PLSC Exam 3 Study Guide (Dr.
Parry)questions with correct answers
Bicameral - correct answer ✔✔a legislature with two chambers
Cloture - correct answer ✔✔a vote to end a Senate filibuster; requires a 3/5 majority, or 60 votes
Delegate - correct answer ✔✔party activists who support a candidate
Trustee - correct answer ✔✔a representative who votes based on what he or she thinks is best for his or
her constituency
Politico - correct answer ✔✔an elected representative who acts as a trustee or as a delegate, depending
on the issue
Speaker of the House - correct answer ✔✔the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding
officer of the House of Representatives
Majority leader - correct answer ✔✔the legislative leader elected by party members holding the
majority of seats in the House or Senate
Minority leader - correct answer ✔✔the legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority
of seats in the House or the Senate
Whips - correct answer ✔✔leaders elected by party members to find out how people intend to vote so
that, on important party bills, the leaders can adjust the legislation, negotiate acceptable amendments,
or employ favors or threats to line up support.
, Omnibus legislation - correct answer ✔✔a large bill that contains so many important elements that
members can't afford to defeat it and the president can't afford to veto it, even if the bill contains
elements they dislike
Coattail effect - correct answer ✔✔the added votes received by congressional candidates of a winning
presidential party
Casework - correct answer ✔✔legislative work on behalf of individual constituents to solve their
problems with government agencies and programs
Parliamentary system - correct answer ✔✔government in which the executive is chosen by the
legislature from among its members and the two branches are merged
Presidential system - correct answer ✔✔government in which the executive is chosen independently of
the legislature and the two branches are separate
Standing committee - correct answer ✔✔a permanent committee responsible for legislation in particular
policy areas
Select committee - correct answer ✔✔a committee appointed to deal with an issue or a problem not
suited to a standing committee
Conference committee - correct answer ✔✔a temporary committee formed to reconcile differences in
the House and Senate versions of a bill
Rules committee - correct answer ✔✔the committee that determines how and when debate on a bill
will take place
Legislative functions - correct answer ✔✔policy making, representation, executive oversight, and civic
education
Signing statements - correct answer ✔✔statements recorded along with signed legislation clarifying the
president's understanding of the constitutionality of the bill
Parry)questions with correct answers
Bicameral - correct answer ✔✔a legislature with two chambers
Cloture - correct answer ✔✔a vote to end a Senate filibuster; requires a 3/5 majority, or 60 votes
Delegate - correct answer ✔✔party activists who support a candidate
Trustee - correct answer ✔✔a representative who votes based on what he or she thinks is best for his or
her constituency
Politico - correct answer ✔✔an elected representative who acts as a trustee or as a delegate, depending
on the issue
Speaker of the House - correct answer ✔✔the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding
officer of the House of Representatives
Majority leader - correct answer ✔✔the legislative leader elected by party members holding the
majority of seats in the House or Senate
Minority leader - correct answer ✔✔the legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority
of seats in the House or the Senate
Whips - correct answer ✔✔leaders elected by party members to find out how people intend to vote so
that, on important party bills, the leaders can adjust the legislation, negotiate acceptable amendments,
or employ favors or threats to line up support.
, Omnibus legislation - correct answer ✔✔a large bill that contains so many important elements that
members can't afford to defeat it and the president can't afford to veto it, even if the bill contains
elements they dislike
Coattail effect - correct answer ✔✔the added votes received by congressional candidates of a winning
presidential party
Casework - correct answer ✔✔legislative work on behalf of individual constituents to solve their
problems with government agencies and programs
Parliamentary system - correct answer ✔✔government in which the executive is chosen by the
legislature from among its members and the two branches are merged
Presidential system - correct answer ✔✔government in which the executive is chosen independently of
the legislature and the two branches are separate
Standing committee - correct answer ✔✔a permanent committee responsible for legislation in particular
policy areas
Select committee - correct answer ✔✔a committee appointed to deal with an issue or a problem not
suited to a standing committee
Conference committee - correct answer ✔✔a temporary committee formed to reconcile differences in
the House and Senate versions of a bill
Rules committee - correct answer ✔✔the committee that determines how and when debate on a bill
will take place
Legislative functions - correct answer ✔✔policy making, representation, executive oversight, and civic
education
Signing statements - correct answer ✔✔statements recorded along with signed legislation clarifying the
president's understanding of the constitutionality of the bill
