Quiz on Congressional Procedures

What is the primary role of the Speaker of the House?

• To break tie votes in the Senate

• To preside over the Senate in the Vice President's absence

• To lead the House of Representatives and manage House business

• To lead the minority party in the House

Which committee in the House is responsible for determining the rules of debate for bills?

• Rules Committee

• Appropriations Committee

• Ways and Means Committee

• Joint Committee

What is a filibuster?

• A committee responsible for taxation bills

• A tactic used to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill in the Senate

• A method to bring a bill out of committee in the House

• A requirement for a bill to originate in the House

Which committee deals with federal spending and appropriations in the Senate?

• Ways and Means Committee

• Joint Committee on Printing

• Rules Committee

• Appropriations Committee

How can a bill be forced out of committee for a floor vote in the House?

• Filibuster

• Discharge petition

• Cloture motion

• Unanimous consent

What does mandatory spending refer to in the federal budget?

• Spending that must be allocated by law for entitlement programs

• Spending on defense and education

• Spending that is approved on an annual basis

• Spending on pork-barrel projects

What role does the Majority Leader in the Senate play in the legislative process?

• Breaking tie votes

• Managing party discipline

• Presiding over Senate sessions in the Vice President's absence

• Controlling the legislative agenda and scheduling bills for debate

What is logrolling in the context of Congress?

• A tactic to delay a bill in the Senate

• Bringing a bill out of committee for a floor vote

• Trading votes among legislators to gain support for legislation

• A procedural move to expedite debate on bills

What is the purpose of a conference committee?

• To form temporary committees for specific issues

• To reconcile differences in bills passed by both the House and Senate

• To manage federal spending and appropriations

• To oversee the publication of federal documents

Who is the President of the Senate according to the Constitution?

• The Speaker of the House

• The Majority Leader

• The Vice President of the United States

• The President pro tempore