POLS 1100 Final Examination Test
Questions with Correct Answers
2025/2026 Updated.
Congress's Powers - Answer 1. Power of force (military forces)
2. money (lay/collect taxes/deal with debt/bankruptcy/impose duties/borrow and coin money)
Regulate interstate commerce
undertake public works
acquire and control federal lands
promote science and useful Arts
regulate the militia
declare war
deal with piracy
regulate foreign commerce
raise/regulate armed forces
approve treaties
appoint ambassadors
constituency - Answer the people living in a district making up the area from which an
official is elected
delegate vs trustee - Answer delegate: a representative who votes according to the
preferences of his or her constituency
trustee: a representative who votes based on what he or she thinks is best for his or her
constituency (principal trusts representative to make decisions for them)
agency representation - Answer the type of representation according to which
representatives are held accountable to their constituents if they fail to represent them properly
that is, constituents have the power to hire/fire their representatives through elections
,money bill - Answer a bill concerned solely with taxation or government spending
17th amendment - Answer Senators are elected directly.
Originally they represented the elites and attuned to issues of property
Senate - Answer deliberative, wider participation
any/all ideas can receive a thorough public airing
leaders have little power
6 years in office=can form new coalitions and try new ideas. Take their time
compromise. They represent many people
Rules: 30 years old, 9 years citizenship, 6 year term, 2 per state, local and national constiuency
House - Answer centralized
more organized
More control in legislative process
specialize in certain legislative areas
committees (specialize)
More aware of local interest groups (must be elected every 2 years)
don't compromise. Constituencies are smaller and more homogeneous
Rules: 25 years old, 7 years citizenship, 2 year term, # based on population, local constituency
Electoral System: Who serves in Congress - Answer 1. Running for Office: Who serves
depends on who runs.
a. some people run based on district lines. If they are already a rep of something and their
constituency overlaps with a different role
,2. Incumbency: incumbents establish a reputation of competence, imagination, and
responsiveness
a. legislatures serve on committees. This allows them to affect the agenda and intercede with
bureaucracy. It also means they get a good track record, expertise, and credentials
b. casework: interact with constituents individually, providing minor services, introducing
special bills, influencing agencies/regulatory commissions on behalf of constituents
c. Patronage: giving services and benefits to constituents in the hopes of gaining their votes
d. Franking privilege: congress may send mail to constituents free of charge to keep them
informed of gov business/public affairs
e. about 90% of congress gets re-elected
f. have a "brand" name and can raise money throughout their term
g. deters challengers from running because incumbent is well liked, has more funds, partisan
leanings are too far
h. sophomore surge: tendency for candidates to win a higher percentage of votes when seeking
their second term in office
Disadvantages of incumbency:
a. weak, out of touch, too concerned with national affairs. They can be defeated by a strong
challenger
b. People will vote against parties if they disagree with things happening in the presidency
c. makes it harder for women to get into office (incumbents are already men)
d. people make politics a career which means they won't easily give up seats until they have to
(no limits on terms)
3. Congressional Districts: Districts are shaped to create an advantage for the majority
incumbency - Answer currently holding the political office for which one is running
casework - Answer an effort by members of congress to gain the trust and support of
constituents by providing personal services.
One important type of casework consists of helping constituents obtain favorable treatment
from federal bureaucracy
, pork-barrel legislation - Answer form of patronage
appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that often are not needed but are
created so that local representatives can carry their home district in the next election
earmark: language inserted into bills that provides special benefits for their own constituents
Jackie (Jill) Robinson Effect - Answer Those facing discrimination must perform better in
order to succeed
therefore women elected to congress outperform men, because they only win if they work
harder or are more capable
Gerrymandering - Answer the apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give
unfair advantage to one political party
Problems of Legislative Organization - Answer 1. Cooperation in Congress:
a. politicians seek to please those with resources/money (PACS, donors, endorsers, party
officials, volunteer activists)
b. through elections know who voted for them (where they need to improve where they can
continue to dominate)
c. have policy goals of personal importance
d. politicians represent different bodies leading to different policy pursuits
e. opinion on an issue are diverse
MEANS: legislature must cooperate, coalesce, and compromise
Underlying Problems and Challenges of Congress - Answer 1. Matching Influence and
Interest: egalitarian structure means each legislature has one vote on any given issue. Must
work together (I'll support your measure if you support mine)
2. Information: Must be well versed in some policies and issues to be competitive. However,
takes a lot of time and is taxing. There is a lack of information on what policies would be best
Questions with Correct Answers
2025/2026 Updated.
Congress's Powers - Answer 1. Power of force (military forces)
2. money (lay/collect taxes/deal with debt/bankruptcy/impose duties/borrow and coin money)
Regulate interstate commerce
undertake public works
acquire and control federal lands
promote science and useful Arts
regulate the militia
declare war
deal with piracy
regulate foreign commerce
raise/regulate armed forces
approve treaties
appoint ambassadors
constituency - Answer the people living in a district making up the area from which an
official is elected
delegate vs trustee - Answer delegate: a representative who votes according to the
preferences of his or her constituency
trustee: a representative who votes based on what he or she thinks is best for his or her
constituency (principal trusts representative to make decisions for them)
agency representation - Answer the type of representation according to which
representatives are held accountable to their constituents if they fail to represent them properly
that is, constituents have the power to hire/fire their representatives through elections
,money bill - Answer a bill concerned solely with taxation or government spending
17th amendment - Answer Senators are elected directly.
Originally they represented the elites and attuned to issues of property
Senate - Answer deliberative, wider participation
any/all ideas can receive a thorough public airing
leaders have little power
6 years in office=can form new coalitions and try new ideas. Take their time
compromise. They represent many people
Rules: 30 years old, 9 years citizenship, 6 year term, 2 per state, local and national constiuency
House - Answer centralized
more organized
More control in legislative process
specialize in certain legislative areas
committees (specialize)
More aware of local interest groups (must be elected every 2 years)
don't compromise. Constituencies are smaller and more homogeneous
Rules: 25 years old, 7 years citizenship, 2 year term, # based on population, local constituency
Electoral System: Who serves in Congress - Answer 1. Running for Office: Who serves
depends on who runs.
a. some people run based on district lines. If they are already a rep of something and their
constituency overlaps with a different role
,2. Incumbency: incumbents establish a reputation of competence, imagination, and
responsiveness
a. legislatures serve on committees. This allows them to affect the agenda and intercede with
bureaucracy. It also means they get a good track record, expertise, and credentials
b. casework: interact with constituents individually, providing minor services, introducing
special bills, influencing agencies/regulatory commissions on behalf of constituents
c. Patronage: giving services and benefits to constituents in the hopes of gaining their votes
d. Franking privilege: congress may send mail to constituents free of charge to keep them
informed of gov business/public affairs
e. about 90% of congress gets re-elected
f. have a "brand" name and can raise money throughout their term
g. deters challengers from running because incumbent is well liked, has more funds, partisan
leanings are too far
h. sophomore surge: tendency for candidates to win a higher percentage of votes when seeking
their second term in office
Disadvantages of incumbency:
a. weak, out of touch, too concerned with national affairs. They can be defeated by a strong
challenger
b. People will vote against parties if they disagree with things happening in the presidency
c. makes it harder for women to get into office (incumbents are already men)
d. people make politics a career which means they won't easily give up seats until they have to
(no limits on terms)
3. Congressional Districts: Districts are shaped to create an advantage for the majority
incumbency - Answer currently holding the political office for which one is running
casework - Answer an effort by members of congress to gain the trust and support of
constituents by providing personal services.
One important type of casework consists of helping constituents obtain favorable treatment
from federal bureaucracy
, pork-barrel legislation - Answer form of patronage
appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that often are not needed but are
created so that local representatives can carry their home district in the next election
earmark: language inserted into bills that provides special benefits for their own constituents
Jackie (Jill) Robinson Effect - Answer Those facing discrimination must perform better in
order to succeed
therefore women elected to congress outperform men, because they only win if they work
harder or are more capable
Gerrymandering - Answer the apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give
unfair advantage to one political party
Problems of Legislative Organization - Answer 1. Cooperation in Congress:
a. politicians seek to please those with resources/money (PACS, donors, endorsers, party
officials, volunteer activists)
b. through elections know who voted for them (where they need to improve where they can
continue to dominate)
c. have policy goals of personal importance
d. politicians represent different bodies leading to different policy pursuits
e. opinion on an issue are diverse
MEANS: legislature must cooperate, coalesce, and compromise
Underlying Problems and Challenges of Congress - Answer 1. Matching Influence and
Interest: egalitarian structure means each legislature has one vote on any given issue. Must
work together (I'll support your measure if you support mine)
2. Information: Must be well versed in some policies and issues to be competitive. However,
takes a lot of time and is taxing. There is a lack of information on what policies would be best
