Congress Flashcards
1
Q
What are congressional caucuses?
A
Groups of legislators who share special interests and meet to pursue common legislative objectives. E.g. Hispanic caucus
2
Q
What is divided government?
A
When the House of Representatives, senate and presidency are not all controlled by one party
3
Q
What is a filibuster?
A
When a senator gives a prolonged speech on the floor of the senate in order to obstruct legislative progress of a bill or confirmation of appointments to the executive or judiciary
4
Q
What is gridlock?
A
When the president and congress are equally powerful, constantly preventing each other from acting, resulting in difficulty passing legislation
5
Q
What are Mid-terms?
A
Congressional elections held mid-way through a presidents four year term.
6
Q
What is oversight?
A
The ability of one branch of governemnt to supervise the work of another
7
Q
What is unanimous consent?
A
A senator or congressman may request unanimous consent on the floor to set aside a specified rule of procedure so as to quicken proceedings
8
Q
How is congress structured?
A
In a bicameral structure
9
Q
What was the name of the convention that devised congress?
A
Philadelphia convention
10
Q
What is the lower house of congress called?
A
- House of Representatives
11
Q
How many members of the House of Representatives are there?
A
435
12
Q
Who do house representatives represent and how long do they serve for?
A
They represent congressional districts and serve two year terms
13
Q
What is the upper house of congress also called?
A
Senate
14
Q
How many members are there of senate?
A
100
15
Q
Who do members of the senate represent and how long do they serve?
A
They represent the entire state and serve 6 year terms
16
Q
What is a congressional district?
A
Geographic sub division of a state represented by a member of the House of Representatives (like a constituency)
17
Q
What are the constitutional requirements to be a senator?
A
- must be at least 30 years old, have been a US citizen for at least 9 years
18
Q
What are the constitutional requirements to be a representative?
A
- must be at least 25 years old, must have been a resident for at least 7 years
19
Q
What % of women make up the House of Representatives and the Senate?
A
House of Representatives - 19%
Senate - 21%
20
Q
Out of the 83 women elected into the house in 2016 how many were democrats and republicans?
A
Democrats - 62
Republicans - 21
21
Q
In 2017 what percentage of state legislators were women?
A
24.8%
22
Q
In Wyoming what percentage of state legislators were women?
A
11%
23
Q
In 2015 how many states had more than 10% of African American state legislators?
A
15
24
Q
What % of the senate and house is made up of Hispanics?
A
Senate - 4%
House - 8%
25
What part of the constitution gives congress the power to make laws?
Article I section 8
26
What is the special law making power that the house has?
Can begin the consideration of money bills, amending and passing them.
27
What is an example of congress overriding the presidents veto bill?
2007, Bush’s veto of the water resources development Bill.
28
How may times did congress veto Bushes vetoes?
4/12
29
What does congress do regarding the appointments process?
They can confirm and reject any appointments made by the president.
30
Who did the senate vote to become new Supreme Court justice in 2010? And what was the vote?
63 to 37 votes for Elena Kagan
31
What is needed for congress to ratify?
Two thirds majority
32
What treaty in 2010 did congress ratify?
The START treaty with Russia
33
What powers does congress hold over the Supreme Court?
Can initiate constitutional amendments with a 2/3 majority in both houses
34
How many times since 1789 has the house impeached public officials? When was the most recent case
19 times - 2010 Thomas porteous
35
What are the joint powers of both houses of congress?
- law making
- overseeing the executive branch
- overriding a presidents veto
- initiating constitutional amendments
- declaring war
- electing president and Vice President if electoral college is blocked
36
Which vice president was confirmed by both houses and when?
Gerald Ford 1973
37
What are arguments that the senate is more prestigious than the House?
- senators represent an entire state
- serve longer terms
- are only one in 100
- more likely to chair a committee
- frequently seek election to the senate
38
What is a standing committee?
A permanent, policy specialist committee of congress playing key roles in both legislation and investigation.
39
What are the functions of standing committees?
- legislation and scrutiny of the executive branch
| - begin confirmation of appointments only
40
How many members are part of standing committees?
30-40 members
41
What is an example of a senate standing committee and house standing committee?
Senate - foreign relations
| House - foreign affairs
42
What are examples of congressional sub-committees?
Energy and environment
43
What are some of the functions of standing committees?
- conducting committee stage bills
- conducting investigations
- confirming presidential appointments
44
What does the committee do regarding legislation?
Holds “hearings” on the bill proposed at which “witnesses” appear and make statements.
45
At the end of the committee stage of the bill what is conducted?
A vote is taken by the committee on whether or not to pass the bill on to the full chamber for debate and votes
46
What candidate did the Judiciary committee refuse to hold hearings on in 2016?
Merrick Garland
47
What was the committee vote on Clarence Thomas?
7-7
48
What is the house rules committee responsible for?
It’s responsible for prioritising bills
49
What are select committees?
They are set up to investigate a certain issue.
50
What party do the committee chairs come from?
What ever party has the majority in the house.
51
What’s the seniority rule?
The rule that the chair of a congressional standing committee is the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on that committee
52
2015-16 what % of bills proposed were enacted?
2.7%
53
What is unanimous consent agreement?
An agreement in either the house or the senate, made without objection, to waive the chambers normal rules
54
What is a filibuster?
Device by which one or more senators can delay action on a bill or any other matter by debating it at length or by other obstructive actions
55
How long did senator Bernie sanders speak for in 2011 and what Is this an example of?
He spoke for just over 8.5 hours - example of a filibuster
56
How long was Ted Cruz’s Filibuster in 2013?
21 hours
57
What are the differences between the legislative process in each chamber of congress?
- House of Representatives only have two year terms to give a greater sense of urgency, while the senate is six year terms.
- house members have one major committee assignment, senators have 2 or 3 major committees
- referral bills are more difficult to challenge in the house.
58
What is the trend of conference committees in the last 20 years?
Declining
59
What are the three options the president has as to what to do with a bill?
- signing the bill into law
- “leave to on his desk”
- regular veto
- pocket veto
60
What is a pocket veto?
- a veto power exercised by the president at the end of a legislative session whereby bills not signed are lost.
61
Since 1789 to 2017 how many times had the president used a regular veto? What is the success rate of the regular veto?
1508 times at a success rate of 92%
62
Why is it so hard for congress to veto the presidents veto?
- president only needs 34 senators to win
63
What are the reasons for bills trying to get passed through congress being difficult?
- number of bills makes the process overcrowded
- the process is complicated “legislative labyrinth”
- there is in some cases a need for super majority votes
- power in congress is decentralised
- the fact that both houses possess equal power makes the process more difficult.
- congress might be controlled by separate parties. E.g. 2001 - 2002
64
How many votes in congress were needed to pass president Obamas healthcare reform legislation?
7
65
Between jan 2015 and march 2016 how many pieces of legislation was passed? How many acts were passed to rename a local facility?
139
| 22 were passed to rename local facilities
66
What is a significant law passed by congress since 1990?
American recovery Reinvestment act (2009)
67
What is an oversight?
Congressional review and investigation of the activities of the executive branch of government.
68
What did the Philadelphia convention do?
It established a bicameral congress it was a compromise. It established the house that had representatives in proportion to its population, but in the upper house the states would be represented equally. This kept both the states with large populations and those with small populations content.
69
What did the founding fathers decide regarding elections to the senate?
That the house would be directly elected but the senate would be indirectly elected
70
What did the 17th amendment do?
- meant the first direct elections for the senate were held
71
How long and what does it Link in North Carolina’s 12th congressional district?
Links small towns scattered for 100 miles along interstate 85
72
Which state has the highest percentage of African American legislators?
Mississippi with 28% - 2015
73
What are the powers of congress?
- law making
- overseeing the executive branch
- overriding the presidents veto
- confirming appointments
- ratifying treaties
- initiating constitutional amendments
- impeaching
- confirming an appointed Vice President
- declaring war
- electing the president and Vice President if the electoral college is deadlocked
74
What are the joint powers of both houses?
- law making
- overseeing the executive
- overriding presidents veto
- initiating constitutional amendments
- impeaching and removing public officials
- confirming an appointed Vice President
- declaring war
75
What are the sole powers of the senate?
- confirming appointments
| - ratifying treaties
76
What are the sole powers of the house?
- beginning consideration of money bills
77
What is the house rules committee?
It time tables legislation in the house
78
What is oversight?
Congressional review and investigation of the activities of the executive branch of government
79
What is an example of standing committee oversight hearings during 2016?
House homeland security committee investigating “ISIS in the pacific: assessing terrorism in Southeast Asia”
80
When os congressional oversight mist effective?
When congress is not controlled by the presidents party
81
What senate rejected rob Borks nomination?
Democrat senate in 1987
82
Why is it difficult for legislation to pass through congress successfully?
- too many bills introduced so it makes the process crowded
- process is complicated
- there is need for super majority votes
- power in congress is decentralised
- because both houses have equal power it makes the process more difficult
83
Why is the decline in the use of conference committees problematic?
- important legislation needs the benefit of a conference committee to ensure greater member participation, which generally leads to a more effective process and better legislation
84
How many pieces of legislation were passed by congress? Why is this problematic?
139 Acts. 22 were merely passed to rename local facilities
85
An example of the same party having power in both the executive and legislature?
George Bush - 2001-06 but only had control of the senate by 1 vote in 2001-02
86
What variables influence the effectiveness of congressional oversight?
- the popularity of congress
| - party control
87
What is the trustee model?
Where the representative (legislator) is vested with formal responsibility for making decisions on behalf of others
