Structure and Powers of US Congress

Question 1

What is the structure of Congress? What aspects is it made up of? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 1

Congress is a bicameral legislature, with this made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Question 2

How is the House elected? What does a representative represent? How many members does the House have? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 2

The House is directly elected, with all representatives representing Congressional Districts. The House has 435 members at present.

Question 3

How is the Senate elected? How many members are there? How are members allocated? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 3

The Senate is directly elected (and has been since 1914), with 100 members. Each state has 2 senators.

Question 4

How and why are congressional districts redrawn? How often does this occur? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 4

Congressional districts are redrawn by state legislatures, with this occurring following a census to ensure that a state’s population is adequately represented. This occurs every 10 years.

Question 5

How often is the House elected? What consequences can this have? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 5

The House is fully elected once every 2 years, with this coming either as midterms or at the same time as a Presidential election. The results of these elections can create divided government following a period of united government or result in united government following divided government.

Question 6

How often is the Senate elected? What consequences can this have? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 6

Senators are elected every 6 years, although only 1/3 of the Senate is elected at each election.

Question 7

Who is currently the House Speaker? Who is the House minority leader? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 7

The House Speaker at present is Nancy Pelosi (Democrat). Kevin McCarthy is the minority leader (Republican).

Question 8

Who is currently the Senate majority leader? Who is the minority leader? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 8

The Senate majority leader is currently Chuck Schumer (Democrat). Mitch McConnell is the minority leader (Republican).

Question 9

How is the Speaker of the House chosen? What is a result of this? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 9

The Speaker of the House is chosen by an election of House members, with it likely that the House Speaker will be from the party with a majority.

Question 10

What are the powers of the House only? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 10

The House alone can begin considerstion of money bills, can bring charges of impeachment and can choose a President if the Electoral College is equal.

Question 11

What are the powers of the Senate only? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 11

The Senate can ratify treaties, confirm Presidential appointments, conduct impeachment trials and choose a VP if the electoral college is drawn.

Question 12

What powers are shared between the House and Senate? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 12

The House and Senate can both create legislation, conduct oversight and scrutiny of the Executive, override Presidential vetoes, initiate constitutional amendments, confirm the appointment of a VP when appointed during a Presidential term and declare war.

Question 13

How does Congress override a presidential veto? What example is there of this happening? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 13

Congress may override a presidential veto with a 2/3 majority in both houses. 4 of Bush’s 12 vetoes were overridden, while 97% of the Senate voted to override a veto on a bill that would allow legal action by 9/11 victims’ families against the Saudi government under Obama.

Question 14

How can Congress confirm the position of a VP? What instances are there of this happening? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 14

Congress may confirm the appointment of a VP who replaces their predecessor between elections through a majority in both houses. This happened when Spiro Agnew resigned and was replaced by Gerald Ford, later occurring again when Ford appointed Nelson Rockerfeller as VP when he became president.

Question 15

How can Congress conduct oversight? What instance is there of this happening? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 15

Congress can investigate any subject within the scope of its legislative powers, vote on budgets for all aspects of the Executive and investigate the Executive with Congressional Committees. The House Intelligence Committee/House Oversight Committee/Senate Oversight Committee reviewed the potential of Trump colluding with Russia during his campaign in 2016

Question 16

How does Congress control the declaration of war? How has this power changed over time? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 16

Congress must have both houses approve a declaration of war. However, this power has gradually fallen out of use over time, with the last time this was used being when the USA declared war on Japan. Presidents now increasingly consult Congress when committing troops but typically declare war themselves.

Question 17

How are both Houses involved in legislation? What is the role of the President in initiating legislation? What example is there of this? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 17

In order to legislate, both houses must have a majority of members vote to approve a bill in order to secure its passage into law. The President must ask Congress to pass legislation rather than creating it themselves. This was seen in 2010, when Congress passed President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

Question 18

How are both Houses in Congress involved in the creation of amendments? What example is there of this? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 18

Congress can agree amendments, with a 2/3 majority required in both houses before any amendment can be sent to the states for ratification. This occurred in 1791, when the Bill of Rights was introduced into the constitution following approval by Congress and then ratification by states.

Question 19

Describe the role of the House ONLY with regards to money bills. How is the Senate partially involved in this process? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 19

The House alone begins consideration of money bills (the raising of tax revenues), although the Senate eventually must approve these too for them to become operational.

Question 20

Describe the power of the House in choosing a President. When has this happened? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 20

If the Electoral College of voters is tied and no winner can gain an absolute majority, it falls to the House of Representatives to elect a President. This has happened twice, with the elections of Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams.

Question 21

Describe the role of the House with regards to impeachment. How many times has this power been used since 1789 and what notable instances are there of this? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 21

The House may charge a President or any other significant office holder with an impeachable offence (treason, bribery or other ‘high crimes and misdemeanours’). This has been used 21 times since 1789, with notable examples being Trump (twice) and Clinton.

Question 22

Describe the role of the Senate with regards to treaties. When has this been used before? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 22

The Senate has the sole power to pass any treaties with other foreign powers, requiring a 2/3 majority to do so. This has been used in December 2010, when the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty was agreed with Russia and approved by the Senate.

Question 23

What caveat exists to the Senate’s power to approving treaties? When has this been used? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 23

At times, treaties may be agreed by Executive agreements which do not go through the formal ratification process and is less formal than a treaty. This was used when President Obama agreed the Iran Nuclear Deal.

Question 24

Describe the role of the Senate in choosing a VP. When has this power been used previously? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 24

When the Electoral College vote is tied, the Senate has the power to choose the Vice President. This has been used in the elections of Aaron Burr and John C. Calhoun.

Question 25

Describe the role of the Senate in appointments made by the President. When has this recently been used under Trump? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 25

The Senate must confirm all appointments to the Executive branch of government, judicial offices, government agencies and other significant offices through a SIMPLE MAJORITY. This was used in 2019, when conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett was appointed to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Question 26

Describe the role of the Senate with impeachments. When has this been attempted previously? - Structure and Powers of Congress

Answer 26

The Senate acts to try a President for impeachable offences that they have been charegd with by the House, with this confirmed with a 2/3 majority of the Senate voting in favour. In 2020, Congress fell 10 votes short of impeaching President Trump, the most bipartisan impeachment trial ever. NO PRESIDENT EVER REMOVED FROM OFFICE.