Congress Flashcards
Is congress descriptiveky representative?
133 bame congress members nearly double last 2 decades 108th congress [2003-5] had 67 bame . 80% democrats 13% black equal to population . Native Americans 1% of both too.
Upward Trend
But
Only 40% ppl think rep important
But
4 black senators 1 black governor and Hispanic and Asian rep ISNT
also 2.9% indigenous 1% in congress
28% are woman 50% in society
Senate ethnic rep worse because of the financial troubles with running for senator expensive to state wide campaign
Congress is ideologically representative
Broad church of ideas in each party (split into caucuses and factions ) eg. Progressive democrats views on banking regulation Dodd frank bill regulation are good whereas ew Democritus favour lode ting provisions for communittt banks. Foreign policy also address of differing views eg. Old style replicants favour interventuonalsm maga stand doesn’t.
Special interest caucuses like congressional steel caucus ( ensuring imports of steeel dint effect steel insdusty)
And black caucus
Congress is not ideologically representative
W
Argued and 3independent and no 3rd party in congress ( e indep in democrat caucuses)
533 seats in congress maintsined by 2 parties and vote along party lines. Less independent as time goes on,
Power of interest groups and lobbyists like big pharmaceutical companies and Amazon influence policy.
Congress is geographically representative ?
Districting in a way where certain number if peo0e needed per constituency prevents Gerrymandering attempts rucho v common clause
But
States are given equal number of senators regardless of size or population 2 oe state ( may mean smaller states voice amplified)
The hour districts population varies from 500000 to a million not quite popriorjal small states don’t have enough
Voice of say if matters like agriculture largely affecting them..
Committees oversight overseeing major congressional roles take over examples
The committee of oversight and reform conducts investigations and oversight of federal agencies and seeks gov reforms.hodls fed gov accountable .eczmple if the flint water crisis 2014 found drinking water in flint Michigan was contaminated w lead and other pollutants causing a health crisis committee launch’s investigation held hearings conducted interviews requested documents etc,. Shed light on state and local officials misdoings.
Example of committee of oberifght and reform is trump v Mozart’s subpoena his tax records
House intelligence committees inv3stigsttion into 2012 Benghazi attacks and jan 6th committees
Judiciary committee apart of process thatapproves judicial appointments does background checks thoroughly checks qualifications phikipjoes of judges exc. then vote on them in senate.
But
Joe impeachment process trump 2x and senate approves judges
Commmittees have a major role in formulating policy
Role of house rules committee and conference committees. Scheduling lwgiosrioj , setting rules and structuring debate. Eg. Infrastructure bill determined how it would be debated and voted on in the house. Left senate to house. Also set listed parameters of amendments.scheduked shen bill was for consideration in the house flo.
But
Congress controls pigeon holing of bulls eg. Equality act under 116th congress the power to propose legislation and bested and votes and filibusters.
2016 15 hr long filibuster for nightclub shooting in Orlando and bill for stricter gun control.
Arguments committees have strong influence over funding and have control over resource allocation execution
Committee on appropriations responsible for drafting legislation to allocate funds to various government agencies and programs including discretionary spendin for the federal budget. Eg, allocate for the highest of public,if spending on dept of defence
But
Congress draft budget allocation and president approves or vetos it eg. Ndda for fiscal year 2021 vetoed. They just carry out logistics.
Congressional checks on president
Power of purse
Vietnam
Lebanaon 1983
Gov shutdown 2018-19
But
Shot down cost 5biklion and power of patronage may incentivise coooperstion of earmarking incentive
Iran 2020 air strike on general
Appointments and approvals
Vincent viola trump rejected
NLRB v canning
9000eas to 1300 treaties
But
1/5 trump cabinet acting
Judicial nomitrees
Mier
Garland
But only Q ever impeached
Impeachment
None ever really only 3 pres
Examples of partisan legislation
Ira 202s- cub inflation and cap drug prices no republican support
Ava 2021 all except 1 republican voted against it
Democrat and med association supported it
Rescue plan American 2021 passed 50-49no republican suooirt 1.9 trillion dollar stimulus for Covid economy and health stimulus.still oassed.
Shutdowns
Dream act
Obama’s sh eos nullified by trump
For the people bill 2021 regarding easier voting access reforming campaign finance laws exc. threats of fibilbuster never became law
Examples of bipartisan legislation
Safer communities act 2022 234-193
First step act 2018 reforming justice system provision to expand rehabilitayij for inmates stop reoffending opportunities fir early release for small sentences 358-36 in house 87-12 in senate
Infrastructure investment and jobs act 2021 228-206
CARES act 2020 Covid’s relief plan act 96-0 in senate passed
Congress scrutiny effective ?
Power of purse made gw bush scale back sweeping tax cuts senate confirms judicial appointments and other ones eg. Vincent viola and gorsuch and garland
Impeachment eg. Trump 2- hour can impeach
Overturn presidential vetos eg. Obsmas vetoing bill letting 9/11 people sue Saudi in us courts blocked very.congress declares war eg Obama in Syria he dint invade even tho said he woul.
Congress scrutiny in effective ?
United gov trump tax cuts and jobs act passed a
Eajkt and Biden plans in infrateute and Covid mitigation passed easy. No scutiny.
Showdown 2018-9
Divided gov in obamas 2d term
Trumps appointments Scott Pruitt head of env protection agency and republicans refusal to hear garland.
Senate More powerful than HOR argument?
All house deuces on including money bills still have to pass the senate eg. Bipartisan jnsfrsture bill 2021 passed 69-30
Ira passed 50-51kamaka Harris had to step in
2018 budget shutdown occurred as a result of senates failure to approve measures and power to filibuster due to in,cumbernt advantage less afraid of reelection almost 90% reflected in 2012.
Senate tries and blocks impeachment eg. Clinton 1999 didn’t get impeached and Johnson violated renture of office act but senate acquitted him too. Judge chase was 1804 impeached due to federalist political biased.
Senate confirms
Ratified Obama’s START treaty nuclear power and Russia.
2012conventjoj if rights of disabled not confirmed.
NLRB v canning when they didn’t confirm courts involved
Senate not more powerful
Money bills constitution can approve or deny not initiate “ no taxation w out representation “ rep house
Filibuster undemocratic limits to it can make a closure , 60 senators of the 100 needed to closure. Both needed for amendments and impeachments 2/3rds of both.
Sheenate can’t call impeachment trials eg. Elizabeth warren wasn’t able to impeach trump as a senator.
Only 3 impeachment trials ever (rare).
Coequal since neither can impeach w out the other .
Eas instead of treaties used more now
Examples of internal warfare
Internal warfare 20 gop law makers voted against mccarthy speakership hard right managed to get him in with concessions but creates gridlock and lack of compromise as he didn’t. Have gop support
Current speaker Johnson is supported. Other contender Jordan more maga - divisive.
Obama. Little passed in last 6 on the as he had a divided Congress
2013 then 2018-19 shutdowns.
Factional discourse.
