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- 1. Multiple ChoiceThe term “iron triangle” refers to the interrelationship of thepresident, Congress, and the Supreme Courtelectorate, Congress, and political action committeeslocal, state, and federal governmentsfederal bureaucracy, congressional committees, and interest groups
- 2. Multiple ChoiceAll of the following powers are granted to the President by the Constitution EXCEPTcommissioning officers in the armed forcesreceiving ambassadorsgranting pardons for federal offensesforming new cabinet-level departments
- 3. Multiple ChoiceA major difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate isfilibusters are possible only in the Houserevenue bills must originate in the Senateeach state has equal representation in the House but not in the Senatethere is unlimited debate in the Senate but not in the House
- 4. Multiple ChoiceThe Rule of Four is used by the Supreme Court todecide the outcome of the casereverse precedents from the pastchange original jurisdictionaccept a case for consideration
- 5. Multiple ChoiceWhich of the following is true of nominees for judgeships on Constitutional courts?They are recruited from the current pool of United States attorneysThey are nominated by the SenateThey are elected in popular electionsThey are appointed for life by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate
- 6. Multiple Choice
This term describes the judicial philosophy that holds that the Supreme Court should generally avoid striking down laws and defer to precedent wherever possible
“Social Darwinism”“judicial activism”“judicial restraint”“incorporation” - 7. Multiple ChoiceCongressional committees and subcommittees existto acquire the information needed to pass meaningful and comprehensive legislationto offer important political posts to influential representatives and senatorsto consolidate power in the majority partyto prevent the passage of meaningful legislation
- 8. Multiple ChoiceWhich committee in the House of Representatives is used by the majority party to control debate on the floor?Rules CommitteeConference CommitteeSteering CommitteeWays and Means Committee
- 9. Multiple ChoiceUntil 1913, U.S. senators were selected bythe peoplethe House of Representativesstate legislaturesthe Electoral College
- 10. Multiple ChoiceIf the president neither signs nor vetoes a bill within 10 days while Congress is in session, the billis pocket vetoedbecomes lawis killedis sent back to Congress
- 11. Multiple ChoiceA congressional committee that holds a hearing to determine whether the Department of Agriculture is administering the food stamp program as Congress intended is engaging inlegislative oversightagenda settingmicro-investigationpork barrel spending
- 12. Multiple ChoiceThe most powerful person in the Senate is theVice PresidentPresident Pro TemporeMajority LeaderSergeant-At-Arms
- 13. Multiple ChoiceThe congressional system of standing committees is significant because itfosters the development of expertise by membershelps Congress produces staff costsweakens Congress in its dealings with the Presidentinsulates decision-making from the influence of special interests
- 14. Multiple ChoiceWhich of the following is empowered to create new federal courts and specify the number of judges who will sit on them?The Supreme CourtCongressThe Presidenthe Department of Justice
- 15. Multiple ChoiceWhich of the following is a way Congress can influence the federal judiciary?It can prohibit judicial activism.
It can change appellate jurisdiction of federal courts.
It can filibuster decisions made by courts.It can exercise oversight authority over rulings of individual justices. - 16. Multiple Choice
The trading of votes between legislators so that each legislator gets what s/he wants, often combining multiple topics into a single bill.
LogrollingPork-barrellingClotureFilibustering - 17. Multiple ChoiceSenate bills are subject to unlimited debate unless 3/5 of the Senate (60 Senators) votes for...FilibusterRidershipVetoCloture
- 18. Multiple ChoiceWhich is not a major function of Congress?EnforcementOversightLawmakingRepresentation
- 19. Multiple ChoiceWho typically wins a Congressional election?IncumbentsFormer SenatorsFormer House RepresentativesPolitical Newcomers
- 20. Multiple ChoiceWhen a version of a bill is passed in the House and different version is passed in the Senate, it goes to...The Majority LeaderServicingThe PresidentConference Committee
- 21. Multiple ChoiceWhen a member of Congress gets a project passed that will bring jobs or other benefits to her district/state, it's called...RidingPork-Barrel SpendingServicingGerrymandering
- 22. Multiple ChoiceMost legislation introduced in Congressis passedis vetoednever makes it out of committeegets stuck in conference committee
- 23. Multiple ChoiceWhich describes a standing committee of Congress?Committees on which both senators and representatives serve.Congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate investigation.Permanent committees found in both houses of Congress that are responsible for legislation and oversight within a specific policy areaSmall committees within another committee of Congress designed to specialize in a sub-category
- 24. Multiple ChoiceWho is next in line to become President of the United States if the Vice President is unable to take over?Majority Leader of the SenatePresident of the SenatePresident pro tempore of the SenateSpeaker of the House
- 25. Multiple ChoiceWhich of the following is NOT a formal qualification for the Presidency?Must be at least 35 years oldMust be a 'natural born Citizen' of the United StatesMust have extensive prior political experienceMust have lived in the United States for at least 14 years
- 26. Multiple Choice
According to the 22nd Amendment, a President can serve
a maximum of 10 years
three consecutive terms
an unlimited number of terms
only a and b above
- 27. Multiple ChoiceIf the Presidency becomes vacant due to death or resignationthe Speaker of the House becomes Presidentthe Pro-Tem of the Senate becomes Presidentthe Vice President becomes Presidentthere is an election to choose a new President
- 28. Multiple ChoiceWhich of the following has NOT worked to strengthen the powers of the Presidency?the influences of strong Presidentsthe demands of the American people for strong leadershipthe Constitutional system of checks and balancesthe need for decisive action during national emergencies
- 29. Multiple Choice
The spoils system/patronage system refers to
the practice of hiring the most qualified candidates for federal jobs
the practice of giving offices and other favors of government to friends and supporters
completely unrelated to the practice of patronage
a democratic means of filling offices
- 30. Multiple ChoiceOver time, the number of Executive Departments grew in large part becausePresidents wanted more secretaries in the Cabinetthe major political parties voted to expand the number of executive departmentsthe regional offices were closed and Departments opened up in Washingtonthe workload of the Federal Government expanded as the country grew
- 31. Multiple Choice
The President exercises informal legislative power over Congress by
recommending legislation
preventing a bill from coming before the President
routinely telling Congress when it must adjourn
routinely telling Congress when it must meet
- 32. Multiple ChoiceThe President can negotiate treaties, buttreaties don't take effect until 3/4 of the states ratify itthe Senate must ratify treatiesthe House of Representatives must ratify treatiesthe Supreme Court ratifies treaties
- 33. Multiple ChoiceThe President can send troops overseasOnce Congress has approved the actiononly after Congress has declared warpending Congress' approval after a 48 hour periodat his own discretion
- 34. Multiple ChoiceWhich of the following is NOT a role of the US President?Chief of StateChief of JudiciaryChief ExecutiveCommander in Chief
- 35. Multiple ChoiceWhich of the following is NOT a role of the US President?Chief LegislatorChief AdministratorChief DiplomatChief Attorney
- 36. Multiple ChoiceGeorge W. Bush works out a trade agreement with the Japanese Prime Minister.Chief DiplomatChief LegislatorChief CitizenCommander in Chief
- 37. Multiple ChoiceWhich of the following is an example of checks and balances in action in the United States government?The House and Senate cannot agree on the same version of a bill to send to the president.The president issues an executive order that freezes federal government hiring.The president vetoes a bill passed by Congress.The voters reject the status quo and elect all new members of Congress.
- 38. Multiple Choice
What is the name of the diagram shown in this image?Steel UnionCoalition AgreementIron TriangleSolid Partnership - 39. Multiple ChoiceWhich one of the following is an example of a regulatory agency?NASANSAUSPSEPA
- 40. Multiple ChoiceWhich of the following is a way the legislative branch can check the powers of the bureaucracy?fire civil servantsdefund programsimpeach the presidentdeclare bureaucratic actions unconstitutional
- 41. Multiple ChoiceWhich of the following best describes bureaucracy?the people and organizations who execute the actions of governmentoutside groups who donate money to political campaignscommittees in Congress who provide services for the American peopleALL OF THE ABOVE
- 42. Multiple ChoiceA writ of certiorari by the Supreme Court ordersboth parties in a case to reach agreement without further litigation.state courts to abide by the decisions of the Supreme Court.a lower court to send up the record of a case for review.Congress to rewrite unconstitutional legislation.
- 43. Multiple ChoiceA written opinion of the Supreme Court is best defined asa press release.advice to the President.the Court's ruling on the issue presented, its reasoning, and applicable law.a ruling when it hears oral arguments.
- 44. Multiple ChoiceA Supreme Court justice who disagrees with the majority opinion mayask the Court to hear the case again.send the case back to a lower court.write a dissenting opinion.file an amicus curiae brief.
- 45. Multiple ChoiceThe power of the courts to determine whether a law or action is constitutional is calledjudicial review.appellate review of fact.precedent.habeas corpus.
- 46. Multiple ChoiceWhich of the following best describes judicial activism?The Supreme Court should review as many cases as they can.
The federal judiciary should actively check the activities of governmental bodies when they exceed their authority and may change precedents as needed
The Supreme Court exercises judicial review.The courts should not play politics. - 47. Multiple ChoiceWhat is jurisdiction?The ability to hear and appeals case.The ability to hear the original court trial.The authority to hear certain cases.The right of a judge to dictate the sentence of a criminal.
- 48. Multiple ChoiceWhich court case gave the judicial branch the power of judicial review?McCulloch v. MarylandBrown v. Board of EducationPlessy v. FergusonMarbury v. Madison
- 49. Multiple ChoiceHow does the executive branch "check" the Supreme Court?appointing members of Congress to committeeappointing Supreme Court justicesappointing members to The Cabinetappointing The Speaker of the House
- 50. Multiple Choice
What is judicial review?
judges serve for a term of "good behavior" (life)
higher courts can hear the cases of lower courts
the president can remove federal judges from the bench
the ability of the Supreme Court to declare laws/executive orders/regulations unconstitutional and strike them down
- 51. Multiple ChoiceWhat is redistricting?the process of establishing the number of representatives in the U.S. Senatethe process of drawing United States and state electoral district boundariesthe idea that all states should have an equal number of people in Congressthe use of the Census to determine who should run for office
- 52. Multiple Choice
What is gerrymandering?
a federally governed process designed to ensure equal representation.
a system of checks and balances used to ensure fairness in the House of Representatives.
a legal process that helps parties keep power.
the use of redistricting to unfairly disenfranchise specific groups of people.
- 53. Multiple Choice
A form of redistricting in which as many voters of one type are concentrated in a single electoral district to reduce their influence in other districts.
Packing a district
Cracking a district
Opening a district
Dissolving a district
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