Chapter ElevenCongress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

Multiple Choice

1. Today’s Congress differs from the Congress of the nineteenth century ina. the size of total staff.b. the proportion of incumbents who successfully run for reelection.c. the amount of legislation it considers.d. that many members aspire to have a lengthy career.

e. All of the answers are correct.Answer: ePage: 303

2. The highest priority for most members of Congress isa. ensuring that the constitutional system of checks and balances works properly.b. supporting his or her party’s legislative platform.c. getting reelected.d. gaining a reputation among other members of Congress as an effective legislator.

e. working with the president to get things done.Answer: cPage: 304

3. Legislation whose tangible benefits are targeted solely at a particular legislator’s constituency is a. pork-barrel legislation.b. logrolling.c. gerrymandering.d. private legislation.

e. public interest legislation.Answer: aPage: 304

4. Compared to House incumbents, Senate incumbents are more likely to face the problem ofa. raising enough money to run a strong campaign.b. an electorate which is inclined to judge their fitness for reelection in the context

of pork-barrel legislation and other favors for the local community.c. a strong challenger.d. name recognition.

e. All of the answers are correct.Answer: cPage: 303

5. Compared to other congressional campaigns, open-seat races tend to have all of the

following characteristics except a. a higher overall level of campaign spending.b. more evenly matched competitors.c. more evenly distributed PAC money.d. a closer vote on Election Day.

e. All of the answers are correct.Answer: ePage: 305

6. Compared to the Senate majority leader, the Speaker of the House has more power because the Housea. places more limits on debate.b. is the larger chamber in terms of membership.c. has less of a tradition as a chamber of equals.d. operates within a more restrictive set of rules.

e. All of the answers are correct.Answer: ePage: 313

7. In contrast to the Speaker of the House, the Senate majority leadera. plays a key role in formulating the majority party’s legislative positions.b. seeks to develop influential relationships with his/her colleagues.c. is not the presiding officer of his/her chamber.d. holds a position that is defined in the Constitution.

e. None of the answers are correct.Answer: cPage: 313

8. A standing committee in the House or Senatea. is a permanent committee.b. has jurisdiction over a particular policy area.c. has authority to draft, amend, and recommend legislation.d. is usually organized according to the seniority principle.

e. All of the answers are correct.Answer: ePage: 317

9. When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill, the differences are resolved by aa. conference committee.b. standing committee.c. select committee.d. rules committee.

e. joint committee.Answer: aPage: 318

10. The congressional lawmaking process is biased towarda. bold new initiatives rather than small adjustments in existing legislative

programs.b. blocking legislation rather than passing it.c. national interests at the expense of local ones.d. foreign-policy issues at the expense of domestic-policy issues.

e. the enactment of big social programs.Answer: bPage: 320

11. The major source of a committee’s power isa. the political skill of its chairperson.b. its jurisdiction over a particular policy area.c. its relationship to the president.d. its support from political action committees (PACs).

e. its support in the mass media.Answer: bPage: 320B

12. Marking up a bill means thatttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt.a president has crossed out sections of the bill that he finds personally objectionable.uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.a bill has been approved after floor debate has finished.vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv.witnesses at committee hearings suggest modifications of the bill.wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.that the House speaker and Senate majority leader have written a bill in a way that they favor.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.None of the answers are correct.

Answer: ePage: 321

13. One must be ________ years of age to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, and ________ years of age to serve in the U.S. Senate.a. 18; 21 b. 21; 25c. 25; 30d. 35; 45

e. 40; 50Answer: cPage: 310

14. Successful congressional candidates tend to run “two campaigns,” meaninga. one campaign for newspaper endorsements and a second for neighborhood

and ethnic support.b. one campaign in the free television news and a second campaign in paid

television advertising.c. one campaign in Washington raising campaign funds and a second back home

appealing for votes.d. one campaign for votes and another for media support.

e. None of the answers are correct.Answer: cPage: 327

15. The second most powerful person in Washington, D.C. (after the president) is often said to be a. the chair of the House Appropriations Committee.b. the president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate.c. the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.d. the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

e. the Senate majority leader.Answer: cPage: 312

16. Committees kill roughly ________ percent of the bills submitted in Congress.a. 10b. 25c. 50d. 60e. 90

Answer: ePage: 320

17. The modern Congress is different from the nineteenth-century Congress in thata. most members are now career politicians who want to stay in Congress.b. most members are now amateur politicians who want only to spend a short time

in Congress.c. most members are now minorities or women.d. most members now have previously been governors of their home states.

e. most members return to their respective state legislatures after their congressional service is over.

Answer: aPage: 303

18. Campaign spending tends to be greatly more importanta. for challengers and non-incumbents rather than incumbents.b. for Republican candidates.c. for Democratic candidates.d. for candidates in urban areas than candidates in rural areas.

e. for men rather than women.Answer: aPage: 305

19. Incumbents may have some problems in reelection campaigns ifa. disruptive issues such as general public discontent with Congress become

prominent.b. the incumbent is tainted with charges of personal misconduct or corruption.c. the election is a midterm election and the incumbent is of the same party as the

president.d. through redistricting, they are placed in a disadvantageous district.

e. All of the answers are correct.Answer: ePage: 308

20. Because of the inherent tension in Congress between the need for strong leadership at the top and the individual congressional member’s need to act according to local concerns,a. Congress is unable to take effective action to counter the growth in the power of

the president.b. power in the Congress is widely dispersed.c. power in the Congress is highly centralized in the Speaker and Senate president

pro tempore.d. members of Congress prefer to address international issues because the tension

between local and national issues is less substantial in this situation.e. Congress has been unable to take effective action to counter the growth in the power of the Supreme Court.

Answer: bPage: 311

21. As compared with House members, senators are typically less like to take orders from their chamber’s party leaders becausea. senators are prohibited by their state legislatures from taking orders from leaders

outside their state. b. senators think of themselves as being equals and are therefore less inclined to take

directions from their chamber’s party leaders.c. senators are more highly paid than House members and are thus immune from

financial threats.d. House rules mandate that all party members on major bills must vote according to

the directions of their leaders.e. All of the answers are correct.

Answer: bPage: 313

22. Which one of the following statements about the seniority principle is most accurate?a. The seniority principle is based on length of time the member has spent in

Congress.

b. Because of seniority, committee chairs exercise absolute power over their committees.

c. Seniority is no longer absolute in selection of committee chairs, but it is usually followed.

d. Seniority is no longer used at all in the choice of committee chairs.e. Seniority is used in the Democratic party, but not the Republican party.

Answer: cPage: 316

23. Most of the legislative work of Congress is performed bya. the standing committees and subcommittees with jurisdiction over particular

policy areas.b. the joint committees chosen to coordinate actions between the two chambers of

Congress.c. the select committees chosen to study special problems on a temporary basis.d. the steering committees that decide party stands on particular bills.

e. party leaders in both chambers.Answer: aPage: 317

24. About ___ percent of all PAC contributions go to the incumbents. a. 10b. 30c. 50d. 70e. 90

Answer: ePage: 305

25. Through a vote for cloture, the Senatea. confirms presidential appointees.b. ends a filibuster.c. overrides a presidential pocket veto.d. accepts the House version of a bill.

e. closes its legislative session for the year.Answer: bPage: 322

26. A pocket veto differs from a regular presidential veto in that the pocket vetoa. applies only to a section of the legislation in question.b. applies only to expenditure legislation.c. occurs when the president decides to veto a bill he had previously signed.d. applies only when the Congress is not in session.

e. occurs when the president goes before Congress to announce a veto.Answer: dPage: 324

27. Congress’ inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is due toa. the lack of talented leadership in Congress.b. the fragmented nature of Congress.c. constitutional restrictions on Congress’ lawmaking powers.d. the constant threat of a presidential veto.

e. opposition from the mass media.Answer: bPage: 325

28. On broad issues of national significance, Congress is ordinarily most responsive to the initiatives ofa. the president.b. special interest groups.c. the party leadership in Congress.d. the committee leadership in Congress.

e. bureaucratic agencies.Answer: aPage: 326

29. In initiating broad legislative proposals, the president enjoys all of the following advantages over Congress excepta. the president is more likely to take a national perspective on policy issues.b. the president is granted more authority by the Constitution in the area of

lawmaking.c. the president’s actions receive more attention from the national media.d. the president has the authority to make policy decisions even when there are

conflicting views within the executive branch while congressional leaders cannot impose their views on other members who disagree with them.e. the president has available a larger number of policy experts than does the leadership in Congress.

Answer: bPage: 324

30. In which area has Congress been more likely than the president to exert leadership?a. world affairsb. national economic policyc. policies affecting special interestsd. social-welfare policy

e. environmental policyAnswer: cPage: 327

31. Most members of Congress area. concerned with national issues, but even more concerned with local ones.b. controlled by special-interest groups.

c. interested only in the work of the subcommittee on which they serve.d. opposed to the seniority system.

e. more interested in oversight than in making laws.Answer: aPage: 327

32. Votes in Congress tend to divide along party linesa. in the case of major presidential initiatives; the president serves as legislative

leader not so much for the whole Congress as for members of his or her party.b. in the case where representatives’ constituencies are divided on an issue; in such

instances, the representative is likely to vote in the same way as a majority of legislators of his or her party.

c. in the case of economic issues like tax cuts and unemployment benefits. d. in the case of social welfare issues like health care and social security.

e. All of the answers are correct.Answer: ePage: 329

33. By and large, partisanship isa. irrelevant to the work of Congress.b. the main source of cohesion and division within Congress.c. relevant only in the context of local representation.d. important in lawmaking and representation but not in oversight.

e. more important in foreign policy than domestic policy.Answer: bPage: 332

34. The oversight responsibility of Congress isa. relatively easy to carry out.b. becoming less and less important to the nation.c. more interesting to most legislators than working on new policy issues.d. the task at which legislators spend most of their time.e. None of the answers are correct.Answer: ePage: 329

35. The biggest obstacle to effective congressional oversight isa. the sheer magnitude of the task.b. its inadequacy as a means to control the bureaucracy.c. its inadequacy as a means to control the power of the president.d. its inadequacy as a way to generate publicity for members of Congress.

e. its inadequacy as a means to control the judiciary.Answer: aPage: 330

36. Congress’s strength as a policymaking institution includes its

a. ability to represent a wide range of interests.b. capacity for compromise and negotiation.c. responsiveness to local interests.d. All of the answers are correct.

e. None of the answers are correct.Answer: dPage: 327

37. The major function of Congress a. is to enact legislation.b. is to check the president.c. is to appease special interests.d. is to inform the people.

e. is to check the Supreme Court.Answer: aPage: 324

38. Bills are formally introduced in Congress by a. members of Congress only.b. executive agencies.c. interest groups.d. the Supreme Court.

e. All of the answers are correct.Answer: aPage: 320

39. Most of the work on legislation in Congress is donea. by committees and their respective subcommittees.b. on the floors of the House and Senate.c. by conference committees.d. by the president.

e. through consultation with bureaucratic agencies.Answer: aPage: 317

40. The scheduling of bills in the Senate is left up to a. the Senate Scheduling Committee.b. the Senate majority leader.c. each of the Senate committees.d. the Senate historian.

e. the Senate parliamentarian.Answer: bPage: 322

41. ________ has the most seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. a. New York

b. Californiac. Texasd. Illinois

e. FloridaAnswer: b

412. News media coverage of Congress and the president isa. about equal in amount.b. heavily tilted to presidential coverage.c. largely focused on Congress and its members.d. typically focused on areas where there is consensus between the two institutions.

e. typically focused on areas where the House, as opposed to the Senate, is the leading chamber.

Answer: bPage: 331

423. There are currently ________ voting members of the U.S. House of Representatives and ________ voting members of the U.S. Senate.a. 535; 100 b. 435; 100c. 150; 31d. 300; 100

e. 600; 300Answer: bPage: 312

434. What is the strategy employed in the Senate to prevent a bill from coming to a vote?a. mark-upb. filibusterc. clotured. pocket veto

e. conference committeeAnswer: bPage: 322

445. For a bill to pass in either chamber of Congress, a. it must receive the support of a third of its members.b. it must receive the support of a simple majority of its members.c. it must receive the support of two-thirds of its members.d. it must be passed within two weeks of its passage by the other chamber.

e. it must be passed within a month of its passage by the other chamber.Answer: bPage: 323

456. The dominant political institution(s) during most of the nineteenth century wasa. the president and the executive branch.

b. Congress.c. the Supreme Court.d. the bureaucracy.

e. the mass media.Answer: b

467. Defining the conditions and scheduling a bill for floor debate in the House of Representatives is the responsibility of the

a. Ways and Means Committee.b. Rules committee.c. Budget Committee.d. Appropriations Committee.

e. Judiciary Committee.Answer: bPage: 322

478. Which of the following statements is true?a. Political parties are unimportant in the organization of the U.S. Congress.b. Party-line voting rarely occurs in Congress.c. Party-line voting has increased in recent years.d. Partisanship makes virtually no difference in the votes cast in Congress.

e. None of the answers are correct.Answer: cPage: 316

489. Since the founding of the United States, the debate over the representative function of Congress has centered on whethera. key decisions should be made by a small number of representatives in committee

or by the whole membership in floor debate.b. the primary concern of a representative should be the interests of the nation or of

his or her constituency.c. congressional or presidential authority should dominate on broad issues.d. the House or the Senate is more responsive to the public.

e. the House or the Senate should take the lead on foreign policy issues.Answer: bPage: 327

4950. The trading of votes between members of Congress so that each gets the legislation he or she wants is

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Answer: cPage: 328

501. A bill has been approved in the House and Senate, albeit in slightly different versions. The bill now goes to

a. the president for her/his veto or signature.b. a conference committee.c. the standing committees in the House and Senate where the bill originated.d. the House Rules committee.e. the Senate Rules committee.

Answer: bPage: 323

512. In the 2006 midterm elections, Republicans lost a significant number of House and Senate seats. These losses were primarily attributable to:a. the normal cycle of midterm elections whereby the president’s party loses seats.

b. the Republicans’ inability to raise as much money as they normally do to support their candidates.

c. the ability of Democrats to target their resources on close races.d. widespread public dissatisfaction with policy conditions, particularly the situation

in Iraq.e. the fact that many Hollywood celebrities campaigned for Democratic candidates.Answer: dPage: 308

Essay/Short Answer

1. Why do congressional incumbents have such a high rate of reelection?

Answer: Incumbents have a great advantage in congressional elections due to the various benefits that incumbency provides. Among these are the ability to claim credit for congressional achievements, provide pork-barrel legislation, perform constituent services, and garner publicity. Incumbents can also represent states or districts that greatly favor a candidate of one party; once elected from a constituency that is not competitive in terms of its electorate, the incumbent can normally expect an easy road to reelection. Finally, incumbents have an advantage over their challengers in terms of ability to raise campaign funds.

2. Why are party leaders in Congress relatively weak in terms of their ability to control legislation?

Answer: First, members of Congress have an independent base of power, since they get elected largely on their own efforts rather than through the support of their party. Second, Congress has a set of leaders, the committee and subcommittee chairs, who are relatively independent of the party leadership. Third, Congress has two chambers, which

are equal in power and independent of each other; no party leader can speak authoritatively for both the Senate and the House.

3. Identify the three congressional agencies and explain the function of each one.

Answer: The General Accounting Office (GAO) is the largest congressional agency and has the responsibility of monitoring how executive agencies spend money that has been appropriated by Congress. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is the oldest congressional agency and is part of the Library of Congress. It is a nonpartisan research agency that any member may use to obtain information. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is the newest agency and supplies Congress with projections of the nation’s economic situation.

4. Why is redistricting a problem for U.S. House members? Explain.

Answer: The U.S. House seats are reallocated every ten years following the completion of the U.S. census. States that have gained population (e.g., California, Texas, and Florida) since the previous census may acquire additional House seats, while states that have lost population (e.g., New York and Illinois) may lose seats. Redistricting and reapportionment are a potential threat to House incumbents. The newly redrawn districts include voters who are unfamiliar with the incumbent, thereby diminishing an advantage that incumbents typically have over challengers.

5. Explain the representation function of Congress in relation to constituencies, interest groups, and parties. How does the representation function conflict with the lawmaking function of Congress?

Answer: The representation function of Congress is complex. Members of Congress are in Washington to serve the interests of the state or district constituency that elected them. Given their concern for reelection, members of Congress often promote local over national interests. Congress is well designed to represent interest groups. Its committees and subcommittees have legislative control over policies that directly affect particular groups, and members of Congress are generally receptive to lobbying efforts. Members of Congress represent their party on many issues. Roll-call votes often align a majority of the Democrats against a majority of the Republicans. Opposition and support for presidential initiatives divide along party lines as well. The representative and lawmaking roles of Congress can conflict. The strong local orientation that makes Congress a successful representative institution also makes it a less than ideal national legislative body.

6. Congress is a decentralized, fragmented institution. What are the implications of these realities on its lawmaking role? Explain.

Answer: Congress has a proliferation of leadership positions, a decentralized structure of relatively autonomous committees and subcommittees, and a concern with issues affecting local (i.e., non-national) constituencies. The lawmaking implications of this

situation are several; narrow legislation is more likely to pass than broad initiatives; broad legislation is likely to take a great deal of time and bargaining before it will pass; legislation will be reactive rather than prospective; and legislation will reflect local concerns as much as national ones.

7. Describe the typical process by which a bill becomes a law.

Answer: Once a bill is introduced by a member of the House or Senate, it is given a number and a title and referred to the relevant committee. The bill is then sent to one of the subcommittees. Most bills are tabled in subcommittees. Bills that are not tabled can then be examined through hearings. The bill can then be sent back to the committee where additional hearings may be held. During these steps, the bill can be marked up, or revised. Once a bill has gained committee approval it is reported out of committee and is scheduled for debate and possible amendment by the full chamber. In the House, the Rules Committee has power over scheduling decisions. In the Senate, the majority leader makes most of these decisions. Each chamber of Congress must pass the bill by a majority vote or it is killed. A bill must be passed in identical form by both chambers to become law. Any differences in bills passed by the two chambers can be worked out informally or through the use of a conference committee. Any bill that has been altered must be passed again by both chambers. After both chambers have passed identical versions of a bill it goes to the president for his or her signature. If the president vetoes the bill, it takes a two-thirds majority vote of both houses of Congress to override the veto.

8. What is congressional oversight, and what are the obstacles to effective oversight?

Answer: Congressional oversight is the responsibility of Congress to see that the executive branch carries out laws faithfully and spends money properly. The biggest obstacle to effective oversight is the sheer magnitude of the task. With its several million employees and huge budget, the bureaucracy is beyond comprehensive scrutiny. The other obstacle is that members of Congress normally have stronger incentives to function as lawmakers (lawmaking can be more a creative task and one for which a member of Congress gets more credit) and as representatives (representation is vitally connected to reelection—members of Congress get reelected mainly by representing the interests of their constituents) than as overseers.