Congress

Question 1

What are the powers that are shared equally between the house and senate?

Answer 1

• constitutional amendments - 2/3 both houses must agree to a constitutional amendment before passed to states for ratification
• confirming a new vice-president - a majority vote needed to approve a new vice-President
• passing legislation - all legislation, including the budget and the veto override, must pass through both houses, which have equal power in terms of passing legislation
• declaring war - both houses much be in agreement for the USA to declare war. Power has been used 11 times since 1789

Question 2

What are the exclusive powers the House has over the Senate?

Answer 2

• elect president of the electoral college is deadlocked (exercised this twice 1800,1824)
• sole power to bring cases of impeachment(exercised this 3 times)

Question 3

What are the powers the Senate has over the House?

Answer 3

• confirm presidential appointments(judicial nominees)
• elect vice-president if the electoral college is deadlocked(1800 and 1824)
• try cases of impeachment ( acquitted Clinton of both charges)
• ratify treaties

Question 4

What does incumbency mean for Congressional politicians?

Answer 4

Once a congressional politician is elected they are likely to retain their seat in future elections

Question 5

Significance of incumbency?

Answer 5

• name recognition

- legislative record allowing the incumbent to demonstrate the gains achieved for the constituency

Question 6

What mid-term elections?

Answer 6

Where the people can elect their representatives and other subnational officeholders in the middle of the term of the executive.

Question 7

Factors that affect voting in Congress?

Answer 7

• Pressure groups and lobbyists
• constituency
• party and partisanship
• congressional caucuses (groups within congress)

Question 8

The effectiveness of CONGRESS?

Answer 8

• Electing the president if the Electoral College is deadlocked
• Impeachment
• Declaring war

Question 9

Pros and cons of electing the president of the electoral college is deadlocked?

Answer 9

✅the house has successfully exercised this power in 1800 and 1824
❌this is largely a defuct and broken power but one that remains a ‘just in case’

Question 10

Pros and cons of impeachment?

Answer 10

✅although rarely used is an effective threat and Congress has shown its willingness
❌ in 3 cases all found ‘not guilty’ weakens the power, undermines it

Question 11

Pros and cons for declaring war?

Answer 11

✅used this power 11 times authorised presidential military action
❌has little choice in authorising action especially after events such as 9/11 and their constituents favour action

Question 12

How do you become a candidate?

Answer 12

Many states you would have to win a congressional primary

Question 13

Explain what the coat-tails effect is?

Answer 13

A strong President or Governor can help Senators and Representatives get elected, metaphorically dragged across the floor holding onto the coat tails of the strong candidate

Question 14

Explain what Split-ticket voting is?

Answer 14

People voting for candidates from different parties for different offices at the same election. E.g. mid-terms might vote for a Republican governor and a Democrat Senator

Question 15

Importance of parties

✅important ❌not important

Answer 15

✅increased partisanship is clear, and has led to a fall in legislature output and even govt shutdowns
✅differing parties control the presidency and Congress
✅they control significant appointments and roles, especially in the House
❌parties are ‘broad churches’ - liberals and conservatives exist in both parties
❌party discipline is weak due to state loyalties
❌unanimous consent gives individual senators greater individual power

Question 16

Effectiveness of the House

Answer 16

✅Shorter election cycle makes House members more responsive to constituents
✅Congressional politicians represent smaller numbers of people (usually)
✅Party discipline is stronger in the House than in the Senate

Question 17

Effectiveness of the Senate

Answer 17

✅Senators represent the view of the whole state not minor districts
✅Unanimous consent allows individual senators to be powerful in representing their state
✅Six-year terms means they can ‘get on with the business of government’

Question 18

Strengths of the Legislative function?

Answer 18

• High level of scrutiny
• Prevents a tyranny of the majority
• With unanimous consent the Senate, bipartisanship is required

Question 19

Weaknesses of the Legislative Process?

Answer 19

• Incredibly slow
• Lack of bipartisanship leading to gridlock, not getting anything done
• Congressional politicians often choose to focus on re-election over legislation

Question 20

What are some of the OVERSIGHT POWERS congress has?

Answer 20

• Impeachment and removal of members of executive branch (attempt impeachment of Bill Clinton 1998)
• Investigation of actions of the executive branch (the ‘Russia’ investigation controversy over the 2016 election)
• Ratification of federal justices and other appointments (senate only) (Neil Gorsuch 2017)
• Determining the funding available and agreeing on the budget for the president (e.g. 2018 shutdowns)

Question 21

Effective Congressional oversight over the executive depends on: election??

Answer 21

When the next election is, as Congress may be more focused on pleasing constituents than oversight

Question 22

Effective Congressional oversight over the executive depends on: mandate??

Answer 22

Which branch has the most recent mandate

Question 23

Effective Congressional oversight over the executive depends on: national circumstances??

Answer 23

In times of national crisis, Congress often defers to the President