AP Government 2.2-Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress

Which of the following accurately describes the composition of congressional committees?

• Committees are organized by the executive branch to ensure that both branches can communicate and negotiate policy goals.

• The United States Constitution requires that Congress organize itself into committees, with each party having equal access to committee seats.

• Committees are organized by the majority party to maintain control of the policy-making process.

• Committees are organized by state delegations so that each state has some role in deciding which bills get passed.

A person claiming that the House can pass legislation with a simple majority, but the Senate is unlikely to pass legislation unless a bill has the support of a 60-vote supermajority is most likely to cite which of the following institutional differences as the cause of this trend?

• The House has fewer legislative committees than the Senate does.

• Members of the House often represent a much narrower constituency than senators do.

• Party leadership in the House is highly formalized, while leadership in the Senate is much more informal.

• The House has strict limits on debate, while the Senate allows unlimited debate.

If a bill reaches the floor for debate and a member of the minority party opposes the bill, which of the following provides greater leverage to a senator than to a member of the House to block passage of the bill?

• The Senate allows for unlimited floor debate (FILIBUSTER) that can hold up a vote, while the House has strict limits on debate.

• The Senate is more collegial than the House, so members can easily gain support from the opposing party.

• The Senate allows for discharge petitions that force the bill out of committee, while the House does not.

• The Senate is much less likely than the House to have party-line votes, so nonpartisan coalitions are more likely to form.

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a member of Congress supporting pork-barrel legislation?

• A senator from a coal-producing state voting against a job-training program for coal miners

• A member of the House voting for urban renewal in exchange for increased funding for roads

• A senator from an agricultural state amending legislation to establish a potato research institute in his or her state

• A member of the House Armed Services Committee marking up a bill that will increase funding for military bases

To get an important bill passed in the House, a provision is added that allocates $500 million to study the impact of global climate change on manatees in Florida. This is an example of

• the free rider problem

• pork barrel legislation

• an issue network

• gerrymandering

If legislation passes in both the House of Representatives and the Senate but each version is slightly different, the conflicting bills are sent to

• a standing committee of each house for a vote

• an ad hoc committee for judicial review

• the Rules Committee of each house for reconciliation and compromise

• a conference committee for review and compromise

Debate of a bill in the House of Representatives under a “closed rule” means that

• the bill can only be amended by section

• debate on the bill will consist of five-minute speeches, pro and con

• only senior members are allowed to participate

• amendments to the bill cannot be offered

Which of the following identifies the formal procedure for ending a filibuster?

• Oversight

• Logrolling

• Discharge petition

• Cloture

Which of the following committees of the House of Representatives sets the conditions for debate and amendment of most legislation?

• Ways and means

• Rules

• Judiciary

• Appropriations