Name:
Legislative Branch and Voting Questions
1. Explain how the lawmakers’ different responsibilities of lawmaking can conflict with each other.
2. Should representatives be “delegates” of their constituents and mirror their views or should they be
“trustees” who exercise their own best judgment on matters of public policy? Explain your answer.
3. What types of things might a Congressman/woman do in a typical day?
4. How long is a senator’s term, and what fraction of the senate is up for reelection at one time?
5. What makes the role of a senator more prestigious than that of a representative?
6. What allows Congress to take actions not specified in the Constitution?
Why do you think the writers of the Constitution included this clause?
7. Why does Congress send bills to committees instead of having all members consider each bill?
8. What is the purpose of a conference committee?
9. What is the role of the President in passing legislation?
10. Explain the difference between initiative, referendum and recall and give an example of each.
11. How can you register to vote in Wisconsin?
12. Explain gerrymandering in your own words.
13. What are political action committees (PACs)?
14. Give an example of glittering generalities, card stacking and transfer, as they relate to propaganda.
15. List four characteristics that make a candidate more likely to win an election.