Congress

Question 1

What are the structural rules for the House of Representatives?

Answer 1

It has 435 members, Represent a congressional district, Serve 2 year terms, Must be at least 25 years old, Must be a citizen of the US for 7 years and must be a resident of the state they represent.

Question 2

What are the structural rules for the Senate?

Answer 2

100 members, Two Senators per state, Serve six year terms, Must be at least 30 years old, Must be a US citizen for 9 years and must be a resident of the state that they represent.

Question 3

What powers are granted by Article 1 of the Constitution?

Answer 3

Oversight of the executive, Overriding the President’s veto, Confirming appointments (Senate only), Ratifying Treaties (Senate only), Initiating constitutional amendments, Impeaching and removing public officials, Confirming an appointed Vice President,
Declaring war, Electing the President and Vice President if the electoral college is deadlocked.

Question 4

Give two examples of congress overriding the President’s Veto?

Answer 4

In January 2021 the senate overturned Trumps veto of a $740 billion defence spending bill by 81-13 votes.

In 2016 Congress overruled a Obama’s veto of a bill which would enable US citizens to sue Saudi Arabia over the 9/11 attacks. 99-1 in the senate and 348 votes to 77 in the House of representatives.

Question 5

Give two examples of the senate confirming appointments?

Answer 5

Antony Blinken is confirmed as Joe Biden’s Secretary of State with a vote of 78-22.
Merrick Garland appointed by Joe Biden as Attorney General with a vote of 70-30.

Question 6

Give two examples of the Senate Ratifying treaties?

Answer 6

In 2018 the Senate ratified the United States - Canada - Mexico agreement which created free trade between the nations and was applied in 2020, 89-10.

In 2022 the senate voted in favour of the Kigali amendment to the Montreal protocol which placed regulations hydrofluorocarbons. 69-27.

Question 7

Examples of Congress initiating constitutional amendments?

Answer 7

Only one amendment was proposed to the 117th Congress of the United States in which Representative Steve Cohen called for a limit on Presidential Pardons.

In the 118 Congress Representative Barry Moore proposed that article 16 of the amendment process be removed.

Question 8

Give 2 examples of the Senate removing Public officials?

Answer 8

In 2023 Republican Representative for New York George Santos was removed by a vote of 311-114 for misuse of funds.

In 2024 Alejandro Mayorkas received a vote for impeachment in the House by a margin of 214 - 213.

Question 9

Give two examples of Congress Declaring War?

Answer 9

The Last Official declaration of war signed into law by Congress was on June 4th 1942 when they declared war on Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania.

Question 10

Give examples of congress electing the vice president is Electoral College is deadlocked?

Answer 10

The last time this happened was in 1824 when Adams defeated Andrew Jackson as the House voted in favour of Adams.

Question 11

List the 3 independent Senators in the Senate?

Answer 11

The senator of Arizona Kyrsten Cinema.
The Senator of Maine Angus King.
The Senator of Vermont Bernie Sanders.

Question 12

What are the 4 types of committees in Congress?

Answer 12

Standing Committees - Legislation and scrutiny of the executive (both chambers). Begin confirmation of appointments (Senate only).

House Rules Committee - Timetabling legislation in House of Representatives.

Conference Committees - Reconciling areas of legislation.

Select Committees - Special investigative committees on particular issues.

Question 13

Give two examples of House Standing Committees?

Answer 13

Education and the Workforce - The majority leader of the committee is Republican Virginia Foxx and the minority leader Democrat Bobby Scott. They deal with matters regarding Education such as Elementary and Secondary education, Higher education programs, Early Childhood and Pre-School programs. As well Labour such as Pension and Retirement, Equal employment opportunity, Workers compensation for medical leave.

House Committee on Agriculture - The Majority leader is Glenn Thompson and the minority leader is David Scott. They deal with matters regarding Agriculture and industrial chemicals, Dairy Industry, Rural electricity, rural developments, Water Conservation.

Question 14

Give two examples of Senate Standing Committees?

Answer 14

Senate Committee on the Budget - The Majority leader is Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse whilst the minority leader is Chuck Grassley. It is responsible for drafting Congress’ annual budget plan and monitoring action on the budget of the federal government.

Senate Committee on the Armed Forces - The Majority Leader is Jack Reed and the Minority Leader is Roger Wicker. It deals with oversight regarding the Nations armed forces, including the department of defence, military research and defence and issues regarding nuclear energy.

Question 15

What are the steps of the legislative progress in congress?

Answer 15

Introduction of a bill, Committee stage, timetabling, Floor debate and vote passage, Conference Committee (if required), Presidential Action.

Question 16

How many bills have been passed in the 118th Congress? How many have been introduced?

Answer 16

Only 20 bills have been passed so far in the 118th Congress, whilst Obama Passed 70 in his presidency.

Question 17

Give 2 examples of bills that have just left the committee stage?

Answer 17

HR 7102, Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act - To establish an office for Native American affairs within the Small Business Administration - Introduced by Democrat Sharice Davids.

HR 6544, Atomic Energy Advancement Act - To enhance the benefits of Nuclear energy in order to ensure efficient regulation and deployment of nuclear energy technology - Introduced by Republican Jeff Duncan.

Question 18

Give two examples of bills currently being debated in Congress?

Answer 18

HR 7024 - Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act 2024, To make improvements to Child Tax Credits, Low income Housing Tax Credits and providing Tax incentives to promote economic growth. - Introduced by Republican Jason Smith.

HR 815 - National Security Act 2024, It aims to make more veterans able to receive compensation for treatment through the Veterans Community Care program. - Introduced by Republican Cathy Anne McMorris Rodgers.

Question 19

Give 1 Recent examples of Filibusters?

Answer 19

February 12th 2024 - Representative Rand Paul Held a filibuster over $95 billion senate foreign aid package as he believes that the US having $34 trillion dollars in debt is a much larger issue.

Question 20

How do you end a filibuster and what is ending it called?

Answer 20

The process of ending a filibuster is known as a cloture must be signed by 16 senators and then be voted for by 60 senators.

Question 21

What makes it difficult for Congress pass legislation into Law?

Answer 21

So many Bills are introduced and therefore the process is crowded.

The process has a negative bias as the process is deliberately incredibly complicated.

Sometimes Super Majorities are needed which are incredibly difficult to reach due to the partisanship developing in US politics for example 3/5th for Filibusters and 2/3 for overriding a Veto.

Both Houses have equal levels of power meaning that no House can overrule the other making passing legislation more difficult.

The Two Chambers may be held by different parties at different times meaning that extensive negotiation is needed to pass legislation.

Question 22

In what ways can the President respond to legislation (give 2 examples for each)?

Answer 22

Signing the Bill into Law - if the President fully supports a bill it will be signed into Law. May 29th 2023 - Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023 which provided a reasonable increase to the Debt Ceiling. April 10th 2023 - Securing the US Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network act which improved the Organ Donor Program.

Do nothing - If the President does nothing within 10 days than the bill automatically passes.

Veto - When a President disagrees with a bill they may veto which Congress may overrule, amend the bill or accept it. Joe Biden has vetoed 10 bills one of which was a bill disapproving of control of air pollution from new motor vehicles. Donald Trump also vetoed 10 one of which was in 2019 when Donald Trump vetoed the removal of US troops from Yemen.

Pocket Veto - If a bill is awaiting approval when the legislative session ends the bill is lost. Bill Clinton used one in 1996 to veto the Partial Birth Abortion bill. George Bush used one in 2007 in order to veto withdrawal from Iraq.

Question 23

Explain Congressional Oversight?

Answer 23

This is an implied power as Congress has developed it over time.
Congress can Subpoena documents and testimony, hold individuals to contempt if they fail congressional demands, make it illegal to lie in Congress.

Question 24

Give 2 recent cases in the House Judiciary Committee?

Answer 24

The Judiciary Committee is currently holding a hearing on the Weaponisation of the Federal Government. - Federal Governments role in funding AI powered censorship.
The Southern Border Crisis: The Constitution and the States - Examine the authority of states to secure the Southern border when the Federal Government fails to do so.

Question 25

Give two examples of Congress using oversight to embarrass the President?

Answer 25

2016 2 Senate and 6 House committees begin to investigate Obama’s handling of a terrorist attack in Libya in 2012 - This occurred during Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

House impeachment of Donald Trump could also be argued as a tactic to embarrass him in the buildup to the 2020 Presidential elections.

Question 26

What are the effects of Gridlock?

Answer 26

New laws cannot be passed, New Judges cannot be appointed , annual budgets cannot be passed, federal workers cannot be paid.

Question 27

Give 2 recent examples of Government shutdown?

Answer 27

On the 22nd of December 2018 the Federal Government shut down for 35 days as the House Democrats refused to support $5 billion dollars for the Southern Border wall.

In 2013 Obama suffered through a 16 day Government Shutdown over the affordable care act.

Question 28

What two theoretical models can be applied and what model do US Congress members often follow?

Answer 28

Delegate Model - In which legislators follow the preferences of their constituents.
Trustee Model - In which legislators are permitted autonomy to follow their own judgement.

Representatives and Senators tend to represent the preferences of their constituents as they are the ‘Folks back Home’ which links to Federalism.

For example Joe Manchin who is a Democratic Senator for West Virginia is a notorious swing voter.

Question 29

Give the Levels of Party Unity in 2020?

Answer 29

70% of Votes in the House were Party Unity Votes.
64.4% of Votes in the Senate were Party Unity Votes.

Question 30

Who are the Current Party Leaders in Congress?

Answer 30

Senate Majority Leader - Chuck Schumer (D).
Senate Minority Leader - Mitch McConnel (R).
House Speaker - Mike Johnson (R).
House Minority Leader - Hakeem Jeffries (D).

Question 31

Why is Party Leadership in Congress Limited?

Answer 31

Separation of powers ensures that Party leader have very little control over the President.

Federalism ensures that they cannot dictate to the fifty State of legislatures.

Bicameralism ensure that Party leaders only operate within their own chambers.

Question 32

Give 3 Examples of Congressional Caucuses?

Answer 32

The Congressional Black Caucus formed in 1971 exclusively for Bi-Partisan African American members.

The Blue Dog Coalition formed in 1995 for Southern House Democrats that have Conservative or Moderate views.

The House Freedom caucus formed in 2015 for Republican Libertarians and Federalists.