Congress

Question 1

Senate features

Answer 1

Upper house in congress
100 senators serving 6 year terms
1/3 up for re-election every 2 years so constantly changing
Each state has 2 senators

Question 2

Gridlock definition

Answer 2

Signifies failure to get action on policy proposals and legislation in congress. Thought to be made worse by divided government and partisanship

Question 3

House of Representatives features

Answer 3

Lower house in the bicameral US congress.
435 representatives serving 2 year terms
Each stare receives representation in proportion to population but each state is entitled to at least 2 representatives

Question 4

What are the House of Representatives exclusive powers

Answer 4

Initiate money bills
Impeachment
Elect president if the electoral college is tied

Question 5

What are the Senate’s exclusive powers

Answer 5

Confirm appointments
Ratify treaties
Try cases of impeachment
Elect Vice President if the electoral college is tied

Question 6

What are the House of Representatives and the Senate’s concurrent powers

Answer 6

Pass legislation 
Override presidential veto 
Initiate constitutional amendment 
Declare war 
Confirm a newly appointed Vice President

Question 7

What is an exclusive power in congress

Answer 7

A power that either the house or senate have

Question 8

What is a concurrent power in congress

Answer 8

A power that both the senate and house have

Question 9

How does the House of Representatives work

Answer 9

Rules are formal, detailed and comprehensive
Members tend to be specialists in particular policy areas
Serve only in one or two standing committees
Majoritarian - decisions based on simple majority
Leader of majority is speaker - active and influential, very partisan

Question 10

How does the Senate work

Answer 10

Less dominated by party
More intimate and cross party friendships develop
Not specialist, more generalist
Less committee based
Majority leaders power limited compared to House of Representatives
Tradition of contest and consensus as opposed to majoritarian

Question 11

Why is the senate regarded as more prestigious than the house

Answer 11

Senators represent the entire state
Senators serve longer terms
Senators are only 1 of 100
Senators are more likely to chair a committee/sub-committee or hold a position of leadership
Senators enjoy a greater name recognition
Senate is a recruiting poll for presidents and Vice Presidents
Senators ave significant exclusive powers
House members frequently seek election to the senate

Question 12

In what ways is the senate not seen as more prestigious than the house

Answer 12

Both houses have equal powers in the passage of legislation - the key function of congress
Both the house and senate must the initiation of constitutional amendments
Senators and Representatives receive an equal pay