MCAP Review 8: Congress

The two parts of Congress are called

• Republicans and Democrats

• the Senate and the House of Representatives

• State and Federal

• Executive and Judicial

What is the most likely result when the same political party controls both houses of Congress and the presidency?

• Incumbents will spend more time on future election campaigns

• Fewer proposed bills will receive party support

• New appointments will be made to state government positions

• There will be fewer conflicts over proposed legislation (laws)

Answer explanation

If they're from the same party, then they will agree and pass more laws.

Why does the government count everyone in the U.S. every 10 years using the census?

• to inspect immigration documents

• to adjust representation in the Senate

• to adjust representation in the House of Representatives

The process of adjusting the number of representatives each state gets in the House of Representatives is called

• indictment

• habeas corpus

• judicial review

• reapportionment

Between 1990 and 200, the population of a state increased by 66%. Which of these describes a likely effect of this type of population increase?

• The state will receive less tax revenue.

• The state will have fewer eligible voters.

• The state will gain a member in the United States House of Representatives.

• The state will gain political power in the United States Senate.

Each state is divided into smaller parts called districts. Each district gets 1 representative in the House of Representatives.

How do these representatives get their jobs?

• they're chosen by the president

• they're nominated by the state legislature

• they must win an election in their district

• they submit their resume to the governor

Why are many election districts gerrymandered?

• Because money influences politicians too much.

• Because too many elected leaders break the law.

• Because voters make poor decisions.

• Because elected leaders want to give an unfair advantage to their own political party.

Answer explanation

Gerrymandering is when elected leaders manipulate district maps to give an unfair advantage to their political party.

What viewpoint (opinion) is the artist expressing in the cartoon?

• Gerrymandering strengthens our democracy.

• We need redistricting reform in order to have fair elections.

• Democrats should control the redistricting process.

• Politicians accept too many bribes.

Answer explanation

Redistricting reform is a solution to the problem of gerrymandering.

A group of citizens with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats work together to make fair district maps.