What is the main function of the legislative branch?

1.   ?    Interpret laws
2.   ?    Enforce laws
3.   ?    Make laws
4.   ?    Change laws

Which of the following illustrates a difference between the house of Representatives and the Senate?

1.   ?    The House of Representatives makes laws, and the Senate passes laws.
2.   ?    To be a member of the Senate or House, you must live in state for a certain amount of time.
3.   ?    The House of Representatives begins the impeachment process and the Senate holds the trial.
4.   ?    The are majority leaders the House but not in the Senate.

What do you call the duties of Congress that are specifically listed in the Constitution?

1.   ?    Expressed Powers
2.   ?    Implied Powers
3.   ?    Inherent Powers
4.   ?    Reserved Powers

According to the qualifications for US Senator listed in the Constitution, which of the following would prevent Sam Smith from becoming a Senator.

1.   ?    He did not attend law school.
2.   ?    He is 29 years old.
3.   ?    He is a resident of Maryland.
4.   ?    He has been a US citizen for over ten years.

When Congress exercises a power that is not specifically listed in the Constitution, this power is known as a(n)

1.   ?    Expressed Powers
2.   ?    Implied Powers
3.   ?    Inherent Powers
4.   ?    Reserved Powers

Which of the following is an example of an implied power of Congress?

1.   ?    Making a peace treaty with China
2.   ?    Proposing an amendment to the Constitution
3.   ?    Passing a law regulating the use of the Internet
4.   ?    Passing a law to create a new gold coin

The Constitution does not mention the creation of a national bank. In 1798, Congress passed a bill that created the First Bank of the United States. Which phrase in the Constitution permitted Congress to do this?

1.   ?    "...take care that the laws be faithfully executed."
2.   ?    "...pay the debts and provide for the common defense"
3.   ?    "...borrow money of the credit of the United States"
4.   ?    "...make all laws...necessary and proper..."

The 2000 Census reveals that North Dakota's population decreased by 600,000 people, while California's increased by 600,000. How will this population shift effect Congressional representation in each state?

1.   ?    California will lose representation; North Dakota will gain representation.
2.   ?    California will gain representation; North Dakota will lose representation.
3.   ?    Both states will gain representation.
4.   ?    Both states will lose representation.

When Congressional districts are gerrymandered, what has been done to them?

1.   ?    The districts are drawn with some larger than others.
2.   ?    The districts are drawn to have equal population.
3.   ?    The districts are drawn to favor one political party.
4.   ?    The districts are drawn in one compact continuous territory.

What is a collection of data about the human population that may include size, location or individual characteristics?

1.   ?    Demographics
2.   ?    Census
3.   ?    Ratification
4.   ?    Petition

Where are appropriations bills always introduced?

1.   ?    House of Representatives
2.   ?    United States Senate
3.   ?    House of Delegates
4.   ?    State Senate

Which of the following describes a power that belongs only to the United States Senate?

1.   ?    Introducing revenue (money) bills
2.   ?    Making laws
3.   ?    Approving appointments of Supreme Court Justices.
4.   ?    Beginning the impeachment proceeding for the President.

Which of the following people would be chosen as a chairperson for a Congressional Committee?

1.   ?    A member of Congress was nominated by members of his party.
2.   ?    A member of Congress received the most votes in the last election.
3.   ?    A member of Congress was appointed by the President.
4.   ?    A member of Congress has served on the committee the longest.

What is the first step in the lawmaking process?

1.   ?    Studying the bill in a committee
2.   ?    Debating the bill in the House
3.   ?    Introducing of the bill by a legislator
4.   ?    Sending the bill to the Senate

The Congressional power to raise and support an army is an example of which category of powers?

1.   ?    Commerce power
2.   ?    Military power
3.   ?    Money power
4.   ?    Other power

Which type of Congressional committee studies issues and reports back to both houses of Congress, but does not have lawmaking authority?

1.   ?    Standing committees
2.   ?    Joint committees
3.   ?    Select committees
4.   ?    Conference committees

What are some of the major leadership positions in both the House and the Senate?

1.   ?    The majority leaders and the whips
2.   ?    The majority and minority leaders
3.   ?    The minority leaders and the whips
4.   ?    The President of the Senate and the party whips

A tax bill is introduced into the House of Representatives, studied by a House committee, and approved by the entire House. What is the next step in the lawmaking process?

1.   ?    Sending it to the states for approval
2.   ?    Sending it to the President for their approval
3.   ?    Sending to the the Senate
4.   ?    Sending it the Supreme Court

When there is a difference between a bill passed by the House and the Senate, the bill is sent to a committee for which purpose?

1.   ?    To allow the President to decide which one is better
2.   ?    To resove or work out the difference between the two versions
3.   ?    For public review of the bill
4.   ?    For the Speaker of the House to open it up for debate

After a bill is approved by both houses of Congress, what is the next step?

1.   ?    The bill is debated by the Senate.
2.   ?    The bill is debated by the House of Representatives.
3.   ?    The bill is introduced to a committee.
4.   ?    The bill is sent to the President for approval.

Where does the day-to-day work of Congress take place?

1.   ?    Home districts
2.   ?    Political parties
3.   ?    Committees
4.   ?    Interest groups

Congress and the General Assembly both have committees. Why was the work divided in this way?

1.   ?    Free up time for other meetings
2.   ?    Divide the power of government between the state and national levels.
3.   ?    Establish the function of checks and balances.
4.   ?    Divide up the work load so that bills are processed more quickly.

The Maryland House of Delegates has approved a bill, which gives Anne Arundel County Schools $15 million for new school construction. The Maryland State Senate has approved a bill for $25 million. Which is the most likely result of this situation?

1.   ?    The bill will be killed while in committee.
2.   ?    The bill will be sent to the Supreme Court for a ruling.
3.   ?    The bill would be sent ot the governor to be signed or vetoed.
4.   ?    Differences between the two versions of the bill owuld be worked out by a conference committee.

Who is the presiding officer of the Maryland House of Delegates?

1.   ?    Speaker of the House
2.   ?    Lt. Governor
3.   ?    President
4.   ?    Vice President

There are three types of interest groups. What is the name of interest groups that are made up of people who share common characteristics such as race, ethnic group or gender?

1.   ?    Economic Interest Groups
2.   ?    Demographic Interest Groups
3.   ?    Public Interest groups
4.   ?    Government Interest groups.

If a voter wished to influence a member of Congress, what is the best way to do this?

1.   ?    Paint a big sign on their house
2.   ?    Write a letter to their mother
3.   ?    Write, call or email the Congressman
4.   ?    Organize a protest at the local mall.

Like Congress, what can the General Assembly do?

1.   ?    Declare war
2.   ?    Conduct the Census
3.   ?    Propose amendments to the Constitution
4.   ?    Pass laws for the good of the people

How can members of Congress be influenced by the President?

1.   ?    He is bigger and stronger than they are.
2.   ?    He can impeach them and remove them from office.
3.   ?    He can give or withold favors such as invitations to the White House or helping with their reelection campaigns.
4.   ?    He can appoint someone else to take his or her place.

All of the following methods are used by interest groups to influence members of Congress EXCEPT

1.   ?    providing them with information about a specific issue they support.
2.   ?    asking their members to contact their representatives about an issue.
3.   ?    testifying before a congressional committee.
4.   ?    voting on a law when it is considered by the entire House.

What is the type of committee that considers laws dealing with a specific subject and is a permanent part of the House or Senate?

1.   ?    Standing committee
2.   ?    Conference committee
3.   ?    Joint committee
4.   ?    Select committee

The Maryland General Assembly is made up of two houses. What are those two houses called?

1.   ?    State Senate and House of Representatives
2.   ?    United States Senate and Congress
3.   ?    House of Delegates and State Senate
4.   ?    House of Delegates and United States Senate

The Senate has specific powers not given to the House of Representatives. Which of the following powers is NOT a special power of the Senate?

1.   ?    Introducing revenue bills
2.   ?    Approving presidential appointees
3.   ?    Ratifying treaties
4.   ?    Holding impeachment trials

Use this chart to answer the following question:

1.   ?    Minorities represent almost 50% of the total membership of Congress.
2.   ?    Minority representation has been declining since 1991.
3.   ?    Minority representation has increased rapidly since 1991.
4.   ?    Minorities represent about 20% of the total membership of Congress.

Use this chart to answer the following question:

1.   ?    The number of women in Congress reflects the number of women in the US population.
2.   ?    The number of women in Congress is equal to the number of men.
3.   ?    The number of women in Congress is increasing, but still only represents about 10% of the total Congress.
4.   ?    The number of women in Congress has been decreasing since 1991.

Use this chart to answer the following question:

1.   ?    Asian Americans
2.   ?    African Americans
3.   ?    Hispanic Americans
4.   ?    Women