Congress 7 - Representation of Constituents

Question 1

Example of House members voting a lot

Answer 1

In 2007 members of the House voted 1186 times

Question 2

Example of Senators not voting a lot

Answer 2

In 2016 votes in the Senate fell to just 163. Very inactive Republican majority

Question 3

Factors that influence the votes of members of Congress

Answer 3

1. Views of Constituents
2. Political party
3. The administration
4. Pressure groups

Question 4

Example of Views of Constituents affecting Congressman

Answer 4

In 2009, several Democrats dropped their support for the Affordable Care Act after considering the views of their constituents

Question 5

Example of Political Party affecting Congressman

Answer 5

Parties voted in line for the Federal Information Systems Safeguard Act (2016)
Republicans 237-2
Democrats 4-179

Question 6

Example of the administration affecting Congressman

Answer 6

While Congress was considering Obamacare, Obama made multiple attempts to persuade members of Congress to support legislation
E.g. State of the Union Address

Question 7

Example of Pressure Groups affecting Congressman

Answer 7

2012 - Obama was unsuccessful in passing legislation to limit gun control due to pressure from the NRA

Question 8

Example of a far left Democrat Senator

Answer 8

Gillibrand

Question 9

Example of furthest left Republican Senator

Answer 9

Collins

Question 10

Example of furthers right Democrat Senator

Answer 10

Heitkamp

Question 11

Example of far right Republican Senator

Answer 11

Roberts

Question 12

Arguments that Congress is representative

Answer 12

More representative than ever for women

More representative than ever for minority groups

Question 13

Evidence that Congress is more representative than ever for women

Answer 13

• In 1979, there were 16 Women in the house and 0 in the Senate
• In 2017, there are 84 in the House and 21 in the Senate

Question 14

Evidence that Congress is more representative than ever for African Americans

Answer 14

• In 1979, there was 16 in House and 0 in Senate

- In 2017, 46 in House and 3 in Senate

Question 15

Evidence that women are underrepresented in Congress

Answer 15

19% of Congress is female compared to 50% of population

Question 16

Evidence that minorities are underrepresented in Congress

Answer 16

22% of Congress are minorities

Compared to 28% of population

Question 17

Evidence that Congress is more representative than ever for Hispanic Americans

Answer 17

1979: 6 in House, 0 in Senate
2017: 34 in House, 4 in Senate

Question 18

Where are minorities particularly underrepresented

Answer 18

The senate

Just 9/100

Question 19

Example of current gerrymandered state

Answer 19

Texas’s 35th District

Question 20

Bush v Vera

Answer 20

Supreme Court struck down on Texas’ 30th district - Gerrymandering on the basis of race

Question 21

In the 155th Congress, the record number of women _____________

Answer 21

Quadrupled

Question 22

Number of minorities in 155th Congress

Answer 22

102

Question 23

Average age of Congress

Answer 23

Current Congress one of oldest in history

Average age of 59

Question 24

How many congressman have been registered lobbyists

Answer 24

8

Question 25

Who is the only female Republican in a senior position

Answer 25

Cathy Rodgers

Question 26

Argument that women are well represented in Congress

Answer 26

No. of women is increasing

Question 27

Argument that women are not well represented in Congress

Answer 27

1. Few women reach senior positions

2. Particularly few female Republicans

Question 28

What are the 2 models of representation

Answer 28

Trustee model

Delegate model

Question 29

What is the trustee model

Answer 29

A representative who acts ‘on behalf of the people’ - trusted to make the their own choices

Question 30

What is the delegate model

Answer 30

Where a representative basis the decisions solely on the wishes of their constituents

Question 31

Ways to engage with constituents

Answer 31

‘Town hall’ meetings
Meeting individually with constituents
Making visits
Media

Question 32

Ways the representatives fulfil their representative function

Answer 32

Voting on legislation
Membership of standing committees
Lobbying
Helping constituents
Pork-barrel politics