According to John Hibbing and Christopher Larimer’s “The American Public’s View of Congress,” Congress’s low approval ratings in the beginning of the 21st century can mainly be attributed to which of the following?

	a. Scandals
	b. Overt partisanship
	c. Lack of public knowledge about Congress
	d. Failed attempts to represent and reconcile diverse interests

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Agreed upon by the delegates of the Constitutional Convention, who would ratify the new Constitution?

	a. A general referendum of all citizens
	b. State ratifying conventions
	c. Congress
	d. The House of Representatives

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Complete the sentence. All of the following are arguments against term limits EXCEPT:

	a. They are undemocratic.
	b. They represent a lack of faith in voters.
	c. They reduce the ability of state legislators to do some aspects of their jobs.
	d. They encourage more candidates to run for office.

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Complete the sentence. Powers of Congress include all of the following EXCEPT:

	a. Borrowing money.
	b. Regulating foreign and interstate trade.
	c. Proposing amendments to the Constitution.
	d. Granting pardons.

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Fill in the blank. In every year since_____________, there has been at least one woman serving in Congress.

	a. 1776
	b. 1890
	c. 1922
	d. 1966

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Fill in the blank. The convention plan which advocated a single-house legislature where each state would have an equal vote was called the _________________.

	a. Virginia Plan
	b. New Jersey Plan
	c. Connecticut Plan
	d. Great Compromise

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Fill in the blank. The convention proposal that called for a legislature with representation in both houses based on population was called the _________________.

	a. Virginia Plan
	b. New Jersey Plan
	c. New York Plan
	d. Great Compromise

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Fill in the blank. To prevent an "excess of democracy,” the original Constitution restricted direct popular election to ______________.

	a. The Senate
	b. The President
	c. Federal judges
	d. The House of Representatives

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Fill in the blank: The “Federalist Papers” were a series of essays published in New York, which______________.

	a. Advocated against ratification of the Constitution.
	b. Advocated for ratification of the Constitution.
	c. Called for rebellion against the British King.
	d. Called for New York to secede from the other states.

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Fill in the blanks. According to the Constitution, the minimal age requirements for members of the House and Senate are___________ and ____________ years, respectively.

	a. 21; 25
	b. 25; 30
	c. 30; 35
	d. 40; 40

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Representation in Congress takes on which of the following forms?

	a. Trustee
	b. Delegate
	c. Politico
	d. All of the above

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What is the constitutional basis for the implied powers of the national government?

	a. The supremacy clause
	b. The necessary and proper clause
	c. The due process clause
	d. Article II

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What is the dominant profession for most members of Congress?

	a. Law
	b. Business
	c. Education
	d. Public service

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What is the proportion of U.S. House members who are up for reelection every two years?

	a. One third
	b. One half
	c. Two thirds
	d. All of them

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What is the proportion of U.S. Senators who are up for reelection every two years?

	a. 20 percent
	b. One-third
	c. One-half
	d. Two-thirds

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What religion are the majority of members of the 112th Congress?

	a. Catholic
	b. Jewish
	c. Protestant
	d. Unitarian

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What types of bills must originate in the House of Representatives?

	a. Defense
	b. Revenue
	c. Education
	d. All of the above

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What was the Constitution’s framers’ rationale for creating a Congress comprised of two houses (bicameral)?

	a. To limit debate
	b. To allow for more representatives
	c. To slow down the legislative process
	d. To provide one house for each political party

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What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia?

	a. To draft a replacement for the Articles of Confederation.
	b. To amend the Articles of Confederation.
	c. To discuss surrender to the British Monarchy.
	d. To devolve all power to state governments.

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Which of the following statements comparing the House of Representatives to the Senate is true?

	a. Compared to the House of Representatives, the Senate has more rules.
	b. Compared to the House of Representatives, the Senate is less flexible.
	c. Compared to the House of Representatives, the Senate's more prestigious individual members have more power to affect outcomes.
	d. Compared to the House of Representatives, the Senate provides less time for debate.

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A member of Congress generally adopts which type of focus on Capitol Hill?

	a. Constituent
	b. Policy
	c. Political
	d. All of the above

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Complete the sentence. All of the following are components of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act EXCEPT:

	a. A ban on soft money.
	b. Increased hard money contribution limits.
	c. A ban on candidates from using federal funding for campaigns.
	d. Restrictions on issue advocacy advertising.

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Complete the sentence. All of the following are key assets that contribute to a successful run for Congress EXCEPT:

	a. An articulate and resonating message.
	b. Experience on Capitol Hill.
	c. Energy.
	d. The ability to raise money.

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Complete the sentence. All of the following contributed to the historic increase of female members in Congress in 1992 EXCEPT:

	a. Congress’s failure to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
	b. The controversial confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.
	c. Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign.
	d. The unusually large number of open congressional seats that year.

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Fill in the blank. Reelection rates for members of Congress are typically in the range of ______________ percent.

	a. 100-110
	b. 50-60
	c. 10-20
	d. 85-95

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Fill in the blank. The process of redrawing congressional districts to match population shifts in states with more than one representative is called ________________.

	a. Redistricting
	b. Reapportionment
	c. Restructuring
	d. Franking

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How long are the terms for members of the House of Representatives?

	a. 2 years
	b. 6 years
	c. 4 years
	d. 5 years

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How long are the terms for members of the Senate?

	a. 2 years
	b. 6 years
	c. 4 years
	d. 5 years

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In the 2010 congressional election cycle, which special interest group led in overall political donations?

	a. Lawyers
	b. Bankers
	c. Retirees
	d. Teachers

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Members of the House represent congressional districts of populations ranging from approximately how many constituents?

	a. 500,000-900,000 constituents
	b. 30,000-50,000 constituents
	c. 10,000-20,000 constituents
	d. 1,000,000-2,000,000 constituents

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The redistricting process in the United States can be distinguished from redistricting elsewhere in the world in what fundamental way?

	a. The process is overtly and acceptably political.
	b. American courts have refused to intervene in the process.
	c. Redistricting plans are not required to create districts that are relatively equal in population.
	d. The redistricting process is overly centralized.

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What is meant by incumbency advantage?

	a. Incumbents are usually older and have more experience than their challengers.
	b. Incumbents have a great deal of influence in the redistricting process.
	c. Incumbents possess many advantages that make their reelection likely.
	d. Incumbents usually perform much better in debates against their opponent.

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What is one of the major duties of a member of Congress?

	a. To hold fundraisers for their reelection campaign
	b. To meet with interest groups
	c. To draft and introduce legislation
	d. To manage their personal office

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What is the largest expenditure for congressional candidates running for election?

	a. Staff
	b. Television advertising
	c. Candidate filing fees
	d. Campaign office expenses

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What was one of the more notable trends in the 2010 congressional elections?

	a. Incumbents were more vulnerable than ever before in history.
	b. Campaign finance reform laws were a strong deterrent to effective fundraising.
	c. Political parties aggressively recruited wealthy candidates, so they could fund their own campaigns.
	d. For the first time in history, Democrats raised more money than Republicans.

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When does redistricting of congressional district lines occur?

	a. When there is a significant population shift
	b. When the state legislature enacts the appropriate provisions
	c. Every ten years
	d. After each major presidential election

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When is the term “gerrymandering” used?

	a. When the political party in control draws district lines to enhance its own political fortunes
	b. When the Senate draws lines around racial districts
	c. When referring to Supreme Court decisions regarding redistricting
	d. When the governor of a state changes voting districts to ensure reelection

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Which group works to elect members of their political party to Congress?

	a. Incumbents
	b. Election committees
	c. Redistricting commissions
	d. Campaign committees

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Which of the following statements about constituency services is true?

	a. Constituency services involve assisting people in dealing with the bureaucracy.
	b. Constituency services are rarely used today.
	c. Constituency services are more commonly engaged in by senators than representatives.
	d. Constituency services seldom help members of Congress in their reelection bids.

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Which of the following statements best describes most congressional races?

	a. Most congressional races are closely contested.
	b. Most congressional races are not closely contested.
	c. Most congressional races are less contested than state elections.
	d. Most congressional races are more contested than local elections.

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Complete the sentence. Each of the following congressional leadership positions has real substantive authority in its chamber EXCEPT:

	a. Speaker of the House.
	b. President of the Senate
	c. Senate President Pro Tempore.
	d. House Majority Leader

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Fill in the blank. An organized but informal group of legislators established to promote or advocate a specific shared interest is known as a(n) __________________.

	a. Interest group
	b. Task force
	c. Caucus
	d. Subcommittee

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Fill in the blank. Groups of individuals or corporations who want to coordinate their political donations may do so by forming ___________________.

	a. Political action committees
	b. Interest groups
	c. Campaign committees
	d. None of the above; coordinating donations is prohibited under law

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Fill in the blank. If the House and Senate pass different versions of a similar bill and cannot agree, it must go to a _____________committee.

	a. Standing
	b. Special
	c. Conference
	d. Compromise

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Fill in the blank. The House ____________ Committee exercises control over what bills are brought to the floor for a vote.

	a. Rules
	b. Ways and Means
	c. Appropriations
	d. Ethics

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Fill in the blank. The process by which a senator can defeat a bill by tying up the Senate so long that the measure will never come to a vote is known as _____________.

	a. A filibuster
	b. Senatorial courtesy
	c. Gerrymandering
	d. Cloture

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Fill in the blank. The _____________ committee is appointed to deal with an issue or problem before Congress that does not fall within any standing committees’ scope of power.

	a. Select
	b. Conference
	c. Joint
	d. Special

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How can Congress override a presidential veto?

	a. By a two-thirds vote in the Senate
	b. By a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate
	c. By a majority vote in the House
	d. By a majority vote in both the House and Senate

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If the president signs a bill, what happens to it?

	a. It dies.
	b. It goes back to the House.
	c. It goes to the Senate.
	d. It becomes a law.

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What are the main responsibilities of congressional standing committees?

	a. Working out legislative differences between what the president and their constituents would prefer
	b. Appointing and voting on judicial nominees
	c. Passing budget resolutions and providing constituency service
	d. Writing legislation and providing legislative oversight of government agencies

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What is one of the most effective ways that members of Congress can demonstrate party loyalty?

	a. By criticizing the opposing political party
	b. By making financial contributions to fellow members
	c. By introducing a large number of bills
	d. All of the above

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What is the most important factor in determining a member of Congress's vote?

	a. Party affiliation
	b. Level of education
	c. Political philosophy
	d. Committee assignments

.

What percentage of bills introduced in Congress actually become law?

	a. Five percent
	b. Thirty percent
	c. Seventy percent
	d. Ten percent

.

When does most of the lobbying by special interest groups occur?

	a. When a bill is introduced
	b. When a bill passes the House
	c. When a bill passes the Senate
	d. When a bill is in committee

.

Which congressional officer is in charge of getting members to the floor for important votes?

	a. Majority Leader
	b. Whip
	c. President Pro Tempore
	d. Speaker of the House

.

Which of the following best describes what happens to most bills introduced in Congress?

	a. They usually die by inaction at the committee stage.
	b. They usually pass one chamber but not the other.
	c. They usually are voted down on the floor of the House or Senate.
	d. They usually are bottled up in the House Rules Committee.

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Why do members of the majority in Congress have an important advantage?

	a. Because they are all incumbents
	b. Because they hold all the leadership positions, including committee chairs
	c. Because they receive higher salaries than minority-party members
	d. Because they have the exclusive right to introduce legislation

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Why is it so difficult for Congress to pass laws?

	a. Bills can be defeated at many points in the process.
	b. Passing a bill is costly.
	c. The sheer size of the institution causes many bills to get lost.
	d. Bills have to be approved by party leaders.

.

“Pork barreling” refers to which of the following?

	a. Congressional assistance to agricultural interests
	b. Grants to private lobbying firms and companies
	c. Public works projects and grants to specific districts paid for by general revenues
	d. Legislation that bestows special benefits on members of Congress

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Fill in the blank. In Congress, most legislative work is done in _________________.

	a. Full sessions of Congress
	b. The legislator’s home district
	c. Conference with the president
	d. Committees

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According to the “State of the Media 2011” report, most people get their news from which source?

	a. Newspapers
	b. The Internet
	c. Cable television
	d. Local television

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Complete the sentence. All of the following have been the historical trend regarding midterm elections EXCEPT:

	a. The president’s party usually loses seats in Congress.
	b. The president’s party usually gains seats in Congress.
	c. They generally reflect voter discontent with the president.
	d. Voter turnout is significantly lower than presidential elections.

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Fill in the blank. According to the video “Congress and the Media,” the media’s coverage of Congress can generally be described as ______________.

	a. Misinformed
	b. Inadequate
	c. Cynical
	d. Trustworthy

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Fill in the blank. Executive _______________ is the presidential power to keep communications with his staff confidential.

	a. Immunity
	b. Privacy
	c. Privilege
	d. Referral

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Fill in the blank. Federal judicial nominees must appear before the _______________ to answer inquiries.

	a. House Judiciary Committee
	b. Senate Judiciary Committee
	c. Senate Ethics Committee
	d. House Rules Committee

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Fill in the blank. The congressional staffer in charge of maintaining a positive public image for a member with the news media is a _______________.

	a. Media consultant
	b. Policy analyst
	c. Press secretary
	d. Chief of staff

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Fill in the blank. The _______________ has the power to confirm presidential nominations.

	a. House
	b. Senate
	c. House and Senate
	d. Supreme Court

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If both the president and vice president are unable to fulfill their duties of office, who is the next in line of succession?

	a. Senate President Pro Tempore
	b. Secretary of State
	c. Speaker of the House
	d. White House Chief of Staff

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Most studies on bias in the media have found which of the following?

	a. Results are inconclusive.
	b. Bias in the media is overwhelmingly conservative.
	c. Bias in the media is overwhelmingly liberal.
	d. Bias does not exist.

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Presidents have tried to bypass Congress’s judicial confirmation power by doing which of the following?

	a. Installing “temporary” judges without congressional approval
	b. Not nominating a candidate when the Senate is controlled by the opposing party
	c. Issuing an executive order to appoint the nominee without congressional approval
	d. Not utilizing senatorial courtesy

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The House of Representatives has the power to impeach which of the following?

	a. The president
	b. Federal judges
	c. Cabinet officials
	d. All of the above

.

What is the authority of Congress to investigate the executive branch and its agencies called?

	a. Bicameralism
	b. Oversight
	c. Legislative review
	d. None of the above

.

What was one of the major findings of the 1947 Hutchins Commission report?

	a. The press needed to improve itself in the name of morality, democracy, and self-preservation.
	b. The increasingly concentrated media ownership system had a negative impact on the quality of the news and information Americans received.
	c. Public broadcasting had been hindered throughout its existence by political pressures and funding shortages.
	d. As the key government agency that oversaw the broadcasting industry, the Federal Communications Commission was poorly managed and in need of significant reform.

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What was the rationale of the Constitution’s framers for giving Congress the power to declare war?

	a. To ensure that the president would not conspire with foreign nations
	b. Because Congress would, collectively, have more military experience than the president
	c. To delay a decision to go to war
	d. All of the above

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What was the “Republican Revolution” of 1994?

	a. The year the Republicans gained control of both houses of Congress since 1952
	b. The year that all Democratic incumbents in Congress were defeated
	c. The year that Republican congressional candidates outspent Democratic candidates for the first time in history
	d. All of the above

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When the president refuses to provide confidential executive branch information to Congress, what is usually the result?

	a. The courts have to resolve the issue.
	b. Congress is able to persuade the president to provide the information.
	c. The president and Congress will seek a compromise.
	d. Congress will pass legislation to expand their executive branch oversight authority.

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Which of the following is correct about the use of negative campaign advertisements?

	a. Challengers are more likely to use them than incumbents.
	b. Studies have shown that they have very little impact on voters' attitudes and decisions.
	c. Voters overwhelmingly dislike them.
	d. All of the above

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Which of the following is NOT considered a congressional check on the judiciary?

	a. The power to pardon criminals
	b. The power to set up the lower federal courts
	c. The power to accept or reject presidential nominations to the federal courts
	d. The ability to amend the Constitution

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Which president issued the highest number of presidential vetoes?

	a. George Washington
	b. Abraham Lincoln
	c. Franklin Roosevelt
	d. Ronald Reagan

.

Who are the only two presidents to ever have been impeached?

	a. Richard Nixon and Andrew Johnson
	b. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton
	c. Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton
	d. Lyndon Johnson and Andrew Johnson

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Complete the sentence. All of the following are examples of “discretionary” federal spending programs EXCEPT:

	a. Health research.
	b. Education.
	c. Social Security.
	d. Housing.

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Complete the sentence. All of the following criticisms have been leveled at Congress EXCEPT:

	a. It is too partisan.
	b. The primary concern of most members is getting reelected.
	c. It introduces too many bills.
	d. It does not police the ethical behavior of its members.

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Complete the sentence. Congress can make foreign policy in all of the following ways EXCEPT:

	a. Informal advice to the president.
	b. Denial of funds for military/foreign operations.
	c. Legislation.
	d. Executive agreements.

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Fill in the blank. After receiving the president’s budget request, Congress will hold hearings through the ___________________.

	a. House Appropriations Committee
	b. House and Senate Budget Committees
	c. House and Senate Ways and Means Committees
	d. Senate Appropriations Committee

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Fill in the blank. Most budget analysts agree that the main cause of the national debt has been ________________.

	a. Tax cuts for the wealthy
	b. Entitlement spending
	c. Defense spending
	d. 9/11

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Fill in the blank. The ______________ is a federal agency within the legislative branch that provides economic data to Congress.

	a. Independent Fiscal Office
	b. Office of Management and Budget
	c. Congressional Budget Office
	d. Congressional Research Service

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Fill in the blank. The _______________ was passed by Congress in 2002 to provide law enforcement with expanded powers to prevent terrorist attacks.

	a. 9/11 Defense Act
	b. USA Patriot Act
	c. Homeland Security Resolution
	d. Terrorism Prevention Act

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In 2008, Congress passed the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in order to do which of the following?

	a. Address the nation’s growing unemployment rate
	b. Respond to rapidly deteriorating financial market conditions
	c. Reduce the increasing number of the country’s home foreclosures
	d. Provide emergency loans to the nearly bankrupt auto industry

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Scandals can affect congressional elections by doing which of the following?

	a. Increasing the likelihood that the incumbent will win reelection
	b. Increasing the likelihood that people will vote
	c. Decreasing the likelihood that people will vote
	d. None of the above

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The scope of Congress’s power over the federal government’s funds includes which of the following?

	a. Expenditures
	b. Debt
	c. Taxes
	d. All of the above

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The “revolving door” refers to which of the following?

	a. Members of Congress using their positions to negotiate lucrative private sector jobs and then lobbying former colleagues
	b. When a lobbyist pulls together campaign contributions from individuals and then gets the credit from the candidate for delivering the bundle of money
	c. When members of Congress retire to collect a lump sum pension then decide to run for re-election
	d. When special interest groups are given full privilege access to members of Congress

.

What is the largest expenditure in the federal budget?

	a. Interest on the national debt
	b. Education
	c. Defense
	d. Entitlement programs

.

When did the “hands off” approach of the media regarding reports on politicians’ private lives end?

	a. When news coverage became televised in the 1950s
	b. When President Clinton was impeached for lying about his affair with an intern
	c. When Ronald Reagan refused to grant interviews to media outlets that openly criticized him
	d. When the Watergate scandal caused the press to focus more on “watchdog” journalism

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Which of the following best describes Congress’s role in major health care reform efforts?

	a. Ideological differences combined with the decentralization of congressional power have made major overhauls of the health care system difficult to achieve.
	b. The House and the Senate usually have different proposals which cannot be reconciled.
	c. The constituencies of most members of Congress do not want health care reform.
	d. Many members do not understand the complexities of the issue.

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Which of the following is an institutional reform enacted by the 112th Congress?

	a. Limiting the number of bills a member can introduce
	b. Increasing the transparency and reducing the amount spent on earmarks
	c. Forbidding members from attending campaign fundraisers on legislative session days
	d. Eliminating earmarks in spending bills.

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Which of the following is true regarding congressional incumbents involved in a scandal?

	a. More than 50 percent were re-elected.
	b. They were all defeated in their primary elections.
	c. Over 60 percent were defeated in the general election.
	d. With a few exceptions, all of them retired from office.

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Which of the following statements about the War Powers Resolution is true?

	a. It has largely been ignored by presidents.
	b. It was enacted under President Truman.
	c. It has been declared unconstitutional.
	d. It gives Congress the power to declare war.

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Whose support proved critical for passage of the American Recovery and Investment Act by Congress in 2009?

	a. Senate Democrats
	b. Senate Republicans
	c. House Republicans
	d. House Democrats

.

Why is it often difficult for presidents to consult with Congress on foreign affairs?

	a. Because Congress is often uninformed about foreign policy
	b. Because Congress tends to be heavily influenced by special interests
	c. Because Congress can leak sensitive information
	d. All of the above

.

Who develops the president’s annual budget request?

	a. White House staff
	b. Office of Personnel Management
	c. Office of Management and Budget
	d. Senate Appropriations Committee

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