Legislative Branch Unit Test
Name: _____________________________
Multiple Choice:
In each of the following questions, select the most correct answer and circle the letter beside it.
Each question is worth one point for a total of 30 possible points.
1. At the national level, how long is a U.S. Senator’s term of office?
A. 2 years
B. 4 years
C. 6 years
D. 8 years
2. What type of committee resolves the differences between similar versions of House and
Senate bills?
A. Conference Committee
B. Joint Committee
C. Select Committee
D. Standing Committee
3. Which of the following is not a role of the Speaker of the House?
A. Calls for votes of cloture, requiring 3/5 vote to pass
B. Decides who gets to speak first during debate
C. Picks the committee to which a bill goes
D. Schedules bills for action on the House floor
4. In which body do congressional members most often work out the detailed, day-to-day
considerations of proposed legislation?
A. Party Caucus
B. Committee
C. Full House or Full Senate
D. Specialized Voting Coalitions
5. Which of the following is not a reason why the committee system is an important part of the
lawmaking process?
A. It allows members of Congress to divide work among smaller groups, allowing congressional
representatives to specialize in specific issues.
B. It allows lawmakers the chance to listen to supporters and opponents of the bills, asking
questions of expert witnesses.
C. It allows congressional representatives the chance to focus the public’s attention on pressing
issues in society.
D. It allows most bills to get through to the full floor debate, in which members of Congress try
to convince others to support or reject the bill.
6. Which of the following agencies is responsible for coordinating the budget-making work of
the Legislative Branch?
A. Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
B. General Accounting Office (GAO)
C. Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
D. Government Printing Office (GPO)
7. Which of the following situations is an example of an implied power of Congress?
A. Congress makes a law that punishes a counterfeiter for making fake money
B. Congress makes a law that creates the National Guard, a type of militia
C. Congress makes a law that drafts men over eighteen into the army
D. Congress grants a patent to a person who invents a new type of transportation
8. What does the U.S. Constitution mean when it says Congress cannot suspend the writ of
habeas corpus?
A. Congress may not make laws ordering the death of a particular person or a specific group of
people.
B. Congress may not make laws that allow police to keep a person in jail without telling him or
her why.
C. Congress may not make laws that stop a person from expressing himself in written or graphic
form.
D. Congress may not make laws that eliminate the rights found in the first ten amendments.
9. Why did the commerce clause allow Congress to prevent discrimination in a restaurant?
A. Since people in one state could visit a restaurant in another state, Congress could regulate the
restaurant as part of their power to regulate interstate trade.
B. Since a restaurant sold things, Congress could regulate the restaurant as part of their power to
regulate taxable goods and services.
C. Since a restaurant employed people and paid them wages, Congress could regulate the
restaurant as part of their power to regulate treatment of employees and customers.
D. Since a restaurant paid taxes, Congress could regulate the restaurant as part of their power to
regulate stores paying property taxes to the government.
The following two maps represent the fictional 99th Congressional District of Colorado. The first
map (left) shows the district before the 1970 census redistricting. After the 1970 census, the
Democrat-controlled Coloradan legislature redrew the district lines. The second map (right)
shows the district after the 1970 census redistricting. Use the following information and the
maps to answer question number ten.
Information about the maps:
The 99th Congressional District is made up of all the shaded counties. Non-shaded regions are
counties outside of the 99th Congressional District. Counties with a “D” have more Democrats
while counties with an “R” have more Republicans. Each county has the same number of
people.
Before 1970 Census
After 1970 Census
10. What is the best explanation for why the Democratic leaders in the Coloradan legislature
redrew the 99th Congressional District the way they did?
A. The Democrats wanted to give the Republicans a better chance of winning the district
because competition between the parties yields better results.
B. The Democrats wanted to ensure that a Democrat would win election in the 99th because they
wanted to win as many seats as possible.
C. The Democrats wanted to ensure the protection of the district’s Republican Congressman, a
leader in the House of Representatives.
D. The Democrats wanted to create a district full of Republicans to take away Republican
influence in other districts.
11. Which of the following situations best describes congressional casework/constituent service?
A. A member of Congress votes to pass a gun rights bill supported by his district, increasing the
waiting period required to purchase a gun.
B. A member of Congress gets a government agency to investigate a veteran’s claim that his
insurance benefits have been unfairly canceled.
C. A member of Congress raises money in his district by holding a fundraising dinner in which
the Vice President gives a speech on current foreign policy issues.
D. A member of Congress joins a coalition of congressional members dedicated to improving
international trade with struggling African nations.
12. What is a filibuster?
A. When a Senator votes against his party on a bill
B. When a Senator refuses to let a bill get through committee
C. When a Senator continues to talk, preventing a vote on a bill
D. When a Senator decides to retire midway through his term of office
13. What clause in the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to make laws necessary and
proper to uphold legislative responsibilities?
A. Commerce clause
B. Expansionist clause
C. Faithful execution clause
D. Elastic clause
14. What is the decennial census?
A. When lawmakers evaluate the effectiveness of laws every ten years
B. When the government counts all the people in the country every ten years
C. When a member of Congress represents a congressional district for ten years
D. When a member of Congress introduces the same bill in each session for ten years
15. Which of the following trends occurs because Senators represent entire states while members
of the House of Representatives usually represent smaller congressional districts?
A. Senators tend to be more ideologically moderate compared to members of the House of
Representatives because Senate committees get resources from entire states while House
committees only get resources from specific districts.
B. Senators tend to be more ideologically moderate compared to members of the House of
Representatives because Senators must appeal to voters of a wider range of ideological
beliefs.
C. Senators tend to be more ideologically conservative or liberal compared to members of the
House of Representatives because Senators must raise money by appealing to specific special
interest groups within their whole state.
D. Senators tend to be more ideologically conservative or liberal compared to members of the
House of Representatives because Senators have a larger staff to help them understand the
issues facing their entire state.
16. Which of the following is not a way congressional staff members assist Congressmen?
A. Keep the Congressman’s schedule
B. Vote on behalf of the Congressman in committee
C. Inform the Congressman of certain bills
D. Work with constituents to solve problems in the district
17. What is pork-barrel legislation?
A. Laws made by Congress that give money to pig farmers
B. Laws made by Congress that limit local spending
C. Laws made by Congress to spend money on national health care initiatives
D. Laws made by Congress that benefit local federal projects
18. What is the role of the House Rules Committee?
A. Decides how and when the House of Representatives will consider legislation
B. Decides which committee each member of Congress sits on when a new session begins
C. Decides how to structure bills relating to money
D. Decides what actions to take about bills being considered in the House that conflict with
similar bills in the Senate
19. Whom does the U.S. Constitution name as president of the Senate?
A. Senate Majority Leader
B. President Pro Tempore
C. Vice President
D. Senate Whip
20. What is the primary purpose of Congress’ oversight powers?
A. To question members of the Executive Branch suspected of breaking the law
B. To investigate members of the Legislative Branch suspected of violating House or Senate
rules of ethics
C. To ensure that House and Senate procedures are followed correctly during debate
D. To review whether the Executive Branch carries out the laws Congress passes
21. Before 1995, what system usually determined the selection of a committee chairperson?
A. Seniority system
B. Merit system
C. Lottery system
D. Open election system
22. What kind of bills must always start in the House of Representatives?
A. Defense bills
B. Revenue bills
C. Education bills
D. Urban Development bills
23. The U.S. Constitution grants Congress many powers, including the power to make laws that
are necessary and proper to fulfill their responsibilities. In which case did the Supreme Court
first rule that this power should be interpreted broadly?
A. McCulloch v. Maryland
B. Marbury v. Madison
C. Gibbons v. Ogden
D. Heart of Atlanta Motel v. U.S.
24. Which of the following is not an expressed power of the Legislative Branch?
A. Declaring war
B. Coining money
C. Granting copyrights
D. Granting pardons
25. What is a rider?
A. A Congressman who wins in an election because the winning Presidential candidate is in the
same political party
B. A section added to a bill that does not have anything to do with the subject of the bill
C. A type of bill dealing specifically with raising revenue for public transportation
D. A campaign worker who helps a person get elected to Congress so that he or she can work
for the Congressman.
26. Which of the following is true of a joint resolution?
A. It has the same force of law as a regularly passed law
B. It does not generally require the President’s signature
C. It can only be crafted in a joint committee made up of Senators and House members
D. It cannot be used to propose a constitutional amendment
27. Why would a member of the House of Representatives introduce a bill that he knows has no
chance of passing?
A. He knows he still has a chance to debate the bill on the House floor.
B. He knows he will be able to make sure the bill goes to his committee where he can bring in
public supporters of his bill.
C. He knows he will be able to call attention to a need not currently addressed by law.
D. He knows that no one in his home district will know if he is unsuccessful at passing the law.
28. How old must one be to be elected to the House of Representatives?
A. 18
B. 25
C. 28
D. 35
29. Why are public work bills useful to members of Congress?
A. They allow members of Congress to support the idea that the nation should reduce its
spending.
B. They allow members of Congress to help people from neighboring states.
C. They allow members of Congress to funnel money and jobs to their home state or district.
D. They allow members of Congress to give temporary tax relief to citizens going through
difficult economic times.
30. Use the following information to answer the question:
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Justice Department required southern states such
as Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to submit state plans to redistrict
so that the Justice Department could approve the plans. Republicans controlled the Justice
Department at the time. Following the approval of these state plans, the congressional
elections of 1992 saw the election of the first African American representatives in these
southern states since Reconstruction. All of these newly elected African American
representatives were Democrats.
What is the most likely reason why the Republican-controlled Justice Department approved
plans that would allow for the election of Democrats?
A. The Justice Department was able to “crack” the votes of southern white Democrats by
dividing southern white Democrats among various districts throughout the states.
Republicans were then able to win more seats since they controlled majorities in nearly all
districts.
B. The Justice Department mistakenly believed that African Americans could not be elected in
the south and their presence on the ballot would result in a Republican victory even though
the district would be heavily Democratic.
C. The Justice Department was able to “pack” African Americans into one district. Although
this “packing” caused Democrats to win some seats, it allowed Republicans to pick up other
seats, as there were now fewer Democrats in other districts.
D. The Justice Department was being investigated by Republican and Democratic Senators for
historical discriminatory practices. The Justice Department thought that approving plans that
supported African Americans would help their case and prove that they were not
discriminatory.
Matching:
Write the letter of the term described by each statement. Some of the answer choices will not be
used. Each question is worth one point for a total of 5 possible points.
Set 1
A. Reapportionment
B. Redistricting
C. Gerrymandering
D. Realignment
E. Cracking
F. Packing
____1. Setting up new district lines after determining how many representatives each state gets
____2. Specific term meaning drawing district lines so the district includes as many of the
opposing party’s voters as possible
____3. Determining the new number of representatives each state gets
____4. General term referring to drawing a district’s boundaries to gain an advantage in
elections
____5. Specific term meaning drawing district lines in order to divide an opponent’s voters into
other districts, to weaken the opponent’s voting base
Short Answer:
Answer the following as completely as possible being sure to use complete sentences unless
otherwise indicated. Partial credit is available. Each item’s points are listed.
1. What are the two main ways that the Reapportionment Act of 1929 affects the organization of
Congress? (2 points)
2. Why are committees more important in the House of Representatives than in the Senate?
Please explain giving two reasons. (4 points)
3. List and explain the five decisions a committee can make regarding a bill. Which is the most
common decision? (8 points total)
4. List and explain the four decisions a President can make regarding a bill passed by Congress.
(6 points total)
5. What are three privileges/fringe benefits granted to members of the House or Senate? (3
points)
Essay Prompt:
In class, we discussed a variety of factors that influence members of Congress. On your own
paper and in a five-paragraph essay, please identify what you consider the three most important
influencing factors on Congressmen. In your introduction, you should state these three factors.
For each influencing factor, please use evidence and/or well-reasoned arguments to explain and
analyze how that factor influences members of Congress. In your concluding paragraph,
evaluate the influence of each factor, indicating which factors you believe represent positive
(desirable) influences and which factors represent negative (undesirable) influences. Be sure to
explain why you think each factor is positive or negative
Scoring Rubric:
Identify
Influences
5
Student accurately
identifies three
distinct factors that
influence members
of Congress
Explaining and
Analyzing how
Factor
Influences
Student provides
strong evidence
and/or wellreasoned arguments
that convincingly
explain and analyze
how three factors
influence members
of Congress
Evaluating
Influences
Student evaluates
and convincingly
explains his or her
evaluation of three
factors influencing
members of
Congress.
Essay Structure
X
Total possible points: 16
3
Student accurately
identifies two
distinct factors
that influence
members of
Congress
Student provides
evidence and/or
well-reasoned
arguments that
adequately explain
and analyze how
two factors
influence
members of
Congress
1
Student accurately
identifies one
factor that
influences
members of
Congress
Student provides
weak evidence
and/or wellreasoned
arguments that
weakly explain
and analyze how
one factor
influences
members of
Congress
Student evaluates Student evaluates
and adequately
and weakly
explains his or her explains his or her
evaluation of two
evaluation of one
factors influencing factor influencing
members of
members of
Congress.
Congress.
Student structures
X
his or her essay
according to a
five-paragraph
format
0
Student does not
accurately identify
any factors that
influence members
of Congress
Student provides
neither strong
evidence nor wellreasoned
arguments to
explain and
analyze any factor
influencing
members of
Congress
Student does not
evaluate and/or
explain his or her
evaluation of any
factor influencing
members of
Congress.
Student does not
structure his or her
essay according to
a five-paragraph
format
Legislative Branch Unit Test—Key
Name: _____________________________
Multiple Choice:
In each of the following questions, select the most correct answer and circle the letter beside it.
Each question is worth one point for a total of 30 possible points.
1. At the national level, how long is a U.S. Senator’s term of office?
A. 2 years
B. 4 years
C. 6 years
D. 8 years
2. What type of committee is tasked with resolving the differences between similar versions of
House and Senate bills?
A. Conference Committee
B. Joint Committee
C. Select Committee
D. Standing Committee
3. Which of the following is not a role of the Speaker of the House?
A. Calls for votes of cloture, requiring 3/5 vote to pass
B. Decides who gets to speak first during debate
C. Picks the committee to which a bill goes
D. Schedules bills for action on the House floor
4. In which body do congressional members most often work out the detailed, day-to-day
considerations of proposed legislation?
A. Party Caucus
B. Committee
C. Full House or Full Senate
D. Specialized Voting Coalitions
5. Which of the following is not a reason why the committee system is an important part of the
lawmaking process?
A. It allows members of Congress to divide work among smaller groups, allowing congressional
representatives to specialize in specific issues.
B. It allows lawmakers the chance to listen to supporters and opponents of the bills, asking
questions of expert witnesses.
C. It allows congressional representatives the chance to focus the public’s attention on pressing
issues in society.
D. It allows most bills to get through to the full floor debate, in which members of
Congress try to convince others to support or reject the bill.
6. Which of the following agencies is responsible for coordinating the budget-making work of
the Legislative Branch?
A. Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
B. General Accounting Office (GAO)
C. Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
D. Government Printing Office (GPO)
7. Which of the following situations is an example of an implied power of Congress?
A. Congress makes a law that punishes a counterfeiter for making fake money
B. Congress makes a law that creates the National Guard, a type of militia
C. Congress makes a law that drafts men over eighteen into the army
D. Congress grants a patent to a person who invents a new type of transportation
8. What does the U.S. Constitution mean when it says Congress cannot suspend the writ of
habeas corpus?
A. Congress may not make laws ordering the death of a particular person or a specific group of
people.
B. Congress may not make laws that allow police to keep a person in jail without telling
him or her why.
C. Congress may not make laws that stop a person from expressing himself in written or graphic
form.
D. Congress may not make laws that eliminate the rights found in the first ten amendments.
9. Why did the commerce clause allow Congress to prevent discrimination in a restaurant?
A. Since people in one state could visit a restaurant in another state, Congress could
regulate the restaurant as part of their power to regulate interstate trade.
B. Since a restaurant sold things, Congress could regulate the restaurant as part of their power to
regulate taxable goods and services.
C. Since a restaurant employed people and paid them wages, Congress could regulate the
restaurant as part of their power to regulate treatment of employees and customers.
D. Since a restaurant paid taxes, Congress could regulate the restaurant as part of their power to
regulate stores paying property taxes to the government.
The following two maps represent the fictional 99th Congressional District of Colorado. The first
map (left) shows the district before the 1970 census redistricting. After the 1970 census, the
Democrat-controlled Coloradan legislature redrew the district lines. The second map (right)
shows the district after the 1970 census redistricting. Use the following information and the
maps to answer question number ten.
Information about the maps:
The 99th Congressional District is made up of all the shaded counties. Non-shaded regions are
counties outside of the 99th Congressional District. Counties with a “D” have more Democrats
while counties with an “R” have more Republicans. Each county has the same number of
people.
Before 1970 Census
After 1970 Census
10. What is the best explanation for why the Democratic leaders in the Coloradan legislature
redrew the 99th Congressional District the way they did?
A. The Democrats wanted to give the Republicans a better chance of winning the district
because competition between the parties yields better results.
B. The Democrats wanted to ensure that a Democrat would win election in the 99th because they
wanted to win as many seats as possible.
C. The Democrats wanted to ensure the protection of the district’s Republican Congressman, a
leader in the House of Representatives.
D. The Democrats wanted to create a district full of Republicans to take away Republican
influence in other districts.
11. Which of the following situations best describes congressional casework/constituent service?
A. A member of Congress votes to pass a gun rights bill supported by his district, increasing the
waiting period required to purchase a gun.
B. A member of Congress gets a government agency to investigate a veteran’s claim that
his insurance benefits have been unfairly canceled.
C. A member of Congress raises money in his district by holding a fundraising dinner in which
the Vice President gives a speech on current foreign policy issues.
D. A member of Congress joins a coalition of congressional members dedicated to improving
international trade with struggling African nations.
12. What is a filibuster?
A. When a Senator votes against his party on a bill
B. When a Senator refuses to let a bill get through committee
C. When a Senator continues to talk, preventing a vote on a bill
D. When a Senator decides to retire midway through his term of office
13. What clause in the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to make laws necessary and
proper to uphold legislative responsibilities?
A. Commerce clause
B. Expansionist clause
C. Faithful execution clause
D. Elastic clause
14. What is the decennial census?
A. When lawmakers evaluate the effectiveness of laws every ten years
B. When the government counts all the people in the country every ten years
C. When a member of Congress represents a congressional district for ten years
D. When a member of Congress introduces the same bill in each session for ten years
15. Which of the following trends occurs because Senators represent entire states while members
of the House of Representatives usually represent smaller congressional districts?
A. Senators tend to be more ideologically moderate compared to members of the House of
Representatives because Senate committees get resources from entire states while House
committees only get resources from specific districts.
B. Senators tend to be more ideologically moderate compared to members of the House of
Representatives because Senators must appeal to voters of a wider range of ideological
beliefs.
C. Senators tend to be more ideologically conservative or liberal compared to members of the
House of Representatives because Senators must raise money by appealing to specific special
interest groups within their whole state.
D. Senators tend to be more ideologically conservative or liberal compared to members of the
House of Representatives because Senators have a larger staff to help them understand the
issues facing their entire state.
16. Which of the following is not a way congressional staff members assist Congressmen?
A. Keep the Congressman’s schedule
B. Vote on behalf of the Congressman in committee
C. Inform the Congressman of certain bills
D. Work with constituents to solve problems in the district
17. What is pork-barrel legislation?
A. Laws made by Congress that give money to pig farmers
B. Laws made by Congress that limit local spending
C. Laws made by Congress to spend money on national health care initiatives
D. Laws made by Congress that benefit local federal projects
18. What is the role of the House Rules Committee?
A. Decides how and when the House of Representatives will consider legislation
B. Decides which committee each member of Congress sits on when a new session begins
C. Decides how to structure bills relating to money
D. Decides what actions to take about bills being considered in the House that conflict with
similar bills in the Senate
19. Whom does the U.S. Constitution name as president of the Senate?
A. Senate Majority Leader
B. President Pro Tempore
C. Vice President
D. Senate Whip
20. What is the primary purpose of Congress’ oversight powers?
A. To question members of the Executive Branch suspected of breaking the law
B. To investigate members of the Legislative Branch suspected of violating House or Senate
rules of ethics
C. To ensure that House and Senate procedures are followed correctly during debate
D. To review whether the Executive Branch carries out the laws Congress passes
21. Before 1995, what system usually determined the selection of a committee chairperson?
A. Seniority system
B. Merit system
C. Lottery system
D. Open election system
22. What kind of bills must always start in the House of Representatives?
A. Defense bills
B. Revenue bills
C. Education bills
D. Urban Development bills
23. The U.S. Constitution grants Congress many powers, including the power to make laws that
are necessary and proper to fulfill their responsibilities. In which case did the Supreme Court
first rule that this power should be interpreted broadly?
A. McCulloch v. Maryland
B. Marbury v. Madison
C. Gibbons v. Ogden
D. Heart of Atlanta Motel v. U.S.
24. Which of the following is not a power of the Legislative Branch?
A. Declaring war
B. Coining money
C. Granting copyrights
D. Granting pardons
25. What is a rider?
A. A Congressman who wins in an election because the winning Presidential candidate is in the
same political party
B. A section added to a bill that does not have anything to do with the subject of the bill
C. A type of bill dealing specifically with raising revenue for public transportation
D. A campaign worker who helps a person get elected to Congress so that he or she can work
for the Congressman.
26. Which of the following is true of a joint resolution?
A. It has the same force of law as a regularly passed law
B. It does not generally require the President’s signature
C. It can only be crafted in a joint committee made up of Senators and House members
D. It cannot be used to propose a constitutional amendment
27. Why would a member of the House of Representatives introduce a bill that he knows has no
chance of passing?
A. He knows he still has a chance to debate the bill on the House floor.
B. He knows he will be able to make sure the bill goes to his committee where he can bring in
public supporters of his bill.
C. He knows he will be able to call attention to a need not currently addressed by law.
D. He knows that no one in his home district will know if he is unsuccessful at passing the law.
28. How old must one be to be elected to the House of Representatives?
A. 18
B. 25
C. 28
D. 35
29. Why are public work bills useful to members of Congress?
A. They allow members of Congress to support the idea that the nation should reduce its
spending.
B. They allow members of Congress to help people from neighboring states.
C. They allow members of Congress to funnel money and jobs to their home state or
district.
D. They allow members of Congress to give temporary tax relief to citizens going through
difficult economic times.
30. Use the following information to answer the question:
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Justice Department required southern states such
as Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to submit state plans to redistrict
so that the Justice Department could approve the plans. Republicans controlled the Justice
Department at the time. Following the approval of these state plans, the congressional
elections of 1992 saw the election of the first African American representatives in these
southern states since Reconstruction. All of these newly elected African American
representatives were Democrats.
What is the most likely reason why the Republican-controlled Justice Department approved
plans that would allow for the election of Democrats?
A. The Justice Department was able to “crack” the votes of southern white Democrats by
dividing southern white Democrats among various districts throughout the states.
Republicans were then able to win more seats since they controlled majorities in nearly all
districts.
B. The Justice Department mistakenly believed that African Americans could not be elected in
the south and their presence on the ballot would result in a Republican victory even though
the district would be heavily Democratic.
C. The Justice Department was able to “pack” African Americans into one district.
Although this “packing” caused Democrats to win some seats, it allowed Republicans to
pick up other seats, as there were now fewer Democrats in other districts.
D. The Justice Department was being investigated by Republican and Democratic Senators for
historical discriminatory practices. The Justice Department thought that approving plans that
supported African Americans would help their case and prove that they were not
discriminatory.
Matching:
Write the letter of the term described by each statement. Some of the answer choices will not be
used. Each question is worth one point for a total of 5 possible points.
Set 1
A. Reapportionment
B. Redistricting
C. Gerrymandering
D. Realignment
E. Cracking
F. Packing
_B__1. Setting up new district lines after determining how many representatives each state gets
_F__2. Specific term meaning drawing district lines so the district includes as many of the
opposing party’s voters as possible
_A__3. Determining the new number of representatives each state gets
_C__4. General term referring to drawing a district’s boundaries to gain an advantage in
elections
_E__5. Specific term meaning drawing district lines in order to divide an opponent’s voters into
other districts, to weaken the opponent’s voting base
Short Answer:
Answer the following as completely as possible being sure to use complete sentences unless
otherwise indicated. Partial credit is available. Each item’s points are listed.
1. What are the two main ways that the Reapportionment Act of 1929 affects the organization of
Congress? (2 points)
1 points for each correct identification
Way 1: Discusses how it set permanent size of House at 435 (1 points)
Way 2: Discusses how it set up way in which we apportion seats (i.e. Census Bureau
decides each state’s number of seats, President sends finished realignment to Congress,
Each House has 60 days to reject the plan) (1 points)
2. Why are committees more important in the House of Representatives than in the Senate?
Please explain giving two different reasons. (4 points)
2 points per correct reason
3. List and explain the five decisions a committee can make regarding a bill. Which is the most
common decision? (8 points total)
1 point for each correct identification, 0.5 points for each correct explanation, 0.5 points for
identifying most common option = 8 points
Pigeonhole—ignore bill and let it die
Most common option
Unfavorable recommendation—committee passes bill, but plans to vote against it on floor
Do pass—pass as is
Amend a bill—make changes
Make it a committee bill—completely rewrite bill before sending it back to House or Senate
4. List and explain the four decisions a President can make regarding a bill passed by Congress.
(6 points total)
1 point for each correct identification, 0.5 points for each correct explanation = 6 points
Sign into law—Accepts bill
Veto—Rejects bill
Pocket Veto—Less than ten days to go in session, doing nothing kills the bill
Do nothing—becomes law after 10 days
5. What are three privileges/fringe benefits granted to members of the House or Senate? (3
points)
1 point for each privilege correctly identified
Tax deductions on two homes, travel allowances, health care, life insurance, low rates at
military hospitals, generous pension plan, money for staff, franking privilege, junket, free
printing, free parking, Library of Congress researches for them, etc.
Essay Prompt:
In class, we discussed a variety of factors that influence members of Congress. On your own
paper and in a five-paragraph essay, please identify what you consider the three most important
influencing factors on Congressmen. In your introduction, you should state these three factors.
For each influencing factor, please use evidence and/or well-reasoned arguments to explain and
analyze how that factor influences members of Congress. In your concluding paragraph,
evaluate the influence of each factor, indicating which factors you believe represent positive
(desirable) influences and which factors represent negative (undesirable) influences. Be sure to
explain why you think each factor is positive or negative
Scoring Rubric:
Identify
Influences
5
Student accurately
identifies three
distinct factors that
influence members
of Congress
Explaining and
Analyzing how
Factor
Influences
Student provides
strong evidence
and/or wellreasoned arguments
that convincingly
explain and analyze
how three factors
influence members
of Congress
Evaluating
Influences
Student evaluates
and convincingly
explains his or her
evaluation of three
factors influencing
members of
Congress.
Essay Structure
X
Total possible points: 16
3
Student accurately
identifies two
distinct factors
that influence
members of
Congress
Student provides
evidence and/or
well-reasoned
arguments that
adequately explain
and analyze how
two factors
influence
members of
Congress
1
Student accurately
identifies one
factor that
influences
members of
Congress
Student provides
weak evidence
and/or wellreasoned
arguments that
weakly explain
and analyze how
one factor
influences
members of
Congress
Student evaluates Student evaluates
and adequately
and weakly
explains his or her explains his or her
evaluation of two
evaluation of one
factors influencing factor influencing
members of
members of
Congress.
Congress.
Student structures
X
his or her essay
according to a
five-paragraph
format
0
Student does not
accurately identify
any factors that
influence members
of Congress
Student provides
neither strong
evidence nor wellreasoned
arguments to
explain and
analyze any factor
influencing
members of
Congress
Student does not
evaluate and/or
explain his or her
evaluation of any
factor influencing
members of
Congress.
Student does not
structure his or her
essay according to
a five-paragraph
format