AP Gov Quiz: Testing Your Knowledge of Congressional Ethics

📚 Quick Study Guide: Congressional Ethics

• ⚖️ Ethics Committees: Both the House and Senate have standing ethics committees responsible for investigating alleged misconduct by members, officers, and employees. These committees are typically bipartisan.
• 🎁 Gift Rules: Members of Congress are generally prohibited from accepting gifts from lobbyists. There are strict limits on gifts from other sources, often capped at a certain monetary value per source per year, with exceptions for certain items (e.g., food of nominal value).
• 💰 Financial Disclosure: The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires members of Congress, judicial officers, and high-level executive branch officials to file annual financial disclosure reports, promoting transparency and preventing conflicts of interest.
• 🚫 Insider Trading (STOCK Act): The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012 prohibits members of Congress and their staff from using non-public information obtained through their official positions for personal financial gain.
• 🤝 Lobbying Restrictions: There are rules governing when former members of Congress can lobby Congress, often imposing a 'cooling-off period' to prevent the 'revolving door' phenomenon.
• punitive actions: Members found in violation of ethics rules can face various penalties, including reprimand, censure, or, in severe cases, expulsion (requires a two-thirds vote in their respective chamber).
• 🌍 Public Trust: The primary goal of congressional ethics rules is to uphold the integrity of the legislative branch and maintain public confidence in government.

📝 Practice Quiz

1. What is the primary role of the House and Senate Ethics Committees?

A. To create new legislation related to campaign finance.
B. To investigate alleged misconduct by members and staff.
C. To oversee the judicial appointments process.
D. To manage the internal budget for legislative operations.

2. Under current ethics rules, what is generally prohibited for members of Congress to accept from registered lobbyists?

A. Campaign donations within legal limits.
B. Gifts of any value, with very limited exceptions.
C. Invitations to public events.
D. Reimbursement for official travel expenses.

3. Which federal law requires members of Congress to file annual financial disclosure reports?

A. The Congressional Accountability Act.
B. The Federal Election Campaign Act.
C. The Ethics in Government Act.
D. The Lobbying Disclosure Act.

4. What does the term 'censure' mean in the context of congressional ethics?

A. A formal removal from office by a majority vote.
B. A public reprimand or condemnation by the member's chamber.
C. A temporary suspension of voting rights.
D. A mandatory fine imposed by the Supreme Court.

5. The STOCK Act was primarily passed to address which ethical concern?

A. Excessive campaign spending.
B. Conflicts of interest related to private sector employment.
C. The use of non-public information for personal financial gain.
D. The acceptance of foreign gifts by members of Congress.

6. What is the most severe penalty a member of Congress can face for an ethics violation, requiring a two-thirds vote of their respective chamber?

A. Reprimand.
B. Censure.
C. Expulsion.
D. Loss of committee assignments.

7. The concept of the 'revolving door' in congressional ethics primarily refers to:

A. The frequent change of political parties by members of Congress.
B. The movement of individuals between legislative staff positions and elected office.
C. The practice of former members of Congress becoming lobbyists shortly after leaving office.
D. The cyclical nature of legislative sessions and recesses.