POSC 225 CORE MAIN QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔What are the key principles of redistricting? - ✔✔Equal population, contiguity,
compactness, and minimal wasted space.
✔✔What is meant by 'majority minority districts'? - ✔✔Districts where a majority of the
population belongs to a racial or ethnic minority.
✔✔What does representational fairness in Congress aim to achieve? - ✔✔Consistency
with voters' preferences and equitable representation of different groups.
✔✔What is the current state of competitiveness in congressional districts? - ✔✔There is
a lack of competitive districts in many areas.
✔✔What are the two main components of Congress? - ✔✔The House of
Representatives and the Senate.
✔✔What is the minimum age requirement for a Senator? - ✔✔At least 35 years old.
✔✔What is the minimum age requirement for a House Representative? - ✔✔At least 25
years old.
✔✔What is the term length for a House Representative? - ✔✔2 years.
✔✔What is the term length for a Senator? - ✔✔6 years.
✔✔How often are Senate elections held? - ✔✔Every 2 years, with 1/3 of the Senate
elected at a time.
✔✔What distinguishes the Senate as a 'continuous body'? - ✔✔It allows for staggered
elections, ensuring that not all members are up for election at the same time.
, ✔✔How many Senators are there compared to House Representatives? - ✔✔100
Senators and over 400 Representatives.
✔✔What is a key difference in the organizational structure of the House and Senate? -
✔✔The House is more centralized while the Senate is more fragmented.
✔✔How does the House differ from the Senate in terms of interpersonal dynamics? -
✔✔The House is more impersonal, while the Senate is more collegial.
✔✔What type of policy specialists does the House have compared to the Senate? -
✔✔The House has policy specialists, while the Senate has policy generalists.
✔✔What is the primary function of Congress? - ✔✔Policymaking.
✔✔What are the five steps for a bill to become law? - ✔✔1. Bill introduction, 2.
Committee review, 3. House and Senate approval, 4. Conference committee
reconciliation, 5. Presidential approval.
✔✔What role does the Speaker of the House play? - ✔✔The Speaker is the majority
party leader and has significant influence over House proceedings.
✔✔Who is the President of the Senate? - ✔✔The Vice President of the United States.
✔✔What is the role of party whips in Congress? - ✔✔Whips count votes and ensure
party discipline.
✔✔What factors influence the selection of party leaders in Congress? - ✔✔Record of
service, factional alignment, friendships, policy expertise, fundraising capability, and
media skills.
✔✔What resources do party leaders have at their disposal? - ✔✔Voting strength,
procedural powers, information collection, media access, and campaign assistance.
✔✔What is the significance of the House being described as adversarial? - ✔✔It
indicates a competitive environment where conflict is more common compared to the
Senate's consensual approach.
✔✔What is the significance of the Senate's ability to filibuster? - ✔✔It allows Senators
to disrupt the legislative process and propose amendments, reflecting their individual
power.
✔✔What are expressed powers? - ✔✔Powers explicitly stated in the Constitution,
particularly in Article II.
ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔What are the key principles of redistricting? - ✔✔Equal population, contiguity,
compactness, and minimal wasted space.
✔✔What is meant by 'majority minority districts'? - ✔✔Districts where a majority of the
population belongs to a racial or ethnic minority.
✔✔What does representational fairness in Congress aim to achieve? - ✔✔Consistency
with voters' preferences and equitable representation of different groups.
✔✔What is the current state of competitiveness in congressional districts? - ✔✔There is
a lack of competitive districts in many areas.
✔✔What are the two main components of Congress? - ✔✔The House of
Representatives and the Senate.
✔✔What is the minimum age requirement for a Senator? - ✔✔At least 35 years old.
✔✔What is the minimum age requirement for a House Representative? - ✔✔At least 25
years old.
✔✔What is the term length for a House Representative? - ✔✔2 years.
✔✔What is the term length for a Senator? - ✔✔6 years.
✔✔How often are Senate elections held? - ✔✔Every 2 years, with 1/3 of the Senate
elected at a time.
✔✔What distinguishes the Senate as a 'continuous body'? - ✔✔It allows for staggered
elections, ensuring that not all members are up for election at the same time.
, ✔✔How many Senators are there compared to House Representatives? - ✔✔100
Senators and over 400 Representatives.
✔✔What is a key difference in the organizational structure of the House and Senate? -
✔✔The House is more centralized while the Senate is more fragmented.
✔✔How does the House differ from the Senate in terms of interpersonal dynamics? -
✔✔The House is more impersonal, while the Senate is more collegial.
✔✔What type of policy specialists does the House have compared to the Senate? -
✔✔The House has policy specialists, while the Senate has policy generalists.
✔✔What is the primary function of Congress? - ✔✔Policymaking.
✔✔What are the five steps for a bill to become law? - ✔✔1. Bill introduction, 2.
Committee review, 3. House and Senate approval, 4. Conference committee
reconciliation, 5. Presidential approval.
✔✔What role does the Speaker of the House play? - ✔✔The Speaker is the majority
party leader and has significant influence over House proceedings.
✔✔Who is the President of the Senate? - ✔✔The Vice President of the United States.
✔✔What is the role of party whips in Congress? - ✔✔Whips count votes and ensure
party discipline.
✔✔What factors influence the selection of party leaders in Congress? - ✔✔Record of
service, factional alignment, friendships, policy expertise, fundraising capability, and
media skills.
✔✔What resources do party leaders have at their disposal? - ✔✔Voting strength,
procedural powers, information collection, media access, and campaign assistance.
✔✔What is the significance of the House being described as adversarial? - ✔✔It
indicates a competitive environment where conflict is more common compared to the
Senate's consensual approach.
✔✔What is the significance of the Senate's ability to filibuster? - ✔✔It allows Senators
to disrupt the legislative process and propose amendments, reflecting their individual
power.
✔✔What are expressed powers? - ✔✔Powers explicitly stated in the Constitution,
particularly in Article II.
