Congress Flashcards
What is the current (Sept 19) split in the Senate?
53-47 Rep (strictly 53-45, but the two independents always caucus with the Dems)
Who are the two independent Senators and which states do they represent?
Bernie Sanders (VT) and Angus King (ME)
How many members of Congress are there, and how many in each chamber?
535; 100 Senate, 435 House
How many electoral college votes are there, and why is that number greater than the number of members of Congress?
538; one for each representative (535) and three for DC, which has no representation in Congress.
If a congressional committee puts a bill to one side, effectively killing it, it is said to be using what technique?
Pigeonholing
Roughly how many bills are introduced each Congress, and what percentage become law?
14,000; 2-4%
What Congress are we in now (Sept 19)?
The 116th
“Nothing is more likely than that the enumeration of powers is defective.” So said:
Thomas Jefferson
How did James Madison describe checks and balances?
Ambition counter-checking ambition
Who is the Speaker of the House (Sept 19)?
Nancy Pelosi
Who is the Majority Leader in the Senate (Sept 19)?
Mitch McConnell
What are the three main tasks of Congress?
Oversight, legislation, representation
Which type of representation is measured by the extent to which Congress reflects the make-up of the US?
Descriptive
Who is the only black Republican Senator (Sept 19)?
Tim Scott (SC)
Where in the Constitution are the enumerated powers listed?
Article 1 section 8
How many enumerated powers of Congress are there?
18
How is the 18th enumerated power of Congress often known, and what does it say?
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.
What are the three exclusive powers of the House?
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).
Give two exclusive powers of the Senate.
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.
How are Sentors and Representatives allocated, and by what agreement was that decided?
Two senators per state, representatives allocated proportionally by population; the Connecticut Compromise.
Hip Hughes likened the House to a mad dog on a leash. Why is the dog mad, and what is the leash?
Mad because it can be influenced by the voters and has teeth (impeachment, influence on legislation). The leash is the two year term.
How long do a) Representatives and b) Senators serve per term?
Two and six years respectively.
What majorities, and where, are required to a) overturn a presidential veto, b) confirm a presidential appointment and c) ratify a treaty?
a) 2/3 in both Houses
b) simple, Senate
c) 2/3, Senate
What’s a filibuster, in which house can it happen, and what’s a famous example?
When a Senator talks and talks on a subject until his opponents give up their motion; in the Senate; Ted Cruz over Obamacare.
