1. why are standing committees known as subject matter committees? (1 point)
they create new subjects and thereby new committees.
they are only used for current topics and legislation.
they handle the three major subjects in american government.
they deal with particular policy matters.
2. why is the house committee on rules considered to be so powerful? (1 point)
all new bills must pass through this committee.
this is the only committee that can create bills.
this committee makes all the rules governing the house’s legislative process.
all senate and the house committees report to this committee.
3. what is the difference between joint committees and conference committees? (1 point)
joint committees have members of both houses, while conference committees only include members of
the house.
joint committees are led by the president, while conference committees are led by senators.
joint committees focus on specific issues, while conference committees align each chamber’s version of
the same bill.
joint committees are temporary, while conference committees are permanent.
4. which answer best describes why some view the senate as undemocratic? (1 point)
the vice president is the leader of the senate.
the senate and house do not have the same powers.
everyone living in a state can vote for that state’s senators regardless of their home district.
every state has equal representation in the senate regardless of its population.
5. why are congressional seats reapportioned every decade? (1 point)
to accommodate an increasing number of house members
to accommodate an increasing number of senators
to accommodate changes in state populations
to accommodate changes in the national population
6. in which of the following ways do the members of the house and the senate differ? select all
that apply.
(2 points)
ethnicity
size of constituencies
previous jobs
7. what is the main role of the legislative branch within the federal government? (1 point)
enforcing laws
executing laws
interpreting laws
making laws
8. why would house representatives be constantly campaigning? (1 point)
they serve two­year terms.
campaigning is more important than legislating.
they serve six­year terms.
campaigning is a duty outlined in the constitution.
9. why were rural areas overrepresented in the house before the supreme court’s “one person,
one vote” ruling?
(1 point)
more people lived in rural areas than in urban ones.
the larger states had more rural areas.
congressional districts were drawn to favor rural areas.
congressional districts were drawn to favor urban areas.
10. why did the framers create a legislative body influenced by popular events as well as a more
stable, slower body?
(1 point)
to keep congress interesting.
to have a system of checks on power
to have more people involved in the legislative process
to keep power in the hands of the larger states