Wednesday's Sabato Reading

The Congress Quiz #3: pages 250-54

1) The constitutional officer who presides over the Senate is the

A) Speaker of the Senate.
B) House majority leader.
C) majority caucus.
D) president of the United States.
E) vice president of the United States.

2) How is a tie broken in the Senate?

A) A tie is broken by drawing lots.
B) The president pro tempore breaks the tie.
C) The president of the United States breaks the tie.
D) The vice president of the United States breaks the tie.
E) There is no way to break a tie. If there is a tie vote, the measure does not pass.

3) Who is the true leader of the Senate by virtue of having the most power and influence in the
chamber?

A) the Vice President of the United States
B) the President of the Senate
C) the president pro tempore
D) the presiding officer of the Senate
E) the Senate majority leader

4) Woodrow Wilson wrote that ʺCongress in session is Congress on exhibition, whilst Congress
in its ________ is Congress at work.ʺ

A) cloakrooms
B) pubs and smoking lounges
C) districts
D) reelection offices
E) committee rooms

5) Committees allow for

A) socialization.
B) emancipation.
C) specialization.
D) fraternization.
E) temptation.

6) What is the role of conference committees?

A) to set the congressional agenda
B) to ensure ethical behavior by members of Congress
C) to hear testimony from citizens and interest groups
D) to reach compromises on bills after both chambers have passed similar bills
E) to reach compromises on a bill after they have been referred from standing committees
and before they are referred to select committees

7) Which committees are most numerous?

A) standing committees
B) subcommittees
C) joint committees
D) select committees
E) special committees


8) Why do members of Congress pass pork and earmarks?

A) because each project benefits the country as a whole
B) because agricultural subsidies are necessary to ensure that the United States has enough
domestic food sources in case an armed conflict cuts off supplies of imported food
C) because Congress prefers to pass bills that are in the long-term best interests of the
country
D) because they help members of Congress get reelected
E) because it is important for the United States to be a good global citizen

9) What is the composition of committees in the House of Representatives?
A) The majority party has all of the seats on a majority of committees; the minority party has
all of the seats on a minority of committees.
B) The majority party has a majority of seats on all committees; the minority party has a
minority of seats on all committees.
C) The majority party has a majority of seats on a majority of committees; the minority party
has a majority of seats on a minority of committees.
D) Each committee has an equal number of Democrats and Republicans.
E) Partisanship does not affect committee composition.

10) How are committee chairs selected in the House?

A) by lot
B) by seniority
C) by party loyalty
D) by margin of electoral victory
E) according to the size of Representativesʹ constituencies