Question

name
ap government
unit 2 - interactions among branches of government
the legislative branch assessment
we have before us one of the most important duties of the u.s. senate and of the u.s. congress, and that is to decide whether or not we will be involved in war. i think it is inexcusable that the debate over whether we involve the country in war, in another countrys civil war, that this would be debated as part of a spending bill, and not as part of an independent free - standing bill... i think it is a sad day for the u.s. senate. it goes against our history. it goes against the history of the country.
senator rand paul
senate floor speech, september 18, 2014

1. which of the following statements best summarize the excerpt from senator pauls speech?

a) the united states should not become involved in another countrys civil war.
b) the president should not have war - making authority except in an emergency.
c) military intervention the united states is considering needs a spending appropriation
d) the u.s. senate should decide on war - like action on its merits, not along with other legislation.

1. which power of congress is senator paul probably most concerned about based on this passage?

a) congresss power to tax and spend
b) the senates power to ratify treaties
c) the expressed power to declare war
d) the power to regulate interstate commerce

1. which of the following represents an argument in favor of keeping the filibuster in the senate?

a) extended debate allows for the minority voice to be heard when considering legislation
b) the senate was not mean to be the debate - centered chamber
c) the framers created the filibuster as a means of preserving the legislative process
d) the filibuster prevents partisan blocking of legislation

1. in what way did the seventeenth amendment broaden democracy?

a) it extended voting rights to women
b) it allowed citizens to alter the electoral college
c) it gave citizens greater impact on lawmaking in the u.s. senate
d) it extended voting rights to african americans

1. a congressperson that goes with the politico model of congressional representation would most likely do which of the following?

a.) vote on bills however they think their constituents would want them to vote
b.) vote on bills in a way that they believe to be in the best interest of their voters
c.) vote on bills sometimes in a way that their voters want and sometimes vote in what they think is in the best interest of their constituents.

Explanation:

• Question 8:
• Analyze each option:
• Option a: The speech is not about whether the US should be involved in the war but about how the debate is conducted.
• Option b: The speech does not mention the president's war - making authority in emergencies.
• Option c: The key point is not about the spending appropriation for military intervention but about the nature of the debate (as a free - standing bill).
• Option d: The senator criticizes that the debate over war - like action (whether to involve the country in war) is part of a spending bill instead of a free - standing bill. This means the U.S. Senate should decide on war - like action on its own merits (as a separate bill), not along with other legislation.
• Question 9:
• The power of Congress to declare war is relevant here. The senator is talking about the Senate's (a part of Congress) role in deciding on war - like actions. Congress (specifically the Senate in this context) has the power to declare war, and the senator is concerned about how this power is exercised (i.e., not as part of a spending bill).
• Option a (tax and spend) is not the focus of the passage.
• Option b (ratify treaties) is not related to the war - decision - making context.
• Option d (regulate interstate commerce) is also not relevant to the war - related discussion.
• Question 10:
• Option a: Extended debate (which is related to the filibuster) allows the minority voice to be heard. This is a valid argument in favor of keeping the filibuster.
• Option b: The statement that the Senate was not meant to be the debate - centered chamber is not an argument in favor of the filibuster.
• Option c: The filibuster was not created by the framers as a means of preserving the legislative process in the original design.
• Option d: The filibuster is more about giving the minority a voice rather than preventing partisan blocking (in fact, it can be used for partisan purposes in some cases).
• Question 11:
• The Seventeenth Amendment provided for the direct election of U.S. senators by the people. This gives citizens greater impact on lawmaking in the U.S. Senate.
• Option a (voting rights to women) is related to the Nineteenth Amendment.
• Option b (altering the Electoral College) is not the function of the Seventeenth Amendment.
• Option d (voting rights to African Americans) is related to other amendments like the Fifteenth Amendment.
• Question 12:
• The politico model of congressional representation is a combination of the delegate model (voting according to constituents' wishes) and the trustee model (voting according to one's own judgment of what is best). A congressperson following the politico model would sometimes vote in a way that their voters want and sometimes vote in what they think is in the best interest of their constituents.
• Option a (only according to constituents' wishes) is the delegate model.
• Option b (only according to one's own judgment of voters' best interest) is the trustee model.

Answer:

1. d. The U.S. Senate should decide on war - like action on its merits, not along with other legislation.
2. c. The expressed power to declare war
3. a. Extended debate allows for the minority voice to be heard when considering legislation
4. c. It gave citizens greater impact on lawmaking in the U.S. Senate
5. c. Vote on bills sometimes in a way that their voters want and sometimes vote in what they think is in the best interest of their constituents.