PLS 101 ASSESSMENT
PREP QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025-2026
Bicameral Legislature - ANS-Any two-legislature, such as the one created by the
Framers.
Gerrymandering - ANS-The drawing of congressional districts to produce a particular
electoral outcome without regard to the shape of the district.
Majority Party - ANS-The political party in each house of Congress with the most
members.
Minority Party - ANS-The political party in each house of Congress with the second
most members.
Party Caucus - ANS-A formal gathering of all party members.
Speaker of the House - ANS-The only officer of the House of Representatives
specifically mentioned in the Constitution, the chamber's most powerful position;
traditionally a member of the majority party.
Whip - ANS-Party leader who keeps close contact with all members of his or her party,
takes vote counts on key legislation, prepares summaries of bills, and acts as a
communications link within a party.
Standing Committee - ANS-Committee to which proposed bills are referred; continues
from one Congress to the next.
, Joint Committee - ANS-Standing committee that includes members from both houses
of Congress set up to conduct investigations or special studies.
Conference Committee - ANS-Special joint committee created to reconcile differences
in bills passed by the House and Senate.
Select (or special) Committee - ANS-Temporary committee appointed for a specific
purpose.
Markup - ANS-A session in which committee members offer changes to a bill before it
goes to the floor.
Hold - ANS-A procedure by which a senator asks to be informed before a particular bill
or nomination is brought to the floor. This request signals leadership that a member
may have objections to the bill (or nomination) and should be consulted before further
action is taken.
Filibuster - ANS-A formal way of halting Senate action on a bill by means of long
speeches or unlimited debate.
Cloture - ANS-Mechanism requiring the vote of sixty senators to cut off debate.
Veto - ANS-The formal, constitutional authority of the president to reject bills passed
by both houses of Congress, thus preventing them from becoming law without further
congressional action.
Pocket Veto - ANS-If Congress adjourns during the ten days the president has to
consider a bill passed by both houses of Congress, the bill is considered vetoed
without the president's signature.
Pork - ANS-Legislation that allows representatives to bring money and jobs to their
districts in the form of public works programs, military bases, or other programs.
PREP QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025-2026
Bicameral Legislature - ANS-Any two-legislature, such as the one created by the
Framers.
Gerrymandering - ANS-The drawing of congressional districts to produce a particular
electoral outcome without regard to the shape of the district.
Majority Party - ANS-The political party in each house of Congress with the most
members.
Minority Party - ANS-The political party in each house of Congress with the second
most members.
Party Caucus - ANS-A formal gathering of all party members.
Speaker of the House - ANS-The only officer of the House of Representatives
specifically mentioned in the Constitution, the chamber's most powerful position;
traditionally a member of the majority party.
Whip - ANS-Party leader who keeps close contact with all members of his or her party,
takes vote counts on key legislation, prepares summaries of bills, and acts as a
communications link within a party.
Standing Committee - ANS-Committee to which proposed bills are referred; continues
from one Congress to the next.
, Joint Committee - ANS-Standing committee that includes members from both houses
of Congress set up to conduct investigations or special studies.
Conference Committee - ANS-Special joint committee created to reconcile differences
in bills passed by the House and Senate.
Select (or special) Committee - ANS-Temporary committee appointed for a specific
purpose.
Markup - ANS-A session in which committee members offer changes to a bill before it
goes to the floor.
Hold - ANS-A procedure by which a senator asks to be informed before a particular bill
or nomination is brought to the floor. This request signals leadership that a member
may have objections to the bill (or nomination) and should be consulted before further
action is taken.
Filibuster - ANS-A formal way of halting Senate action on a bill by means of long
speeches or unlimited debate.
Cloture - ANS-Mechanism requiring the vote of sixty senators to cut off debate.
Veto - ANS-The formal, constitutional authority of the president to reject bills passed
by both houses of Congress, thus preventing them from becoming law without further
congressional action.
Pocket Veto - ANS-If Congress adjourns during the ten days the president has to
consider a bill passed by both houses of Congress, the bill is considered vetoed
without the president's signature.
Pork - ANS-Legislation that allows representatives to bring money and jobs to their
districts in the form of public works programs, military bases, or other programs.
