Congress Flashcards
facts about the members of the HOR
- lower house
- 435 members
- represents a congressional district
- serve two-year terms
- must be at least 25 years old
- must be a US citizen for at least 7 years
- must be resident of state they represent
facts about members of the senate
- upper house
- 100 members
- represent entire state
- serve six-year terms
- must be at least 30 years old
- must be a US citizen for at least nine years
- must be resident of the state they represent
what powers do congress hold
- law making
- overseeing the executive branch, including investigations
- overriding the presidents veto (two-thirds majority in both houses is required)
- confirming appointments by president (senate)
- ratify treaties
- initiating constitutional amendments
- impeaching (HOR) and removing public officials (senate)
- confirming the appointment of the VP
- declaring war
- electing the president and VP is electoral colleges is deadlocked (HOR picks president and senate chooses VP)
what two sole powers does the senate have
- confirming appointments
- ratifying treaties
what sole powers does the senate have
beginning considerations of money bills
why is the senate more prestigious then the house
- senate represents whole states
- senators serve longer terms
- senators are one of only 100
- more likely to whole some other leadership position
- senators are more likely to become president or VP
- HOR members are more likely to want to be senators
why isn’t the senate more prestigious then the house
- Both house have equal powers within legislation
- both house must approve constitutional amendments
- both house conduct oversight of the executive branches
- members of both house receive equal salary
what is the legislative process in congress
HOR legislation Congress legislation
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conference committee if required:
which reconcile the difference between House and Senate version of the bill
I
presidential action:
sign, ‘leave on desk’ or veto; possible pocket veto
what’s the legislation process in HOR
Introduction:
A formality: no debates; no vote
I
Committee stage:
Conducted in standing committee, hearing, vote
I
Timetabling:
House rules committee
I
Floor debates and vote on passagewhat’s the legislation process in the Senate
Introduction:
A formality: no debates; no vote
I
Committee stage:
Conducted in standing committee, hearing, vote
I
Timetabling:
By unanimous consent agreement
I
Floor debates and vote on passageBriefly explain what happens in the introduction stage of the legislation process?
its a formal talk in congress, no debate, no vote. in the House they just place a copy of a bill on a tray. in Congress the bills are read out and sent to appropriate standing committees.
Briefly what happens in the committee stage of the legislation process?
The most important stage. This is where the most bills fail or are pigeon holed. The approved bills go to specialist committees where tweaks to the bill can be made then is sent to the next stage
what is a pigeon hole
the putting off a bill to one side so it doesn’t go further through the stages of legislation
Briefly what happens in timetabling stage of the legislation process?
by this time congress ahs been in session for a few months, bills will be waiting to come to the floor of both chambers for debates and votes
Briefly what happens in the floor debates and vote on passage stage of the legislation process?
first opportunities to debate the bill. in the house bills are first considered in the committee stage meaning many members take part in debates. in congress delays are possible. and in both house further amendments can be put forward in the bill
Briefly what happens in the conference committee stage of the legislation process?
only once both house independently have approved a bill then it can go to the conference committee stage. however in the last 20 years this stage has declined. This stage in effect will put the two different bills as one. Due to both house predominately being run by different party there has been tension between solidifying bills meaning each house has a take it or leave it approach.
Briefly what happens in the presidential action stage of the legislation process?
for a bill that has been agreed but both house to become an amendment must sign the bill into law. if not he veto it or leave on his desk.
what happens when the president signs a bill into law
he claims credit for the bill which he backs, a bill-signing ceremony is arranged, usually at the white house, where a number of key House and senate members are present.
what are the 3 types of presidential veto’s
leaving bill on the desk, regular and pocket
what happens when the president leaves the bill on his desk
the president is putting the bill to one side as he doesn’t like it and doesn’t want his veto to be overridden. So he try’s to drag out the bill being past.
what’s a regular veto
he refuses to sign the bill as it doesn’t fit his views and sends it back within 10 working days meaning he is bargaining with congress to make a bill which fits his demands.
what’s a pocket veto
this can be used towards the end of the legislation session where a late rush of bills are put forward to the president, if he doesn’t like them he can just wait for it to end if its with 10 working days and they cant override the veto.
what’s a divided government
when different political parties control the executive branch and at least one chamber of congress
why congress is the broken branch
- gridlock in legislation
- lack of bipartisanship
- presidential appointments causes partisan point scoring
- seats being uncompetitive causes extreme political views
- foreign policy checks on the president are ineffective
