1. Congress is bicameral, and a bill must pass through both houses.
All of the following make it difficult for Congress to make policy EXCEPT
Congress must worry about voters preferences, so it engages in arguments on important issues.
Congress does not choose the president, so there is no guarantee a bill will become law.
Congress operates through coalitions of several political parties, each of which represents different interests.
Congress is bicameral, and a bill must pass through both houses.
Each member of Congress faces reelection, and the interests of the members of his or her district must be considered.

2. C. Congress operates through coalitions of several political parties, each of which represents different interests.

3. E. Although representation does not mirror the population as a whole, there are more minorities and women.

4. What role does incumbency play in congressional elections?
Incumbents are more likely to be reelected in the House of Representatives than in the Senate.
More than 90 percent of all incumbent members of Congress are reelected.
Incumbents are more likely to be reelected in the Senate than in the House of Representatives.
Incumbency is helpful only when the economy is strong; more than half of all incumbents lose their reelection bids in a weak economy.
There is no correlation between incumbency and reelection.

5. A. Incumbents are more likely to be reelected in the House of Representatives than in the Senate.

6. Because white southern Republicans have become less conservative
During the 1960’s and 1970’s a conservative coalition was an important factor in Congress. Why is that coalition less important today?
Because African American Southern Democrats have become more moderate in their ideology
Because white southern Republicans have become less conservative
Because many southern Democrats in Congress have been replaced by Republicans.
Because the regional issues that brought the coalition together, like race relations, have been resolved through civil rights legislation.
Because the southern states have changed and are less conservative than they were in the past.

7. C. Because many southern Democrats in Congress have been replaced by Republicans.

8. The representational view of Congress is based on the assumption that members want to get reelected and therefore vote to please their constituents. Under what circumstances is a member of Congress most likely to vote according to this view?
A. When a bill will bring “pork” to the congressman’s district.
B. When constituents have a clear view on a issue and the
issue has attracted attention.
C. When constituents have a clear view on an issue and
the member of Congress agrees with the constituent’s views.
D. When there is a close race for reelection and a member
of Congress is eager to please constituents.
E. When a small group of constituents goes to great lengths
to make its views known to their senator or representative.

9. B. When constituents have a clear view on a issue and the issue has attracted attention.

10. Smith Jones Gonzales Wilson Jefferson
Of the following members of Congress, who will most likely be chosen to head the House Appropriations Committee when the majority is Republican?
Smith
Jones
Gonzales
Wilson
Jefferson

11. B. Jones

12. A congressional committee was created to investigate any intelligence failures that might have occurred prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, What kind of committee does this represent?
Standing
Joint
Select
Conference
Oversight

13. C. Select

14. The chart above best supports which of the following conclusions?
From 1980 until 2000, both House and Senate committees saw a growth in staffs.
Senators have larger staffs than members of the House of Representatives.
Most congressional staffers work on committees.
In 1999 there was a decline in the number of staff members in both houses of Congress, as well as on committees.
There are more committees in the House than in the Senate; as a result, there has been more growth in House committee staffs.

15. D. In 1999 there was a decline in the number of staff members in both houses of Congress, as well as on committees.

16. The House Rules Committee does all of the following EXCEPT
Adopts procedures under which the House will consider a bill
Set times limits on debate
Permits or forbids certain amendments on the floor
Review bills and places them on a calendar
Establishes the number of votes needed for a bill to pass in the House

17. E. Establishes the number of votes needed for a bill to pass in the House

18. The Senate rarely passes legislation on controversial issues.
A filibuster in the Senate can be used to talk a bill to death. A cloture vote can end a filibuster. Taken together, what is the impact of these practices?
Neither political party can control the Senate unless it has at least sixty votes.
A party with fifty-one votes can get most of its legislative agenda passed.
The Senate rarely passes legislation on controversial issues.
Most important decisions are made in committees because it is difficult to pass a bill in the Senate as a whole.
The president’s party has a significant advantage because the vice president of the United States can vote to break a tie in the Senate.

19. A. Neither political party can control the Senate unless it has at least sixty votes.