Congress Flashcards
Structure of Congress
Bi-cameral like the UK
However, both work simultaneously on legislation in the US which can cause discrepancies in legislation increasing the length of time it takes to complete the legislative process
Some states gain seats in the House of Representatives
Following the 2010 census, the Texas House delegation rose from 32 to 36, while New York’s fell from 29 to 27 and Ohio’s fell from 18 to 16. This links to the population to help make the House as representative of the country as possible
Poor diversity in the Senate
2011-12 (Obama’s presidency), there was no African-American representative in the Senate.
2017-18, only 3% of the Senate was African-American despite 12% of the population. Only 4% were of Latin descent despite 18% of the population being Latinx.
Strong diversity in the Senate
In 1980 there were 0 female Senators, and in 2018 a 1/5 of the Senate was female.
Joint powers of both houses
Law making
Overseeing the executive branch (investigation)
Overriding president’s veto
Initiating constitutional amendments
Impeaching and removing public officials
Confirming an appointed vice President if Electoral College deadlock
Sole powers of the Senate
Confirming appointments
Ratifying treaties
Sole powers of the House
Beginning consideration of bills
The Senate is more prestigious than the House
More exclusive as there are less of them
Hold their position for an extra 4 years
Hold a greater responsibility as they are representing a whole state
More likely to chair a committee or subcommittee or hold some other leadership position
Seen as a recruiting pool for presidential and vice presidential candidates
Possess significant exclusive powers
House members frequently seek election to the Senate, but not the other way around- In 2016, 12 House members ran for the Senate seats, in 2017 there were 50 former House members in the Senate by no ex-Senators in the House
The Senate is less prestigious than the House
Have equal powers in the passing of legislation
Both must approve constitutional amendments
Both conduct oversight of the executive branch
Both receive equal salaries
Still represent their state despite it being on a smaller level so it is important they make their areas views and feelings heard
Have more regular elections so accountability and public approval is therefore needed- creates a reason for hard work and upholding dignity- constantly scrutinized
Standing Committees
Legislation and scrutiny of the executive branch
Begin confirmation of appointments (Senate only)
House Rules Committees
Timetabling of legislation in the House of Representatives
2017, it had 13 members- 9 R and 4 D- chaired by Pete Sessions of Texas
To chair is considered one of the most influential posts in Congress
Conference Committees
Reconciling differences in legislation (joint)
Select Committees
Special investigation committees (both houses or joint)
Committee stage
Does 4 things: states the main aims; reviews the amendments made by the committee; estimates the cost of Implementation; and recommends future action to be taken by the full chamber.
Most important stage as far more bills fail here than at any other stage.
Timetabling
While there are dozens of committee and sub-committee rooms, there is only one floor in each house.
A legislative traffic jam develops- queuing for their turn on the House and Senate floors
The Senate has a unanimous consent agreement- an agreement between the Senate majority and minority leaders on the order in which bills will be debated on the Senate floor.
The House has the House Rules Committee- allow some bills through but hold others back.
If the Rules Committee fails to give a rule to a popular bill, members may resort to the discharge process which must be signed by an absolute majority of House-218
Once fulfilled, the bill is discharged and automatically goes to the House floor
Successful in 2002 on the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, and in 2015 to force a vote on a bill to re-authorise America’s Export-Import Bank, the official export credit agency of the federal government.
Floor debate and vote on passage
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Conference Committee
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Presidential action of singing it into law
Example- March 2010 signing by Obama of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
A bill-signing ceremony is arranged, usually at the White House, where a number of key House and Senate members who have supported the bill through its passage are present for a photo opportunity with the president.
Opportunity for both credit claiming and political thank-yous.
May decide to sign bills out of political expediency.
Example- March 2002 signed by Bush of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.
Presidential action of leaving it on the desk
Will become law without his signature within 10 congressional working days.
Presidential action of a regular veto
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Presidential action of a pocket veto
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Challenges Congress faces
- A vast number of bills are introduced. This immediately makes the process crowded.
- The process is complicated- Obama’s healthcare reform legislation in 2010. There had to be 7 separate votes- 4 in the House and 3 in the Senate (15 months)
- There is a need at some stages for super-majority votes: a ⅗ majority to stop a legislative filibuster in the Senate
- Power in Congress is decentralized. Much power resides with the standing committees and especially with those who chair them
- The fact that both houses possess equal power makes the process more difficult. If like the UK Parliament, one house can virtually override the other, legislation is generally more easily completed
- Between 1981-1987, from June 2001-Dec 2002 and from Jan 2011- Jan 2014, these 2 equal houses were controlled by different parties. In the 80s, the Republicans controlled the Senate, but the Democrats controlled the House. In the 2 more recent examples it has been the other way around.
7.Even if the 2 houses of Congress are controlled by the same party, it may not be the President’s party. They are therefore likely to find it difficult to pass the bills they want
5 significant laws since 1990
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Hearings in 2016
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