Congress Flashcards

Question

Example of filibustering?

Answer 1

2013: Ted Cruz spoke for 21 hours on Affordable Care Act - he even read Green Eggs and Ham!

Answer 2

A cloture motion, first signed by 16 senators then agreed by 3/5 of those present. -> only 2 passed out of 139, 110th Congress

Answer 3

1) If it is only a minor differences, the house leaders will settle it amongst themselves 2) if it is a major difference, a Conference Committee will be set up to remedy this.

Answer 4

When the President neither signs nor vetoes a bill, but leaves it on his desk. In this case, the bill will become law in 10 days (but it shows the President doesn't support the bill). Unless, Congress adjourns before the 10 day period, in which case, the Bill dies! Clinton – Partial-Birth Abortion Bill Veto 1996: failed to pass due to this.

Answer 5

People vote on who they want to see on their ballot paper. - > Eric Cantor (republican) lost Virginia, 2014, to a tea part member for not speaking out against Obama. - > Majority leader, Senator Byrd, spent 242 days in West Virginia to ensure he didn't lose the next primary

Answer 6

Each party covers the entire spectrum | -> there are moderate Republicans, like Mitt Romney, and paleo-conservatives, like Steve Bannon.

Answer 7

- 9.2% African American (12.6% in reality) | - 20% women (50% in reality)

Answer 8

the president can dominate the agenda, but bills are often introduced by the Senate and House Leaders. This is particularly the case when the party of the President is different to that of Congress. W Bush could dominate the agenda more, partially because the House was Republican.

Answer 9

seperation of powers and checks and balances make compromise necessary, both between parties and chambers. seen at compromise at conference committees.

Answer 10

parties are weaker, so are the whips. umbrella politics makes it harder to make congressmen toe the line. partisanship causes gridlock.

Answer 11

+avoids reactionary politics +pork barrell = representation +length of the process ensures adequate scrutiny +avoids TotM -Pork Barrel: Alaska was given a budget of $398m to build a Bridge to Nowhere in the National Appropriations Bill 2006. -too long to pass bills (unless leading party supprots said bill) -spkaer sets agenda -leading party has a majority in the conference committee -deadlock -small states too represented in Senate -President has a veto

Answer 12

- Easier to stop than make change - gridlock between chambers when their agendas differ - there has been a recent lack of conference committees: less scrutiny!

Answer 13

Special Envy to Moniter and Combat Anti-Semitism Act 2021 took 10 days to pass.

Answer 14

+avoids reactionary politics +pork barrel is representation +lengthy ensures scrutiny +avoids totm -pork barrel; $223m to build a bridge to nowhere in Alaska -too long to pass bills unless supported: Obamacare took 9 months to pass just because of complaints from Republicans. -speaker sets agenda: the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was limited to 20 hours in 2017 -Leading party has majority in conference committee -small states are overrepresented -president has a veto

Answer 15

2010: Arlene Spector (centre dem) by Pat Tomney (conservative) in Pennsylvania

Answer 16

Party control Popularity of President Presidents mandate (e.g. Clinton won 49 states in ECV) Term (3 of 4 of Bush's veto overrides in 2nd term, after approval ratings had dropped to 25%)

Answer 17

July 1987: Reagan recommended Bork to succeed Justice Powell. Opposition over Bork's role in the Saturday Night Massacre. October 1987: Senate rejects Bork 58-42. February 1988: Kennedy brought in 97-0

Answer 18

2016: Obama recommends Merrick Garland to replace Scalia Due to the Thurmond Rule, the nomination was made null and void (despite this, Barrett's nomination by Trump went through!)