18.3.2 - Congress and Representation Flashcards
US Congress representation
chapter 18.3.2
What are the 5 different forms of representation in Congress?
- Constituency representation
- Party representation
- Functional representation
- Congressional caucuses
- Lobbyists
- Constituency Representation:
How did Diane Black represent her constituency in 2018?
As part of the Brady Amendments to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2018, copyrighted songs were once again defined as capital assets, at the request of Diane Black, whose district covered parts of Nashville, famous for songwriting and country music
Why did Eric Cantor lose the Republican primary in Virginia in 2014?
He was not seen as conservative enough by his district
Why did Congressman Tom Petri receive criticism from the newspaper ‘Sheboygan’ in 2014?
It was found out that he only spends 1/3 of his time away from Congress in Wisconsin
- Party Representation:
What is expected from a member of Congress?
Some level of party loyalty
What has there been a considerable growth in in recent decades?
Party-line voting and partisan politics
How many members of the 115th Congress were neither Democrat nor Republican?
2
How many independents are in the Senate as of 2023 and who do they vote with?
3 independents, all caucus with the Democrats
- Function Representation:
What did Bill Clinton say about his cabinet in 1992?
He proclaimed that he would put together a cabinet ‘that looked like America’
What is the average age of members of the House and Senate in the 117th Congress (Current)?
House - 58 years
Senate - 64 years
What % of members of the 117th Congress have a college education?
96%
How many women serve in the 117th Congress?
150 women - 126 in House, 24 in Senate
How many women served in the 115th Congress?
108 women - 85 in House, 23 in Senate
What % of voting members were Hispanics in the 115th Congress?
8%
What % of the US population was Hispanic in 2016?
17%
How many Hispanic and Latino members serve in the 117th Congress?
52
What is ‘descriptive representation’?
A political belief that those elected should not only represent those within their constituency but also with whom they share descriptive characteristics
What is ‘functional representation’?
A political belief that those elected should represent economic or social groups within the wider community
What have some congressional districts been drawn to create?
‘majority-minority’ districts
How many majority-minority districts were there in the House of Representatives in 2015?
122
What is the district with the largest African-American majority?
Tennessee 9th District - 63%
What is the district with the largest Hispanic/Latino majority?
California 40th District - 87.2%
What was the Supreme Court ruling in the ‘Cooper v Harris’ (2017) case?
The ruling challenged that use of race alone in redistricting was racist
- Congressional caucuses
What caucus works across party lines to achieve legislation that advances the rights of women?
The Congressional Women’s Caucus
What does the Congressional Steel Caucus fight for?
The health of the domestic steel industry
What did the Chair of the Steel Caucus say after Trump introduced a 25% tariff on foreign steel?
‘I am pleased that the president has heard my call, and the call of our steelworkers’
What did Representative Rangel say about the Congressional Black Caucus during when the successor to speaker John Boehner was being chosen?
‘the power of the Congressional Black Caucus is truly unspeakable. Whatever the Tea Party is doing with votes, the Congressional Black Caucus could make that look like a kindergarten class’
What is the Blue Dog coalition?
The Blue Dog Coalition is the most conservative grouping of Democrats, advocating for fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense and bipartisan consensus rather than conflict with Republicans
- Lobbyists
Who spent the most on lobbying in 2021?
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce
How much did the US Chamber of Commerce spend on lobbying in 2021?
$66 million
How many businesses and organisations does the US Chamber of Commerce represent?
Over 3 million
How much did the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of American spend on lobbying in 2021?
$30 million
How much did the American Medical Association spend on lobbying in 2021?
$19.5 million dollars
From 2009 to 2019, how much did pharmaceutical companies donate to Congress?
$2.5 billion
What % of House members and Senators received pharmaceutical campaign contributions?
House members - 90%
Senators - 97%
How much was lobbyist spending annually in 2018?
Over $3 billion
How much did the National Association of Realtors spend on lobbying in 2022?
$56 million
