2.2- functions of congress

Question 1

Give an example of a committee that effectively scrutinised government

Answer 1

The January 6th committee
- investigated Donald trumps role in the insurrection against the us
- interviewed over 1000 people and reviewed over 1 million documents
- the evidence gained is now being used in the 4 charges against Trump

Question 2

Give an example of an ineffective select committee

Answer 2

The Select Committee on Benghazi
- was voted for by 225 Republicans and 7 Democrats
- at the time, Hilary Clinton was the expected democrat presidential candidate

Question 3

Give an example of an act that could not break the filibuster

Answer 3

the 2010 dream act
-52 in favour, needed 60

Question 4

give an example of an act that received bipartisan support, and what vote did it pass with

Answer 4

Safer Communities Act (2022)
- implemented stronger gun regulation
- 65-33 with 15 Republicans in favour

Question 5

How many oversight hearings did George Bush face and why was the number so low

Answer 5

37
- 90% popularity due to the rally around the flag effect after 9-11

Question 6

what is the role of the 1973 war powers act

Answer 6

-the president must notify congress within 48 hours of launching military action
- must hold a congressional vote within 60 days
- 30 days to remove troops

Question 7

give an example of when Congress has withdrawn funding from a war

Answer 7

the case church amendment- withdrew funding from the Vietnam War

Question 8

give an example of when Congress has put limits on funding in a war

Answer 8

Congress passed an appropriations bill stating that funding could only be used for intelligence gathering in the 1975 Angolan war

Question 9

Name the act that prevents the president from delaying funds that Congress has already appropriated

Answer 9

The Impoundment Control Act

Question 10

Give an example of when Congress was unable to get the supermajority needed to pass a treaty

Answer 10

The Comprehensive Test Ban treaty
- voted against by 51 senators

Question 11

What are the arguments in favour of Congress being effective at performing its functions

Answer 11

• oversight: can use committees e.g Jan 6th, power of thr purse and treaties/war
• representation: congressperson prioritise state needs, Connecticut compromise ensures a voice for small states
• legislation: the need for supermajorities and two chambers encourages bipartisanship

Question 12

what % of legislation makes it through the committee stage

Answer 12

10%

Question 13

what % of proposed bills become acts

Answer 13

2%

Question 14

what are the arguments against Congress effectively performing its function

Answer 14

• oversight: is dependent on divided government and popularity (varies), presidents can use executive powers to avoid oversight measures
• representation: is descriptively unrepresentative, prioritising state interests can lead to ineffective policy-making, Connecticut compromise overrepresents small states
• legislation: scrutiny comes at the expense of output, filibuster allows for minority obstruction

Question 15

How did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 show the importance of bipartisan support?

Answer 15

• it broke the filibuster
• 70-30 support average across both houses

Question 16

give an example of significant pork barreling by a senator.

Answer 16

• Robert Byrd (the king of pork)
• set a goal in 1989 to raise $1 bn for his state
• passed his goal in 1991

Question 17

Give an example of an individual putting state interests over national interests.

Answer 17

• Joe Manchin
• helped to pass the 2022 IRA
• now is in an “unrelenting fight” against it
• his state is dominated by coal mining

Question 18

Give a recent example of the Senate not ratifying a treaty.

Answer 18

• 2012
• an Obama-backed treaty on disabled rights
• gained the support of only 63 senators

Question 19

give an example of a significant government shut down.

Answer 19

2019
- 35-day shutdown
- Congress couldn’t agree on an appropriations bill with Donald Trump
- cost $11 billion in lost work

Question 20

Give an example of when united government was not sufficient to force through presidents legislation.

Answer 20

in 2017 trump had a united government yet failed to replace the ACA (2010) with the AHCA due to opposition from centrist republicans

Question 21

what do standing committees do?

Answer 21

• decide what bills to accept
• it effectively re-writes the bill with ammendments

Question 22

give an example of recent partisan oversight measures?

Answer 22

HOR initiated an impeachment trial of biden
- the charge is that as VP, biden profited from his sons foreign business ventures
- this is problematic as there is no firm proof

Question 23

what are the models of representation?

Answer 23

• delegate model (HOR )
• trustee model (senate)- independent
• resembalance (descriptive)

Question 24

when trump was impeached for the second time how many republicans vote to impeach? why might this argued to be the case?

Answer 24

• just 7/50
• in large part due to the high levels of support for trump from their voters

Question 25

give a significant example of gerymandering.

Answer 25

• the REDMAP initiative- redrawing of congressional district lines in pensalvania
• in 2008 the democrats won pensalvania with 12/18
• in 2012 the democrats won 5/18 districts

Question 26

how does the IRA show growing party divides?

Answer 26

• no republicans voter for it
• only 1 democrat voted against

Question 27

give an example of when a representative votes outside party lines because it aligns with their state?

Answer 27

Joe Manchin has regularly voted with republicans, may be because his state is more right leaning and voted for trump in 2016 and 2020

Question 28

what did 2023 polling show about public satisfaction with congress?

Answer 28

• only 20% of respondents approved of how it performs its job