2.1 The structure of Congress

Question 1

Why is Congress a bicameral legislature?

Answer 1

• 2 equal legislative bodies - the House of Representatives awards political representation to states in proportion to their population - so larger states have more seats
• In the Senate, there are two politicians per state, regardless of population, giving a degree of protection to the interests of smaller states

Question 2

How many members are in the House and the Senate?

Answer 2

House - 435 - proportional to population

Senate - 100 - 2 per state

Question 3

What are the term lengths of the House and the Senate?

Answer 3

House - 2 years

Senate - 6 years

Question 4

What is the salary of members of the House and Senators?

Answer 4

$174,000.

Question 5

How does the election cycle work for Congress?

Answer 5

• Take place every two years in November - all members of the House are on the ballot, but one 1/3 of Senators, so the party majority in either chamber can change every 2 years

Question 6

What powers do the Constitution give to Congress?

Answer 6

Legislate - Article I, section 1, all legislative powers vested in Congress - Congress have power to overturn a presidential veto with 2/3 vote in each chamber

Representation - Article I, Senate not elected in the original constitution

Amend the Constitution - Article V - requires 2/3 vote in each chamber

Declare war - Article I, section 8 - ambiguity here with the president also claiming power to initiate military action

Question 7

What exclusive powers do the House have?

Answer 7

• Impeachment
• Electing the president if no candidate has over 50% of Electoral College Votes
• Begin consideration of all money bills

Question 8

What exclusive powers do the Senate have?

Answer 8

• Try an impeachment case
• Elected the VP, if no candidate has over 50% of ECV
• Ratify treaties
• Confirm executive appointments

Question 9

How does the House impeach?

Answer 9

• The House want to bring formal charges against a public official because, in their view, there is sufficient evidence of ‘Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanours’ (Article II, section 4)
• 3 presidents (Andrew Johnson, Clinton and Trump) have been impeached

Question 10

How common is it for the House to elect the president if no candidate has over 50% of ECV?

Answer 10

• The power has only been used twice, in 1800 and 1824

Question 11

How does the House begin consideration of all money bills?

Answer 11

• All revenue-raising bills (those imposing taxes) must pass through the House first
• Given the sensitivity of taxing people, the Founding Fathers wanted to give the House, the only elected chamber at the time, more influence over taxation than the Senate - not so significant now due to the Senates’ ability to amend reject House decisions

Question 12

How does the Senate try an impeachment case?

Answer 12

• If the House impeaches a public official there is a trial in the Senate - 2/3 Senate vote is required to remove someone from office
• Trump survived being removed from office twice

Question 13

How do the Senate ratify treaties?

Answer 13

• All treaties negotiated by the president are subject to confirmation by the Senate, requiring a 2/3 vote
• Obama achieved ratification of the START treaty in 2010, a deal with Russia to scale back nuclear arsenals
• The last Senate rejection was in 2012, a treaty for disabled rights
• This role has been eroded by executive agreements

Question 14

How do the Senate confirm executive appointments?

Answer 14

• Over 1,200 senior appointments - Cabinet members, some senior members of the EXOP and all federal judges, including Supreme Court justices
• They are scrutinised, usually through Senate committee hearings, with the Senate having the right to confirm a presidential nomination by a 50% + vote

Question 15

What is a mid-term election?

Answer 15

Congressional and state-based elections held mid-way through a presidents 4-year term.