2.1 The structure of Congress Flashcards
1
Q
3
Describe the bicameral nature of Congress
A
- House represents popular soveriegnty as directly-elected
- Senate acts as safeguard against popular sovereignty (initially elected by state legilsatures)
- Senate ensures that every state has voice has voice in Fed Govt regardless of size
2
Q
3
What separates the bicameral Congress from other bicameral systems?
A
- not traditional ‘lower’ and ‘upper’ hose
- Have unique powers + concurrent ones
- Yet power to pass legislation is excercised similarly
3
Q
4
Describe the membership of HoR
A
- 435 Reps + 6 non-voting members for DC and overseases territories (e.g. Guam)
- Reflective of population in each state
- Congressional district drawn by state government every 10 years after census
- 2-year terms; no term limits
4
Q
2
Describe how the HoR membership is relfective of the population
A
- 7 states have one member
- CA had 53 members
5
Q
4
Describe the membership of Senate
A
- 100 Senators
- 2 per state - ‘senior’ and ‘junior’
- Senator represents whole state
- 6 year-terms; no upper term limit
‘senior’ and ‘junior’ - refers to longest serving
6
Q
2
Who presides over the Senate?
A
- Constituionally VPs - hold casting vote in event of tie (e.g. Betsy deVos)
- President pro tempore appointed to take their place - very weak position
7
Q
3
Describe gerrymandering/redistricting
A
- Process whereby state’s governing party redraws boundaries of each constituency to entrench an electoral advantage
- Produces relatively few swing seats
- 187 districts controlled by Reps, 75 by Dem
8
Q
2
Describe limits to gerrymandering/redistricting
A
- Some states like CA have independent commissions
- Some states like Alaska have single-member districts
9
Q
2
Describe the election cycle of the HoR
A
- all House members elected every 2 years
- Therefore House is most democraticlaly responsive element of Fed Govt
10
Q
3
Describe the election cycle of the Senate
A
- 1/3 of Senate seats up for election every 2 years + special elections
- Divided into classes: Class I, Class II, Class III
- Staggered elections prevent continuous change and act as check on popular sovereignty
11
Q
4
Describe the Georgia Senate elections of 2020-21
A
- One Class II seat up for election + special election to fill Class III seat following death of incumbent
- majority of votes required to win seat in Georgia
- Failure to win seats in both races in first round - run-off triggered
- Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff (both Dems) won run-offs
12
Q
2
Describe the significance of the Georgian Senate elections of 2020-21
A
- Federal elections in Nov 2020 had produced 48-50 Dem:Rep Senate balance (+ Harris VP)
- Warnock and Ossoff victories have Dems control of Senate
13
Q
4
Describe mid-term elections
A
- Seen as referendums on President
- President likely to lose both House and Senate
- Congress has more recent mandate and is more willing to challenge President e.g. Merrick Garland 2016
- Leads to divided government
14
Q
3
Describe divided government
A
- When different branches of government are controlled by different parties - precipitates gridlock and halts legislative agenda
- Presidents incentivised to pass as much of legislative program in first 2 years
- US Govt divided 70% of time since 1969
15
Q
3
Describe the mid-terms 2022
A
- Senate: Dems 51 (inc 3 independents); Rep 49
- House: Rep 222, Dem 213
- Ron De Santis increased majority over Dem candidate by 9 points
