PSCI 1101 Chapter 6 TEST with Questions
and answers
President Pro Tempore - Answer In the absence of the vice president, the formal
presiding officer of the Senate. The honor is usually conferred on the senior member of
the majority party, but the post is sometimes rotated among senators of the majority
party
Proportional Representation - Answer An electoral system in which legislative seats are
awarded to candidates or parties in proportion to the percentage of votes received
Quorum - Answer The minimum number of congressional members who must be
present for the transaction of business. Under the Constitution, a quorum in each house
is a majority of its members: 218 in the House and 51 in the Senate when there are no
vacancies
Restricted Rule - Answer A provision that governs consideration of a bill and that
specifies and limits the kinds of amendments that may be made on the floor of the
House of Representatives
Riders - Answer An amendment to a bill that is not germane to the legislation
Roll-Call Vote - Answer Vote taken by a call of the roll to determine whether a quorum is
present, to establish a quorum, or to vote on a question. Usually the House uses its
electronic voting system for a roll call, but when the system is malfunctioning the
Speaker directs the clerk to read the names. The Senate does not have an electronic
voting system; its roll is always called by a clerk
Rules - Answer A provision that governs consideration of a bill by the House of
Representatives by specifying how the bill is to be debated and amended
, Select Committees - Answer A temporary legislative committee created for a specific
purpose and dissolved after its tasks are completed
Seniority Rule - Answer The congressional practice of appointing as committee or
subcommittee chairs
Speaker of the House - Answer The presiding officer of the House of Representatives.
The Speaker is elected at the beginning of each congressional session on a partyline
vote. As head of the majority party, the Speaker has substantial control over the
legislative agenda of the House
Special Committees - Answer A temporary legislative committee, usually lacking
legislative authority
Standing Committees - Answer A permanent legislative committee specializing in a
particular legislative area. Standing committees have stable memberships and stable
jurisdictions
Status Quo Bias - Answer Institutional bias that fundamentally favors continuation of
current public policy
Term Limits - Answer A movement begun during the 1980s to limit the number of terms
both state legislators and members of Congress can serve
Ticket-Splitting - Answer The act of voting for candidates from different political parties
for different offices—for example, voting for a Republican for president and a Democrat
for senator
and answers
President Pro Tempore - Answer In the absence of the vice president, the formal
presiding officer of the Senate. The honor is usually conferred on the senior member of
the majority party, but the post is sometimes rotated among senators of the majority
party
Proportional Representation - Answer An electoral system in which legislative seats are
awarded to candidates or parties in proportion to the percentage of votes received
Quorum - Answer The minimum number of congressional members who must be
present for the transaction of business. Under the Constitution, a quorum in each house
is a majority of its members: 218 in the House and 51 in the Senate when there are no
vacancies
Restricted Rule - Answer A provision that governs consideration of a bill and that
specifies and limits the kinds of amendments that may be made on the floor of the
House of Representatives
Riders - Answer An amendment to a bill that is not germane to the legislation
Roll-Call Vote - Answer Vote taken by a call of the roll to determine whether a quorum is
present, to establish a quorum, or to vote on a question. Usually the House uses its
electronic voting system for a roll call, but when the system is malfunctioning the
Speaker directs the clerk to read the names. The Senate does not have an electronic
voting system; its roll is always called by a clerk
Rules - Answer A provision that governs consideration of a bill by the House of
Representatives by specifying how the bill is to be debated and amended
, Select Committees - Answer A temporary legislative committee created for a specific
purpose and dissolved after its tasks are completed
Seniority Rule - Answer The congressional practice of appointing as committee or
subcommittee chairs
Speaker of the House - Answer The presiding officer of the House of Representatives.
The Speaker is elected at the beginning of each congressional session on a partyline
vote. As head of the majority party, the Speaker has substantial control over the
legislative agenda of the House
Special Committees - Answer A temporary legislative committee, usually lacking
legislative authority
Standing Committees - Answer A permanent legislative committee specializing in a
particular legislative area. Standing committees have stable memberships and stable
jurisdictions
Status Quo Bias - Answer Institutional bias that fundamentally favors continuation of
current public policy
Term Limits - Answer A movement begun during the 1980s to limit the number of terms
both state legislators and members of Congress can serve
Ticket-Splitting - Answer The act of voting for candidates from different political parties
for different offices—for example, voting for a Republican for president and a Democrat
for senator
