Congress
What is the only leadership position, in the House of Representatives, mentioned in the Constitution? And what is special about that person?
A. Speaker of the House: the chambers most powerful position; traditionally a member of the majority party
B. Minority Leader: the chambers 2nd most powerful position; a member of the minority party
C. Speaker of the House: the chambers most powerful position; traditionally a member of the minority party
D. President Pro Tempore: one of the chambers most powerful positions; traditionally the most senior member of the majority party
A. Speaker of the House: the chambers most powerful position; traditionally a member of the majority party
What is the 22nd Amendment?
A. Established the line of succession as well as providing procedures to deal with a president deemed unfit for office by a majority of his/her cabinet and vice president
B. Prevents the president from serving for more than 2 terms and says that his predecessor can serve no more than 10 years
C. The date of the swearing in of the president and vice president was set as Jan. 20 and the swearing in for new members of Congress as Jan. 3
D. Instead of casting two votes for President, each elector must pick a President and a Vice President on his/her ballot.; thus ensuring that the president will be paired with his/her running mate after the election
B. Prevents the president from serving for more than 2 terms and says that his predecessor can serve no more than 10 years
What is the system between the spoils system and the merit system?
A. the spoils system is the firing of public-office holders of a winning political party to replace them with loyalists of the same newly elected party / the merit system is a system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, and party loyalty
B. the spoils system is a system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty / the merit system is the firing of public-office holders of a defeated political party to replace them with loyalists of the newly elected party
C. the spoils system is the firing of public-office holders of a defeated political party to replace them with loyalists of the newly elected party / the merit system is a system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty
D. the spoils system is the firing of private-office holders of a defeated interest group to replace them with loyalists of the newly popular interest group / the merit system is a system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than interest group loyalty
C. the spoils system is the firing of public-office holders of a defeated political party to replace them with loyalists of the newly elected party / the merit system is a system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty
What is judicial restraint and judicial activism?
A. judicial restraint is a philosophy of judicial decision making that the courts should allow the decisions of other branches of government to stand, even when they offend a judge's own principles / judicial activism is a a philosophy of judicial decision making that judges should use their power broadly to further justice
B. judicial restraint is a philosophy of judicial decision making that the courts should allow the decisions of other branches of government to stand, even when they offend a judge's own principles / judicial activism is a a philosophy of judicial decision making that judges should use their power minimally to avoid controversy
C. judicial restraint is a philosophy of judicial decision making that the courts should not allow the decisions of other branches of government to stand, especially when they offend a judge's own principles / judicial activism is a a philosophy of judicial decision making that judges should use their power broadly to further justice
D. judicial restraint is a philosophy of judicial decision making that the Supreme courts should allow the decisions of other branches of government to stand, even when they offend a judge's own principles / judicial activism is a a philosophy of judicial decision making that judges should use their power broadly to further injustices
A. judicial restraint is a philosophy of judicial decision making that the courts should allow the decisions of other branches of government to stand, even when they offend a judge's own principles / judicial activism is a a philosophy of judicial decision making that judges should use their power broadly to further justice
What did Article III (3) of the Constitution lay out?
A. Executive Branch
B. Establishes the supremacy of federal laws
C. Judicial Branch
D. Proposal and ratification process of Amendments
C. Judicial Branch
How does a "trustee", "delegate", and "politico" make decisions?
("trustee", "delegate", and "politico" are all elected represenatives)
A. "Trustee" votes as they personally think their constituents will think best, a "Delegate" votes the way their constituents would want them to, and "Politico" the member will acts as a trustee or as a delegate, depending on the issue
B. "Trustee" votes the way their constituents would want them to, a "Delegate" votes the way their constituents would want them to, and "Politico" the member will act only a delegate
C. "Trustee" votes as they personally think their constituents will think best, a "Delegate" votes as they personally think best, and "Politico" the member will acts as a trustee or as a delegate, depending on the issue
D. "Trustee" votes as they personally think best, a "Delegate" votes the way their constituents would want them to, and "Politico" the member will acts as a trustee or as a delegate, depending on the issue
D. "Trustee" votes as they personally think best, a "Delegate" votes the way their constituents would want them to, and "Politico" the member will acts as a trustee or as a delegate, depending on the issue
What is the difference between a veto and a pocket veto?
A. A veto is informal when the president lets the bill die when Congress adjourns and a pocket veto is formal when a president rejects a bill with his/her signature
B. A veto is formal when POTUS rejects a bill and a pocket veto is informal when POTUS does not sign the bill within 20 days of Congress adjourning and then the bill dies
C. A veto is formal when POTUS rejects parts of a bill but not all of the bill and a pocket veto is informal when POTUS does not sign the bill within 5 days of Congress adjourning and then the bill dies
D. A veto is formal when POTUS rejects a bill and a pocket veto is informal when POTUS does not sign the bill within 10 days of Congress adjourning and then the bill dies
D. A veto is formal when POTUS rejects a bill and a pocket veto is informal when POTUS does not sign the bill within 10 days of Congress adjourning and then the bill dies
What is an issue network, and what groups make it up?
A. The relatively strong and protected relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among the bureaucracy, state legislatures interest groups, and Congress
B. The relatively strong and protected relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among the executive branch, judicial branch, and legislative branch
C. The relatively strong and protected relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among the bureaucracy, interest groups, and Congress
D. The relatively strong and protected relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among the bureaucracy, interest groups, and the federal court system
Issue Networks are Iron Triangles
C. The relatively strong and protected relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among the bureaucracy, interest groups, and Congress
What type of ideologies of federal judges do presidents tend to appoint to the bench?
A. people who share ideologies similar to the chief justice
B. people who share ideologies similar to the president's
C. people who share ideologies similar to the majority of justices on the court
D. people who share ideologies to make the court balanced with an equal number of activist and restraintist judges
B. people who share ideologies similar to the president's
What was established in Marbury v. Madison?
A. The Supreme Court’s power of judicial review
B. The amount of power the legislative branch could delegate to other federal branches of government
C. The death penalty was unconstitutional under the protection from "Cruel and Unusual Punishment"
D. If federal courts could hear lawsuits filed by citizens of foreign nations
A. The Supreme Court’s power of judicial review
What is logrolling?
A. vote trading; voting to support a colleague's bill in return for a promise of future support
D. vote exchanging; voting to support a colleague's bill in return for a promise of prior support
C. vote suppressing; voting to support a colleague's bill in return for a promise of future support
D. vote swapping; co-authoring a colleague's bill in return for a promise of no future support
A. vote trading; voting to support a colleague's bill in return for a promise of future support
What did the 25th Amendment establish?
A. procedures for filling vacancies in the office of the Chief of Staff, as well as providing procedures to deal with a Chief of Staff who is unable to fulfill his/her duties
B. procedures for filling vacancies in the office of the POTUS or VP, as well as providing procedures to deal with a president who is unable to fulfill his/her duties
C. procedures for electing the office of the POTUS or VP as well as providing procedures to deal with an elector who is unable to fulfill his/her duties
D. procedures for filling vacancies in the office of the VP as well as providing procedures to deal with a president who is unable to fulfill his/her duties
B. procedures for filling vacancies in the office of the POTUS or VP, as well as providing procedures to deal with a president who is unable to fulfill his/her duties
What is the Hatch Act?
A. States laws prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics
B. A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics
C. A federal law prohibiting Wall Street executives from active participation in partisan politics
C. A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics
What is precedent and a stare decisis?
A. precedent is a prior administrative decision that serves as a practice for settling preceding cases of a similar nature and a stare decisis is a check on past decisions to make decisions in new cases of similar nature
B. precedent is a court decision that relies on past decisions in similar cases to make decisions in new cases, a stare decisis is a prior judicial decision that serves as a rule for settling subsequent cases of an unlike nature
C. precedent is a past judicial decision that serves as a rule for settling succeeding cases of a similar nature and a stare decisis is a court decision that relies on former decisions to make decisions in new cases of similar nature
D. precedent is a prior judicial decision that serves as a rule for settling subsequent cases of a similar nature and a stare decisis is a court decision that relies on past decisions to make decisions in new cases of similar nature
D. precedent is a prior judicial decision that serves as a rule for settling subsequent cases of a similar nature and a stare decisis is a court decision that relies on past decisions to make decisions in new cases of similar nature
What did Federalist No. 70 argue for?
A. An independent judiciary
B. A centralized government to help to prevent tyranny and the abuse of the minority from the majority
C. A system of checks and balances
D. A unitary executive
D. A unitary executive
What is pork barreling (also called programmatic request)?
A. legislation that allows representatives to bring money and jobs to their district or state in the form of humanitarian aid, peacekeepers, or other assistance
B. legislation that allows representatives to bring money and jobs to their district or state in the form of public works programs, military bases, or other programs
C. litigation that allows representatives to bring money and jobs to their district or state in the form of public works programs, military bases, or other programs
D. legislation that allows representatives to bring money and jobs to another district or state than their own in the form of public works programs, military bases, or other programs
B. legislation that allows representatives to bring money and jobs to their district or state in the form of public works programs, military bases, or other programs
What is the White House Staff?
A. People within the Executive Office of the President that are state governors who work most closely with the president to implement his/her policy priorities; Members example: NC Gov: Roy Cooper, VA: Ralph Northam
B. People within the Executive Office of the Budget that are assistants to Congress to implement representatives policy priorities; Members example: Campaign Manager, Interest Group Leaders
C. People within the Executive Office of the President that are personal assistants who work most closely with the president to implement his/her policy priorities; Members example: Chief of Staff, National Security Advisor, Press Secretary
D. People within the Executive Office of the President that are personal assistants who work most closely with the president to implement his/her opponent's policy priorities; Members example: Minority Leader, National Security Advisor, Press Secretary
C. People within the Executive Office of the President that are personal assistants who work most closely with the president to implement his/her policy priorities; Members example: Chief of Staff, National Security Advisor, Press Secretary
What is patronage?
A. jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to friends or political allies for their support
B. jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to foes and political enemies for their support
C. jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to districts or states for being allies for of the president
D. jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given to punish to friends and political allies for their support
A. jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to friends or political allies for their support
What are checks on the federal judiciary's power by the other branches of government?
A. Congress sets the judiciary's jurisdiction, the president appoints all federal judges, the House of Representatives confirms or rejects all federal judges, the House of Representatives can impeach federal judges for bad behavior and the Senate can remove them from office
B. Congress sets the judiciary's jurisdiction, the president appoints all federal judges, the Senate confirms or rejects all federal judges, the Senate can impeach federal judges for bad behavior and the House of Representatives can remove them from office
C. Congress sets the judiciary's jurisdiction, the president appoints all federal judges, the Senate confirms or rejects all federal judges, the house of Representatives can impeach federal judges for bad behavior and the Senate can remove them from office
D. The president sets the judiciary's jurisdiction, the Congress appoints all federal judges, the Senate confirms or rejects all federal judges, the Senate can impeach federal judges for bad behavior
C. Congress sets the judiciary's jurisdiction, the president appoints all federal judges, the Senate confirms or rejects all federal judges, the house of Representatives can impeach federal judges for bad behavior and the Senate can remove them from office
What is the significance of Baker v. Carr?
A. Supreme court cases that invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage
B. Supreme Court case that ruled the Congress had the power to regulate interstate commerce under the Commerce Clause of the Consitution
C. Supreme Court case that decided that redistricting issues could be decided by the Supreme Court
D. Supreme Court cases that decided that corporations and unions can spend unlimited amounts in elections
C. Supreme Court case that decided that redistricting issues could be decided by the Supreme Court
Which answer best describes and explains the differences in the process of debate in the House and the Senate?
A. the House has fewer people and it has fewer rules debate; this is where fillibusters occur; Senators are more generalist in policy areas b/c they are on more committees / The Senate has many members and debate has many more rules; House members are specialist in their policy area b/c they are on fewer committees
B. the Senate has fewer people and it has fewer rules debate; this is where fillibusters occur; Senators are more generalist in policy areas b/c they are on more committees / The House has many members and debate has many more rules; House members are specialist in their policy area b/c they are on fewer committees
C. the Senate has more people and it has more rules debate; this is where fillibusters occur; Senators are more generalist in policy areas b/c they are on more committees / The House has few members and debate has little rules; House members are specialist in their policy area b/c they are on fewer committees
D. the Senate has fewer people and it has fewer rules debate; Senators are more generalist in policy areas b/c they are on more committees / The House has many members and debate has many more rules; this is where fillibusters occur; House members are specialist in their policy area b/c they are on fewer committees
B. the Senate has fewer people and it has fewer rules of debate; this is where fillibusters occur; Senators are more generalist in policy areas b/c they are on more committees/ The House has many members and debate has many more rules; House members are specialist in their policy area b/c they are on fewer committees
How can a president implement his policy agenda?
A. veto's and pocket veto's, executive agreements, bargain and persuade of Congress and the public, executive orders, appointing heads of executive agencies and justices to federal courts, and signing statements
B. veto's and pocket veto's, ordering assassinations of foreign dictators, bargain and persuade of Congress and the public, executive orders, appointing heads of executive agencies and justices to federal courts, and signing statements
C. veto's and pocket veto's, executive agreements, bargain and persuade of Congress and the public, declaring war, appointing only justices to the Supreme Court, and signing statements
D. veto's and pocket veto's, executive agreements, bargain and persuade of Congress and the public, executive orders, choosing leadership in Congress and appointing the Speaker of the House
A. veto's and pocket veto's, executive agreements, bargain and persuade of Congress and the public, executive orders, appointing heads of executive agencies and justices to federal courts, and signing statements
What are formal some formal powers Congress has as a check on the president? And some formal powers the president has as a check Congress?
A. Congress appropriates money, can override presidential vetos, and the Senate approves or rejects all presidential appointments / the president can veto legislation, choose who he/she appoints to positions within the executive branch, declare war, and call Congress into a special session
B. Congress appropriates money, can override presidential vetos and the Senate approves or rejects all presidential appointments / the president can veto legislation, choose who he/she appoints to positions within the executive branch, and call Congress into a special session
C. Congress holds hearings and conducts investigations into the executive branch, can override presidential vetos, and the House approves or rejects all presidential appointments / the president can veto legislation, choose who he/she appoints to positions within the executive branch, and negotiates treaties with foreign nations
D. Congress holds hearings and conducts investigations into the executive branch, can override presidential vetos, and the Senate approves or rejects all presidential appointments / the president can veto legislation and chooses who he/she appoints to positions within the executive branch, and negotiates treaties with foreign nations
B. Congress appropriates money, can override presidential vetos and the Senate approves or rejects all presidential appointments / the president can veto legislation, choose who he/she appoints to positions within the executive branch, and call Congress into a special session
What is a writ of certiorari and an amicus curiae brief?
A. A writ of certiorari is a writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court to be told why they are being held / an amicus curiae brief is a brief filed by an individual or organization in support of or against the defendant and litigant in a case
B. A writ of certiorari is a writ requiring at least four justices of the Supreme Court to vote in favor of hearing a case so that it will be heard before the court / an amicus curiae brief is a brief filed by an individual or organization in support of or against the defendant and litigant in a case
C. A writ of certiorari is a request from the superior court that orders up the records from a lower court / an amicus curiae brief is a law that makes an act a crime after it was committed
D. A writ of certiorari is a request from the superior court that orders up the records from a lower court / an amicus curiae brief is a brief filed by an individual or organization in support of or against the defendant and litigant in a case
D. A writ of certiorari is a request from the superior court that orders up the records from a lower court / an amicus curiae brief is a brief filed by an individual or organization in support of or against the defendant and litigant in a case
What was the impact of Shawn v. Reno?
A. Supreme Court ruling saying that states and localities do not need federal approval to change voting laws
B. No recount of the 2000 presidential election was feasible in a reasonable time period
C. Supreme Court case saying that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause
D. Upheld internment of Japanese Americans in camps during World War II
C. Supreme Court case saying that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause