AP Government Practice - Congress

1.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which of the following statements about gerrymandering is true?

It has been banned by United States Supreme Court decisions starting with Baker v. Carr

It was used traditionally to maintain urban control of the House of Representatives.

It can be used by a political party to draw boundary lines to control as many districts as possible.

It guarantees greater constituency control over elected representatives.

2.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The term "pork barrel" refers to legislation specifically designed to

encourage a balanced federal budget

distribute excess produce to the poor

equalize representation between farming and nonfarming states

provide funding for local projects that are intended to benefit constituents

3.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which of the following is the most likely consequence of divided government?

Reorganization of the federal bureaucracy

Conflicts between states

Delays in confirmation of federal court nominees

Conflicts between national government and states

4.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which of the following statements about the Senate is true?

Each state is represented in the Senate according to its population.

The Senate, unlike the House, has a Rules Committee.

The Senate is more responsible than the House for initiating appropriations legislation.

Individual senators can exercise substantial influence over the legislative process.

5.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

All of the following are ways that the legislative branch can check the powers of the executive branch EXCEPT:

Congress may pass a law declaring a presidential action unconstitutional.

The Senate may refuse to approve a presidential appointment.

Congress may override a presidential veto.

Congress may remove the president through its impeachment and conviction powers.

6.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which of the following is an example of congressional oversight?

Assisting constituents with particular problems

Holding hearings for review of an executive agency's activities

Reporting campaign contributions to the Federal Election Commission

Conducting ethics investigations of congressional leadership

7.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which of the following statements about motions for cloture is true?

They force a bill out of committee so that the full House can vote on it.

They are applied to bills that failed in the previous session of Congress.

They occur whenever a bill is reported out of committee.

They are used by senators to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote.

8.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The role Congress plays in ensuring that executive branch agencies are carrying out their legislated responsibilities is known as

judicial review

legislative oversight

executive privilege

bicameralism

9.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The Constitution states that all revenue bills must originate in

the United States House of Representatives

the United States Senate

the Office of Management and Budget

a White House budget resolution

10.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Federal budget entitlements refer to spending

to provide individual benefits established by legislation

by congressional staff while traveling on official business

on behalf of life, liberty, and the pursuit of· happiness

targeted to benefit residents of specific congressional districts

11.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Of the following, which is the most powerful figure in Congress?

The Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee

The Speaker of the House

The Majority Whip of the House

The Chair of the Senate Finance Committee

12.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which of the following is a way Congress can influence the federal judiciary?

It can prohibit judicial activism.

It can filibuster decisions made by the courts.

It can change appellate jurisdiction of federal courts.

It can review federal judges for reappointment every ten years.

13.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which of the following powers is shared by the House of Representatives and the Senate?

Holding trials of impeachment

Establishing federal courts

Approving treaties

Holding confirmation hearings

14.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which of the following committees plays a major role in the House in shaping tax policy?

Finance

Ways and Means

Appropriations

Commerce

15.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Advocates of shifting the task of drawing United States House districts from state legislatures to independent commissions are likely to claim which of the following as an advantage of independent commissions?

Independent commissions are more likely to create majority-minority districts districts where they are appropriate.

Independent commissions are more likely to create districts where minor parties are victorious.

House districts drawn by independent commissions are immune from challenges by the United States Department of Justice.

Independent commissions significantly reduce the influence of partisan gerrymandering in the redistricting process.

16.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which of the following constitutional provisions broaden the powers of Congress?

The necessary and proper clause

The equal protection clause

The Tenth Amendment

The Fifteenth Amendment

17.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Congressional oversight refers to the power of Congress to

override presidential vetoes

hold public hearings before confirming judicial appointments

seek judicial opinion on constitutionality of pending legislation

exercise some control over executive agencies

18.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Most of work of legislating in Congress takes place in

joint committees

standing committees

select committees

conference committees

19.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which of the following is a primary function of the Senate Judiciary Committee?

Conducting oversight hearings on the Supreme Court budget

Conducting investigations into allegedly subversive activities

Conducting hearings on judicial appointments made by the president

Initiating appointment to the Supreme Court

20.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

After a constitutional amendment is proposed by both houses of Congress, it's adoption requires:

official filing with the secretary of state

support by a majority vote of the people

signature by the president

ratification by three-fourths of the states

21.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The House Rules Committee is an important part of the legislative process because it

determines the terms and conditions of debate when a bill goes to the House floor

determines ethics rules for members' conduct

determines whether a bill should be referred to a policy committee for consideration

negotiates compromises on bills with the Senate Rules Committee

22.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

An example of a discretionary item in the federal budget is

interest on the public debt

spending on national parks

Social Security payments

veterans' pensions

23.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

When a bill passes the House and the Senate in different versions, the bill is resolved by which of the following types of committee?

Conference

Select

Rules

Standing

24.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which of the following statements about rules of procedure in the House and Senate is correct?

a) The House operates more by formal rules, while the Senate operates more on informal understandings.

The rules are specified in Article I of the Constitution

The rules in each chamber are determined by the majority whip

a) The rules can be changed by the President during a national emergency.

25.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The franking privilege refers to the

a) Federal Reserve Board’s control over interest rates

a) Practice of permitting senators to preview lists of judicial nominees

a) Practice whereby legislators with the most seniority select the committees on which they want to serve

a) Right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government’s expense

26.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Congressional district boundaries are usually redrawn every ten years by the

State Legislatures

Bureau of the Census

President

Governer

27.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

A major difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate is that

filibusters are possible only in the House

revenue bills must originate in the Senate

there is unlimited debate in the Senate but not in the House

each state has equal representation in the House but not in the Senate

28.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Why do Incumbents rarely lose reelection?

The electoral college favors incumbents

They are better known to voters, and can raise funds more easily

They are actually more likely to lose elections

They are given an advantage through the seniority system

29.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the Senate from ever voting on a bill.

Filibuster

Crisis

Incumbent

Incrementalism

30.

Multiple Choice

1 min

1 pt

The direct election of Senators was established with the

Addition of the Bill of Rights

The creation of the Articles of Confederation

Signing of the Constitution

The passing of the Seventeenth Amendment

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