Lesson 3.2.1.2

3.2.1.2 The legislative branch: Congress Quiz: AQA Politics, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.2.1.2, The legislative branch: Congress: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Politics (7152), Unit 2: Government and politics of the USA and comparative politics, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. How many members does the House of Representatives have?

    • 435 voting members
    • 270 voting members
    • 100 voting members
    • 538 voting members

  2. How many senators does each state send to the Senate?

    • One senator
    • Four senators
    • Two senators
    • Ten senators

  3. What is the length of a term in the House of Representatives?

    • Two years
    • Six years
    • Four years
    • Eight years

  4. What is the length of a Senate term?

    • Six years, with one third of the Senate elected every two years
    • Two years, with the whole Senate elected at the same time every cycle
    • Four years, with half of the Senate elected every two years
    • Eight years, with a quarter of the Senate elected every two years

  5. Which chamber of Congress has the sole power to initiate impeachment?

    • The Supreme Court
    • The Senate
    • The House of Representatives
    • The Electoral College

  6. Which chamber is responsible for trying impeachment cases?

    • The Electoral College, which requires a majority of electors to convict
    • The Senate, which requires a two-thirds majority to convict
    • The House of Representatives, which requires a simple majority to convict
    • The Supreme Court, which requires a unanimous vote of all justices to convict

  7. What is the power of the purse in the US Congress?

    • The power to set interest rates for the national economy through the Federal Reserve
    • The power to elect the President when no candidate wins a majority of electoral votes
    • The power to tax and to authorise government spending through appropriations
    • The power to approve Supreme Court nominations by a simple majority vote

  8. What is congressional oversight?

    • The right of the President to veto any bill passed by the Senate in a single session
    • The power of the Supreme Court to hear appeals from state legislatures and set policy
    • Scrutiny of the executive through hearings, investigations
    • The right of state governors to select members of the House of Representatives

  9. What is the role of the committee system in Congress?

    • Committees choose the President and approve the Vice President after each election
    • Committees decide the outcome of every vote in both chambers without floor debate
    • Committees are advisory bodies with no power over the content of legislation
    • Committees scrutinise bills, hold hearings

  10. What is the significance of the party system within Congress?

    • Party membership is banned for members of Congress, who must stand as independents
    • Party leaders are appointed by the President and have no role in the legislative process
    • Party leaders control key positions, such as committee chairs and the agenda, which shapes legislative outcomes
    • Party affiliation has no effect on how members vote, because all members act independently

  11. Which statement about the relative strengths of the House and the Senate is most accurate?

    • The House has no role in treaties or appointments, which are handled only by the Supreme Court
    • The Senate is larger and more responsive to short-term opinion, while the House confirms all appointments
    • The House and Senate have identical powers, so neither is stronger in any area of policy
    • The House is larger and more responsive to short-term opinion, while the Senate has greater influence over treaties and appointments

  12. Which power is shared by Congress and the Supreme Court in their relationship?

    • Congress can overturn any Supreme Court ruling by a simple majority vote in either chamber
    • Congress has no power to affect the Supreme Court in any way under the Constitution
    • Congress can propose changes to the courts' jurisdiction
    • Congress must approve every Supreme Court decision before it takes effect in law

  13. What is the role of representatives and senators in representing their constituents?

    • They represent only the interests of the President, who selects them for each seat
    • They balance national responsibilities with the interests of their home districts
    • They represent only the national party leadership and have no link to their constituents
    • They represent only the Supreme Court, which decides how members vote on bills

  14. Which factor most affects the effectiveness of Congress in legislation?

    • The number of state governors who sit on congressional committees
    • The number of Supreme Court justices who attend each session of Congress
    • The level of partisan cooperation
    • The age of the President, which determines the passage of every bill

  15. What is the effect of the filibuster in the Senate?

    • It allows the President to end debate on any bill by issuing an executive order
    • It allows the House to override the Senate by a simple majority vote in every case
    • It allows the Supreme Court to dismiss bills that have not been debated fully
    • It allows a minority to delay

  16. Which evaluation best supports the view that Congress has become less effective at legislating?

    • Congress has never been able to pass any legislation since the Constitution was adopted
    • Partisan polarisation and procedural obstacles can make it harder to pass legislation, leading to gridlock
    • Congress has become more effective because party polarisation makes every bill pass quickly
    • Congress has become less important because the Supreme Court now passes most federal laws

  17. Which argument best supports the view that Congress is a check on the executive?

    • Congress can only advise the executive and has no formal means of enforcing its views
    • Congress must follow every instruction of the executive without any right of review or oversight
    • Congress controls funding, confirms appointments and can investigate and impeach officials
    • Congress has no power over the executive because all policy is set by the President alone

  18. Which evaluation assesses the view that Congress's relationship with the executive is best described as checks and balances?

    • Congress and the President can each limit the other, through vetoes, funding and oversight, which creates a balance of power
    • Congress and the President have no ability to limit each other, as their powers never overlap
    • Congress always dominates the executive, which can do nothing without its approval at any stage
    • The President always dominates Congress, which can only approve decisions already taken

  19. Which chamber of Congress is more closely tied to short-term public opinion because of its shorter term length?

    • The Senate
    • The Electoral College
    • The House of Representatives
    • The Supreme Court

  20. What does the committee system allow Congress to do?

    • Approve the Supreme Court's decisions by a simple majority of committee members
    • Replace the President with a committee of members chosen by the Senate
    • Set the price of goods and services across the national economy
    • Examine bills and conduct oversight in detail before the full chamber votes

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