Congress Examples Flashcards

1
Q

Give an example of in 1993, there was a united government?

A

Bill Clinton controlled the Presidency and Congress (Democrat)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Give an example of in 2021 when there was a united government?

A

Joe Biden controlled the Presidency and Congress

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Give an example of in 2019 there was a divided government?

A

Donald Trump controlled the Presidency, Democrats controlled the House, Republicans controlled Senate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Give an example of when Obama had to ask Congress for support with reform?

A

The Affordable Health Care Act (2010)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Give an example of when Trump had to ask Congress for support with reform?

A

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Give an example of when both houses of Congress investigated an issue (oversight)?

A
The House Intelligence Committee
The House Oversight Committee
The Senate Oversight Committee
The Senate Judiciary Committee 
All investigated collusion from Trump with the Russians in the 2016 Presidential Election
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How many times did Congress override President Bush’s 12 vetoes?

A

4 times.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What did the House vote down Bush’s veto of the Water Resources Development Bill veto in 2007

A

Bush vetoed it
House voted it down 381 - 40
(it was a Democrat controlled Congress)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How many times did Congress override President Trump’s 10 vetoes?

A

Once

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What did the House vote down Trump’s veto of The National Defense Authorisation Act (2021)?

A

Trump vetoed it
House voted it down 322 - 87
(Democrat controlled House)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What did the Senate vote down Trump’s veto of The National Defense Authorisation Act (2021)?

A

81 - 13

Republican controlled Senate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

When was the last time Congress declared war?

A

1941

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

In 1973, what did the House vote for in terms of President Nixon appointing Gerald Ford as VP?

A

387 - 35

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

In 1973, what did the Senate vote for in terms of President Nixon appointing Gerald Ford as VP?

A

92 - 3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What was President Trump impeached for in 2019?

A

Power and obstruction of Congress

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What was President Trump impeached for in 2021?

A

Incitement of insurrection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What was President Trump impeached for in 2019

A

For pressuring Ukrainian President Zelensky into giving information about Joe Biden’s son with the aim to take him down in the election. Trump used military aid as the bargaining tool

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

In 2010, what treaty did the Senate ratify?

A

Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty negotiated by Obama

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What vote did Senate ratify the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty by?

A

71 - 26

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Give an example of when President Trump used an executive order to bypass the ratification function of Senate?

A

Trump overturned Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Give an example of when the Senate confirmed President Trump’s nomination to the Supreme Court?

A

Amy Coney Barret

52 - 48

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Give an example of when Senate approved Trump’s nomination to a senior branch of the executive?

A

Mike Pompeo

57 - 43

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How many Republican House members voted to impeach Donald Trump in 2021?

A

10

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How many Republican Senators voted to impeach Donald Trump in 2021?

A

7

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

In 2016, how many House members ran for Senate seats?

A

12

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

In 2017, how many former House members were there in the Senate?

A

50

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Give two recent Presidents who were members of the Senate?

A

President Obama

President Biden

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Who was the Democrats first successful VP who rose from the Senate?

A

Kamala Harris in 2020

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

In January of 2020, what was the salary of members of Congress?

A

$174,000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What % of women are there in Congress?

A

24%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What % of women are there in the USA?

A

51%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What % of black Americans are there in Congress?

A

10%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What % of black Americans are there in the USA?

A

12%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What % of people with a bachelors degree are there in Congress?

A

97%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What % of people are there with a bachelors degree are there in the USA?

A

17%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What is the average age of those in Congress?

A

59 years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What is the average age of those in the USA?

A

38 years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Give an example of when the delegate model of representation impacted voting in Congress?

A

Many Republicans decided not to vote to impeach Donald Trump because of his popularity with their constituents

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

In 2000, how many House members were re-elected?

A

98%

40
Q

In 2004, how many Senate members were relelected?

A

96%

41
Q

In 2006, how many Senate members were reelected?

A

79%

42
Q

In 2019, how much money was spent on pork barrel politics?

A

$15.3 billion

43
Q

Between 1991 and 2007, how much money was spent on the ‘Big Dig Highway’ in Boston?

A

$14.6 billion

44
Q

In 2020, how many House members were reelected?

A

95%

45
Q

In 2020, how many Senate members were reelected?

A

83%

46
Q

In the 2018 midterm elections, by what amount did House members out-raise their challengers?

A

8x

47
Q

What happened in 2010 which highlights gerrymandering?

A

Democrats re-drew the electoral maps so it concentrated Democrat support and dispersed Republican support

48
Q

Give an example of an act which shows party unity vote in the House of Representatives?

A

The Federal Information Systems Safeguard Act 2016

49
Q

In the The Federal Information Systems Safeguard Act 2016, how many Republicans voted for and against the act?

A
Yes = 241
No = 2
50
Q

In the The Federal Information Systems Safeguard Act 2016, how many Democrats voted for and against the act?

A
Yes = 4
No = 179
51
Q

Give an example of a Conservative Democrat voting with the Republicans?

A

Jim Cooper - Tennessee is a Conservative Democrat, sometimes voting with the Republicans

52
Q

Give an example of a Democrat caucus with a conservative outlook?

A

Blue Dog Coalition
Mainly southern, Democrats who are fiscally conservative. They were influential in passing the welfare reforms acts of 1995 and 1996

53
Q

How was the Blue Dog Coalition influential in passing the TPersonal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act 1996?

A

The act reduced welfarism by (according to Clinton in the State of the Union address) moved 2.25 million people off the welfare payroll.

54
Q

Give an example of a caucus that promotes black rights?

A

Congressional Black Caucus

Formed in 1971 exclusively for black African american members of both Houses

55
Q

Give an example of an extremely right wing Republican caucus?

A

House Freedom Caucus

Founded in 2015, seeks to support ‘limited government, the Constitution and the rule of law’

56
Q

Give an example of when in 2010, Nanci Pelosi, forced a caucus to pass Obamas healthcare reform?

A

Forced the members of the Blue Dog Coalition to pass Obamas healthcare reform

57
Q

Give an example of when Republican congressmen put their constituents needs above those of their party?

A

12 Republican representatives in the House voted against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017), as they were representatives of California, New York and New Jersey. Wanted to be reelected in the 2018 midterms

58
Q

In the 2020 election cycle, how much did the financial sector donate to individuals from both parties?

A

$75 million

59
Q

How many bills are seen by Congress every session?

A

Between 10,000 and 14,000

60
Q

What % of bills make it into law?

A

Between 2% an 4%

61
Q

Give an example of the most unproductive Congress?

A

112th Congress, 2011-2012

284 of 12,299 bills were signed into law

62
Q

Why was the 112th Congress the least productive?

A

Because the House was dominated by the Republicans and the Senate the Democrats

63
Q

Give an example of when the House sought an absolute majority to debate a ‘popular’ piece of legislation when the House Rules Committee did not?

A

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2002

64
Q

Give an example of when the House Rules Committee debated legislation under close scrutinty?

A

Between 2017 - 2019, the HRC debated 56% of bills under close watch. Means that minority party in Congress has little ability to shape Congress

65
Q

Give an example of a filibuster?

A

In 2010, Bernie Sanders spoke for 8 hours against a new tax deal Obama proposed to Republicans

66
Q

In the Senate, what was the vote on The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017?

A

51 - 49 (everyone except 1 Rep, voted on party lines)

67
Q

In the House, what was the vote on the Conference Committee version of the bill on The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017?

A

244 - 201

68
Q

In the Conference Committee, what was the vote on The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017?

A

24 Republicans in favour
16 Democrats against
(on party lines)

69
Q

Give an example of when the President signed a bill into law?

A

Trump signed The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017 into law via the media

70
Q

How many regular vetoes did Trump use?

A

10

71
Q

How many pocket vetoes did Bill Clinton use?

A

1

72
Q

In total, how many vetoes did Obama use?

A

10

73
Q

How many of Trumps vetoes were overriden?

A

1

74
Q

When do most Presidential nominations get rejected?

A

When the President doesn’t control the Senate

75
Q

When was Congressional oversight light?

A

2001 - 2006 when George W Bush controlled the Presidency and the Republicans controlled Senate and the House

76
Q

In 2003 - 2004, how many Congressional oversight hearings were held when Reps controlled both branches?

A

37

77
Q

In 1993 - 1994, how many Congressional oversight hearings were held when Dems controlled both branches?

A

137

78
Q

Give an example of an act that demonstrates bipartisanship?

A

Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act 2020?

79
Q

Give an example of when Congress was effective in oversight in terms of domestic policy?

A

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015 concerning the nuclear deal with Iran

80
Q

Give an example of when Congress was effective in oversight in terms of domestic policy?

A

Trump failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act (2010)

81
Q

What was Bush’s approval rating after 9/11?

A

90%

Able to pass the Patriot Act (2001) in this time

82
Q

What was Trumps approval rating during his term and what were the implications of this?

A

41%

With a Dem lead House, Congress was able to scrutinise many policies such as immigration and tax reform

83
Q

What was Congress’ approval rating in 2020?

A

17%

Difficult to legitimise criticising Presidential policy

84
Q

How many members does a House Standing Committee hold?

A

30 - 40

85
Q

Give an example of when the House Armed Services Committee investigated something?

A

Discussed the Presidential strategy for Syria and Iraq

86
Q

Give an example of when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee investigated something?

A

Investigated the Presidents strategy towards US and Chineese relations

87
Q

Give an example of when the Senate standing committee confirmed Presidential appointments?

A

Senate approved Sec. of Edu. Betsy DeVos
Committee = 12 - 11
Senate Floor = 51 - 50 (Mike Pence casted final vote)

88
Q

Give an example of when the House impeached Donald Trump?

A

Impeached him in, 2019 and 2021

89
Q

What was the Iran War Powers Resolution Act (2020)?

A

A bipartisan effort to restrict the President, giving the power to Congress, in terms of foreign policy. Shows power in foreign policy

90
Q

Give an example of when the Supreme Court overruled the Constitution and legalised same sex marriage?

A

Obergefell v Hodges (2015), legalised same sex marriage

91
Q

What did the War Powers Act (1973) allow the President to do?

A

Authorise military use without Congressional approval

92
Q

How many electoral votes did Ronald Reagan receive in 1980?

A

489

93
Q

How many seats in the House did Reagan manage to achieve for the Republicans (coat tails affect)?

A

33

94
Q

How many seats in the Senate did Reagan manage to achieve for the Republicans (coat tails affect)?

A

12

95
Q

In 1980, what % of Senators were reelected?

A

55%