Multiple Choice
Identify the
choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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There are several differences
between the two chambers of the U.S. Congress.Here we look at some of those differences, including
those relating to terms of office and qualifications.
The House of Representatives
With its 435
members, the House of Representatives is over four times larger than the Senate . Still, it is
referred to as the lower chamber of Congress.
Term of Office
Members of the
House of Representatives are elected for two-year terms. The framers believed that such a short term
of office would make representatives more responsive to the people . Many people still believe this.
Others argue that a two-year representatives spend too term is impractical because much time during
the second year campaigning for the next election. A constitutional amendment to lengthen the term
for House membership has been proposed several times but has never been
successful.
Congressional elections are held in November of even-numbered years, and
representatives begin their terms of office on January 3 following the November election. This means
that all 435 members must run for reelection at the same time, and the House begins anew following
each election.
Despite the short terms of office, there is still a great deal of continuity
among members of the House. In the past decade, well over 90 percent of all House incumbents have
been reelected. In 1996, 93.4 percent of the incumbents who ran were reelected . Some representatives
have been reelected over a dozen times. There is no limit on the number of terms a representative may
be reelected to the same office . Many people believe, however, that the number of terms a
representative can serve should be limited .
Qualifications
The Constitution
sets forth the qualifications for election to the House of Representatives . Members of the House
must be at least twenty-five years of age, citizens of the United States for at least seven years
prior to the election, and legal residents of the state from which they are elected .
Although
not required to do so by the Constitution, representatives have traditionally lived in the districts
they represent . This practice is rooted in the belief that representatives should be familiar with
the needs of the people they represent in Congress.
The Constitution also gives the House the
power to judge the qualifications of its members and to refuse a seat to an elected member. From 1823
to 1967, the House refused to recognize nine members as legitimate lawmakers and denied them their
seats. This power, however, was limited by the Supreme Court in 1969 in Powell v. McCormack . In that
decision, the Court ruled that Congress cannot exclude any member-elect who meets the
Constitution's requirements relating to age, citizenship, and residence.
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1.
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How many members are there in
the House of Representatives?
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2.
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What is the term of office for
a member of the House of Representatives?
a. | two
years | c. | six
years | b. | four years | d. | 8 years |
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3.
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What percentage of the House is
elected every other year?
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4.
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If you wanted to change the
change the length of the terms of office for representatives, how would you have to do
it?
a. | Pass a bill in
Congress | c. | Change the rules
of the House | b. | Pass a bill in the House and have the President sign
it | d. | Amend the
Constitution |
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5.
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About what percentage of
incumbents are reelected every two years?
a. | 90% | c. | 60% | b. | 100% | d. | incumbents are not reelected |
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6.
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How many times can you be
reelected to the House?
a. | two | c. | six | b. | four | d. | no limit |
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7.
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An immigrant comes to the
United States and becomes a citizen. How long does he have to wait before he can run for
congress?
a. | two
years | c. | seven
years | b. | four years | d. | can run immediately after becoming a
citizen |
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8.
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Which of the following are able
to run for Congress to represent Chula Vista?
a. | a citizen of
Mexico | c. | a citizen born in the United States
and living in Washington D.C. | b. | a citizen of Arizona | d. | none of these |
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9.
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Two people claim that they were
elected to represent a congressional district. Who decides which person will be seated as the member
of congress?
a. | the Supreme
Court | c. | the House of
Representatives | b. | the Senate | d. | the Justice Department |
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The
Senate
The Senate is known
as the upper chamber of Congress. The Constitution calls for each state to have two senators,
regardless of the state's size or population. Article V of the Constitution specifies that
"no state without its consent shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate." This
provision guarantees that the states' equal representation in the Senate cannot be changed by
amendment. Thus, as long as the original Constitution is in effect, each state will always have two
senators to represent it .
Before the adoption of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators
were chosen by state legislatures. Since that time, senators have been chosen by the people at large
in the November general elections of even numbered years.
Term of Office
Senators are elected for six-year terms . The terms are staggered, so that the terms of
one-third of the senators end every two years. In addition, the two senators from each state never
run for election in the same year unless a vacancy occurs because of death, retirement, or
resignation. If such a vacancy does occur, the governor of the state may call a special election to
choose a replacement, or the state legislature may allow the governor to appoint a replacement until
an election is held.
The founders designed the Senate as they did to give stability to the
legislative branch. Because Senate seats do not all come up for election at the same time, the Senate
is considered a "continuous body." Because senators serve six-year terms, they have more
time than representatives to understand and deal with issues before they must think about the next
election. The six-year term is supposed to make senators less subject to the pressures of public
opinion and the pleas of special interests . The longer term in office gives senators more time to
act as national leaders before facing the electorate again.
Qualifications
The
qualifications senators must meet are somewhat different from those for representatives . Members of
the Senate must be at least thirty years of age, citizens of the United States for at least nine
years, and legal residents of the states from which they are elected . The Constitution allows the
Senate to judge the qualifications of its members and to exclude a member-elect by a majority
vote.
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10.
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There are 100 Senators in the
Senate. Who decides how many senators each state gets?
a. | the Senate
itself | c. | the Supreme
Court | b. | the House and the Senate | d. | the Constitution |
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11.
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The 17th Amendment says that
senators will be elected by the people instead of the state legislatures.
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12.
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How long are senators elected
for?
a. | two
years | c. | six
years | b. | four years | d. | depends on the state and year |
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13.
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What percentage of the Senate
is elected each two years?
a. | 100% | c. | 33% | b. | 50% | d. | Terms are 6 years so 20% every two years would mean all senators were elected
in a six year period |
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14.
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The Founding Fathers thought
the Senate would provide ______ to the Congress.
a. | stability and
continuity | c. | logic and
reason | b. | change and creativity | d. | stability and change |
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15.
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As long as you are 35 years old
and a citizen of the United States for 9 years, you can run for the U.S. Senate.
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The Power of
Incumbency
incumbents are
people who get reelected to office. There are several possible explanations for the repeated
successes of incumbents. One explanation, although the least likely one, is that voters know how
their representatives vote on important policy issues, agree with their positions, and want to send
them back to Washington. The more likely source of incumbents' success, however, is visibility.
Incumbents work very hard at making themselves known throughout their districts so that, in the
voting booth, voters will at least recognize their names on the ballot . Incumbents frequently travel
back to their home districts (on the average members visit their home districts about thirty-five
times a year) . They also enjoy the franking privilege, which is a free mail service designed to keep
voters informed about current issues and the representative's voting record. Instead of postage,
they use their printed signatures, called franks, on official correspondence.
Additionally,
incumbents win friends and votes by servicing "the folks back home." They do this in two
ways. One is casework, which involves helping individual constituents cut through bureaucratic red
tape to get what they want. The other is pork barrel, which involves bringing federal funds to their
districts in the form of federal projects, contracts, or grants available to cities, colleges,
businesses, and other organizations .
Another explanation for an incumbent's success is
that a current member of the House (or Senate) is usually in a better position to raise campaign
funds than an opponent. Incumbent representatives raise, on average, six times more for their
reelection campaigns than do challengers .
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16.
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Who has the advantage in
congressional elections.
a. | challengers | c. | former members | b. | incumbents | d. | future members |
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17.
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Members of congress are able to
send mail for free. What is this called?
a. | routing
privilege | c. | posting
privilege | b. | franking privilege | d. | none of these |
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18.
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Your local congressman uses his
influence to get a court house built in your town. What is this called?
a. | franking | c. | pork barrel | b. | incumbency | d. | correspondence |
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19.
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“Name recognition,”
is a big advantage that incumbents have in elections
a. | true | c. | names do not matter in
elections | b. | false people usually don’t trust
politicians |
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20.
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What does “Power of
incumbency” mean?
a. | incumbents have more power in
congress than other members who are not incumbents | c. | The constitution says that incumbents should be more powerful because of their
wisdom | b. | You have to server at least 12 years in congress to get an incumbency
and that makes you powerful | d. | Members already elected to congress
have advantages over non-elected candidates running for
congress |
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HOUSE | SENATE | | Members chosen from local
districts | Members chosen
from entire district | | Two year term | Six year term | | Has always been
elected by voters | Until 1913 (17th
Amendment) elected by state legislatures | | May impeach federal
officials | May convict
federal officials of impeachable offenses | | Larger - 435 voting
members | Smaller - 100
members | | More formal rules | Fewer rules and restrictions | | Debates
are limited | Debates are
extended | | Floor action is controlled | Unanimous consent rules | | Less
prestige and individual notice | More
prestige and media attention | | Originates bills for raising revenues
| Power of “advice and
consent” on presidential appointments and treaties | | Local or narrow
leadership | National
leadership | | |
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21.
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Which house has more time to
express their opinions in debate?
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22.
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Which member represents more
people?
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23.
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Which house is responsible for
raising money?
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24.
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Which branch has the power to
impeach?
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25.
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Which member gets to approve
cabinet members and people appointed to the Supreme Court
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26.
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Which body would be responsible
for the trial of a president who has been impeached?
a. | house | c. | supreme court | b. | senate |
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27.
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Which Article of the
Constitution deals with the House of Representatives?
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28.
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Which Article of the
Constitution deals with the Senate
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