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US And Comparative Politics > Congress > Flashcards

Congress Flashcards

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1
Q

What was the initial plan for congress?

A

New Jersey plan - one vote per state backed by small states

Virginia Plan - representation according to population supported by larger states

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2
Q

When was the bicameral structure of congress agreed?

A

Connecticut Compromise

Divided into representatives (represents according to population) and senate (states equally represented)

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3
Q

How often were congress elected?

A

Representatives elected every 2 years by electorate

Senate elected every six years by state legislature

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4
Q

When was senate changed to be directly elected?

A

1913 in the 17th amendment made it more democratic

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5
Q

What are the exclusive powers for the house?

A

Initiating revenue bills

Impeaching public official

Election president when there is no electoral majority

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6
Q

What are the exclusive powers of the senate?

A

Confirm appointments

Trial of impeached officials

Ratify treaties

Electing vice president

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7
Q

How is the House of Lords limited compared to the senate?

A

Lords only have power to delay bills

Cannot disrupt bills regarding the manifesto promises (Salisbury Addison)

; in US both chambers need to pass bills to become law

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8
Q

Example of a bill made in one house but rejected by the other

A

Immigration modernisation act mace in senate but reps refused to even debate it

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9
Q

How is the senate more influential?

A

Representatives often run for senate

VP and Presidents come from senate/state not the house

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10
Q

Why are representatives’ seats less influential?

A

2 year term limit means more campaigning

Representatives has 435 seats vs senate 100

Senators serve an entire state so broader popularity

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11
Q

What exclusive rule means single senators can prevent a bill?

A

Senate allows unlimited debate
Filibuster used

Gloture to end filibuster requires 60 votes (supermajority)

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12
Q

Why does the senate have authority over foreign policy?

A

Senate needs to vote 2/3 in favour of treaties agreed by the president

Example Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty & UN Arms Trade rejected by the Senate in 1999 and 2013

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13
Q

How many executive positions need senatorial confirmation?

A

1000/7000

Significant is attorneys, federal judges, heads of federal agencies

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14
Q

how does the senate still have authority over money bills?

A

Can add amendments and text which sometimes leads to creation of “shell” bills full of amendments

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15
Q

What stops Senate from practicing its power to elect the president?

A

Two party system essentially guarantees a majority for one candidate

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16
Q

What is descriptive representation?

A

Representing the composition of society

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17
Q

What is substantive representation?

A

How well congress represents the varying groups in society

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18
Q

What is the argument for descriptive representation?

A

People are more likely to participate when voting for people similar to them

Diversity in opinions allows for more varied options in solving issues

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19
Q

What is the trend in congressional diversity?

A

Seven consecutive record breaking levels of diversity

118th congress has 137 minorities compared to 63 in 107th

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20
Q

What is the trend in female members of congress since 1979?

A

1979: 16 in the house, 0 in the senate

1993: 47 house, 7 senate

2022: 122 house, 24 senate

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21
Q

Trend of African Americans in congress since 1979

A

1979: 16 house, 0 senate

1993: 38 house, 1 senate

2008: 39 house, 0 senate

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22
Q

What impact did the 1990 census have?

A

8 states gained members; 13 lost

Creation of 24 majority minority districts: 9 Hispanic, 15 black

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23
Q

What age group are most congress members?

A

50s and 60s

Leads to increased share of Christians in congress

Extreme underrepresentation of atheists

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24
Q

How wealthy was the 113th congress?

A

Out of 535 members, 268 were worth more than $1 million

Most were businessmen

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25
Q

How might senators use their authority over spending to ensure reelection?

A

Earmarking spending which benefits their district more

Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia longest reigning but earmarked lots of Money for his area

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26
Q

How effective can party influence be over congress members?

A

Directly elected & separation of executive and legislative positions means members cant be tempted with cabinet positions

2010 banned earmarking for profit bearing companies

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27
Q

Why did party control diminish during the 60s ?

A

Nominations handed over to primaries
Communication lost to social media etc
Organisation because local members hire personal teams
Finance because candidates need to gain their own funds before selection in October

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28
Q

What is the trend in congressional party unity?

A

Increasing

Voting in both houses at 70% unity in 2012 compared to 50% in 1990

House republicans vote unanimously 37% of the time in 2012 compared to 7% 1990

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29
Q

What can a president do to persuade members of congress in favour of their bill?

A

Direct persuasion
Promise campaign help
Threaten veto
Use media attention to utilise public pressure

but all limited on popularity

30
Q

How is congress an access point?

A

Seek expertise and gain voting cues depending on scorecards for the biggest groups

31
Q

What are the theories of representation?

A

Delegate vs trustee

32
Q

Why do American legislators have a more personal mandate compared to UK?

A

Candidate focused campaign
Candidates personally win popularity in primaries
Candidates build their own brand on issues rather than on the party manifesto

33
Q

How are congressional committees structured?

A

Large overall standing committee such as House Committee on Science Space and Technology

Subcommittees such as energy, environment, research, space

34
Q

Why is the committee stage more influential in congress?

A

They decide which bills make it to the second reading

Committees are usually the final stage most bills reach

Eg 113th congress had 8565 bills but only 613 passed the committees

35
Q

What is the Hastert rule?

A

Republicans speakers of the house don’t allow debate on bills which wouldn’t have a majority of republican support

36
Q

How can parties force a bill onto the floor?

A

With an absolute majority for a discharge petition

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2002 used

Fair Minimum Wage Act 2013 failed to gain enough for discharge

37
Q

What happens in the second senatorial reading?

A

First time entire chamber debates

Voice vote for unanimous bills; can request a roll call

38
Q

What is one way the house fast tracks bills?

A

Committee of the whole

Large committees which don’t go by the same rules as usual hearings

Needs minimum 100 to vote on it but still needs full house ratification

39
Q

What are conference committees?

A

Formed to resolve differences in bills stuck between two houses

Includes members from both houses and produces a final bill

40
Q

What are the three presidential options?

A

Sign into law
Leave without signature to become law in 10 days
Veto a bill

41
Q

How can congress respond to a veto?

A

Amend the bill
Override with a supermajority in both houses
Accept defeat

42
Q

What is a pocket veto?

A

Leaving a bill passed at the end of congressional session to die when congress disbands

43
Q

How is the role of speaker different in the US v UK?

A

US Speaker of the house is leader of the majority party

Chooses which committees get assigned debates and set schedule

Chooses House Rules Committee

44
Q

What role does the House Speaker play within their party?

A

Chair the steering committee

Appoint chairs of each committee

45
Q

What is an example of a speaker who acted similarly to a leader of the opposition?

A

Gingrich: Pressured democrat Clinton into compromise on welfare reform

Pelosy: pushed against war in Iraq

Boehner blocked immigration reform by Obama

46
Q

How are party leaders elected in the US?

A

Intra party election in the house

Works with the speaker and the party whips

Role in representing the party in the media

47
Q

Why are congress leaders less influential than parliament?

A

Congress members are chosen in primaries and fund themselves

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009 had 10 dissenting house dems

48
Q

How do extreme wings such as the tea party cause shutdowns?

A

Refused to agree to a budget in 2013 due to attempting to defund Obamacare

49
Q

What is the role of committee chairs?

A

Select witnesses
Presides over hearings and debate
Controls the budget and the media representation

50
Q

When were committee chairs reduced in authority?

A

1971 : members could only lead one sub committee
1973: democratic subcommittee bill of rights
1974: committees with over 20 members had to have 4 subcommittees to divide authority

51
Q

Which act aimed at formalising congressional oversight of the executive by committees?

A

Legislative Reorganisation Act 1946

Amended act in 1970

52
Q

What does oversight seek to prevent?

A

Wasteful spending/fraud

Infringing civil liberties and agencies breaking law

Gather information for new laws

Evaluate executive workers’ effectivity

53
Q

What authority does congress have over the federal agencies?

A

Authorising programmes
Funding
Investigations and legislative hearings
Initiate impeachment

54
Q

Example of investigation by committee

A

Healthcare.gov 2013

Intended to offer health insurance comparison but website failed

committees questioned companies and the secretary of health; led to agency hiring IT workers and secretary resignation

55
Q

Which house committee oversees governmental spending?

A

House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform

56
Q

Which federal agency advises on more effective government?

A

Government Accountability Office

57
Q

How are US committees more powerful than UK?

A

Subpoenas are enforceable with up to 100,000 USD or prison time

58
Q

Which precedents were set by Washington regarding committees?

A

Agreed to investigation
Gave up necessary documents
Refused documents which would harm the public

59
Q

Famous example of an effective select committee

A

Watergate Hearings 1973 led to resignation of president and convictions

Benghazi Hearing 2014

60
Q

When do committees’ oversight power become reduced?

A

Unified congress in favour of the president
Example of lack of oversight of intelligence agencies and invasions of Afg and Iraq

61
Q

How does partisanship lead to reduced effectivity of oversight?

A

Using committees to score points

Eg Obama had 108 pending nominations due to republican filibusters which led to not having a surgeon general during Ebola

62
Q

Why is congress seen as ineffective?

A

112th passed 283 bills, 113th passed 296

During unified government rate of passing bills rises due to unanimous party voting

63
Q

How do increasing rules reduce bills?

A

Many opportunities to defeat bills especially during committees, between houses and presidential veto

64
Q

How has republican convention increased effectivity somewhat?

A

Hastart rule prevents bills which are less likely to pass through the senate

65
Q

How has the filibuster become more convention?

A

Used to spend hours talking but not “gentleman’s filibuster” means they just announce intention and senate moves on

66
Q

How many senators are needed in the senate at all times?

A

Minimum 51
Can adjourn senate if there are less

67
Q

How has allocating funding become reformed to take less time in congress?

A

Mandatory spending allocates to things like social security and Medicare automatically

68
Q

What is the path of the budget?

A

Feb - president asked for budget proposal
April - congress drafts a budget
12 subcommittees draft specific bills for funding to each department

69
Q

What happens if congress does not agree to a budget on time?

A

Funding is cut

Use continuing resolutions until the next bill is banned; in 2013 funding for Obamacare led to forced shutdown for political reason

70
Q

Is congress the broken branch?

A

No - representing a more divided country effectively
No - bicameral scrutiny means bad laws aren’t passed

Yes - lack of productivity due to partisanship

US And Comparative Politics (7 decks)

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