Congress

Question 1

Does congress perform its legislative function effectively?
- yes

Answer 1

• congress passed transformative legislation, ACA 2010
• major legislation passed with unified gov
• during hyperpartisanship compromise is achievable First Step Act 2018
• congress can pass emergency legislation, COVID stimuluses
• C can reject legislation proposed by exec, good check

Question 2

Does congress perform its legislative function effectively?
- no

Answer 2

• only 2-3% of bills become law
• 112th congress most un productive in history, 283 bills passed
• gridlock common in times of polarisation
• senate can filibuster bills
• closed rules reduced number of amendments
• P vetoes rarely overturned

Question 3

Does congress fulfil its oversight function effectively?
- yes

Answer 3

• strong oversight during divided gov
• committees high profile scrutiny
• congress can impeach
• senate can refuse appointments

Question 4

Does congress fulfil its oversight function effectively?
- no

Answer 4

• oversight weaker during unified gov
• C lack of popularity hard to attack popular POTUS
• investigations can be politicised and partisan
• no president ever been successfully impeached
• confirmation for appointments is highly politicised

Question 5

Does congress use the power of the purse effectively?
- yes

Answer 5

• most powerful checks on exec
• gov shutdown are relatively rare but increased recently

Question 6

Does congress use the power of the purse effectively?
- no

Answer 6

• gov shutdowns are disruptive and unpopular
• P unable to reduce size of federal budget so debt increases
• pork barrel funding
• Trump use of emergency powers to bypass C power of the purse has set precedent that may be used by future presidents

Question 7

Is congress the broken branch of gov?
- yes

Answer 7

• frequent gridlock
• only 2-3% of bills become laws
• increased partisanship
• gov shutdowns more often and unpopular
• C unpopualr

Question 8

Is congress the broken branch of gov?
- no

Answer 8

• major legislation still passed through congress
• bipartisan compromise still possible, First Step Act 2018
• power of purse
• congress impeached and tried three presidents