Praxis Core Reading Test Prep

Category - Praxis Core Reading Practice Test

The U.S. Congress (Government and Civics 3­)

Did you ever wonder where federal laws come from? For example, who proposed that it be illegal to (1) operate a vehicle without a driver’s license? Who is responsible for making decisions about war? In the United States rules and decisions that affect its citizens (and visitors) are proposed and put into effect by what is known as the U.S. Congress.

The U.S. Congress is made of up two (2) bodies: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both representatives and senators are elected by voters. Congress has 535 members: 435 members in the House of Representatives and 100 members in the Senate. Each member of the House of Representatives serves two-year terms and each state in the union has at least one representative. Each of the 50 states has two senators; therefore, there are 100 senators in Congress, and each member of the Senate serves a six-year (3) term.

Congress works together to create (4) bills that are then later signed into law by the President of the United States. It also has power over financial concerns. It is the Congress who has the authority to make and collect taxes. Congress also plays an important role in the decisions of the national defense. It alone has the power to (5) wage war on another country.

So, next time your hear someone say they dislike a President’s decision to go to war with another country, you can tell them that Congress has the ultimate say, and not the President, in how the country is run.

The word “bills”, bolded after the (4) in paragraph 3, can best be defined as

  1. Marks or notes used in the exchange of currency for goods
  2. Slips indicating the price of goods or a service
  3. The muzzles of a species from the aviary family
  4. A proposal of rules for appropriate conduct laid down by a governing authority
Explanation

Answer: D - The word “bills” can best be defined as rules of conduct laid down by a governing authority. Answer A refers to money. Answer B is what you get at a restaurant after you eat. Answer C is what ducks and other birds have instead of a mouth.

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