Chapter 13 Electronic Test (Multiple Choice)
Name: Date: E-mail address:
1. Which of the following elements of the Republican party's Contract With America were passed by the 104th Congress following the 1994 election?
a. a presidential line-item veto b. a constitutional amendment to balance the budget c. term limits for members of Congress d. all of the above
ANSWER:
2. The traditional weapon of obstruction and delay in the Senate is
a. cloture b. a rule c. senatorial courtesy d. the filibuster
3. Which of the following was an important attempt by Congress to assert its authority in the field of foreign affairs?
a. the Taft-Hartley Foreign Assistance Act of 1947 b. the War Powers Resolution of 1973 c. the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 d. the Gramm-Rudman Act of 1985
4. About two-fifths of the 104th Congress (225 out of 535 members) were lawyers; the next largest occupational group was
a. farmers b. journalists c. business executives and bankers d. educators
5. In one study, 77 percent of House members questioned listed as their most time-consuming job
a. legislative work b. acting as a lawyer for constituents c. meeting with local politicians and community leaders in their districts d. attending symbolic functions such as parades, memorials, and banquets
6. In recent years, low public confidence in Congress has been reflected in (p. 558)
a. the phenomenon of vanishing marginals b. demands to limit the terms of senators and representatives c. poll data showing that 71 percent of those surveyed were critical of their own representative d. all of the above
7. Through 1990, what percentage of the members of Congress who seek reelection normally are victorious?
a. less than 50 percent b. around 60 percent c. around 75 percent d. more than 90 percent
8. A large proportion of House and Senate members
a. adhere to the Burkean concept of the legislator as trustee b. favor the concept of the representative as instructed delegate c. try to combine the concepts of trustee and instructed delegate d. serve as a rubber stamp for the policies of the president
9. David R. Mayhew has suggested that the "electoral connection" influences congressional behavior. The "electoral connection" is the relationship between members of Congress and
a. the president b. their constituents c. the national political parties d. the local political parties
10. The framers of the Constitution created the Senate to function as a check on the
a. House of Representatives b. president c. Supreme Court d. state legislatures
11. When the vice president is absent and the Senate is in session, which Senate officer presides?
a. the majority leader b. the majority whip c. the president pro tempore d. the speaker
12. The majority and minority leaders of the Senate are elected by the
a. policy committees b. assignment committees c. floor whips d. party conferences
13. The Senate committee that investigated the Watergate affair in 1973 is an example of
a. a select committee b. a standing committee c. a joint committee d. an impeachment committee
Return to Chapter 13 E-notes
Chief Justice RichardBarajas Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics Cathedral High School, El Paso, Texas Last updated: December 8, 2000
