POLI 1090 MIDTERM STUDY GUIDE
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Constitutional Foundation - Answer-great compromise led to duel representation, article
I is longest article 10 documents most of the entire constitution
House of Representatives (lower) - Answer-435 members + 5 delegates, 2 yr terms,
speaker of the house resides over, managed by minority and majority whips
Senate (upper) - Answer-100 members w 6 yr terms, vice president resides over but
only votes when there is a tie, pro tempore resides over when v.p isn't present, majority
& minority whips
Filibuster - Answer-an action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a
legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures.
Congressional Committees - Answer--Standing- permanent, can propose & kill
legislation (how most legislative is proposed)
-Select- spend a very limited amount of time on very limited issues, not permanent
-Joint- made up of members from both chambers, can write bills but not pass them
Conference- work out very specific issues when the house & senate cannot agree on a
bill (also can hear testimony, propose bill amendments, and oversee policy
implementation)
What are the types of votes? - Answer-voice, roll call, and cloture
Cloture Vote - Answer-the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30
additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes.
Voice vote - Answer-all members of the chamber come together when the bill is brought
to a vote; each member vocally expresses their vote (yay or nay). This type of vote is
recorded & is used most often
Roll call vote - Answer-A roll call vote guarantees that every Member's vote is recorded,
but only a minority of bills receive a roll call vote
Conference Committee - Answer-work out very specific issues when the house &
senate cannot agree on a bill (also can hear testimony, propose bill amendments, and
oversee policy implementation)
, Veto - Answer-a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-
making body.
Veto override - Answer-the process by which each chamber of Congress votes on a bill
vetoed by the President. To pass a bill over the president's objections requires a two-
thirds vote in each Chamber. Historically, Congress has overridden fewer than ten
percent of all presidential vetoes.
President's Expressed powers - Answer-those expressed in the Constitution of the
United States.
President's delegated powers - Answer-when congress feels like it can't get a job done
in a timely manner they will give special powers to the president (very rare)
President's Inherent powers - Answer-get expended and reduced over time depending
on the political environment
Commander and Chief - Answer-top strategist when it comes to war
expansion of power in role (war powers act of 1973 allows president to deploy troops for
up to 60 days w/o congressional approval)
Top Diplomat - Answer-• Responsible for foreign policy
• Appoints ambassadors
• Receives ambassadors
• Represents US negotiations
• Treaties
• Head of State
• Ceremonial representative of the government
President's legislative role - Answer-minor economic role where he works w/ congress
ab budget, cannot introduce legislation into congress, can request members of
congress to write legislation on his behalf & write it into congress
Presidential orders - Answer-Are legally binding orders given by the President, are
generally used to direct federal agencies and officials in their execution of
congressionally established laws or policies. Very fickle, only last as long as the sitting
President wants them to
last. Not the best way for a president to gain power.
Bureaucracy - Answer-A bunch of civil servants, people who work for the government:
federal state or local
(Informal) red tape- the inflexibility of organizations
Organizational fourm
5 functions of bureaucracy - Answer-idk
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Constitutional Foundation - Answer-great compromise led to duel representation, article
I is longest article 10 documents most of the entire constitution
House of Representatives (lower) - Answer-435 members + 5 delegates, 2 yr terms,
speaker of the house resides over, managed by minority and majority whips
Senate (upper) - Answer-100 members w 6 yr terms, vice president resides over but
only votes when there is a tie, pro tempore resides over when v.p isn't present, majority
& minority whips
Filibuster - Answer-an action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a
legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures.
Congressional Committees - Answer--Standing- permanent, can propose & kill
legislation (how most legislative is proposed)
-Select- spend a very limited amount of time on very limited issues, not permanent
-Joint- made up of members from both chambers, can write bills but not pass them
Conference- work out very specific issues when the house & senate cannot agree on a
bill (also can hear testimony, propose bill amendments, and oversee policy
implementation)
What are the types of votes? - Answer-voice, roll call, and cloture
Cloture Vote - Answer-the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30
additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes.
Voice vote - Answer-all members of the chamber come together when the bill is brought
to a vote; each member vocally expresses their vote (yay or nay). This type of vote is
recorded & is used most often
Roll call vote - Answer-A roll call vote guarantees that every Member's vote is recorded,
but only a minority of bills receive a roll call vote
Conference Committee - Answer-work out very specific issues when the house &
senate cannot agree on a bill (also can hear testimony, propose bill amendments, and
oversee policy implementation)
, Veto - Answer-a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-
making body.
Veto override - Answer-the process by which each chamber of Congress votes on a bill
vetoed by the President. To pass a bill over the president's objections requires a two-
thirds vote in each Chamber. Historically, Congress has overridden fewer than ten
percent of all presidential vetoes.
President's Expressed powers - Answer-those expressed in the Constitution of the
United States.
President's delegated powers - Answer-when congress feels like it can't get a job done
in a timely manner they will give special powers to the president (very rare)
President's Inherent powers - Answer-get expended and reduced over time depending
on the political environment
Commander and Chief - Answer-top strategist when it comes to war
expansion of power in role (war powers act of 1973 allows president to deploy troops for
up to 60 days w/o congressional approval)
Top Diplomat - Answer-• Responsible for foreign policy
• Appoints ambassadors
• Receives ambassadors
• Represents US negotiations
• Treaties
• Head of State
• Ceremonial representative of the government
President's legislative role - Answer-minor economic role where he works w/ congress
ab budget, cannot introduce legislation into congress, can request members of
congress to write legislation on his behalf & write it into congress
Presidential orders - Answer-Are legally binding orders given by the President, are
generally used to direct federal agencies and officials in their execution of
congressionally established laws or policies. Very fickle, only last as long as the sitting
President wants them to
last. Not the best way for a president to gain power.
Bureaucracy - Answer-A bunch of civil servants, people who work for the government:
federal state or local
(Informal) red tape- the inflexibility of organizations
Organizational fourm
5 functions of bureaucracy - Answer-idk
