Structure Of Congress

Question 1

What does bicameral mean?

Answer 1

Having two houses n the legislature

Question 2

How often do elections take place in each of the houses in congress?

Answer 2

Every 6 years in the senate and every 2 years in the house

Question 3

What proportion of each chamber is elected during each election?

Answer 3

All of the members in the house but only 1/3 in the senate

Question 4

What are ‘mid-terms’?

Answer 4

Congressional and state-based elections held part-way through a presidents 4 year term.

Question 5

What are the concurrent powers of congress?

Answer 5

Overriding the preisents veto (if there is a super-majority in favour), passing legislation, oversight into the activites of the executive branch, amending the constitution, declaring war

Question 6

What are the powers of the house only?

Answer 6

Intitiation of monetary bills, choosing the president if the electoral college is split, bringing a charge of impeachment against any civil officer including the president.

Question 7

What are the powers of the senate only?

Answer 7

Ratifying treaties signed by the president, choosing the v-p is the electoral college is split, running trials of impeachment, confirming appointments to the judiciary and the executive branch.

Question 8

What examples are there of the concurrent powers of Congress?

Answer 8

Veto: congress overrode 1/12 vetos made by obama (over an act he wanted to pass that would allow 9/11 victims to sue the saudi arabian government),
Oversight: series of investigations in 2016 over accusations of collusion by trump with russian,
Legislation: congress passed obama’s healthcare reform legislation in 2010

Question 9

What examples are there of the powers of the house?

Answer 9

Choosing a president: 1800- Thomas Jeffreson, 1824- John Quincy Adams
Impeachmnt charges: 2016 trump over russian involvement in the us election, 2020 over trumps alleged incitement of the capitol riots

Question 10

What examples are there of the exclusive powers of the senate being is used?

Answer 10

Treaties: 2010 ratified START treaty with Russia 71 to 26
Appointments: trumps nomination of amy coney barret to the supreme court confirmed 52 to 48 in 2020, dismissed trumps appointment of mike pompeo in 2018 57 to 42.
Choosing v-p: 1800- aaron burr, 1824- John Calhom
Impeachment trials: 2010 found judge porteus guilty of fraud, trump accquited in 2020