Congress - representation and structure

Question 1

In January 2024, what was the approval rate of Congress

Answer 1

79% disapproved of congress
15% approved of congress

Question 2

What is the structure of congress that makes it the same as the UK

Answer 2

It’s bicameral: HOR and Senate

Question 3

How is the senate and HOR elected?

Answer 3

Both directly elected.
The Senate was first directly elected in 1914 after the 17th amendment. The HOR has always been this way

Question 4

How many members are in the HOR and where do they come from?

Answer 4

435
Each state has a certain number of of members proportional to its population

Question 5

How many members does the senate have and where do these members come from?

Answer 5

The senate has 100 members, with each of the 50 states having 2 senators

Question 6

How often are congressional election and who is elected at this time?

Answer 6

They are every 2 years.
The whole of the house is elected every two years, whereas senators serve 6 year terms with one third of the senate being up for re-election every 2 years

Question 7

What are midterm election?

Answer 7

Elections for the US Congress that take place in the middle of a full presidential term

Question 8

What is a divided government?

Answer 8

When the presidency is controlled by one party and one or both of the houses of congress are controlled by the other party

Question 9

What qualifications must you have to be a senator?

Answer 9

You must be at least 30 and have been a US citizen for 9 years. You must be a resident of the state you represent.

Question 10

What qualifications must you have to be a representative?

Answer 10

You must be at least 25 years old and have been a US citizen for at least 7 years. You must be a resident of the state you represent.

Question 11

Which are the powers held by the HOR?

Answer 11

-beginning consideration of all money bills
-bringing charges of impeachment
-choosing the president if the electoral college is deadlock

Question 12

Which powers are held solely by the senate?

Answer 12

-ratifying treaties
-confirming appointments
-choosing the vice president if the Electoral College is deadlock

Question 13

What are concurrent powers in congress? (Powers both houses exercise)

Answer 13

-creating legislation
-oversight of the executive
-overriding the president’s veto
-Initiating constitutional amendments
-Declaring war
-Confirming an appointed VP

Question 14

How do both houses have power in creating legislation?

Answer 14

Both houses are equal: all bills must pass both houses in the same form and neither can override the wishes of the other house (clear difference to UK politics). The president must ask Congress to pass legislation they want.

Question 15

How do both houses have power in overriding the president’s veto?

Answer 15

Both houses must vote with a 2/3rds majority

Question 16

How do both houses have power in initiating constitutional amendments?

Answer 16

Both houses must approve with a 2/3rds majority to pass a constitutional amendment

Question 17

Why do the HOR hold the power solely of beginning consideration of money bills and why is it not a very significant power?

Answer 17

Initially, the HOR was the only directly elected house and the Founding Fathers believed elected representatives should have the first say in matters concerning people’s money. However, the senate must pass, and may also amend such bills, so this power of the HOR is not significant

Question 18

Why do the senate have power over the President in ratifying treaties?

Answer 18

The senate alone has the power to ratify treaties - by a 2/3rds majority. This means the President needs to keep the Senate fully informed throughout negotiations to avoid concluding treaties that the Senate won’t ratify

Question 19

Why is the senate losing power in its ability to ratify treaties?

Answer 19

Presidents are managing to circumvent Congress by signing executive agreements if they think a treaty would not be ratified by congress. However, successors can easily overturn executive agreements

Question 20

How many votes does a judicial or executive appointment need in the Senate to be confirmed?

Answer 20

a simple majority

Question 21

What appointments must the Senate confirm?

Answer 21

All judicial appointments and those in the senior executive branch

Question 22

Despite it indicating they have less power, why is it logical that the senate chooses the VP if the electoral college is deadlock?

Answer 22

Given the VP is president of the Senate, it is logical that they would select him or her

Question 23

Which house is seen more powerful?

Answer 23

The senate

Question 24

Why is the senate seen as more powerful?

Answer 24

-house members often seek election to the senate
-senators represent an entire state
-Longer term of 6 years compared to 2 years
-Smaller number of senators mean a louder voice
-Many presidents are in the senate first
-The confirmation of appointments, the ratifying of treaties and the trying of impeachment shows significantly greater power

Question 25

When it comes to legislating which house is more powerful?

Answer 25

They are both equal in power

Question 26

What are the three broad functions of congress?

Answer 26

Legislation
Representation
Oversight

Question 27

Does congress represent the demographic of the US

Answer 27

No
Females are under represented
Congress is whiter, older, more professional and more Christian than the nation as a whole

Question 28

Why are members of the House likely to be more representative of their constituents?

Answer 28

They only have 2 year terms and they will want to be re-elected

Question 29

What are the factors which give the incumbent congressmen such a high rate of re-election?

Answer 29

Constituency services and name recognition
Pork Barrel politics
Fundraising advantage
Gerrymandering

Question 30

How does the incumbent get an advantage through constituency services and name recognition?

Answer 30

They are provided with official websites, making it easy for the electorate to contact them
Franking privileges allow them to mail their constituents at Congress’ expense
Significant name recognition and may have a more senior position, which may bring more significant benefits in the form of pork barrel politics

Question 31

What is pork barrel politics?

Answer 31

Refers to funds provided for superfluous projects in a members of Congress’s state/district. Voters have always felt the same way about it: praising their own members of Congress if they are beneficiaries while criticizing others of Congress for wasteful spending

Question 32

Why do challengers find it hard to raise money? What is money spent on?

Answer 32

Because the incumbent are far more significant and likely to be elected, they find it easier to raise money.
Money is spent on hiring election consultants, buying television time and advertisement

Question 33

What is gerrymandering?

Answer 33

The deliberate shaping of congressional boundaries to give one party a political advantage. This has led to the governing party of the state legislators drawing boundaries to give them an electoral advantage

Question 34

What are the factors that affect voting behaviour within Congress?

Answer 34

-political parties
-congressional caucuses
-the administration
-the constituency
-pressure groups
-lobbyists

Question 35

What’s a party unity vote (party vote)?

Answer 35

A vote in either house in which the majority of one party votes against the majority of another party

Question 36

Why do sticks and carrots not work in congress?

Answer 36

Sticks, such as the threat of deselection do not work in a system where voters decide on candidates in primary elections
Carrots don’t work in an institution of ‘separated institutions’, where the executive and legislature don’t overlap

Question 37

What is a congressional caucus?

Answer 37

The collection of members of either major party elected to the House or the Senate. They will look to advance special interests and pursue common legislative objectives. They are also responsible for electing majority and minority leaders as well as party whips to each house

Question 38

What are congressional caucuses increasingly becoming created around?

Answer 38

Ideological, regional, ethnic or economic interests, rather than just caucuses based around the two main parties in each of the houses

Question 39

What are caucuses main functions?

Answer 39

• education - policy briefings and advice
• agenda setting
• encourage support

Question 40

Why may congressmen be inclined to vote in the way constituents want them to?

Answer 40

-The must be a resident of the state they represent, giving them a good understanding of what citizens want. This is especially true as many will have been born and raised in the state/district they represent.
-House members are specifically careful to think about constituents given their tenure is only two years and some incumbents may have to win a primary election to decide whether they can represent their party in the congressional election

Question 41

Arguments that congress are successful at their representation role

Answer 41

-the composition of congress has never been more representative
-the frequency of elections ensures good representation - large number of elections in US for different branches
-Members of congress offer both the trustee and delegate models of representation- house= delegates due to 2 year terms while senators =trustee due to 6 year terms
-caucuses can allow under-represented groups to act together

Question 42

Arguments that Congress is not successful in representation?

Answer 42

-Representation of Congress is still not representative of the US
-Gerrymandering undermines representation
-FPTP reinforces the two-party system which limits representation
-Effectiveness of caucuses - not as effective as a multi-party system
-pressure groups distort the function of representation - pressure groups gain more attention and influence as they may be able to offer campaign finance to members of congress
-Similarly, lobbyists can influence congress more than their own constituents, negating the role of representation
-the role is compromised by the financial advantage of incumbents