On the Hill
True or False: Most of the work of Congress happens in committees.
True
True or False: Gerrymandering is always bad.
False
The minimum number of Congressional members who must be present to permit official action to be taken.
Name a government organization that conducts research to provide Congress with nonpartisan information.
The Congressional Research Service
Which amendment changed how the U.S. elects Senators?
The 17th Amendment
True or False: The Senate has stricter rules for debate than the House.
False
Which government bodies are usually charged with responsibility for redistricting?
State legislatures
What is apportionment?
Apportionment is determining how many congressional districts each state should have based on population.
Name the government organization that is responsible for providing non-partisan information to Congress about budget matters.
The Congressional Budget Office
The Speaker of the House
This type of bill must be passed in order for a government organization to receive funding from Congress.
An appropriations bill.
Which Florida district did the Republicans attempt to "pack" with black votes following the 2010 census?
Florida's 5th Congressional District
This happens before apportionment.
The census
The person who can break a tie in the Senate.
The Vice President
What you might call someone who only votes for candidates belonging to one political party.
Partisan
What do you call something that is added to a bill by a Representative or Senator to create funding for a program in his or her district that is otherwise completely unrelated to the bill?
An earmark
What is the opposite of "packing?"
Cracking
Name a procedure that happens in subcommittee.
Hearings, mark-ups, and recommendation.
How many votes must Congress muster in order to override a President's veto?
Two-thirds in each chamber
What is a pocket veto?
A pocket veto occurs when the President refuses to sign a bill and Congress goes out of session in less than 10 days from the date he received the bill to sign.
What is the name of the committee that is used to solve the challenge that occurs when the House version and Senate version of a bill do not match?
A conference committee
What piece of legislation requires southern states to submit their newly-drawn congressional districts to a panel of judges so those judges can determine whether or not they were drawn fairly in terms of race?
The Voting Rights Act of 1965.
If a bill is being stalled in or by a committee, a majority of the house may pass a what to force the bill onto the floor for a vote?
A discharge petition
What do you call a group of people who share common goals and organize to influence Congress (or any other part of the government)?
An interest group
I am not a bill, but I must also pass both houses of Congress and be signed by the President in order to become a law. What am I?
A joint resolution