Congress

Question 1

Effectiveness of the legislative process in Congress

Answer 1

-Major legislation is most likely to be passed during periods of unified government as was the case from 2009 to 2010 of Obama’s presidency
-Congress can reject legislation proposed by the executive (important check on the power of the president)
-Both houses have equal power
-Long process in which authority is gained as many different processes have to occur for it to pass
-Committee stage have specialists which can scrutinise the bills and allows expertise on specific areas
-Can pass emergency legislation like COVID (biggest spending on legislation ever)

Question 2

Law Making

Answer 2

-In both houses
-The HoR is the house that first considers money bills as the senate was originally unelected so the founding fathers didn’t want to give the unelected the power over taxation
-The senate then considers the bill second

Question 3

Overseeing the executive branch

Answer 3

-Occurs in both houses
-Congress must approve federal budget
-Congressional committees also allow congressional oversight and investigation of the executive branch

Question 4

Overseeing the executive branch

Answer 4

-Occurs in both houses
-Congress must approve federal budget
-Congressional committees also allow congressional oversight and investigation of the executive branch

Question 5

Blue Dog Coalition

Answer 5

-House of Representatives
-Created on the 14th February 1995
-It is partisan to the Democrats
-As of 2024 they have 10 members
-Fiscally moderate and socially conservative
-Fought to protect a section of the House rules package which require new spending to be offset by cuts elsewhere in the budget known as PAYGO
-Have had a decline post 2010 mid terms when they lost half of their seats to the Republicans challengers