Congress examples - legislation

Question 1

What was the least productive congress?

Answer 1

The 112th congress (2011-2012), with only 284 of the 12,299 bills introduced becoming law

Question 2

When was the discharge process used to get a bill around the House Rules Committee?

Answer 2

2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

Question 3

Example of a filibuster? x2

Answer 3

In 2010, Bernie Sanders spoke on the Senate floor against a tax deal for 8 and a half hours.
In 2013, Ted Cruz filibustered for 23 hours to prevent a vote on Obamacare

Question 4

Example of a president signing a bill into law and wanting to take credit?

Answer 4

President Obama - 2010 - signing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ‘Obamacare’

Question 5

How many regular presidential vetoes have there been since 1789 and 2021 and how many have been overridden? What does this make the President’s success rate- why is this rate?

Answer 5

There has been 1,518 and of those just 112 were overridden by Congress, giving the President a 93% success rate, although if they know a veto is unlikely to succeed, they are likely to leave it on their desk

Question 6

What is an example of a bill Obama tried to veto which was the overturned? How many vetoes did Obama make?

Answer 6

Obama made 12 vetoes and one was overridden. This was the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act

Question 7

Example of a pocket veto?

Answer 7

President Clinton was the last president to use a pocket veto- on the Consumer Bankruptcy Overhaul Bill in December 2007

Question 8

What % of all bills become law?

Answer 8

2-3%

Question 9

What are examples of recent bills passed into law of great importance?

Answer 9

USA Patriot Act 2001
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) 2020

Question 10

What is an example of when a president was unable to pass a bill despite a unified government?

Answer 10

Trump was going to repeal and replace Obamacare, but he could not get enough Republicans onside to do this as they had nothing to replace it with

Question 11

What are 2 examples of standing committees in the House

Answer 11

Homeland Security
Science, Space and Technology

Question 12

What are 2 examples of standing committees in the Senate

Answer 12

Energy and natural resources
Foreign Relations

Question 13

What’s an example of congressional sub-committees?

Answer 13

Under the House Science, Space and Technology Committee:
-energy
-environment
-research and technology

Question 14

What is an example of a congressional committee carrying out an investigation?

Answer 14

The House Homeland Security Committee- Investigated ISIS in the Pacific: assessing terrorism in South East Asia
Senate Foreign Relations Committee: US-China Relations: strategic challenges and opportunities

Question 15

What is an example of a congressional committee confirming presidential appointments in the Senate?

Answer 15

Clarence Thomas got a committee vote of 7-7 and then 52-48 in the Senate

Question 16

What was the Watergate Scandal?

Answer 16

Concerning Nixon’s 1972 presidential campaign election, including a break-in at the Democrat’s headquarters office in the Watergate office buildings. In 1973, the Senate Watergate Committee began an investigation in which it was revealed Nixon had authorised the break in and planned cover up. Nixon subsequently resigned to cover up impeachment. He was then replaced by Ford, and pardoned

Question 17

What’s an example of Trump using his presidential veto?

Answer 17

Iran War Powers Resolution (May 2020)

Question 18

What’s an example of an executive order by a President?

Answer 18

Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan to Action, which he signed with Iran in 2015

Question 19

Examples of presidents being thwarted when it comes to domestic policy?

Answer 19

Obama frustrated in legislation on gun control and immigration, while Trump failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act

Question 20

Example of a president with high approval ratings?

Answer 20

Bush after 9/11 enjoyed the highest presidential rating ever - 90%, making Congress subservient to him and allowing him to pass the Patriot Act 2001

Question 21

Example of a president with low congressional rating?

Answer 21

Donald Trump’s approval was the lowest of any since WW2 - averaging 41%. This was reinforced by the image of speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ripping up Trump’s State of The Union Address

Question 22

What is an example of congressional low approval ratings compared to the President?

Answer 22

Following the pandemic and the death of George Floyd, Trump’s popularity was 41% while congress’s approval was just 18%

Question 23

How many supreme court justices have been impeached?

Answer 23

None- only one has ever been put on trial, but the Senate acquitted Samuel Chase

Question 24

How many district judges have been impeached and who was the most recent one?

Answer 24

nine
Thomas Porteous was impeached in 2010 for accepting bribes and making false statements