interpretations and debates Flashcards
How have the domestic policy roles of Congress changed?
Congress is able to levy a federal income tax as a result of the 16th Amendment, government has grown at a federal level since the 1930s New Deal (leading to a growth in national legislation).
How has increased party polarisation and partisanship changed the powers of Congress?
Increased party polarisation and partisanship has made increasingly difficult to legislate in times of divided government, meaning that it can often be an obstructive body. Furthermore, it can also mean that scrutiny of the President is either excessive or extremely lacking depending on whether government is united or divided.
How many of Johnson’s 87 ‘Great Society’ bills were passed under united government?
LBJ’s ‘Great Society’ agenda saw 84/87 bills passed by a united Congress.
How has the role of Congress in Foreign Policy changed?
Congress retains the power to declare war (although this is hardly used), while it now sanctions military action desired by the President. Presidents have a substantial role in foreign policy, with only the Senate able to restrict the signing of treaties. Power of the Purse may control action but realistically FP is the President’s domain.
How has the 1973 War Powers Act changed the foreign policy roles of Congress?
The 1973 War Powers Act made it the case that the President has the power to take military action, but this must be approved by Congress within 90 days. Provided only a retrospective control on military action for Congress.
When has the power of the purse been used to limit the President’s foreign policy ambitions?
In 2007, a Democrat controlled Congress restricted funding for Bush’s war in Iraq.
What arguments exist that Congress is successful in its role at representing the US?
Congress has never been more diverse in terms of social characteristics, frequent elections mean views are constantly considered, members can adopt both trustee and delegate models of representation, caucuses in Congress represent diverse and wide-ranging groups and views.
What arguments exist that Congress does not succeed in its representative function?
Minority groups and women are still under-represented in Congress, gerrymandering occurs to create political inertia, FPTP reinforces a strict 2 party system, pressure groups may distort representation by exploiting and subverting traditional democracy, caucuses may not adequately represent views.
What structural reasons are there for the reduced significance of parties in the US than in the UK?
The separation of powers between the Executive and the Presidency means that party leaders have limited influence over the President, states have their federal powers ring-fenced from interference by party leaders, bicameralism means that chambers largely operate independently of each other with their own priorities.
what evidence exists that theories of party decline were exaggerated and that parties are actually a significant force?
The Republican Party succeeded in quickly recovering from the Watergate Scandal, the Democratic Party has undergone a resurgence under a more moderate stance since Clinton. PARTIES STILL CONTROL CONGRESS AND ITS WORKINGS.
What evidence is there of national campaigns supporting the idea of party renewal?
The 1994 Republican midterm campaign was dubbed the ‘Contract With America’, with this acting to overrule traditional state-based campaigns. Focussed on conservative policy.
The Democrats similarly led the ‘Six for 06’ national midterm campaign to create party cohesion. Led to them taking both houses of Congress.
What arguments exist that a centralisation of power within the party leadership has led to party renewal?
The decline in the use of conference committees indicates that parties are able to easily resolve factional disputes. Furthermore, party leaders now determine who sits as the chair of congressional committees and who sits on these, centralising the control of party leaders over key bodies for scrutiny.
What was the ideological overlap between parties in Congress in 2019?
In 2019, only 2 Senators had any ideological overlap, with the Democrat Joe Manchin and Republican Susan Collins having matching ideologies.
What was the ideological overlap between parties in 2015? What was the ideological overlap in 1982?
In 2015, there was no ideological overlap between parties. In 1982, there was significant overlap, with the most conservative Democrat being more right-wing than the most liberal Republican.
How does increased partisanship indicate that party renewal has taken place?
Party renewal is indicated by increased partisanship as this suggests that parties are now increasingly provocative and willing to oppose each other, suggesting that individual parties are more important and have distinctive ideological views.
