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Paper 3: Politics > US congress > Flashcards

US congress Flashcards

1
Q

What is the structure of congress ?

A

The structure of congress is bicameral

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2
Q

Why is Congress bicameral ?

A
  • Made of two equal legislative bodies : senate and the House of Representatives
  • both are elected and need a majority for legislation to be passed
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3
Q

What house is the senate

A

Upper house

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4
Q

What is the term length for senate ?

A

6 years

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5
Q

What is the term length for house of representatives ?

A

2 years

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6
Q

What are 3 the requirements to be a senator

A
  • need to be 25 and above
  • US citizen for 7 years
  • resident of state they represent
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7
Q

What are the 3 requirements to be a house of representatives

A
  • must be 30+
  • US citizen for 9 years
  • resident for any state they represent
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8
Q

What are the key figures within congress

What is the key figure of the senate ?

A
  1. President of the senate
  2. Majority leader
  3. Minority leader
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9
Q

What are the key figures within congress

In the sentate , What does the president of the senate do ?

A
  • the vice president is given the role of president of the senate in the constitution
  • ensures that members of the senate abide by rules
  • power to break a tie vote in the senate
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10
Q

What is the 3 role of the majority leader in the senate

A
  • Elected by party with a majority to be leader in the senate
  • spokesperson for the party when they hit an issue
  • schedules daily buisness in the senate
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11
Q

What is the role of the minority leader in the senate ?

A
  • elected by the party with a minority to be their party leader in the senate
  • spokesperson for their party position on issues
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12
Q

What is the different role within the house of representatives

A
  1. Speaker
  2. Minority leader
  3. Majority leader
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13
Q

What is the role of the speaker in the House of representatives

A
  • second in the presidental line of succession behind the vice president
  • spokesperson on party issues
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14
Q

What is the role of the majority leader in the house of representative ?

A
  • elected by the party with a majority to be the second highest ranking member of their party in the house of representatives , behind the speaker
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15
Q

What is the role of the minority leader in the house of representatives

A

Elected by the party with a majority to be their party leader in the house of representatives

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16
Q

Who are the current minority and majority leaders in the senate ?

A

Majority leader : Chuck shumer
Minority leader : Mich MCconnell

Both are senior members

17
Q

Who is the speaker and minority speaker currently in the House of Representatives

A

Speaker : Mike Johnson
Minority leader : Hakeem Jefferies

18
Q

Why did Mike Johnson become speaker in the House of Representatives in October 2023

A

After Kevin McCarthy was ousted by the right wing trump supporting of the republicans party in congress

19
Q

In the House of Representatives, Hakim Jefferies become minority leader after who ?

A

Replacing long running leader of democrats in the house Nancy Pelosi

20
Q

What is the 3 exclusive power of the senate ?

A
  • to ratify treaties
  • to elect a vice president if no candidate has over 50% of the electoral college vote
  • to try an impeachment case, 2/3 majority needed to convict this is why no president has ever been convicted
21
Q

What is the executive powers of the House of Representatives

A
  • To impeach the president or any federal official and bring formal charges against public official when not enough evidence of ‘treason, bribery’ e.g trump 2X , Clinton in 1998
22
Q

What are the powers shared by both the senate and the house of representatives

A
  • to declare war
  • to override presidential veto’s with 2/3 majority in the senate and house of representatives
  • to pass legislation, all bills have to pass through both senate and the house of representatives
23
Q

Despite the congress being bicameral with the senate and House of Representatives being equal, in reality which one is more powerful

A

The senate is more powerful and prestigious

24
Q

5 reasons Why is the senate seen as more prestigious and powerful house

A
  • None of the 74 congress members in the 2022 midterm have previously been senators
  • congress members seek to be elected in the senate and very few in the house of representatives
  • senate represent the entire state
  • more influential in outcome of votes as voice more important
  • exclusive powers confirming presidental appointments

Paper 3: Politics (5 decks)

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