Q 01/05

Since 1965, what has one Republican senator kept in a desk drawer by the Senate chamber's entrance?

A) Cigars

B) Aspirin

C) Candy

D) Whiskey

Answer · why

C) Candy

Candy has filled the drawer ever since California's George Murphy began sharing his stash with colleagues, even though eating is banned on the Senate ...

Q 02/05

The name of the US Senate traces back to the Latin word 'senex', which means what?

A) Old man

B) Wise judge

C) Free citizen

D) Land owner

Answer · why

A) Old man

Old man is the meaning of 'senex', the root that Rome's council of elders shares with the English words senior and senile.

Q 03/05

Which piece of Senate jargon comes from a Dutch word once used for pirates raiding the Caribbean?

A) Logrolling

B) Filibuster

C) Boondoggle

D) Pork barrel

Answer · why

B) Filibuster

Filibuster comes from the Dutch for 'freebooter' and began turning up in American legislative debates in the 1850s as a label for talking a bill to de...

Q 04/05

Which South Carolina senator spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957?

A) Richard Russell

B) James Eastland

C) Ernest Hollings

D) Strom Thurmond

Answer · why

D) Strom Thurmond

Strom Thurmond's solo stand remained the Senate's longest speech until 2025. He later became the only member of Congress to turn 100 while in office.

Q 05/05

Which future president won a Delaware Senate seat in 1972 at age 29, too young to take office yet?

A) Joe Biden

B) Jimmy Carter

C) Ronald Reagan

D) George W. Bush

Answer · why

A) Joe Biden

Joe Biden turned 30, the Constitution's minimum age for a senator, less than two weeks after election day and well before he was sworn in.