The Legislative Branch Of Government: Congress Flashcards
Where is Congress based?
In the capitol on what is known as Capitol Hill in Washington, DC
Explain the House Of Representatives?
The lower house of Congress, 435 members, known as representatives, each serving 2 year roles in different congressional districts, with each seat contested at election
Explain the Senate?
The upper house of congress, 100 members, called senators, who serve 6 year terms, though congressional elections are held every 2 years with 1/3 of senators contesting each election, each state represented by 2 senators
What were the two plans of how Congress should be strutted during the Philadelphia Convention (1787)?
New Jersey Plan And Virginia Plan
What was the New Jersey Plan, suggested in the Philadelphia Convention in 1787?
Favoured by smaller states, it proposed all states received equal number of seats in the legislature, protecting the rights of these smaller states
What was the Virginia Plan, suggested in the Philadelphia Convention in 1787?
it proposed where population size would determine the number of seats in Congress
What is the compromise that in the Philadelphia Convention (1787), which lead to the Congress we have today?
The Connecticut Compromise
What are the roles of Congress?
Passing legislation
Representing the people
Overseeing the executive
What are two powers of the Senate only?
Ratifying treaties - 2/3 majority required
Confirming presidential appointments
What are the 3 actions used by a president once legislation has been approved by both houses?
It can be signed, vetted or ‘left on the president’s desk’
How big of a majority is needed by Congress to override the president’s veto?
2/3
Who does a amendments to the constitution need to pass through?
A 2/3 majority in both house, then 3/4 in each state to ratify it
Which power requires a vote by both house and has not been used since 1941?
Declaring war
How does impeachment work in Congress?
Only the House can impeach a public official, with a simple majority needed in the House, though only the Senate can try impeachments, with a 2/3 majorette Senate vote needed fr a guilty verdict, which results in the officials immediate removal from office
When was the last time Congress has elected the president and ice president in the event of a hung Electoral College?
1824
Before being considered by Congress, where is a bill examined?
A standing committee, lead by members of Congress who are expert in the subject area of the bill
What can standing committees in Congress do?
Can amend the bill if it wishes to, and decides whether to release the bill to the main chamber, though most bills end their passage when they are rejected by committee
After a bill is timetable, debated and amended in both houses, what happens next in Congress?
The bill must pass through both houses of Congress separately to become law
Where happen to the difference, that occur when the bill goes through the two chambers separately, when a bill is passed and needs to become one bill to become law?
The two versions of the bill are discussed in a conference committee, made up of members of the standing committee for both houses, they agree upon one modified version of the bill and release this as a ‘conference report’
What is ‘left on president’s desk’?
If left on the president desk, it automatically becomes law after 10 days, with the only expiation being a ‘pocket veto’ when the president leaves the bull on their desk but Congress adjourns before the end of 10 days, this has the effect of vetoing the bill, and Congress cannot vote to override as it is not in session
What legislation did W. Bush claim to ‘pocket veto’ in 2007?
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Which bill did Lincoln ‘pocket veto’ in 1864?
Wade–Davis Bill
What are the stages for a bill to pass through Congress and the executive?
Introduction
Committee Stage
Timetabling
Conference Committee if required
Presidential action
What is the age criteria for Congress?
In the house members must be aged 25 or over, Senators 30 years or over
What is the citizenship criteria for Congress?
For the house its US citizen for a minimum of 7 years, Senate 9 years
What is the residency criteria for Congress?
Both Senators and congresspeople must reside in the state they represent
By what year is the US forecast to become ‘minority cast’?
2045
What is the general composition of parliament?
‘Pale, male and stale’
Which group is overrepresent in Congress compared to the population as a whole
Whites, men and especially Christians
In the 2019-2021 Congress what records were broken in terms of composition?
The first two Muslim women were elected, and a record 4 Native Americans, and at 29 AOC became the youngest ever congresswomen
Who are ‘the squad’?
4 Democrat congresswomen of colour, AOC, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Presley and Rashida Tlaib
Which groups are underrepresented in Congress?
Women, Hispanics, African-American and those with no religion
Though making up 18% of the population, what was the percentage of Hispanics in the 117th Congress?
9%
How many African-American in the 117th congress?
52 in the house and 3 in the Senate
What is the African-american affiliation with parties in the 117th Congress?
58 African-Americans Democrats and 3 were Republican
What is the representation of people of colour in the 117th congress (2021-2023)?
African-Americans 12% - 23% of the population
Hispanic Americans 9% - 18% of the population
Asians 4% - 6% of the population
What is the representation of women in the 117th congress (2021-2023)?
27% of Congress (118 in the house, 24 in the senate) - 51% of the population
