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Majority-minority districts are congressional districts that:
a. Create a political majority for a single partisan majority
b. Contain no single set of political party identifiers that constitute a majority in a House district
c. Contain a majority of whites
d. Create a political majority for one or more racial or ethnic minority groups
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The practice of drawing congressional district boundaries in ways that provide a political advantage is known as:
a. Redistricting
b. Reapportionment
c. Gerrymandering
d. Retail politics
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Packing happens when:
a. A partisan majority in both houses of the state legislature concentrates the other party's supporters into the fewest possible districts.
b. A partisan majority in both houses of the state legislature concentrates racial groups into as few districts as possible to maximize the representation of racial minorities in the legislature.
c. Few people live in some House districts within a state while other districts contain several times the number of people.
d. The state legislature reduces the number of congressional districts.
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Cracking happens when:
a. A partisan majority in both houses of the state legislature concentrates the other party's supporters into the fewest possible districts.
b. A partisan majority in both houses of the state legislature concentrates racial groups into as few districts as possible to maximize the representation of racial minorities in the legislature.
c. The party in power tries to spread the other party's supporters over several districts, thereby making them the minority party in each of these districts.
d. The state legislature reduces the number of congressional districts.
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The power of members of Congress to send out mail free of charge is known as the:
a. Postal privilege
b. Franking privilege
c. Executive privilege
d. Noblesse oblige
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The way in which incumbent members of Congress present themselves to their districts is known as:
a. Home style
b. The franking privilege
c. Casework
d. Earmarking
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Funds or services that automatically go to any person or local government entity that meets the eligibility requirements specified by law are known as:
a. Earmarks
b. Pork-barrel initiatives
c. Entitlements
d. Supplemental appropriations
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Bills that authorize the government to spend money for a few months, usually at the previous year's rate, are known as:
a. Supplemental appropriations
b. Continuing resolutions
c. Earmarks
d. Entitlements
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Work done by members of Congress to provide constituents with personal services and help them through the maze of federal programs and benefits is known as:
a. Casework
b. Earmarks
c. Entitlements
d. Home style
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A device in a bill that allowed Congress to veto the actions of the president in an area covered by a bill was known as a(n):
a. Legislative veto
b. Earmark
c. Entitlement program
d. Pocket veto
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The person who is the presiding officer in the House is the:
a. Speaker
b. Majority leader
c. Majority whip
d. President pro tempore
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The second highest-ranking position in the House of Representatives is the:
a. Speaker
b. Majority leader
c. Majority whip
d. President pro tempore
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The head of the minority party in the House of Representatives is the:
a. Speaker
b. Minority leader
c. Minority whip
d. Chair of the House Standards of Official Conduct Committee
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Temporary committees established by the House or Senate to study particular problems are known as:
a. Standing committees
b. Select committees
c. Joint committees
d. Conference committees
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Cloture requires that at least _______ senators vote to cut off discussion on a bill.
a. 40
b. 50
c. 60
d. 70
