Congress 3 - Powers

Question 1

Concurrent powers: Legislate

Answer 1

All bills must pass through all stages in both houses. Affordable Care Act - Debated and voted on in both chambers 2009-10

Question 2

Concurrent powers: Override the President’s veto

Answer 2

Both houses must vote by 2/3 majorities. In 2007, Congress overrode Bush’s veto of the Water Resources Developmental Bill

Question 3

Concurrent powers: Amend the constitution

Answer 3

An amendment must be approved by 2/3 of both houses before it can be ratified by the states.
E.g. 26th Amendment, 1971 - Prohibits voting age to deny vote to citizens at least 18 years old.
Senate voted 94-0 in favour and representatives 401-9

Question 4

Concurrent powers: Declare war

Answer 4

Both houses must concur in a declaration of war.

Most recently being in 1941 when America declared war on Japan

Question 5

Concurrent powers: Representation

Answer 5

Both houses represent regions.
Eg. Schliff represents California’s 12th district
Feinstein one of 2 senators representing California

Question 6

Concurrent powers: Confirming Vice President

Answer 6

1973 - Ford

1974 - Rockefeller

Question 7

Powers of just the house:

Answer 7

Impeach
Elect the President if no candidate has over 50% of ECVs
Begin consideration of all money bills

Question 8

Example of house impeachmeant

Answer 8

Bill Clinton 1998

Question 9

Example of electing a president who doesn’t have over 50% of ECVs

Answer 9

1800

1824

Question 10

Powers of the Senate

Answer 10

Try an impeachment case
Elect the VP, if no candidate has over 50% ECVs
Confirm executive appointments
Ratify treaty

Question 11

What has the role of treaty ratification been eroded by

Answer 11

The President’s use of executive agreements

Question 12

Confirming exec appointments:

Over ______ senior appointments are scrutinised, usually through Senate hearing committees

Answer 12

1200

Question 13

The Senate have a right to confirm a presidential nomination by a _____ vote

Answer 13

50%+

Question 14

Reasons why the Senate is regarded as. more prestigious than the House

Answer 14

Senators represent an entire state
They have 6 year terms
They are more likely to obtain leadership positions (as there’s only 100)
Senators are more likely to be president

Question 15

Proof that Senators are more likely to become President

Answer 15

6 States launched campaigns in 2008 and 2016

+ Obama

Question 16

Example of Senators having longer terms

Answer 16

Feinstein (S) - 6 Years

Schliff (H) - 2 Years

Question 17

Example of Senators being more likely to have leadership positions

Answer 17

Feinstein was chair of the Intelligence Committee

Schliff has only been a ranking chair of a committee

Question 18

Example that Senators are more likely to become Vice President

Answer 18

4 of the last 7 Vice Presidents have at one point served in the Senate
Also, Clinton’s 2016 running mate, Tim Kaine was a Senator

Question 19

What are the concurrent powers

Answer 19

Legislation
Overriding President's veto
Amend constitution
Declare War
Representation
Confirming VP

Question 20

Example of Confirm executive appointments

Answer 20

Betsy Devos - Sec of Education 51-50 - Tie breaker from Pence