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6-Politics- Paper 3- USA > Congress > Flashcards

Congress Flashcards

1
Q

Example of speaker powerful

A

2013 speaker boehner refused to timetable the bill comprehensive immigration reform billi n the house

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2
Q

Ff on congress

A

Trying to avoid a tyrant
Limit terms
Article 1
Oversight main aim

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3
Q

Examples of united gov

A

Rare
2002 bush r- gained senate r control

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4
Q

Example of divided government

A

2022 biden
Lost house tgo r

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5
Q

Congress more willing to challenge president

A

2016 when republican senate refused to allow confirmation hearings for obama sc nominations
Senate leade mcconneeell claimed they had a stronger mandate than a ‘lame duck president whose priorities and policies just rejected in the most recent national election

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6
Q

Etv that congress is effective at its role

A

Loa no
Legislation
Representation
Oversight

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7
Q

Congres effective- legislation- yes

A

Sucess- major legilstaion passed- ira
Low pass rate suggests only pass most necessary legilstaion
Length of process ensures effective scrutiny- aca 15 months- standing comms

Ensures compromise- bipartisan and reaching across the aisle- fentynyl crisis, agri food and jobs act 2013- 2.4bn

Requirement supermajority- cloture motioon, broad compromise eg comm stage beteween two houses reconcilled

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8
Q

Congress effective no legilstaion

A

1/4 laws 15yth congress rename public buildings
Each year 6,000 bills proposed 200 passed - 90% pigenoholed at comm stage
Hosue rules comm- bills can be rushed or killed wiht 2:1 majority
When unified does work- coronavirus preparedness and response appp act- 2020- 8.3 bn

Compromise no- increased partisanship- 90% vte party lines
Gridlock- wall, 35 days 2018-19
comm signif power
Process domiantes few- such as speaker who can choose who on house rules comm whilst those in standing
Supermaority means that diff to stop filibuster- gun control legislation 2013 after sandy hook, r 2021 on voting rights legilstaion
Ineffective system with reconcilliation

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9
Q

Representation- congress effective

A

Minority rights- improved women 29% 25% senate, aa caucus

Parties increased partisanship with clear policies and agendas

State rep- regular elections, pork barrel politics- king of pork app comm murtha- 800 mill to his pennsylvania district 1992-2010
2008 gravina island bride to nowhehre 9000people
Big dig highway project

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10
Q

Gravina island brigde

A

Brigde to nowehere 2008
223 mill for 9000 citizens
During presidential camapign

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11
Q

Big dig highway project

A

3.5mile highway underground, cost 5x plan, 20y

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12
Q

No representation congress effective

A

Rep much lower pop women 50.8%, hispanic 10.7%, 18;5%, 13 lgb

Incereasing appartisan good rep party at expense others
Gerrymander solidfiy- n carolina on race lines
Kaanugh all r for, all but one d against
Lack compromise lead to gridlock or liquidated build back better pan

Pork barrell politics bad, lobbying more chamber of commerce 100 mill, pharam 100 lonnysts on 2009 health reform act

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13
Q

Oversight congress effective at its role - theorists

A

Mann and ornstien congress broken branch, loa- no to check president
Jones- modern president effectively contrsained by sops
Sen miluski- on the influence of money, you pay you play

Veto power of the pruse legislation

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14
Q

Oversight congress effective- veto no

A

President can veto- bush and obama 12 x
All trump 10 vetos after lost house majority 2018
Overrule needs- 2/3 both houses. Depends suypport house- not achieved biden 2023 2019-200 overturn investment rule that allows management of retiremet funds to consider impact of climate change otehr environ factors- yet r in senate said liberal agenda

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15
Q

Veto- yes effective overiegsit congress

A

75% overrule legislation not passed
President can eto but overrule
Trump nat defence authorisation act 2020 over 80 senators overrule
Obama a funal veto of justice against sponsors of terrorism act suffered bipartisan defeat
Only senate majority 97-1 w reid against
House 348-77

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16
Q

Power of the purse- congress effectiev oversight

A

Approporations clause article 1- wit hout conrgssional law money cannot be allocated for ded party
Us trump mexico demanded 25bn in app bill 2018 19 gov shutdown 35 days
1.5trn inc 13.6bn to yrjriane consolidation app act 2022 passed with only hours to deadline
Opp obana exec order- app act 2003- blocked funds for transfer of detainees when trying to shut down guantanimo bay

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17
Q

Power of the purse oversight- congress no

A

Tip o neil all politics is locak
Prok barrel personal rather oversight gain
Dept defence ap act 2014
120 milla lllocated for tank upgrades that us army didnt want because appealing across congressional distctricts that military making

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18
Q

Legislation oversight effective congress

A

Ira necessary and wanted- lobby 187 mil pharama inc blue cross
President cant rpopose bill must go through congressperson- ira sponsor huch schumer and joe manchin
Infrastructure investment and jobs act 2021- passed relatively quiclly jun to nov 2021- 2280205 house

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19
Q

Legislation oversight not effective

A

Inflation reduction act personal political gain - 200,000 jobs created, green energy 2030 energy fall 505 carbon and cap insulin at $35
President pass brady tax bill 2017 benefit businessmen inc trump 35 to 21% corpp tac

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20
Q

Committe congres sgood oversight

A

2014 us compaound benghazi using high profile incriminated hilary clinton
Subpoena monica lewinsky watergate scandal
Senate commerce and judicial committee q mark zuckerberg 2018 facebook role in cambridge analytica

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21
Q

House of reps structure

A

Incumbency rate 95%
435 members
219 r 213 d
2 y terms

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22
Q

Senate structure

A

100 members 2 per state
6y terms- 1/3 every 2y
48 d 49 r 3 independent

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23
Q

Speaker of the house

A

Mike johnson

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24
Q

House majority leader

A

Steve scalise

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25
Hoouse minority leader
Mike lynon
26
President of senat
Kemala harris
27
President pro tempore
Patty murray- d Serve in capacity of senate when vp is absent
28
Senate majority leader
Chuck schumer
29
Senate minority leader
Mitch mcconnel
30
Representation
All politics is local- tip o neill Prom barell politics Demographics Divisions and party rep Conngressonal caucauses
31
Divisions and party rep
Mccarthy oustsed house speaker- first time- republican revolt lead by matt gatez- congressperson from florida who rebelled after sepeajer struck a deal with democrts to avert gov shutdown 216-210 roll call 202- 7 incumbent house members defeated- most in year without redistrictning since 1974 Cantor lost r party 2014- leaders vote in house- tea party member
32
Congressional caucauses
Womens caucaus- crossparty, advance rights women over party ideology Stelel caucaus- helped put pressure for 25% tarrif o foriegn stell imports Black caucaus set up a war room to defent hudge kentaji brown jackson afetr nomination
33
Theorists on cogress
Meezy Mann and ornstein Loomis Tip o neil Sen mikulski Fukuyama Rep dingell Sen reid
34
Meezy
Proactive v reactive legislative theory Congress v parliament
35
Mann and ornstein
Congress is a broken branch Failing to carry out constitutional duty to check presidential power after 911
36
Loomis
The barriers to passing legislation are substantial
37
Tip o neil
All politics is local
38
Sen mikulski
Influence money on congress You pay you play
39
Fukuyama on congress
Senate acts as vetocracy where one member or minoirty can block majority
40
Rep dingell
House the institute does not work, has got partisan beyond belief
41
Sen reid on congress
The right to earmark is a constutional duty
42
Exclusive house powers
Start all financial bills Elect the president of ec cannot reach a majority0 not used since 1824
43
Exclusive senate powers
Exec and joint appt Hold trial impeachemnt Condusct com investigatio in exec Filibuster in debates Impeachment of exec/judicial officials Ratify treaties
44
Joint powers
Approve legislation Confirm a newly appt vp if incumbent dies or resigns x2 1973 qnd 74 Declare war, not used since 1941 Introduce constitutional ammenment- 2/3 majority required Override presidental veto 2/3 majroity needed
45
Powers of congress
Create legislation Override president beto Commerce clause Supremacy clause Necessary and proper clause
46
Commerce clause
When it becomes regulatory pwoer between sates Marajuana intra not inter state as then illegal fed law
47
Supremacy clause
When fed law trumps state law A safeguard in emergency 911
48
Necessary and proper clause
Congress has the power to do whatever is necessary in an emergency
49
Create legislation
Congress can block ammedne ofr reject legislation proposed by president Biden build back bettr plan Recovery plan passed quikkly but other two parts held up in congress
50
Why is passig legislation diff
Complicated process Amount of legilsation prooposed Use of majoirty Equal role for both chambers Divided government Growing partisanship Influence of lobbyists and special interests Resistent to changee Presidential influence Threat of filibuster
51
Diff pass legsilsation complicated process
Many hurdels within each stage Diff chanbers diff in procedures that can disrupt legislative process Ammendments can be easily tabled and adopted- multiple versions of bill exicst and reconciliated porcess harder 2021 nat defence authorization bill- had an ammendment propose to force all unclasified defence reps to be published by pentagon- not intended to pass
52
Amouunt of legislation proposed makes challlenging
Since 2001- 6000 bills introduced per year- 200 passed Many bills pigenoholed dont make out of comm- approx 90% Sheer volume hard to progress as much as suggested
53
Decentralised power- pass legilsation diff
Party leaders do hold power- spekaer majority minoirty leaders- but with reforms 70s and 90s with powerful few (becoming) the powerful many Reforms to power balance bwteen comm and party leadership has meant that to succeed in pasisng legilsation, informal coalitions need to be formed across party lines Eg republican senator ted cruz and left leaning democrat conrgessman ocasio-cortez 2019 to co sponsor a bill, prevent former elected officla sfrom immediately beocming lobbyists after leavung office
54
Use of majoritiets pass legislation diff
Absolute majority msut be achieved to pass slegislatinon To overrcoem filibuster 3/5 senators bac cloture motion Veto override 2/3 Vp breaks tie in senate Tiie in house failed
55
Equal role for both chambers diff pass legislation
Constution sets out clealry that both house and senate should agree to a bill on ewual terms, all stages inc override veto Yet each chamebr produce diff bill which must then be reconciled
56
Growing partisanship
1950s to 70s party unity for congressional voting- 30-60% last 20y 90% Centrists disappear rhino blue dog Republcians more con d more lib
57
Congress resistent to chaneg
Storng con trad in usa, for preservation of trad values and long held values Blue dog d Many things not suited american life- nhs
58
Presidenfial influence pass legilsatin diff
President cannot propose bills but can influence the process Elected with promise of particular legilsative agenda- obama healthcare, trump immigration Bully pulpit and state sto infleucne- obama able to push for adoption for americca recovery and reinvestment act 2009 in response credit crunch recession Threat of veto lead to unfavourable pass bills being altered
59
Threat of filibuster
Single vote of dissentt in senate couuld railroad entire bill Cruz sep 2013 spoke more 21 h inc readng dr suess book green egggs and ham needed cloture motion Ant i obamacare
60
Standing comm
Permentaant comm relating to specific policy eg budget veterans judges Members become policy specialists Reflects party balance in chamber
61
Appropriations comm
Gov spending
62
Sub comm
More specific topics in particular policu areas Eg homeland security com on counter terrorisn
63
House rules comm
Type of standing comm but does not handle a policy area Schedules and timetables Can schedule so bill not enough time Senate doesnt have one instead unanimous consent agreement
64
Discharge petitions
Force bills to be released to a floor debate But do need majority house to sign 2005 2002 pac spending bipartisan reform act passed 2400 to 189 votes
65
Select comm
Temproary (in uk perment) add hoc comm 2014 us compound in beghazi libya high profile and proved damaging hilary clinton sec of state at tiewatergate com- issue subpoena for monica lewisnky
66
Joint comm
Inc members both chambers, topics exit for procusdure or permemnt- econ liberty ptax
67
Conference comm
Increasingly rare Used to reconcile diff in house and senate bils
68
Why are comm important
Most permebr and policy specialists- standing esp, house members typically serve on noly one com make specialist, senate 2-3 so more genaralist Legislative and financial bills Power of subpoena- force witnesses to testify before congress and can scrutinise exec, june 2020 senate judiciary committee has authorised subpoenars to fbi relating to investigation into alleged ruussian influence in 2016 presidential elections Well resourced- mroe than uk, reforms 1970s and 80s cut no comm and their powers but still hold majority important On access point - iron triange exec congress ig
69
What makes comm important
Circumstanc- timing or issue, senate commercial and judicial comm q mrark zuckerbeg in 2018 on facebook role in cambridge analytica date mining controersy Have presitge- approporations spending- prok barrel Influence- iron trinage- approporateions act, murtha chair iking of pork for pensylvaiinan distictr ?$600 mill 1992-2010 chair Diff types comm some more powerful than others- standing comm permenant Role of chamber- senat ecomm confirmation hearing and considered apporach to legilstaion- unanimous consent agrees v house rules bill House committee tighter tiemframes and greater orle in budget
70
Pork barrel politics
2008 gravina island brigde to nowhere Dpt defence app act- 2014 fiscal year budget more than 120 mill allocated for tank upgrades us army didnt even want- supporters of tank oeprations in over serveral congressinal disrticts 2010 citizens against gov waster pg identified over 9000 examples- montana state uni 740,000 awarded for research into weed use for sheep graxie Big dig highway project
71
Challenging negotiations and idvision legislation
Aca negotiations mdoerate d and con nebrasca d nelson negotaite compromise on abortion give states right to provide coverage of abortion- 60-39 senate end debate After passed r introudced legislation to repeal it Wall st refomr and consumer protection act 2010 used after 2008 crash- house 2009 223-202 senate 59 to 39 took 7 tries
72
The cares act
2020 150 bn covid relif fund 300bn one time cash apyout House agreed comproomise in senate Yet bill later cuased gridlock House of rep first approve 359 v 53 Senate 91 v7 Longest bill history
73
Personal gain of president throgh legilstaion
Trump tax reform Single corp tax rate at 21 benfit himself as wealthy business owner No ohuse d supporetr- 12 r oppose- in lib areas ny
74
Bipartisan support for bill
Iran nuclear agreement review 2013- congres spower to review agreements nade in preventing iran from developing a nuclear weapons programme- senate 98-1 house 400 25 Space act 2015 legalised comercial space exploration enable spacex- unanimous consent senate Introdueced by kevin mccarthy Sexual assualt suirvivors act 2016 rights for survivors of rape and other forms sexual assault
75
Veto override
2008 farm bill 100bn for dpt agriculture Then increase 288bn budget Gwb veto billl due to size Yet veto overriden
76
Loophole in legislation to pass
768.2bn over 10y 2012 farm bill Faild pass house so added to america taxpayer relief act 2012 and then passed
77
Rational comparative theories for conbgress- diff
Adction of mps and congress viewed through what is best for them with us pork barrel uk party loyalty whips Unelected natire hol comp elected nature senate diff outcomes with freedom senate block hoc can ignroe
78
Rational similiarties uk usa
Defeat may weaken position politicains- action leaders on impact eg may 28 defeats, bdien build back better plan wateered down Both legilsatures springboard future carreer climb greasy pole- lobbyists or cabinet
79
Cultural similarities
Actions of individ guded ideolgy by party belif- r anti abortion con low tax Factuions within party and acucaus vvote across party lines - us esp moral and social issues- abortion with rino with d Lower houses more adversarial more cultural convention housw business ocnducted appear Growing expectations- rep of pop
80
Cultural differences
unelected lords less party obedience than sena-crossbench jonathan sacks
81
Structural
Process that guide legilsative output both houses fixed and rigid Ability oversee work of gov storongly affected by structural checks on president can achiee more than parliament dominated by ruling party Plitical processes limit 3rd party fptp
82
Presidential poll rating impact conrgess
Congress can exert more power when npoll low Obama pass obama care 2010 with 50% opop yet trump more challenging wth just 40^%
83
Ekection cycle impact congress
When gear up to mideterm Members pelade ditsricts not president esp if president unpop
84
National events impact on congrss
Congress acts with deference hands over power look for direction frm preisdent usa patriot act 911
85
Suggestions for reform on cngress
Reform or abolish filibuster Biennial rather than annual budget Introduce term limits linits members congress
86
Similarities uk and usa congress
Lower house in both legilsatures cnortol tax and approve money gov policies Creation of legilsation and legilsative porcess ismilar- majority domm us rules comm execbbc and debates Cb seen Range of rep= lobbying party people Power over foriegn polciy- weak Both legilsatirs ablie to initiate constitutional change- ammendments process or siginif laws such as cra Prevalent 2 party system help enable oversight but also deepned partisanship
87
Diff uk usa
Both houses of congress directly elected by pulic uk hol unelected and unaccountable No sops president propose through congress pm can propose Party unity i nuk relatievly high, whips- us systen priaries prevent whips enforce strict party disicuplien Power money more in usa- more access points Speaker hoc apolitical , leadership conrgess tried party politics Palriament osveign constitutional in us
88
House of reps strength
2 term yr accountablity Reps smaller area and pop to senate Powr of initiate over tax and app bills Effectively has the power to decide on what matter an officla can be impeached 2 party system limits mmpact 3rd party
89
Weakness hosue of reps
Power conc in hands of speaker, comm chairs and house rules comm Partisan politics means for bills passed each session 2.9% Frequent electiosn mean a focus on st change excesive influence of lobbyists Relatively poor rep of women and minority group= women 29% 50.8 Hispanic 10 to 18
90
Hoc strnegths
Dominance by the majoirty party and fused powrs, pass legilsation quicker Speaker indepndent ref 5y elections ive house the power to effect real change Use of parliament act and sailsbury convention
91
Weaknesses hoc
Elective dictstaorship and limitation effective cb Possible for poor legilstaion to be rushed from the house Storng whips make only limited opp even increasing backbench rebellions rarely sucessful 2 party ssetm whilst infleuntail of 3rd parties
92
Senate strneghts
Lt allowers officlas to focus on good polucy and enacts change Unique powers to ratify treaty and appt— greater oversight of exec- kavanaugh Unanimous cnosent unkimited debate reuslt un weaer party control Power of every state needed
93
Weakness senate
Unanimous consent undue ifnleucen Can onlu ratify or reject treties and appt pu to it, not create on own Ie paris climate agreement Use filibuster challenging 2013 72 h sandy hook reform guns Overvalue states and sixe not proportional
94
Hol strengths
Unelectied, focus lt into uk, immigration opooose Alows for experinece to be inc n policy making rather than career politicians- lord winston ivf chair sicne an tech comm Uenelecte dmore freedom change wlll of poeple Posisble to nominate range of people to lords ncrease rep minority groups- women baroness own youngest member at age 30 and appt 2023
95
Hol weaknesses
Lack legit unelected natire Power usurped power acts and sialsbiry cnovention- defeat rwanda at2nd reading Large sixe of lowds too much Challennge to hoc - immigrants child protection 2023
96
Represent ideology of constituency
Aoc- v left wing in new york
97
Revolving door exaple
House majority leader cantor 2014 once lost 2014 primary race becmae lobbyist
98
Money recieved personally from lonnying
Kevin mccarthy 450k range of lobbyists

6-Politics- Paper 3- USA (16 decks)

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