Politics of the United States Questions

The ______ _______ only constitutionally defined job is to serve as president of the Senate.

In a ____________ system, the votes of some citizens weigh more than the votes of others. A number of democracies in developed countries have upper houses with significant powers. The _________ is the most malapportioned among them.

t/f The senate is apportioned to represent states, not the population as a whole, a distribution of power that accords citizens in less populated states a greater say in key decisions.

A simple rule for picking committee chairs, in effect until the 1970s. The member who had served on the committee the longest and whose party controlled the chamber became chair, regardless of party loyalty, mental state, or competence.

A group within a standing committee that specializes in a subcategory of the standing committee's responsibility. (Ex. House Committee on Foreign Affairs has subcommittees on Asia, Europe, Africa, etc.)

The process by which an individual or group communicates with policymakers in an attempt to influence policy decisions.

A _______ is a proposed law, drafted in precise legal language that only a representatives of senator can formally submit for consideration

The _________________________, with about 3,000 employees, helps Congress perform its oversight functions by reviewing the activities of the executive branch to see if it is following the congressional intent of laws and by investigating the efficiency and effectiveness of policy implementation.

Why has a majority not changed the rules to prevent filibusters?In 2013 it did: frustrated by how often the Republican minority filibustered or threatened to filibuster presidential nominations to the executive branch and the judiciary, the majority Senate Democrats reduced the number of votes required to end debate on those types of nominations from two-thirds of the Senate to a _____ _______.

If a president vetos a bill, it can still be passed if it goes back to both houses and ______ of Congress votes for it to pass.

The most important influencers of their committees' agendas, ___________ play the dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house.

_____________ committees are Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill.

t/f The GAO also sets government standards for accounting, provides legal opinions, and settles claims against the government.

Congress is hindered by the increasing _______ _______ of the public. People whose party is out of power have almost no trust in a government run by the other party, making it difficult to achieve bipartisan support for legislation and thus deadlocking Congress.

groupings of members of Congress sharing the same interests or points of view

Direct group involvement in the electoral process; for example, helping to fund campaigns, getting members to work for candidates, and forming political action committees.

t/f The The Constitution requires that the House and Senate pass identical versions of a bill before it can become law.

t/f It is the Senate majority leader who, aided by the majority whip, serves as the workhorse of the party, corralling votes, scheduling floor action, and influencing committee assignments.

________ committees are the committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas.

Party leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party.