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- 1. Multiple Choice
Why did the Constitution provide that the total number of seats in the House of Representatives should be apportioned among the States based on population, rather than being set at a fixed number?
so that larger States are able to make decisions on important issues
in order to provide for fair representation for all citizens
because establishing a fixed number was less accurate
so that a large group of representatives are able to serve
- 2. Multiple Choice
How did the 1932 Supreme Court case Wood v. Broom affect equal representation in the House?
The case had little effect on equal representation.
The case made equal representation a reality.
The case weakened equal representation.
The case eliminated equal representation altogether.
- 3. Multiple Choice
The party that holds the presidency often loses seats in the off-year elections. What can you infer is the cause of this loss?
The opposition party might obtain votes from citizens dissatisfied with the current administration.
The party in power might not be interested in campaigning so soon after a big election.
The party in power might be overly confident about their support from voters.
The opposition party might have more money to spend on an impressive campaign.
- 4. Multiple Choice
What is the significance of the 1969 Supreme Court decision in Powell v. McCormack to uphold the Constitution's formal qualifications of age, citizenship, and residency for House members?
It limited the House's ability to punish members for disorderly conduct.
It limited the House's ability to impose additional standards on representatives.
It limited the House's ability to expel members who had objectionable behavior.
It limited the House's ability to question a member's formal qualifications for office.
- 5. Multiple Choice
Why does the Constitution provide procedures by which the Senate can judge the conduct of its members?
so that senators who refuse to follow their party's recommendations can be dismissed
so that voters' dissatisfaction with their representatives can be addressed in a timely way
so that a high standard of ethical behavior is maintained by the nation's lawmakers
so that regular attendance to all Senate meetings is ensured
- 6. Multiple Choice
What is the purpose of gerrymandering laws that require all voting districts to have similar populations?
With districts of similar populations, people will always vote for their favorite candidate.
With districts of similar populations, people will always vote for the minority candidate.
With districts of similar populations, people will have an equal amount of representation in Congress.
With districts of similar populations, people will have less representation in Congress.
- 7. Multiple Choice
The difficult task of redrawing State congressional districts, known as redistricting, is given to which legislative body?
U.S. House of Representatives
legislatures of individual States
U.S. Senate
governors of individual States
- 8. Multiple Choice
How did the 17th Amendment effect a change that more closely matched the original goals of the Framers?
Senators are now elected by, and held accountable to, their State legislatures.
Senators are now appointed by, and held accountable to, their State representatives.
Senators are now appointed by, and held accountable to, their State executive branch.
Senators are now elected by, and held accountable to, the citizens of their State.
- 9. Multiple Choice
Gerrymandering can thwart the purpose of single-member district elections because
districts can be drawn with little regard for partisanship.
districts can be drawn favoring one political party.
districts can be drawn based solely on race or religion.
districts can be drawn based solely on property value.
- 10. Multiple Choice
What effect would you expect the 1964 Supreme Court case, Wesberry v. Sanders, to have on the likelihood of rural farmers' issues being heard in Congress?
Their concerns might be less likely heard, since districts must now be drawn with equal populations, ending over-representation of rural areas.
Their concerns might be more likely heard, since districts must now be drawn with equal populations of citizens in rural and urban areas.
Their concerns would be heard to the same extent as they were before, since districts must now be made up of equal amounts of rural and urban areas.
Their concerns might be less likely heard, since districts must now be made up of contiguous and compact areas.
- 11. Multiple Choice
James Madison saw the organization of Congress as "a necessary fence" against the "fickleness and passion" of the House of Representatives. How does this view compare with that of the Framers?
Both would agree on the importance of representatives' shorter term of office, allowing them to be more enlightened and responsible about their constituents' issues.
Both would agree on the importance of senators' longer term of office, as they are more passionate about their constituents' concerns.
Both would agree on the importance of senators' longer term of office, with a broader constituency, allowing them to be less affected by popular opinion.
Both would agree on the importance of representatives' diligent attention to their constituents' broad range of opinions on issues.
- 12. Multiple Choice
How do provisions in the Constitution address shifts in population?
Article I directs Congress to alter the time, place, and manner in which Congressional elections are held in order to accommodate the number of voters.
Article I directs Congress to set the total number of seats in the House, which are apportioned among the States based on total area of each State.
Article I directs that each State is guaranteed at least one seat, regardless of its population, leaving some areas with only a delegate or a resident commissioner.
Article I directs Congress to reapportion seats, which are increased and decreased according to population size.
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