William_T._Bianco,_David_T._Canon]_American_Polit

Study guide 415

Congress and the people

Explain how members of Congress represent their con-

stituents and how elections hold members accountable.

(Pages 376–395)

Summary

The Constitution gave Congress vast enumerated powers, making

it the “first branch” of government. While Congress has long domi-

nated day-to-day politics, the president has become considerably

more powerful over time. Despite the low approval ratings for

Congress itself, most voters like their members of Congress. Mem-

bers of Congress work hard to strike a balance between responding

to what constituents want, and what is in the constituency’s best

interest. In the balance, however, they prioritize district interests

over national policy.

Practice Quiz Questions

1. What did the Seventeenth Amendment do?
   a repeal Prohibition
   b grant women’s suffrage
   c give senators six-year terms
   d allow for direct election of senators
   e lower the voting age to 18


2. Why do senators have longer terms than members of the
   House of Representatives?
   a to reduce the number of candidates in each election
   b to make sure that senators were tied to public sentiment

Key terms

bicameralism (p. 377)

pork barrel (p. 378)

descriptive representation

(p. 378)

substantive representation

(p. 380)

trustee (p. 380)

delegate (p. 380)

politico (p. 381)

electoral connection (p. 383)

casework (p. 384)

incumbency advantage

(p. 385)

redistricting (p. 389)

apportionment (p. 389)

gerrymandering (p. 390)

gridlock (p. 394)

c to provide more opportunities for pork-barrel legislation

d to make elections easier to administer

e to make sure that senators were somewhat insulated from the

people

3. What is the most common style of representation in Congress?
   a trustee
   b politico
   c delegate
   d consulate
   e adviser


4. Most constituents are ; most members of Congress
   act as if the constituency paying attention.
   a inattentive; is not
   b inattentive; is
   c attentive; is not
   d attentive; is
   e selectively attentive; is not


5. Members of Congress generally hold multiple goals. Which
   goal comes first?
   a getting reelected
   b passing good policy
   c serving their political party
   d blocking the opposing party
   e serving special interests


6. What is apportionment?
   a determining presidential primary election winners
   b determining whether the state legislature or courts will re-draw
   district lines
   c determining which states gain/lose seats in the Senate
   d determining which states gain/lose seats in the House
   e determining how many seats a party has in Congress


7. A home style shapes the way members of
   Congress.
   a work with party leaders
   b vote in Congress
   c write legislation in committees
   d present themselves to their district
   e spend campaign money


8. On average, incumbents spend times as much as
   challengers.
   a one and one-half
   b three
   c five
   d ten
   e twenty

Study Guide

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