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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)

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2
Q

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

A

Joe Biden controlled the Presidency and Congress

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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

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4
Q

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

A

The Affordable Health Care Act (2010)

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5
Q

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

A

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017)

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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
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7
Q

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

A

4 times.

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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)

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9
Q

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

A

Once

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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)

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11
Q

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

A

81 - 13

Republican controlled Senate

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12
Q

When was the last time Congress declared war?

A

1941

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13
Q

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

A

387 - 35

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14
Q

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

A

92 - 3

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15
Q

What was President Trump impeached for in 2019?

A

Power and obstruction of Congress

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16
Q

What was President Trump impeached for in 2021?

A

Incitement of insurrection

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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

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18
Q

In 2010, what treaty did the Senate ratify?

A

Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty negotiated by Obama

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19
Q

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

A

71 - 26

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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

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21
Q

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

A

Amy Coney Barret

52 - 48

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22
Q

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

A

Mike Pompeo

57 - 43

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23
Q

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

A

10

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24
Q

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

A

7

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25
In 2016, how many House members ran for Senate seats?
12
26
In 2017, how many former House members were there in the Senate?
50
27
Give two recent Presidents who were members of the Senate?
President Obama | President Biden
28
Who was the Democrats first successful VP who rose from the Senate?
Kamala Harris in 2020
29
In January of 2020, what was the salary of members of Congress?
$174,000
30
What % of women are there in Congress?
24%
31
What % of women are there in the USA?
51%
32
What % of black Americans are there in Congress?
10%
33
What % of black Americans are there in the USA?
12%
34
What % of people with a bachelors degree are there in Congress?
97%
35
What % of people are there with a bachelors degree are there in the USA?
17%
36
What is the average age of those in Congress?
59 years
37
What is the average age of those in the USA?
38 years
38
Give an example of when the delegate model of representation impacted voting in Congress?
Many Republicans decided not to vote to impeach Donald Trump because of his popularity with their constituents
39
In 2000, how many House members were re-elected?
98%
40
In 2004, how many Senate members were relelected?
96%
41
In 2006, how many Senate members were reelected?
79%
42
In 2019, how much money was spent on pork barrel politics?
$15.3 billion
43
Between 1991 and 2007, how much money was spent on the 'Big Dig Highway' in Boston?
$14.6 billion
44
In 2020, how many House members were reelected?
95%
45
In 2020, how many Senate members were reelected?
83%
46
In the 2018 midterm elections, by what amount did House members out-raise their challengers?
8x
47
What happened in 2010 which highlights gerrymandering?
Democrats re-drew the electoral maps so it concentrated Democrat support and dispersed Republican support
48
Give an example of an act which shows party unity vote in the House of Representatives?
The Federal Information Systems Safeguard Act 2016
49
In the The Federal Information Systems Safeguard Act 2016, how many Republicans voted for and against the act?
``` Yes = 241 No = 2 ```
50
In the The Federal Information Systems Safeguard Act 2016, how many Democrats voted for and against the act?
``` Yes = 4 No = 179 ```
51
Give an example of a Conservative Democrat voting with the Republicans?
Jim Cooper - Tennessee is a Conservative Democrat, sometimes voting with the Republicans
52
Give an example of a Democrat caucus with a conservative outlook?
Blue Dog Coalition Mainly southern, Democrats who are fiscally conservative. They were influential in passing the welfare reforms acts of 1995 and 1996
53
How was the Blue Dog Coalition influential in passing the TPersonal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act 1996?
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
Give an example of a caucus that promotes black rights?
Congressional Black Caucus | Formed in 1971 exclusively for black African american members of both Houses
55
Give an example of an extremely right wing Republican caucus?
House Freedom Caucus | Founded in 2015, seeks to support 'limited government, the Constitution and the rule of law'
56
Give an example of when in 2010, Nanci Pelosi, forced a caucus to pass Obamas healthcare reform?
Forced the members of the Blue Dog Coalition to pass Obamas healthcare reform
57
Give an example of when Republican congressmen put their constituents needs above those of their party?
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
In the 2020 election cycle, how much did the financial sector donate to individuals from both parties?
$75 million
59
How many bills are seen by Congress every session?
Between 10,000 and 14,000
60
What % of bills make it into law?
Between 2% an 4%
61
Give an example of the most unproductive Congress?
112th Congress, 2011-2012 | 284 of 12,299 bills were signed into law
62
Why was the 112th Congress the least productive?
Because the House was dominated by the Republicans and the Senate the Democrats
63
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?
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act 2002
64
Give an example of when the House Rules Committee debated legislation under close scrutinty?
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
Give an example of a filibuster?
In 2010, Bernie Sanders spoke for 8 hours against a new tax deal Obama proposed to Republicans
66
In the Senate, what was the vote on The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017?
51 - 49 (everyone except 1 Rep, voted on party lines)
67
In the House, what was the vote on the Conference Committee version of the bill on The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017?
244 - 201
68
In the Conference Committee, what was the vote on The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017?
24 Republicans in favour 16 Democrats against (on party lines)
69
Give an example of when the President signed a bill into law?
Trump signed The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 2017 into law via the media
70
How many regular vetoes did Trump use?
10
71
How many pocket vetoes did Bill Clinton use?
1
72
In total, how many vetoes did Obama use?
10
73
How many of Trumps vetoes were overriden?
1
74
When do most Presidential nominations get rejected?
When the President doesn't control the Senate
75
When was Congressional oversight light?
2001 - 2006 when George W Bush controlled the Presidency and the Republicans controlled Senate and the House
76
In 2003 - 2004, how many Congressional oversight hearings were held when Reps controlled both branches?
37
77
In 1993 - 1994, how many Congressional oversight hearings were held when Dems controlled both branches?
137
78
Give an example of an act that demonstrates bipartisanship?
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act 2020?
79
Give an example of when Congress was effective in oversight in terms of domestic policy?
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015 concerning the nuclear deal with Iran
80
Give an example of when Congress was effective in oversight in terms of domestic policy?
Trump failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act (2010)
81
What was Bush's approval rating after 9/11?
90% | Able to pass the Patriot Act (2001) in this time
82
What was Trumps approval rating during his term and what were the implications of this?
41% | With a Dem lead House, Congress was able to scrutinise many policies such as immigration and tax reform
83
What was Congress' approval rating in 2020?
17% | Difficult to legitimise criticising Presidential policy
84
How many members does a House Standing Committee hold?
30 - 40
85
Give an example of when the House Armed Services Committee investigated something?
Discussed the Presidential strategy for Syria and Iraq
86
Give an example of when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee investigated something?
Investigated the Presidents strategy towards US and Chineese relations
87
Give an example of when the Senate standing committee confirmed Presidential appointments?
Senate approved Sec. of Edu. Betsy DeVos Committee = 12 - 11 Senate Floor = 51 - 50 (Mike Pence casted final vote)
88
Give an example of when the House impeached Donald Trump?
Impeached him in, 2019 and 2021
89
What was the Iran War Powers Resolution Act (2020)?
A bipartisan effort to restrict the President, giving the power to Congress, in terms of foreign policy. Shows power in foreign policy
90
Give an example of when the Supreme Court overruled the Constitution and legalised same sex marriage?
Obergefell v Hodges (2015), legalised same sex marriage
91
What did the War Powers Act (1973) allow the President to do?
Authorise military use without Congressional approval
92
How many electoral votes did Ronald Reagan receive in 1980?
489
93
How many seats in the House did Reagan manage to achieve for the Republicans (coat tails affect)?
33
94
How many seats in the Senate did Reagan manage to achieve for the Republicans (coat tails affect)?
12
95
In 1980, what % of Senators were reelected?
55%

Government - USA (5 decks)

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