Congress: Structure, Functions, and Legislative Process MCQs USA

Political science MCQs

1. Which two chambers make up the U.S. Congress?
a) House of Representatives and Supreme Court
b) Senate and Supreme Court
c) House of Representatives and Senate
d) Senate and Cabinet
Answer: c) House of Representatives and Senate

2. What is the primary function of Congress?
a) Enforce laws
b) Interpret laws
c) Make laws
d) Review laws
Answer: c) Make laws

3. How many members are in the House of Representatives?
a) 100
b) 435
c) 50
d) 250
Answer: b) 435

4. What is the term length for a U.S. Senator?
a) 2 years
b) 4 years
c) 6 years
d) 8 years
Answer: c) 6 years

5. Which body of Congress has the exclusive power to initiate revenue bills?
a) Senate
b) House of Representatives
c) Both chambers equally
d) The President
Answer: b) House of Representatives

6. Who presides over the Senate in the Vice President’s absence?
a) The Speaker of the House
b) The Senate Majority Leader
c) The President pro tempore
d) The Chief Justice
Answer: c) The President pro tempore

7. Which chamber of Congress has the power to confirm presidential appointments?
a) House of Representatives
b) Senate
c) Both chambers
d) The Supreme Court
Answer: b) Senate

8. What is the minimum age requirement for a U.S. Senator?
a) 25 years
b) 30 years
c) 35 years
d) 40 years
Answer: b) 30 years

9. How many members are there in the U.S. Senate?
a) 100
b) 200
c) 50
d) 435
Answer: a) 100

10. Which chamber of Congress has the power to impeach federal officials?
a) Senate
b) House of Representatives
c) Both chambers equally
d) The Supreme Court
Answer: b) House of Representatives

11. What is the term length for a member of the House of Representatives?
a) 2 years
b) 4 years
c) 6 years
d) 8 years
Answer: a) 2 years

12. Which chamber conducts the trial for impeached federal officials?
a) House of Representatives
b) Senate
c) Supreme Court
d) Cabinet
Answer: b) Senate

13. Who is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives?
a) The President pro tempore
b) The Senate Majority Leader
c) The Speaker of the House
d) The Chief Justice
Answer: c) The Speaker of the House

14. What is required for a bill to become law after passing both chambers of Congress?
a) A presidential veto
b) A joint resolution
c) Presidential approval
d) A Supreme Court ruling
Answer: c) Presidential approval

15. Which committee is responsible for drafting and reviewing bills in the House of Representatives?
a) Appropriations Committee
b) Judiciary Committee
c) Rules Committee
d) Ways and Means Committee
Answer: d) Ways and Means Committee

16. How many Senators does each state have?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) Varies by population
Answer: b) 2

17. What is the primary function of a conference committee?
a) To draft new bills
b) To resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill
c) To confirm presidential appointments
d) To impeach federal officials
Answer: b) To resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill

18. Which power allows Congress to override a presidential veto?
a) Simple majority vote
b) Two-thirds majority vote
c) Unanimous consent
d) Majority vote in the Senate
Answer: b) Two-thirds majority vote

19. Which chamber of Congress has the power to ratify treaties?
a) House of Representatives
b) Senate
c) Both chambers equally
d) The Supreme Court
Answer: b) Senate

20. Which committee in the Senate is responsible for considering presidential nominations?
a) Finance Committee
b) Judiciary Committee
c) Foreign Relations Committee
d) Appropriations Committee
Answer: b) Judiciary Committee

21. What role does the Speaker of the House play in the legislative process?
a) Presides over Senate sessions
b) Appoints committee members
c) Decides which bills are brought to the floor for debate
d) Signs bills into law
Answer: c) Decides which bills are brought to the floor for debate

22. Which clause in the Constitution grants Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its duties?
a) Supremacy Clause
b) Commerce Clause
c) Elastic Clause
d) Establishment Clause
Answer: c) Elastic Clause

23. Which type of committee is established to address specific issues and is temporary in nature?
a) Standing Committee
b) Select Committee
c) Joint Committee
d) Conference Committee
Answer: b) Select Committee

24. What is the purpose of a filibuster in the Senate?
a) To propose new legislation
b) To delay or prevent a vote on a bill
c) To confirm presidential nominees
d) To draft budget proposals
Answer: b) To delay or prevent a vote on a bill

25. Which constitutional amendment established direct election of Senators by the people?
a) 17th Amendment
b) 19th Amendment
c) 22nd Amendment
d) 25th Amendment
Answer: a) 17th Amendment

26. Who can introduce a bill in the House of Representatives?
a) Only the Speaker of the House
b) Any member of Congress
c) The President
d) The Senate Majority Leader
Answer: b) Any member of Congress

27. What is the role of the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives?
a) To draft bills and resolutions
b) To determine the rules for debate on bills
c) To confirm federal appointments
d) To oversee military actions
Answer: b) To determine the rules for debate on bills

28. Which chamber of Congress has the power to propose constitutional amendments?
a) House of Representatives
b) Senate
c) Both chambers equally
d) The Supreme Court
Answer: c) Both chambers equally

29. What is the function of a “markup” session in a Congressional committee?
a) To draft new bills
b) To debate and amend bills
c) To confirm presidential nominees
d) To vote on appropriations bills
Answer: b) To debate and amend bills

30. Which leader in the Senate is responsible for setting the legislative agenda?
a) Majority Leader
b) Minority Leader
c) Speaker of the House
d) President pro tempore
Answer: a) Majority Leader

31. What does the term “pork-barrel spending” refer to?
a) Spending on national defense
b) Funding for specific projects in a member’s district
c) Funding for interstate highways
d) Funding for foreign aid
Answer: b) Funding for specific projects in a member’s district

32. Which Congressional committee is responsible for drafting the federal budget?
a) Appropriations Committee
b) Budget Committee
c) Ways and Means Committee
d) Finance Committee
Answer: b) Budget Committee

33. What is the purpose of the Congressional Research Service (CRS)?
a) To conduct investigations into Congressional misconduct
b) To provide research and analysis to members of Congress
c) To draft legislation for Congress
d) To oversee Congressional elections
Answer: b) To provide research and analysis to members of Congress

34. Which chamber of Congress must approve all treaties negotiated by the President?
a) House of Representatives
b) Senate
c) Both chambers equally
d) The Supreme Court
Answer: b) Senate

35. Which legislative process allows Congress to bypass a Presidential veto?
a) Executive order
b) Override vote
c) Filibuster
d) Pocket veto
Answer: b) Override vote

36. What is the role of a Congressional “whip”?
a) To draft new legislation
b) To ensure party discipline and gather votes
c) To preside over House sessions
d) To lead filibusters
Answer: b) To ensure party discipline and gather votes

37. Which committee is responsible for conducting investigations and oversight of federal agencies?
a) Appropriations Committee
b) Judiciary Committee
c) Oversight and Reform Committee
d) Armed Services Committee
Answer: c) Oversight and Reform Committee

38. What does the term “earmark” refer to in Congressional budgeting?
a) Funding allocated for specific federal projects or programs
b) The process of amending a bill
c) The authority to raise taxes
d) Funding for the military
Answer: a) Funding allocated for specific federal projects or programs

39. Which constitutional clause gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce?
a) Commerce Clause
b) Elastic Clause
c) Supremacy Clause
d) Establishment Clause
Answer: a) Commerce Clause

40. How often are elections held for the House of Representatives?
a) Every year
b) Every two years
c) Every four years
d) Every six years
Answer: b) Every two years

41. What is a primary election?
a) An election to determine the President
b) An election to select a party’s nominee for the general election
c) An election to vote on proposed laws
d) An election to confirm Supreme Court justices
Answer: b) An election to select a party’s nominee for the general election

42. Which group in Congress is responsible for overseeing the Executive Branch?
a) Judiciary Committee
b) Appropriations Committee
c) Oversight and Reform Committee
d) Foreign Relations Committee
Answer: c) Oversight and Reform Committee

43. What is a joint session of Congress?
a) A meeting of both chambers to discuss budget issues
b) A session held only by the Senate
c) A session held only by the House
d) A session where only the President speaks
Answer: a) A meeting of both chambers to discuss budget issues

44. Which part of the Constitution establishes the legislative branch?
a) Article I
b) Article II
c) Article III
d) Article IV
Answer: a) Article I

45. What happens to a bill that is not signed by the President within ten days and Congress is in session?
a) It becomes law
b) It is automatically vetoed
c) It is sent back to Congress
d) It dies
Answer: a) It becomes law

46. Which term refers to the redrawing of district boundaries for electoral purposes?
a) Filibustering
b) Gerrymandering
c) Earmarking
d) Impeachment
Answer: b) Gerrymandering

47. What is the purpose of a “continuing resolution”?
a) To continue government funding when the budget is not passed
b) To resolve disagreements between the House and Senate
c) To amend existing laws
d) To initiate new legislation
Answer: a) To continue government funding when the budget is not passed

48. How many votes are needed in the Senate to confirm a Supreme Court nominee?
a) Simple majority
b) Two-thirds majority
c) Three-fifths majority
d) Unanimous consent
Answer: a) Simple majority

49. What is the main purpose of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)?
a) To draft the federal budget
b) To provide economic data and analysis for Congress
c) To oversee appropriations
d) To confirm nominations
Answer: b) To provide economic data and analysis for Congress

50. Which chamber of Congress has the exclusive power to raise revenue?
a) Senate
b) House of Representatives
c) Both chambers equally
d) The President
Answer: b) House of Representatives

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