Structure

Question 1

What are the 2 chambers ? (bicameral)

Answer 1

1. House of representatives

2. senate

Question 2

Summery of the house of representatives ?

Answer 2

• Directly elected
• Representation of the state is proportional to the population
• 435 representatives (each to a congressional district)
• Number of representatives is reapportioned every ten years

Question 3

Summery of senate

Answer 3

• Directly elected since 1914 (17th amendment)
• Representation is equal for all states
• 100 members (2 per state)

Question 4

Election cycle for the house of representatives

Answer 4

• Whole house elected every 2 years
• coincides every 2 years with the presidential elections
• Results often lead to divided government and frequent changes of control

Question 5

Who is the house speaker and who is the minority leader ?

Answer 5

1. Nancy Pelosi (D)

2. Kevin McCarthy (Rep)

Question 6

Election cycle of senate

Answer 6

• Senators serve 6 year terms
• 1/3 are re-elected every 2 years
• In the event of a ties, the VP has the casting vote (Kamala Harris)

Question 7

Senate majority and minority leader ?

Answer 7

1. Chuck Schumer (D)

2. Mitch McConnell (R)

Question 8

Concurrent powers of congress ? (6)

Answer 8

1. Creating legislation
2. Oversight of the executive branch
3. Overriding presidential veto
4. Initiating constitutional amendments
5. Declaring war *
6. Confirming an appointed VP

Question 9

Powers only held by the House of Representatives (3)

Answer 9

1. Beginning consideration of money bills
2. Bringing charges of impeachment
3. Choosing president if the electoral college is deadlocked

Question 10

Powers only held by senate (4)

Answer 10

1. ratifying treaties
2. confirming appointments
3. Trying cases of impeachment
4. Choosing VP if the electoral college is deadlocked

Question 11

What is oversight ?

Answer 11

• Implied in article 1 section 8

- Congressional review and investigation in the to activities of the executive branch of government

Question 12

Example of the executive asking congress to pass legislation

Answer 12

1. Obama asked for healthcare reforms (became the affordable care act 2010)
2. Trump asked for a range of tax cuts (Tax cuts and jobs act 2017)

Question 13

Example of oversight of the executive branch

Answer 13

• Following allegations of Russian influence in the 2016 elections
• Both houses began investigations (house intelligent committee and the senate judiciary committee)
• neither found evidence of a collusion

Question 14

Examples of congress overriding presidential vetoes

Answer 14

• a 2/3 majority is needed in each house
  1. 4/12 of Bush’s vetoes were overridden
  2. 1/12 of Obama’s vetoes were overridden
  3. 1/10 of Trump’s vetoes were overridden

Question 15

declaring war

Answer 15

• Both houses must concur
• This has only happened 5 times with the most recent being 1941
• Recently been asked to sanction military action that the president’s decided on or side-lined by presidential war making

Question 16

Confirming an appointed VP

Answer 16

• This has only occurred twice so it is a very rarely used power
• 1973 and 1974

Question 17

Bringing charges of impeachment

Answer 17

• Used 21 times
• 1998 : Clinton twice on account of perjury and obstruction of justice
• 2010 : Federal judge Porteous on charges of corruption and perjury
• 2019 and 2021 : Trump on account of abuse of power and incident of insurrection

Question 18

Choosing the president if the EC is deadlocked

Answer 18

• Only used twice when no candidate wins an absolute majority of electoral college votes
  1. 1800 : Jefferson
  2. 1824 : Quincy Adams

Question 19

Ratifying treaties

Answer 19

• Senate has to ratify treaties by a 2/3 majority that are negotiated by the President
• Eg 2010 : START treaty negotiated by Obama and Russian Counterpart
• President’s have found ways of circumnavigating congress by signing executive agreements if they think the treaty won’t be passed
• 2015 Obama’s comprehensive plan of action with Iran
• BUT Trump then withdrew from this

Question 20

Confirming appointments

Answer 20

• Senate : Simple majority
• Trump’s appointment of Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed by 52 votes to 48
• 2018 Replacement of the secretary of state with Pompoe (57-42)

Question 21

Choosing the VP if the EC is deadlocked

Answer 21

• Only happened twice

- 1800 and 1824

Question 22

Trying cases of impeachment

Answer 22

• 2/3 majority is required
• 2010 : Judge Porteous
• 1999 : Clinton was acquitted twice by senate

Question 23

2021 Trump impeachment trial

Answer 23

• House voted to impeach him with 10 Republicans joining 222 Democrats
• In senate fell 10 short of the 2/3 majority required for conviction
• 7 Republicans voted against Trump making it the most bipartisan vote in an impeachment trial

Question 24

How is senate seen as being senior ?

Answer 24

• 5/8 of the last VPs were senators including Kamala Harris
• Also seen as a launching pad for presidential campaigns eg Biden, Obama and Nixon
• Enjoy a number of exclusive powers eg confirmation of appointments, ratification of treaties and trying impeachment cases

Question 25

How much are both senators and representatives paid ?

Answer 25

• $174,000 per annum