POLI 110 FINAL Exam Questions And
Correct Answers 2026 Updated.
ad hoc committee - Answer Appointed for a limited time and design and report a specific
piece of legislation
conference committee - Answer Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each
chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.
select committee - Answer A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time
period and for a special purpose.
special committee - Answer a temporary committee organized around a specific purpose.
Lacks the authority to review legislation.
Rules Committee - Answer A standing committee of the House of Representatives that
provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by
the house.
Common Law - Answer A legal system based on custom and court rulings
Civil Law - Answer A law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their
legal rights.
Statutory Law - Answer Law passed by the U.S. Congress or state legislatures
Constitutional Law - Answer law that involves the interpretation and application of the U.S.
Constitution and state constitutions
Administrative Law - Answer The body of law created by administrative agencies (in the form
of rules, regulations, orders, and decisions) in order to carry out their duties and
responsibilities.
Case Law - Answer Judicial interpretations of common law principles and doctrines, as well
as interpretations of constitutional law, statutory law, and administrative law.
case work - Answer Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals;
cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get
,Closed Rule (House) - Answer amendments to the bill cannot be offered
Open Rule (House) - Answer Any member may offer an amendment that complies with
standing rules of the House. Amend as it is being debated.
Filibuster - Answer A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to
relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial
issue.
cloture vote - Answer Ends a filibuster, with a 60% of the votes to get it to end. (Senate)
conditional party government - Answer The theory that lawmakers from the same party will
cooperate to develop policy proposals. Majority party will have full control of what comes to the
floor.
Continuing Resolution - Answer a measure which allows agencies to continue working based
on the previous year's budget.
discharge petition - Answer Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of
Representatives' members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for
consideration.
Earmarks - Answer Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual
members of Congress for their constituents.
Entitlements - Answer Benefits to which every eligible person has a legal right and that the
government cannot deny.
Term length for Senate - Answer six years
Term length for House of Representatives - Answer two years
Reapportionment - Answer the process of reassigning representation based on population,
after every census. Number of House representatives for each state.
Redistricting - Answer The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines
following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible
in population.
, Gerrymandering - Answer manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to
favor one party or class.
majority leader - Answer the legislative leader elected by party members holding the
majority of seats in the House or Senate
Multiple Referral of a Bill - Answer Sending a bill to be considered by more than one
committee in the same chamber.
pork-barrel legislation - Answer Legislation giving benefits to constituents through
sometimes unnecessary or unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a member's
chance of reelection
President Pro Tempore - Answer Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act
as chair in the absence of the vice president (McConnel)
proportional representation - Answer An election system in which each party running
receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote. (The
House)
Quorum - Answer The minimum number of members who must be present for business to
be conducted in Congress. 51 Senate. 218 House.
restricted rule - Answer Between open and closed rule. certain things are available for
amending.
roll-call vote - Answer a vote in which each legislator's yes or no vote is recorded as the clerk
calls the names of the members alphabetically. Determines if a quorum is present.
Speaker of the House - Answer Nancy Pelosi
Brad Wilson (Utah)
status quo bias - Answer tendency to do nothing when faced with making a decision
unanimous consent agreement - Answer Rules under which the Senate debates, offers
amendments, and votes on a given bill. All members of the chamber must agree to them, so any
senator can object and halt progress on a bill.
Correct Answers 2026 Updated.
ad hoc committee - Answer Appointed for a limited time and design and report a specific
piece of legislation
conference committee - Answer Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each
chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.
select committee - Answer A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time
period and for a special purpose.
special committee - Answer a temporary committee organized around a specific purpose.
Lacks the authority to review legislation.
Rules Committee - Answer A standing committee of the House of Representatives that
provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by
the house.
Common Law - Answer A legal system based on custom and court rulings
Civil Law - Answer A law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their
legal rights.
Statutory Law - Answer Law passed by the U.S. Congress or state legislatures
Constitutional Law - Answer law that involves the interpretation and application of the U.S.
Constitution and state constitutions
Administrative Law - Answer The body of law created by administrative agencies (in the form
of rules, regulations, orders, and decisions) in order to carry out their duties and
responsibilities.
Case Law - Answer Judicial interpretations of common law principles and doctrines, as well
as interpretations of constitutional law, statutory law, and administrative law.
case work - Answer Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals;
cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get
,Closed Rule (House) - Answer amendments to the bill cannot be offered
Open Rule (House) - Answer Any member may offer an amendment that complies with
standing rules of the House. Amend as it is being debated.
Filibuster - Answer A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to
relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial
issue.
cloture vote - Answer Ends a filibuster, with a 60% of the votes to get it to end. (Senate)
conditional party government - Answer The theory that lawmakers from the same party will
cooperate to develop policy proposals. Majority party will have full control of what comes to the
floor.
Continuing Resolution - Answer a measure which allows agencies to continue working based
on the previous year's budget.
discharge petition - Answer Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of
Representatives' members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for
consideration.
Earmarks - Answer Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual
members of Congress for their constituents.
Entitlements - Answer Benefits to which every eligible person has a legal right and that the
government cannot deny.
Term length for Senate - Answer six years
Term length for House of Representatives - Answer two years
Reapportionment - Answer the process of reassigning representation based on population,
after every census. Number of House representatives for each state.
Redistricting - Answer The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines
following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible
in population.
, Gerrymandering - Answer manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to
favor one party or class.
majority leader - Answer the legislative leader elected by party members holding the
majority of seats in the House or Senate
Multiple Referral of a Bill - Answer Sending a bill to be considered by more than one
committee in the same chamber.
pork-barrel legislation - Answer Legislation giving benefits to constituents through
sometimes unnecessary or unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a member's
chance of reelection
President Pro Tempore - Answer Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act
as chair in the absence of the vice president (McConnel)
proportional representation - Answer An election system in which each party running
receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote. (The
House)
Quorum - Answer The minimum number of members who must be present for business to
be conducted in Congress. 51 Senate. 218 House.
restricted rule - Answer Between open and closed rule. certain things are available for
amending.
roll-call vote - Answer a vote in which each legislator's yes or no vote is recorded as the clerk
calls the names of the members alphabetically. Determines if a quorum is present.
Speaker of the House - Answer Nancy Pelosi
Brad Wilson (Utah)
status quo bias - Answer tendency to do nothing when faced with making a decision
unanimous consent agreement - Answer Rules under which the Senate debates, offers
amendments, and votes on a given bill. All members of the chamber must agree to them, so any
senator can object and halt progress on a bill.
