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American politics > congress > Flashcards

congress Flashcards

1
Q

how many representatives are there

A

435

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2
Q

how are congressional boundaries drawn

A

by state legislatures which are controlled by parties leading to gerrymandering. ie north carolina 12th district

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3
Q

which chamber is stronger

A

they have the equal strength and unique powers shown by equal salaries

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4
Q

how has the quality of representation changed over time

A

its decreased because population growth means members of the house represent over 760,000 people

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5
Q

leaders in congress

A

the house - speaker (johnson), majority and minority whips and leaders.
senate- VP, president pro tempore, majority and minority leaders

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6
Q

criteria to be in congress

A

senate must be 30 + and be a US citizen for 9 years
house must be at least 25 citizen 7 years and live in their district.

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7
Q

2022 congress results

A

senate 48 dems (2 independants) vs 49 republicans - dem majority
house 213 dems 221 Rs

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8
Q

effect of midterms on pres

A

often causes divided gov which damages legislative agenda SOP biden 2022+ and merrick garland case

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9
Q

whats a lame duck president

A

a president after midterms of final term, usually cant fulfill legislative agenda due to divided gov

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10
Q

Exclusive powers of congress

A

Power of the purse, bringing impeachment charges

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11
Q

Exclusive powers of the senate

A

Ratifying treaties , confirming appointments , trying cases of impeachment , choosing the VP if the electoral college was deadlocked.

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12
Q

Concurrent powers.

A

Creating legislation, oversight of exec, overriding a veto, initiating amendments, declaring war, confirming an appointment VP

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13
Q

Functions of congress

A

Representation, legislation, oversight

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14
Q

Standards of representation

A

Descriptive representation, members must stand for constituents not just special interests
Chambers must have a variety of veiws
Electoral systems of choosing congresspeople

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15
Q

Percentage of women in congress vs USA

A

28% in congress vs 50% in USA

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16
Q

Percentage of black Americans in congress vs USA

A

12%in both

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17
Q

Percentage of congresspeople with degree or above vs USA

A

94% congress vs 37% in USA

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18
Q

Factors that affect in incumbency

A

Constituency services/ name recognition (franking privilege)
Pork barrel politics
Fundraising advantages

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19
Q

Examples of pork barrel politics

A

March 2022 Texas secured 280mil from a 1.5 tril spending bill

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20
Q

Examples of negative pork barrel politics

A

Big dig highway Boston cost more than 10billion than expected and ran over by te years
Alaskas bridge to nowhere 223 mil

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21
Q

What was the amount an average senate incumbent raised compared to challenger 2021-22

A

25,000,000 compared to 2,000,000

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22
Q

How has gerrymandering in 2022 affected district

A

Competitive seats decreased by 6 and gop will likely gain 3-4 seats

23
Q

How do parties affect congress voting behaviour

A

Partisanship / polarisation
Weaker whipping system (can’t be deselected because of primaries or be promoted because of separation)
Parties are broad

24
Q

Examples of congresspeople who don’t vote with their party

A

Joe manchin (d) voting with republicans
Lisa murkowski Alaska voting with democrats

25
Q

Function of congressional caucusses

A

Educational agenda setting and encouraging support

26
Q

Examples of caucuses having an impact on congress

A

Congressional steel caucus when trump put a 25%tarrif on steel imports they praised him
Congressional black caucus set up “war room” to defend ketanji brown- Jackson

27
Q

The impact of the administration on congress voting behaviour.

A

2010 Nancy pelosi (speaker) played a key role getting concessions for blue do coalition to pass ACA

28
Q

Examples of representatives voting on their constituents interests

A

12 republicans voted against tax cuts and jobs act 2017 that would cause their constituents taxes to rise

29
Q

Examples of incumbent losing primaries

A

Dem Joseph Crawley losing to AOC

30
Q

Example of a PAC

A

NRA victory fund PAC

31
Q

How much did lobbying firms spend in 2021

A

$3.73 billion lobbying congress

32
Q

Average age in the house and senates

A

54 house 64 senate

33
Q

Peices of legislation introduced in 117th congress vs passed

A

17,600 vs 200

34
Q

Examples of conflict between HoR and senate

A

2010/14 HoR voted over 50 times to repeal ACA but was defeated by senate
2013 senate passed immigration modernisation act but HOR refused to debate it

35
Q

example of filibuster

A

Ted Cruz 2013 21 hours in opposition to ACA

36
Q

Votes needed for a cloture motion

A

60 votes

37
Q

example of congress overriding a veto

A

2021 trumps veto of National Defence authorisation act

38
Q

example of congressional investigation

A

jan 6th

39
Q

senate majority and minority leaders

A

majority leader = chuck schumer
minority leader = mitch mcconnell

40
Q

incumbency rate in congress

A

94% in the house
85% in the senate

41
Q

example of veto being overriden by congress

A

trumps national defense authorisation act 2021

42
Q
A
43
Q

Example Congresspeople voting for their constituents

A

12 republicans voting against tax cuts and jobs act 2017 that would negatively impact their constituency

44
Q

% of congress that has a degree

A

94%

45
Q

most lobbied bill in 2023

A

build back better plan had 1800 clients lobbying it

46
Q

what is the hastert rule

A

where the speaker of the house tries to pleas the majority of majority which leads to the suppression of the minority party

47
Q

how have congressional oversight decreased

A

usually during united government
dems controlled congress 1993-4 there was 137 hearings but in 2003 -4 there was 37 in the GOP controlled congress

48
Q

examples of birpartisan acts

A

jobs act 2012 (relax regulations on small companies), 21st century cares act accelerate research.

49
Q

what was the coronavirus cares act 2020

A

$2.2 tril stimulus deal for the economic impact of covid. recieved bipartisan support (419 - 6 in the house)

50
Q

evidence congress is much more effective on oversight of domestic policy

A

2019 dems passed a resolution against trumps border wall
obama defeated when parts of his party voted with republicans over trade adjustment

51
Q

example of the elction cycle improving congresses ability to conduct oversight

A

obamas veto on a law allowing victims of 9/11 family to sue saudi arabia in the us courts, his lack of power was becuase he was a lame duck president

52
Q

how did bushes popularity after 9/11 help him

A

allowed him to pass the patriot act without it going through the committee stage

53
Q

which president has had the lowest approval ratings

A

trump average of 41%

54
Q

when congress has had low approval ratings

A

during the pandemic congress approval ratings were 18%

American politics (10 decks)

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