Political Action Committees and Supreme Court Decisions

Which of the following statements best describes the impact of the Supreme Court's decision in McCulloch v. Maryland?

• The court ruled that the necessary and proper clause allows the national government to create banks strengthening the power of the federal government.

• The court upheld the division of power between the state and the national government by allowing the federal government to create the bank but also allowing the states to tax the banks located within their borders.

• The court ruled that states have authority over commercial activity within their borders, weakening the federal government.

• The court declared the act of Congress violated the constitutional power given to congress, marking it the first case of judicial review.

Which of the following statements about motions for cloture is true?

• They force a bill out of committee so that the full House can vote on it.

• They occur whenever a bill is reported out of committee.

• They are applied to bills that failed in the previous session of Congress.

• They are applied only to appropriation bills.

• They are used by senators to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote.

Each of the following are often seen as a negative effect of federalism EXCEPT

• Federalism caused the development of the Civil Rights Movement

• Federalism enables states to attack other states

• Federalism creates inconsistent policies throughout the United States

• Federalism requires more voter participation

Which of the following is the most accurate interpretation of the political cartoon?

• State governments have used the Tenth Amendment to override the federal government’s mandates.

• State governments prefer federal funding but do not want federal oversight over how the money is spent.

• The fiscal irresponsibility of state governments has led to increased federal regulation on their budgetary priorities.

• State governments are unwilling to share their budgetary surpluses with other states

If one congressional district in a state were to have three times the population of another district in the state, the problem would be referred to as

• Cloture

• Logrolling

• Gerrymandering

• Malapportionment

• Pork-barreling

After a House committee reviews a bill and writes its report, the bill goes to the

• House Rules Committee

• Senate

• Appropriate subcommittee

• House Floor for debate

• President

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

• the bill must be approved by two-thirds of the House

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

• amendments to the bill cannot be offered

• only senior members are allowed to participate

• the bill can only be amended by section

Which of the following types of committee deals with broad areas of public policy and can be found separately in both houses of Congress?

• joint

• standing

• rules

• conference

• select

South Carolina passed a law to increase the state tax on gasoline to help fund repairs on highways and bridges. The state tax is in addition to the federal tax on every gallon of gasoline that is sold. Which of the following constitutional provisions does this scenario illustrate?

• reserve powers

• enumerated powers

• implied powers

• concurrent powers

“The house of representatives ... can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as on the great mass of the society. This has always been deemed one of the strongest bonds by which human policy can connect the rulers and the people together. It creates between them that communion of interests and sympathy of sentiments, of which few governments have furnished examples; but without which every government degenerates into tyranny.” - James Madison, Federalist No. 57 Which of the following statements best describes the author’s viewpoint of the quote?

• The Constitution creates rule of law, and elected officials are not above the law.

• Congress must rely on other branches of government to carry out the laws.

• The House of Representatives was created to directly represent the citizens.

• Congress is bicameral, which means the House of Representatives cannot make laws independently