American Government, US congress

Question 1

What is the 17th Amendment, when was it implemented and why?

Answer 1

The 17th amendment was ratified in 1913; amending Article 1, Section 3 of the constitution so that each state would elect 2 senators , who would serve for 6 years. The amendment was introduced to stop state electors being privy to monetary corruption, while also preventing electoral deadlock- leaving some states unrepresented in the senate

Question 2

What are the House of Representatives’ unique powers?

Question 3

What is the set size of the house of Representatives, and when was this put in place.

Answer 3

The 1911 Apportionment Act set the number of members of the House to 435 voting Congresspeople, with 6 non-voting members.

Question 4

What is gerrymandering and how have some states mitigated against it ?

Answer 4

In 1810, Elbridge Gerry and his colleagues signed off on the redrawing of a salamander shaped district in Massachusetts. Washington and California have non-partisan commissions who choose districts in a non-partisan manner.

Question 5

What is the average number of citizens that one House member Represents?

Answer 5

765,000 Americans

Question 6

How many senators are there?

Answer 6

100

Question 7

The event of a deadlock in the electoral college, who would elect the President and who would elect the Vice President?

Answer 7

The House of Representatives would elect the President and congress would elect the Vice President

Question 8

Who confirms appointments from the POTUS, in the Judiciary and the Executive?

Answer 8

The Senate

Question 9

Who holds the “power of the purse”, and what is it?

Answer 9

The House of Representatives hold the power of the purse which means that any bill that involves taxation or spending starts in the House.

Question 10

When, and by what degree, to congressional elections experience an increase in turnout.

Answer 10

During a presidential election, senate elections experience a 10-20% increase in turnout.

Question 11

Why do staffing campaigns increase an incumbent’s likelihood of re-election?

Answer 11

Staff can call and speak to constituents

Answer 12

Incumbents have mail or franking machines financed by congress, meaning they can send out campaigns for free

Question 13

What is the Trustee model? What is an example of this?

Answer 13

Legislators should make a mature judgement and superior wisdom and knowledge. Lisa Murkowski, John McCain and Susan Collins voted against Trump’s proposals to repeal Obamacare. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger voting to impeach Trump.

Question 14

What is the Delegate Model?

Answer 14

Representatives are delegates acting on behalf of the masses, acting on the principle of popular Sovereignty.

Question 15

What happens in the committee stage

Answer 15

Bills are sent to the relevant standing committee, if the bill is accepted , it is amended and then taken to the report stage.

Question 16

What does the report stage do?

Answer 16

States the aims of the bill, reviews amendments made by the committee, estimates costs, recommends future action to be taken by the chamber.

Question 17

How many committees can members be a part of in the House and senate?

Answer 17

2 in the House, 3 in the Senate, 5 subcomittees

Question 18

Give a figure to show the decline in Conference committees

Answer 18

104th Congress had 67 conferences , the 113th had 3.

Question 19

How do the Senate decide the order of debate?

Answer 19

Unanimous Consent Agreement between senate Majority and Minority leaders.

Question 20

How does the House decide the order of debate?

Answer 20

The House Rules Committee, unless there is an absolute majority petition for discharge process.

Question 21

examples of discharge process?

Answer 21

2002 Campaign Reform Act, 2015 authorisation of America’s import/export bank.

Question 22

How long did Bernie speak when filibustering against a tax deal Obama was trying to negotiate with the Republicans.

Answer 22

8.5 hours

Question 23

How can a filibuster be ended?

Answer 23

By a cloture motion petition, this must be signed by 16 senators and then voted for by 60 senators.

Question 24

How much have filibusters increased?

Answer 24

2000 since 1917, half of which in the last 12 years.

Question 25

What is a silent filibuster?

Answer 25

If 41 or more senators threaten one, the majority leader can deny a vote.

Question 26

104th 71 cloture 110th 139 cloture

Question 27

2013 nuclear option absolute majority for cabinet nomiations and non SCOTUS judiciary noms

Question 28

Silent Filibuster May 2022 Women’s Health Care Protection Act

Question 29

what happens if the two versions of a bill are very different

Answer 29

A conference committee is established and the final version is written up in a conference report

Question 30

How many days of neglect does it take for a bill to become law?

Answer 30

10 days

Question 31

What is a regular veto

Answer 31

Must happen within 10 days, need double supermajority to overturn it, 1518 vetos and 112 have ever been overridden.

Question 32

what is a pocket veto

Answer 32

if still waiting when congressional session ends, the veto cannot be repealed. Happened in 2000 for Consumer Bankruptcy Overhaul Bill.