U2 GOV STUDY GUIDE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
When the Senate and House of Representatives pass similar but not identical bills on the same
subject, what must occur before the bill goes to the president? - ANS The house and the
senate have to work together to agree on the exact wording of the bill.
What key function can members of the House of Representatives perform that the delegate
from the District of Columbia cannot? - ANS The delegates cannot vote on the final passage
of the bill, unlike the house. However, they can attend sessions, introduce bulls, speak in
debates on the house floor, and vote in committees.
The majority party chooses both the majority leader and the Speaker. What are some ways that
these positions differ? - ANS The Speaker can influence proceedings by deciding which
members to recognize first. The speaker also appoints the member of some committees,
schedules bills for action, and refers bills to the proper house committee. The Speaker also
follows the vice president in the line of succession to the presidency. The Speakers top assistant
is the majority leader. The majority leader's job is to help plan the party's legislative program,
steer important bills through the House, and make sure the chairperson of the many
committees finishes work on bills that are important to the party. The majority leader is the
floor leader of his or her political party in the House.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, At what point in the legislative process does a bill go on the House calendar? - ANS Bills that
survive the committee process are put on one of the House Calendars. Then it must get through
the full house vote or committee process.
How are the roles of the vice president in the Senate and the Speaker of the House similar?
How are they different? - ANS Leadership in the senate is very similar to the leadership in the
House, but the Senate has no speaker. The Vice President presides over the Senate but cannot
vote except to break a tie. Also, the Constitution names the Vice President as the Senate's
president, but he or she does not have the same role or power as the Speaker of the House. The
Vice President may recognize members & put questions to vote, but he or she is not to elect
senators, so this person may not take part in Senate debates or cast a vote except in the event
of a tie.
Why do small states have equal power with large states in the Senate? - ANS All states are
equal in the Senate since they each get two senators, which comes from the Great
Compromise/ Connecticut Compromise.
Suppose the Senate is composed of 70 Democrats and 30 Republicans. How many members of
each party would you expect to be on a ten-member Senate standing committee? - ANS A
ten-member committee would have 7 Democrats and 3 Republicans.
How has the role of committee chairpersons changed since the 1970's? - ANS The power of
committee chairpersons has been limited since the 1970s. The Legislative Reorganization Act of
1970 made a number of changes that made the committee system more democratic by
reducing the power of committee chairs. A majority of committee members can call a meeting
without a chair's approval. Committee members who disagree with a chair must be given the
time to present their views.
Which personal staff members attend committee meetings when their lawmakers cannot? -
ANS When the lawmakers cannot attend a committee meeting, the Legislative Assistant
attends.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
2025/2026
When the Senate and House of Representatives pass similar but not identical bills on the same
subject, what must occur before the bill goes to the president? - ANS The house and the
senate have to work together to agree on the exact wording of the bill.
What key function can members of the House of Representatives perform that the delegate
from the District of Columbia cannot? - ANS The delegates cannot vote on the final passage
of the bill, unlike the house. However, they can attend sessions, introduce bulls, speak in
debates on the house floor, and vote in committees.
The majority party chooses both the majority leader and the Speaker. What are some ways that
these positions differ? - ANS The Speaker can influence proceedings by deciding which
members to recognize first. The speaker also appoints the member of some committees,
schedules bills for action, and refers bills to the proper house committee. The Speaker also
follows the vice president in the line of succession to the presidency. The Speakers top assistant
is the majority leader. The majority leader's job is to help plan the party's legislative program,
steer important bills through the House, and make sure the chairperson of the many
committees finishes work on bills that are important to the party. The majority leader is the
floor leader of his or her political party in the House.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, At what point in the legislative process does a bill go on the House calendar? - ANS Bills that
survive the committee process are put on one of the House Calendars. Then it must get through
the full house vote or committee process.
How are the roles of the vice president in the Senate and the Speaker of the House similar?
How are they different? - ANS Leadership in the senate is very similar to the leadership in the
House, but the Senate has no speaker. The Vice President presides over the Senate but cannot
vote except to break a tie. Also, the Constitution names the Vice President as the Senate's
president, but he or she does not have the same role or power as the Speaker of the House. The
Vice President may recognize members & put questions to vote, but he or she is not to elect
senators, so this person may not take part in Senate debates or cast a vote except in the event
of a tie.
Why do small states have equal power with large states in the Senate? - ANS All states are
equal in the Senate since they each get two senators, which comes from the Great
Compromise/ Connecticut Compromise.
Suppose the Senate is composed of 70 Democrats and 30 Republicans. How many members of
each party would you expect to be on a ten-member Senate standing committee? - ANS A
ten-member committee would have 7 Democrats and 3 Republicans.
How has the role of committee chairpersons changed since the 1970's? - ANS The power of
committee chairpersons has been limited since the 1970s. The Legislative Reorganization Act of
1970 made a number of changes that made the committee system more democratic by
reducing the power of committee chairs. A majority of committee members can call a meeting
without a chair's approval. Committee members who disagree with a chair must be given the
time to present their views.
Which personal staff members attend committee meetings when their lawmakers cannot? -
ANS When the lawmakers cannot attend a committee meeting, the Legislative Assistant
attends.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
