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Chapter 12

Matching
 
 
IDENTIFYING KEY TERMS
Match each item with the correct statement below. You will not use all the terms.
a.
resolution
b.
rider
c.
discharge petition
d.
quorum
e.
party caucus
f.
filibuster
 

 1. 

 voted on by either house, but has no force of law
 

 2. 

 closed meeting of the members of each party in the House
 

 3. 

 provision attached to an important bill
 

 4. 

 majority of the full membership of either house
 

 5. 

 enables members to force a bill that has been in committee for 30 days onto the floor for consideration
 

Modified True/False
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.  If false, change the identified word or phrase to make the statement true.
 
 
IDENTIFYING KEY TERMS
 

 6. 
A joint committee is composed of members of both houses, can be investigative in nature, and may issue periodic reports to the House and Senate. _________________________

 

 7. 
The powerful but unofficial post of president of the Senate involves steering floor action to a party's benefit. _________________________

 

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 
 
MAIN IDEAS
 

 8. 
The duties of the House Rules Committee are best described as those of a
a.
factory foreman.
b.
traffic cop.
c.
congressional chaplain.
d.
accounting clerk.
 

 9. 
When the Senate's Republican caucus wants party members to vote for a bill, the person who determines how many votes can be counted on is the
a.
senior senator.
b.
policy-committee chairperson.
c.
floor leader.
d.
whip.
 

 10. 
The main reason that Congress creates committees is to
a.
divide the workload.
b.
educate new members.
c.
introduce new bills.
d.
create party power bases.
 

 11. 
Which of the following is a way a bill can become a law without the President's signature?
a.
The President delegates the signing of a bill to the Vice President.
b.
The President waits until the Congress is not in session.
c.
The President fails to act on the bill within 10 days of receiving it while Congress is in session.
d.
The President leaves the country.
 

 12. 
To propose a constitutional amendment, Congress uses a
a.
public bill.
b.
joint resolution.
c.
concurrent resolution.
d.
rider.
 

 13. 
How and when bills reach the floor of the House is decided by the
a.
Ways and Means Committee.
b.
Rules Committee.
c.
Appropriations Committee.
d.
Judiciary Committee.
 

 14. 
Committee chairpersons usually are chosen
a.
by the presiding officers.
b.
by the whips.
c.
on the basis of ability.
d.
on the basis of seniority.
 

 15. 
Unlike the House, the Senate has a legislative process with
a.
few limits on debate.
b.
strict limits on debate.
c.
no roll-call voting.
d.
no voice voting.
 

 16. 
Bills are introduced in the Senate by
a.
the Rules Committee.
b.
individual senators.
c.
investigative committees.
d.
the majority floor leader.
 

 17. 
In the Vice President's absence, the presiding officer of the Senate is the
a.
Dean of the Senate.
b.
majority floor leader.
c.
president pro tempore.
d.
Speaker of the Senate.
 

 18. 
The House Rules Committee may do all of the following EXCEPT
a.
set conditions for considering a bill.
b.
speed up consideration of a bill.
c.
prevent consideration of a bill.
d.
attach amendments to a bill.
 

 19. 
The main way to end a filibuster is by
a.
a two-thirds vote of the Senate.
b.
invoking the Cloture Rule.
c.
convening a conference committee.
d.
voting the filibusterer out of office.
 

 20. 
On the first day of each new term, the House
a.
has a short, routine day.
b.
has few members to swear in.
c.
elects a Speaker to preside.
d.
writes all new rules of procedure.
 

 21. 
In order to prevent a bill passed by Congress from becoming law, the President may
a.
sign it and attach a veto message.
b.
refuse to sign it and attach a veto message.
c.
sign it after ten days if Congress is in session.
d.
negotiate a compromise bill with Congress.
 

 22. 
Proposed measures that apply to specific individuals or places are
a.
public bills.
b.
private bills.
c.
concurrent resolutions.
d.
riders.
 
 
INTERPRETING CHARTS
Use the chart to answer the following questions.

nar003-1.jpg
 

 23. 
To which of the following does a subcommittee report a bill?
a.
the Rules Committee
b.
a conference committee
c.
a full committee
d.
floor action
 

 24. 
A bill traveling along the arrow labeled Z would most likely be headed to
a.
the House.
b.
the Senate.
c.
a joint committee.
d.
the Supreme Court.
 

Essay
 
 
CRITICAL THINKING
 

 25. 
Drawing Conclusions Why do you think no equivalent for the filibuster exists in the House of Representatives?
 

 26. 
Identifying Central Ideas Why is there disagreement about the value of the seniority rule?
 



 
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