Congress

Question 1

What is the current (Sept 19) split in the Senate?

Answer 1

53-47 Rep (strictly 53-45, but the two independents always caucus with the Dems)

Question 2

Who are the two independent Senators and which states do they represent?

Answer 2

Bernie Sanders (VT) and Angus King (ME)

Question 3

How many members of Congress are there, and how many in each chamber?

Answer 3

535; 100 Senate, 435 House

Question 4

How many electoral college votes are there, and why is that number greater than the number of members of Congress?

Answer 4

538; one for each representative (535) and three for DC, which has no representation in Congress.

Question 5

If a congressional committee puts a bill to one side, effectively killing it, it is said to be using what technique?

Answer 5

Pigeonholing

Question 6

Roughly how many bills are introduced each Congress, and what percentage become law?

Answer 6

14,000; 2-4%

Question 7

What Congress are we in now (Sept 19)?

Answer 7

The 116th

Question 8

“Nothing is more likely than that the enumeration of powers is defective.” So said:

Answer 8

Thomas Jefferson

Question 9

How did James Madison describe checks and balances?

Answer 9

Ambition counter-checking ambition

Question 10

Who is the Speaker of the House (Sept 19)?

Answer 10

Nancy Pelosi

Question 11

Who is the Majority Leader in the Senate (Sept 19)?

Answer 11

Mitch McConnell

Question 12

What are the three main tasks of Congress?

Answer 12

Oversight, legislation, representation

Question 13

Which type of representation is measured by the extent to which Congress reflects the make-up of the US?

Answer 13

Descriptive

Question 14

Who is the only black Republican Senator (Sept 19)?

Answer 14

Tim Scott (SC)

Question 15

Where in the Constitution are the enumerated powers listed?

Answer 15

Article 1 section 8

Question 16

How many enumerated powers of Congress are there?

Answer 16

18

Question 17

How is the 18th enumerated power of Congress often known, and what does it say?

Answer 17

The necessary and proper clause, or the elastic clause; it says that Congress can do whatever it needs to to discharge the previous 17 powers.

Question 18

What are the three exclusive powers of the House?

Answer 18

Initiate money bills; impeachment (though it is tried by the Senate); elect the president if the electoral college is deadlocked (has only happened twice - 1800 and 1824).

Question 19

Give two exclusive powers of the Senate.

Answer 19

Here are four: the power to confirm presidential appointments, the power to ratify treaties, try cases if impeachment, elect the VP if the electoral college is deadlocked.

Question 20

How are Sentors and Representatives allocated, and by what agreement was that decided?

Answer 20

Two senators per state, representatives allocated proportionally by population; the Connecticut Compromise.

Question 21

Hip Hughes likened the House to a mad dog on a leash. Why is the dog mad, and what is the leash?

Answer 21

Mad because it can be influenced by the voters and has teeth (impeachment, influence on legislation). The leash is the two year term.

Question 22

How long do a) Representatives and b) Senators serve per term?

Answer 22

Two and six years respectively.

Question 23

What majorities, and where, are required to a) overturn a presidential veto, b) confirm a presidential appointment and c) ratify a treaty?

Answer 23

a) 2/3 in both Houses
b) simple, Senate
c) 2/3, Senate

Question 24

What’s a filibuster, in which house can it happen, and what’s a famous example?

Answer 24

When a Senator talks and talks on a subject until his opponents give up their motion; in the Senate; Ted Cruz over Obamacare.

Question 25

Gerrymandering is more properly known as:

Answer 25

redistricting

Question 26

How often are mid-term elections, and who faces them?

Answer 26

Every four years; the whole House and 1/3 of the Senate.

Question 27

If the two Houses can’t agree on the wording of a bill, what is formed to sort out the problems?

Answer 27

A conference committee.

Question 28

Which is the most powerful House committee, why, and who is its chair?

Answer 28

House Rules Committee; because it determines which bills come to the floor; Jim McGovern (Sept 19).

Question 29

What is the most senior opposition member of a Congressional committee known as?

Answer 29

The ranking member

Question 30

As the car bumper sticker puts it, “What is the opposite of progress?”

Answer 30

Congress