G Flashcards
Powers of senate
Confirms shy presidential appointments - simple majority Supreme Court. Bork rejected in 1987
Ratify by 2/3 foreign treaties - rejected salt 2 in 1979
Try cases if impeachment 2/3 - Brazil
Decide vp in ec deadlock
Concurrent powers
Concurrent powers
Power of the purse - discuss after initiated in the house
Co equal passage of legislation
Both houses must vote by 2/3 to override presidential veto ie 2007 overide bushs vetó of water rescourxes dept 391-40 and 81-12
Can initiate constitutional amendments must be approved by 2/3 in both houses before ratification
Must agree to declare war - only occurred 5 times last in 1941
Confirm newly appointed vp is ford 1973 and Rockefeller 1974
Congress education
No college 0.4% congress yet 42.4% us
Higher degree 66.9% congress yet 10.6% us
Race congress
White 82.6% yet 72.4% of the us
Black 8.6% congress yet 12.6% us
Hispanic 6.4% congress and 16.3% us
Gender congress
Females 19.5% but 50.8%
Makes 80.5% but 49.2%
Age congress
Under 45 19.5% yet 50.8#
Over 65 25.8% yet 13%
Why is senate more powerful
More prostrations although same salary
Veto foreign treaties ie un disability rights treaty
They have more time 100 compared to 438
Often launch pad for presidential - Rubio obsma Clinton Bernie ( vp in 14/15)
Ejected every 6 years
They actually impeach (50 on obstruction of justice charge )
More likely to get key leadership role took first 8 years but pelosi 20 years
Wilson on committees
Congress sits to sanction the conclusion of the committees
What are standing committees
Permanent policy specialist
Representatives 40-50 members
Senate 18
Usually members are congressmen with issues mattering to their date - Iowa both sens on agricultural
How many committees are there
Standing
Rep 19
Sen 16
Permanent
Rep 3
Sen 4
Functions of standing
1 complete committee stage of bills they hold hearings with witnesses then the committee votes on wether the bill should be sent to the floor
2 conduct investigations within a committee policy area - wether legislation can be improved call witnesses ie 100th congress agriculture technology in meat industry
3 in senate they begin the confirmation process of appointments . Advisory - Clinton 16:1
House rules committee
One of the standing committees in the house
Prioritising bills coming from committees stages to the house
Sets out ruled for debate is awndnents
Smaller than most only 13 and Pete_Sessions chair
Conference committee
Designed to ensure that both houses pass the same bill
Conferees drew from both to reach compromise when can’t be reconciled informally
Must be voted on the floor of each house again
Select committee
They are created to investigate particular issue
Ie senate cia
2012 John boehner after Bengazi and Clinton sos
Bills passed 1-3
1 first reading initatared by congressmen usually from sofu. Placed in clerks / title read. Circulated 10,000-14000 yet only 3%
2 committee
Decided on whether a hearing then witnesses are called. Then amended suggestions . Lengthy due to pork barrell. Then voted on by committee. Only really get through with congress / White House / public / interest group support. Only 3% made it through . Vile ‘what comes out is in their hands’
3 timetabling house house rules senate minority and majority. Rules not likes than discharge issued ie 2001-2 shays Meehan campaign finance reform
Bills 4-7
4 second reading fully debated in both houses and amended and changed. Can be lengthy If filibustered. 2016 Chris Murphy is now. Need 16 to start clothes and 2/3 support.
5 third goal oppurtuinty to debate and amend then voted on
6 conference committee if needed to change can’t be informal. Only needed for 8% in 110 th less likely to when one party controls
7 presidential
Signed it to endorse or Obama care 2010
Left on desk and passed in 10 days
Veto - means that it is blocked 10 Obama June labour reform and then can be over rises
Pocket veto left at the end of Congress’s
Why is it Difficult to pass legislation
The power is decentralised as committee chairs have power - gate keeping authority Mike_Conaway agriculture.
Filibuster can reduce the power - need closure 2/3 vote to stop 16 senators must sign cloture. 2016 Chris Murphy
Congressman or more consented about constituents have a tendency to bring home the bacon and pork barrel politics 2014 budget $90milkoon on tanks not wanted - defence appropriations.
The congressman are less likely to toe the party line Bart Stupak and dens only signed Obama care with a pro life stance
Why don’t they vote with party
Partisanship less likely
Issues such as gun control or abortion defence of marriage act (dems shifted to republican )
“Party votes” party votes in a partisan way. 1995 73% house but 2008 5o% ie Paul Ryan had said he is going to veto lots
There are less sticks and carrots. U.K. Can deselect and give patronage but in us legislature and executive are alerted
You can have socially conservative democrats or blue dogs (fiscally conservative) ie
Bart Stupak and other dems asserted pro life in Obama care
Caucuses
Not official but they are like minded people - or black caucus more orominjnaf with black lives matter
Influences
State bring home the bacon “ canrney 2006 no hesitation when I go against the party view if it conflicts with the values of my district.
Bring home the bacon pork barrel politics up every two years crony capitalism
At the 1770s they do their best to please state but do have some independence to based on the true and considered judgement and can vote for the good of the nation as a whole.
Personal beliefs Bart Stupak pro life Obama care.
Congress checking the executive
The Congress select committees this can scrutinise executive action for example Hillary Clinton Benghazi 2012 was investigated
Impeachment the house puts them on impeachment what’s the sinéad tries and I Clinton.
The Senate can block judicial appointments Bork 1989 + garland replacement of Scalia
Byrd Congress is not a rubber stamp or a presidential lapdog - can make it awkward for president - 2014 Obama
How is congress viewed
2008 gullible only 14% of Americans approved of congress 14% in 2015
Associated with gridlock
1976-2000 presidential inner was govoner - washing establishment not liked
How was Congress changed
Select committees now have secret ballots they also limited to 6 year term limits due to the Republicans D I NGELL chair of energy and commence committee for 54 years
Television now you stink committee rooms folk back home can see them
Increase in congressional stuffing and congressional agencies. Triple since 1961 congressional budget office set of the 1974
Powers of house
-selevtivd president when ec tied 1800 1824
Impeach - president / judiciary happened to Clinton
Initiate money bills - deciding how spent
