case studies of legislature passed

Question 1

explain the tax cuts and jobs act 2017

Answer 1

• took about 7 weeks to pass
• trump
• aimed to cut corporate tax rate
• committee examples = finance and budget committees in senate
• started in the HoR as all revenue bills must start in the house and they are closer to the people –> elected every two years

Question 2

explain the patient protection and affordable care act 2010 (Obamacare)

Answer 2

• took over a tear to pass
• made insurance more affordable, preventing insurers from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, and expanding Medicaid
• in March the House passed the senate version because the death of Senator Ted Kennedy means that Obama has lost his filibuster proof majority
• passed 220-215 and 60-39

Question 3

what was the US patriot act about

Answer 3

• passed by George W Bush
• anti-terrorism law passed post 9/11
• expanded surveillance powers
• new terrorism related charges –> aiding groups, cyber and financing terrorists
• passed 45 days after 9/11 –> 98/1

Question 4

what was the no child left behind act

Answer 4

• George W Bush
• standardised testing with schools having to publish their results broken down into demographic factors
• schools need to show yearly improvement or could face sanctions like cut funding or staff changes
• also expanded funding for low income schools to help disadvantaged students
• passed 87/10

Question 5

what was the manchin-toomey amendment and why did it fail

Answer 5

• wanted to introduce background checks on people wanting to buy guns
• lack of bipartisan support
• NRA strong opposition and lobbying, they fund campaigns of many so would have lobbied them not to vote for the bill

Question 6

what was the American Rescue Plan 2021

Answer 6

• post covid $1.9trillion package intended to bolster the US’ recovery from covid
• stimulus payments of up to $1400 per person for about 90% of American households
• also expanded child tax credits and unemployment benefits
• passed 50-49 and 219-212

Question 7

what was the infrastructure, investment and jobs act 2021

Answer 7

• $1.2trillion infrastructure package
• funding for roads, bridges, transport, broadband, clean energy, water systems
• passed 69-30 and 228-206

Question 8

what was the build back better act 2021, previously the American families plan 2021

Answer 8

• $3.5trillion democratic reconciliation package that included provisions related to climate change and social policy
• passed in the house 220-213 but failed in the senate by one vote –> Joe Minchin who announced he wouldn’t vote for it because it didn’t match his envisioned cost of $1.7trillion he announced this on Fox News, not to the president or democrat congressional leaders showing it was aimed at his voters

Question 9

what was the inflation reduction act 2022

Answer 9

• Manchin and Democrat majority leader Chuck Schumer engaged in negotiations resulting in the IRA which incorporated some of the BBB act 2022’s climate change, healthcare and tax reform proposals while excluding its social safety net proposals
• $739bn on climate change, healthcare, tax reform
• $369bn on clean energy incentives
• allowed medicare to cap insulin prices
• basically BBBact in a smaller, targeted way
• all democrats in house and senate voted for it with all republicans in the house and senate voting against it

Question 9

what was the safer communities act 2022

Answer 9

• extended background checks for under 21
• prevented convicted domestic abusers in dating relationships from buying guns
• bipartisan support –> unanimous consent in senate and 234/193 in house