| A | B |
|---|
| Which political parties make up the two-party system in the United States? | Democrats and Republicans |
| What term is used to describe a political philosophy that believes in limited government? | conservative |
| What term is used to describe a political philosophy that believes that government should be more involved in addressing social and economic problems? | liberal |
| What is the primary function of a political party? | to win elections |
| What is an individual called who runs for public office? | candidate |
| Where can one find out about a political party's offical position on specific issues? | party platform |
| What is a campaign organized and led by ordinary citizens called? | grassroots |
| What is it called when a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote? | majority |
| Which political philosophy is most likely support compromises on public policies? | moderate |
| What are minor parties called? | third-parties |
| What are groups that try to influence public policy on specific issues called? | interest groups |
| What do interest groups use to raise money for political campaigns? | Political Action Committees (PAC's) |
| Which civic duty is necessary in order to ensure "domestic tranquility"? | voluntary compliance (obeying the law) |
| What powers are specifically delegated to Congress in Article I, Sec. 8 of the Constitution? | enumerated powers |
| What powers are delegated to Congress by the “necessary and proper” or "elastic" clause? | implied powers |
| Which non-legislative power enables the House of Representatives to bring charges against the president for "high crimes or misdemeanors"? | impeachment |
| Who is the presiding officer that leads the House of Representatives? | Speaker of the House |
| Which elected official acts as the "president of the Senate"? | Vice-president |
| Which two legislative bodies make up the U.S. Congress? | the House of Representatives and the Senate |
| What is the most basic function of the U.S. Congress? | to make laws |
| Which leaders are elected by the political parties in each house of Congress to maintain party unity and achieve their political goals? | majority and minority leaders |
| What is the name of the process used to distribute legislative seats in Congress amongst the states? | apportionment |
| How long is the term for a member of the House of Representatives? | two years |
| How long is the term for a member of the Senate? | six years |
| How many U.S. Senators does each state have in Congress? | two |
| On what basis are seats in the U.S. House of Representatives allocated to the states? | population |
| Where is most of the debate, compromise, and changes to bills made during the legislative process? | committees |
| What is it called when legislators who have the most experience are selected as leaders of committees? | seniority |
| Which committees in Congress are permanently set up to deal with proposed legislation related to a specific issue? | standing committees |
| Where does a bill go if the House and Senate pass two different versions of the same bill? | Conference committee |
| What procedure can be used in the Senate to block a bill by "debating it to death"? | filibuster |
| In the U.S. Senate, what is needed to pass a motion of cloture to end a filibuster? | 60-vote majority |
| What is needed to over-ride a president's veto of a bill? | a 2/3 majority vote in each house of Congress |
| Who has the power to begin impeachment proceedings? | the House of Representatives |
| What is required for the approval of treaties? | a 2/3 majority vote in the Senate |
| What is required for the removal of an official who has been impeached? | a 2/3 majority vote in the Senate |
| How does the Congress conduct "oversight" of the executive branch? | holding committee hearings |
| Who has the power to re-draw the congressional district lines after each census? | the state legislatures |
