all members of the House of Representatives must win reelection every two years.

c.       The Senate has met for at least some time every year since the adoption of the Constitution while the House of Representatives has not.

d.      The House of Representatives has met for at least some time every year since the adoption of the Constitution while the Senate has not.

____09. The rule that limits Senators to speaking only twice on a given topic is called

              the…

a.       First and Second Debate Rule

b.      Filibuster

c.       Fairness in Debate Rule

d.      Two Speech Rule

____10. Which of the following best represents one of the main idea of the 20^th   

              Amendment to the Constitution?

a.       It set the 3^rd day of March as the start date of a new term of Congress.

b.      It set the 3^rd day of January as the start date of a new term of Congress.

c.       It set the 20th day of January as the start date of a new term of Congress.

d.      It set the 20^th day of March as the start date of a new term of Congress.

____11. Which of the following can be used to release a bill from being Pigeonholed?

a.       A Quorum

b.      An Executive Order

c.       A Discharge Petition

d.      A Filibuster

____12. Which of the following best explains the difference between the terms “Single-

              Member District” and “At-Large?”

a.       “At-Large” refers to a member of Congress being elected to represent one of multiple districts existing within a state while “Single-Member District” refers to a member of Congress being elected to represent an entire state.

b.      “Single-Member District” refers to a member of Congress being elected to represent one of multiple districts existing within a state while “At-Large” refers to a member of Congress being elected to represent an entire state.

c.       This is a trick question… “At-Large” is the term now used in place of what used to be referred to as “Single-Member District.”

d.      None of the above

____13. What is the difference between Public Bills and Private Bills?

a.       Private Bills apply to the nation as a whole while Public Bills apply to only certain places and people

b.      Public Bills can be voted on by all registered voters in a municipal referendum vote while Private Bills are only voted on by members of the House and Senate

c.       Public Bills apply to the nation as a whole while Private Bills apply to only certain places and people

d.      There is no discernible difference between Public and Private Bills

____14. Which of the following terms refers to a periodic (temporary) suspension of

              business that can be taken by each of the two houses of Congress?

a.       Special Session

b.      Gerrymandering

c.       Prorogue

d.      Recess

____15. Which of the following is true of The President of the Senate?

a.       They are the same person as The President Pro Tempore

b.      They are the Vice President of the nation

c.       They are the same person as the Majority Leader of the Senate

d.      All of the above

____16. Members of Congress who believe they owe their first allegiance to their

              political party.

a.       Delegate

b.      Trustee

c.       Partisan

d.      Politico

____17. Which congressional committee selects a day when a bill is taken from the

              calendar to be debated on the floor of the House of Representatives?

a.       The Judiciary Committee

b.      The Education and the Workforce Committee

c.       The Appropriations Committee

d.      The Rules Committee

____18. Members of Congress who see themselves as “agents of the people who elected

              them.”

a.       Delegate

b.      Trustee

c.       Partisan

d.      Politico

____19. Which of the following best describes a Pocket Veto?

a.       The President does not sign a bill and sends it back to Congress.

b.      The President allows a bill to become law by not signing it for a full ten days after it is presented to them by Congress.

c.       The President does not sign a bill and Congress adjourns the current session within ten days of the bill arriving on the President’s desk.            

d.      The President forgets that a copy of a bill presented to them by Congress is in their pants pocket and then accidentally put their pants through the washing machine.

____20. Members of Congress who believe that each question they face must be decided

              on its merits.

a.       Delegate

b.      Trustee

c.       Partisan

d.      Politico

Part C.) Writing (5 Points)

Directions: Provide a paragraph-length answer to the following.  Be sure to answer all parts of the question.

Explain the Seniority Rule.  Why is this rule so controversial and what is your opinion on the subject?