18 Questions
What is a key characteristic of Congressional standing committees?
They have fixed jurisdiction and deal with the same legislative topics.
When it comes to membership, how can a standing committee member expect to keep their seat?
By having a good standing and avoiding large electoral losses for the party.
What is the primary function of Joint Committees in Congress?
To compose members from both chambers but lack legislative authority.
What is the purpose of Conference Committees in Congress?
To resolve differences between House and Senate versions of bills.
Which type of Congressional committees are known as the 'money committees'?
Ways and Means, Appropriations, and Budget Committees
What is the process legislative spending has followed since 1922 in each chamber?
Committees appropriate money after authorizing expenditures for programs.
What are entitlements?
Programs that provide legally defined benefits to specific classes of people
How do party leaders cope with the problem of multiple jurisdictions when dealing with complex bills?
They use multiple referrals, sending bills to several committees simultaneously or in sequence
Who can introduce legislation in Congress?
Only members of Congress
What happens to most bills introduced in Congress?
They die of neglect without receiving further action
What are the prefixes used to identify bills in the House and Senate?
H.R. in the House and S. in the Senate
How are especially complex bills sometimes handled in Congress?
They are handled by ad hoc committees put together specifically for that purpose
What is an iron triangle in the context of government bureaucracy?
A mutually beneficial relationship between an industry, regulatory agency, and congressional committee
How does a judge treat the government in a legal dispute according to the text?
Treat it as any other party in a lawsuit
What role does the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) play in overseeing federal agencies' budgets?
Assembling the annual budget for all federal agencies
In times of national crisis, how is the president's authority over diplomatic and national defense agencies described?
Enhanced and greatly magnified
What is the primary function of iron triangles in the context of government operations?
To establish mutually beneficial relationships between industry, regulatory agencies, and congressional committees
How does the US government view its legal obligations according to English common law principle?
Government is bound by the same laws that apply to private individuals
This quiz covers the basics of congressional committees, including the differences between standing, select/special/ad hoc, and joint committees. Learn about the characteristics and functions of each type of committee.
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