Take this Quiz: AP US Government — interactions among the branches | Zestly

Question 1

A measure has majority support in both chambers. In which chamber can a determined minority most easily prevent a vote on it, and why?

Accepted Answer

In the Senate, because debate is not limited by default and ending it takes sixty votes rather than a simple majority

Answer

In the House, because any member may hold the floor indefinitely once recognised

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In the Senate, because the Vice President may decline to put the question to a vote

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In the House, because the Rules Committee may refuse a rule and the minority party controls that committee

Question 2

Of the thousands of bills introduced in a Congress, only a small fraction become law. Which explanation accounts for that best?

Accepted Answer

A bill must clear subcommittee, committee, floor scheduling and a vote in each chamber, then survive reconciliation of the two versions and presentment, and failing at any one of those points is enough

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The President may veto a bill while it is still in committee, before either chamber has voted on it

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A state legislature may recall a federal bill that it considers to exceed the powers of Congress

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The Supreme Court reviews proposed bills in advance and advises Congress which ones would be unconstitutional

Question 3

A congressional committee is dissatisfied with how an executive agency has been carrying out a statute. Which action is an exercise of the power of the purse specifically, rather than of oversight generally?

Accepted Answer

Appropriating the agency less than it requested for the coming year, and attaching a condition forbidding the money to be spent on the disputed activity

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Referring the matter to the Government Accountability Office for an audit of the agency's performance

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Subpoenaing the agency's officials and taking their testimony under oath at a public hearing

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Requiring the agency to submit a written report on the programme every quarter

Question 4

Baker v. Carr (1962) and Shaw v. Reno (1993) both concern the drawing of legislative districts. What did each hold?

Answer

Baker held that partisan districting violates the Constitution; Shaw held that it does not

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Baker required states to hand districting to independent commissions; Shaw returned the task to legislatures

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Baker held districting to be a political question beyond the reach of the courts; Shaw reversed that and opened maps to review

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Baker held that a challenge to unequal district populations may be heard by a federal court, opening the way to the requirement of roughly equal populations; Shaw held that a district drawn so that race predominated over traditional districting criteria must satisfy strict scrutiny

Question 5

Which of these presidential actions rests on practice rather than on a power stated in Article II?

Answer

Granting a reprieve or a pardon for an offence against the United States

Answer

Serving as commander in chief of the army and navy

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Issuing a statement on signing a bill, setting out how the administration reads provisions it regards as doubtful

Answer

Receiving ambassadors and other public ministers