US Senators of the 113th Congress: Part 4 Quiz

Answer: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Udall's amendment would have limited the amount of outside money a corporation of union could donate to a political campaign. The amendment passed the Senate Judiciary Committee but failed to receive the necessary 2/3 support of the full Senate.

Answer: Heather Wilson

Heinrich represented New Mexico's first district in the House from 2009-2013. Wilson held that seat before him until she retired to unsuccessfully run for the Senate in 2008. She ran for the Senate again in 2012, but Heinrich defeated her by receiving 51% of the vote.

Answer: Al D'Amato

D'Amato had already served three terms as senator and was still popular. However, New York is a Democratic state and Schumer was able to rely on the popularity of President Clinton and the First Lady to win with 55%. D'Amato was hurt by Republican attempts to remove Clinton from office, which was largely seen as a political stunt by the general public.

Answer: Off the Sidelines

The full book title is "Off the Sideline: Raise Your Voice, Change the World". It debuted at number 8 on the New York Times Bestseller List.

Answer: Sam Ervin

Ervin retired in 1974 having won his last term in 1968. He was replaced by Robert Morgan who lost reelection in 1980 when he was defeated by John East. East died in 1986 and was replaced by James Broyhill. Broyhill lost the concurrent special and general election in 1986 to Terry Sanford. Sanford lost reelection in 1992 to Lauch Faircloth. John Edwards defeated Faircloth in 1998 before retiring in 2004 to run for the presidency.

He was replaced by Burr who is said to have broken the curse by winning reelection in 2010.

Answer: She became the first woman to defeat an incumbent female senator

Hagan defeated incumbent Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole in 2008. Dole was seen as an earlier favorite despite a national climate favorable to Democrats when all prominent Democrats passed on the race. Hagan was a little known state senator at the time, who shot up in the polls when Dole aired a controversial ad attacking Hagan for alleged "godlessness". Hagan taught Sunday school for many years, which made the attack even worse.

The ad was panned by both parties and some called it the worst political ad of that season.

Answer: Bank of North Dakota

The Bank of North Dakota is the only state-owned bank within the United States. Hoeven was president and CEO of the bank from 1993-2000 when he became Governor of North Dakota.

Answer: True

Heitkamp was the early favorite to replace outgoing Republican Gov. Ed Schafer. However, her breast cancer diagnosis in October became the focus of the campaign with many people unsure she would be healthy enough to serve as governor. Hoeven defeated her 55%-45%.

Answer: Unions

Brown compared Republican efforts to prevent and disband union organizing to those of Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin by claiming none of them wanted independent unions to exist. Brown later apologized.

Answer: False

Portman is the second Republican to do so. The first is former Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee who did so in 2004. However, Chafee no longer identifies as a Republican and served as governor of that state as both an independent and a Democrat.

Answer: Climate change

Inhofe claims that environmentalists created the notion climate change as a publicity stunt and to set up their agenda in America. Inhofe claims that because they used to use the term "global warming" and now use "climate change" proves that it is made up as the winters have been colder than ever which necessitated the name change.

Answer: The hold

Coburn has put a hold on numerous bills, including those both deemed important and innocuous, especially during the 110th Congress. The hold is a procedure in which one senator can prevent a vote on a bill. The senator also does not have to reveal himself or herself but often he or she is uncovered at some point. Coburn held so many bills, that at the beginning of the next congress when the holds were removed, those bills were lumped together and called "Tomnibus".

Answer: Bob Packwood

Bob Packwood was accused of sexually harassing and abusing women and was nearly expelled from the Senate but resigned instead. Wyden won a narrow victory of 48%-47% over future senator Gordon Smith to replace Packwood.

Answer: The filibuster

Merkley had introduced a reform to the filibuster rules along with New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall and Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin. Merkley alleged that Republicans were obstructing most of President Obama's nominees and abusing the filibusters to prevent debates on legislation. Merkley's new rules would have forced a group of senators who wished to filibuster to speak on the Senate floor to maintain that filibuster as opposed to voting against cloture and not giving a reason.

Answer: Governor of Pennsylvania

Casey ran in the gubernatorial primary but lost to Rendell 56.5%-43.5%. Casey only lost ten counties, but they were among the most populous in the state.

Answer: Required background checks for private party firearms sales

The amendment failed to pass despite gaining a majority of the votes because it was subject to a cloture vote, which needed 60 votes to pass. The amendment was opposed mostly by Republicans besides Toomey and conservative Democrats who represented Republican states.

Answer: Army

Reed served in the Army in active duty from 1971-1979 and achieved the rank of major. His unit was the 82nd Airborne Division.

Answer: Lincoln Chafee

Lincoln Chafee was a somewhat popular senator like his father, John, was. However, 2006 was a very Democratic year and, with Rhode Island already a deep blue state, Whitehouse was able to tie Chafee to unpopular president George Bush to win 53% of the vote.

Answer: False

Lindsey Graham is a man, not a woman. The first woman to serve South Carolina in Congress was Elizabeth Hawley Gasque Van Exem.

Answer: Mo Cowan

Mo Cowan was appointed to the Senate in 2013 to replace John Kerry, who became Secretary of State. Cowan did not run in the special election and was replaced by Ed Markey, leaving Scott the only African-American senator until Cory Booker was elected later in 2013.