Congress

Question 1

Congress is ___________

Answer 1

Bicameral

Question 2

In the HOR the number of members for each state is ______________ of their population

Answer 2

Proportional

Question 3

In the senate each state has ___ members regardless of population

Answer 3

Two

Question 4

How long do members of the house serve for?

Answer 4

Serve two year terms

Question 5

How long do members of the senate serve for?

Answer 5

Serve six year terms with one third being elected every two years

Question 6

What are midterm elections?

Answer 6

Elections for the whole of the house and one third of the senate that occur midway through a president’s four year term

Question 7

Why are midterm elections important?

Answer 7

• they provide an indication of the popularity of the president and the president’s party at the time
• they can change control of the house, the senate or both chamber making it easier or harder for the president to successfully pursue their political agenda

Question 8

Who do members of the senate represent?

Answer 8

Represent the entire state

Question 9

Who do members of the house represent?

Answer 9

Represent a congressional district

Question 10

Why is incumbency an important factor in senate elections?

Answer 10

The incumbent candidate has an automatic advantage over any possible rival candidate for the position - access to better fundraising opportunities, has experience in the office & better name recognition

Question 11

What are the requirements for a member of the house?

Answer 11

Must be at least 25yrs old
Must have been a US citizen for at least 7yrs
Must be a resident of the state in which the congressional district they represent resides

Question 12

What are the requirements for a member of the senate?

Answer 12

Must be at least 30yrs old
Must have been a US citizen for 9yrs
Must be a resident of the state they represent

Question 13

Give evidence that minority representation in congress has increased

Answer 13

• in 2021 there 142 women in congress up from 127 before the 2020 elections (118 in the house, 24 in the senate)
• Following the 2020 elections the number of women in the house who are republican increased from 13 to 28
• after the 2020 elections 58 members of congress (11%) were black americans (55 in the house 3 in the senate)
• after the 2020 elections 50 members of congress were Hispanic/Latinx (9%) (45 in the house, 5 in the senate)

Question 14

Give evidence that minority groups are underrepresented in congress

Answer 14

• before the 2020 elections just over 26% of congress members were women yet women make up near 50% of the population in the US - large difference
• following the 2020 elections 9% of congress was Hispanic yet in the country as a whole the census bureau in 2019 estimated 18% were Hispanic - significant difference - even more so considering the fact it has probably increased since then
• Congress is mainly dominated by white men especially the Democratic Party with only 28 female house members following the 2020 election - failing to fulfil functional representation

Question 15

What are the three functions of congress?

Answer 15

Oversight
Representation
Legislation

Question 16

Where does congress derive it’s law making function from?

Answer 16

Congress derives it’s law making function from the US constitution

Question 17

Congress’ oversight function applies to the ___________

Answer 17

Congress’ oversight function applies to the executive

Question 18

Congress has the power of the _______

Answer 18

purse - it controls the budget of executive departments and agencies (a form of oversight)

Question 19

What is the effect of party control on oversight?

Answer 19

When government is united the oversight exerted by congress on the presidential branch can appear more relaxed e.g. presidents have used the veto less during times of unified government than in divided

Question 20

How is oversight limited by policy areas?

Answer 20

Congress has more oversight of presidential actions domestically than in foreign affairs

e.g. despite the senate’s protests that it should have been more involved in the Iran nuclear deal (2015) Obama was able to enact it with little oversight YET domestically congress routinely defeated Obama on immigration & gun control policies passing little legislation in these areas during his presidency

Question 21

What is the effect of presidential poll ratings on oversight?

Answer 21

Congress is able to perform oversight with less restrictions when the president’s polls are low

Question 22

Give evidence that the relationship between congress and the executive is strained

Answer 22

• President Obama was able to pass Obamacare in 2010 with relatively few alterations due to his popularity which at this time was around 50%
• In the 2015 Iran nuclear deal Obama was able to enact it with little oversight
• President Obama used the veto 12 times whilst Trump used it to veto 10 bills

Question 23

Give evidence that congress effectively performs it’s representation function

Answer 23

• Representation of minority groups and women has improved e.g. 115th congress 85 women in the HOR & 23 women in the senate
• Congressional caucuses allow underrepresented groups to act together increasing their influence e.g. the congressional steel caucus (fights for the health of the domestic health industry)
• following the 2020 elections the number of women in the house who are republicans increased from 13 to 28
• in 2021 there were 142 women in congress up from 127 before the 2020 elections (118 in the house, 24 in the senate)
• Elections are frequent (especially in the house) reinforce congress’ electoral mandate & their link to their constituents furthered by the constitutional requirements that they reside in the state they represent

Question 24

What does overriding the president’s veto require?

Answer 24

• it requires a two thirds majority in the house (it is very difficult to achieve)

Question 25

Why is it suggested that the senate is more powerful and prestigious than the house?

Answer 25

- powerful = exclusive power to ratify treaties & confirm appointments - prestigious = senators represent the entire state instead of congressional districts, serve for six years as opposed to two, senators are only one of 100 instead of 435 like representatives in the house, the senate is seen as as a recruiting pool for the presidency & the vice presidency e.g. before elected president Biden represented Delaware in the senate THEREFORE = house members seek election to the senate but not the other way around in 2017 there was 50 former house members in the Senate but no former senators in the house

Question 26

House members seek election to the senate but not the other way around - in 2017 there was ___ former house members in the Senate but no former senators in the house

Answer 26

50

Question 27

What are the concurrent powers of the house of representatives and the senate?

Answer 27

- passing legislation - conducting oversight of the executive - initiating constitutional amendments - fulfilling a representative function

Question 28

Members of the house & the senate have _______ salaries

Answer 28

equal

Question 29

Give examples of former senators who served as vice president

Answer 29

- Kamala Harris (2021 - present day) - Joe Biden (2009-17) - Al Gore (1993 - 2001)

Question 30

What are the two models that describe how congressional members can represent constituents?

Answer 30

- The trustee model - the legislator makes decisions on behalf of the constituents i.e. the legislator is acting asa trustee & uses their 'mature judgement' - The delegate model - the legislator makes decisions to reflect the views of the majority of their constituents & doesn't exercise their own judgement

Question 31

How can congressional members engage with their constituents?

Answer 31

- holding party & town hall meetings - making visits around the state/district - taking part in interviews with local media - using social media

Question 32

Give evidence that congress does not effectively perform it's representation function

Answer 32

- A lack of third party representation e.g all but two members of the 115th congress are either democratic or republican (two party system) - Hispanic/Latinx Americans only make up 9% of congress yet 18% of the American population meaning they are extremely underrepresented in congress - Women make up over 50% of the population yet only 26% of congress - The importance of money in campaigns can sway congressional members focus away from their constituents e.g. a failure to pass laws preventing the mass prescribing of opioids came amid big campaigns from pharma companies who have donated over $2.5b to congress in the last 10 years

Question 33

What is a cloture motion?

Answer 33

A vote to bring about the end of a filibuster & requires a supermajority of senators to succeed

Question 34

On average how many bills that are introduced into congress are actually passed?

Answer 34

On average only between 3 - 4% of bills that are introduced into congress are passed

Question 35

Give evidence that congress is effective in fulfilling it's legislative function

Answer 35

- The process is deliberately designed to be complicated and to weed out unpopular legislation - An average of 300 new acts of congress are signed into law every two years (quite a lot) - Congress has passed significant pieces of legislation in recent decades relating to gun violence, education, healthcare reform etc - e.g. Obama's affordable health care act (2010)

Question 36

Give evidence that congress isn't effective in fulfilling it's legislative function

Answer 36

- The procedures of congress often mean that the will of the majority can be frustrated by a well organised minority e.g. filibustering used to delay actions on a bill through running the time out on it via - Jeff Merkley (2017) filibustering the SC nomination of Neil Garusch (approx 15 hours) - The two-yearly election cycle in the House means members spend too much time fundraising and campaigning & so not enough on legislation - Congress can be influenced by big money donors e.g. a failure to pass laws preventing the mass prescription of opioids came amid big campaigns from pharma companies who have donated over $2.5b dollars to congress in the last 10 years - Congress spends a lot of time debating and voting on bills of minor importance e.g. allowing the postal service to issue a commemorative stamp

Question 37

What are the methods by which congress carries out it's legislative function?

Answer 37

- Standing committee hearings - The subpoena of documents and testimony - The senate's power to confirm appointments - The senate's power to ratify treaties

Question 38

Give evidence that congress is effective in fulfilling it's oversight function

Answer 38

- The congressional system of checks & balances e.g the senate confirms appointments to the SC - Oversight hearings often receive high level media coverage - Ensures the president is upstanding e.g. Oversight Committee Republicans are investigating the Biden family’s domestic/international business dealings to determine if these activities compromise U.S. national security and his ability to lead with impartiality.

Question 39

Give evidence that congress isn't effective in fulfilling it's oversight function

Answer 39

- Members of the presidents party may ask 'softball' questions during hearings (united government can diminish effective oversight) e.g. the senate continuously rejected Obama's nominations to the SC holding the position for a republican president - Committees rarely vote to reject presidential nominations despite prevalent scandals e.g despite Kavanugh & Alito's sexual assault allegations after their nominations they were still confirmed by the senate - Alito even received a 'qualified' rating by the ABA - Lengthy hearings don't necessarily result in effective oversight e.g. House republican hearings on the terrorist attack in Benghazi (2012) - Oversight may not be used for it's intended purpose but instead a perversion of an implied constitutional power to indulge in partisan point scoring

Question 40

What are the five main factors that affect voting in congress?

Answer 40

- Parties and Caucuses - The administration - Interest groups - Lobbyists - Constituents

Question 41

How can the executive affect voting in congress?

Answer 41

the executive (the president, Vice President, White House senior staff members etc) all lobby members of congress to support them in key votes i.e. the president's informal power of persuasion However success for the administration depends on the size of the president's mandate at the last election, the president's current approval & their persuasive skills

Question 42

How can interest groups affect voting in congress?

Answer 42

- via direct contact with key members - generating public support for the positions they favour - by organising rallies, demonstrations etc - through fundraising and campaigning

Question 43

How can constituents affect voting in congress?

Answer 43

- Members of congress really never stop campaigning for the next election especially members of the House, who only have a two year term in office i.e. congressional members are likely to vote with their constituents beliefs/ideology in mind

Question 44

Why do the two major parties in the US dominate congress? (Democrats & Republicans)

Answer 44

- Almost all members are either democratic or republican (aside from two) - The two major parties control all leadership positions

Question 45

The parties in congress are currently characterised by an era of hyper-_______________

Answer 45

partisanship

Question 46

Give evidence that parties are important in congress

Answer 46

- The parties in congress are currently characterised by an era of hyper-partisanship and can affect cooperation 'across the aisle' which is seen via the strict party line votes on big ticket items e.g. Trump's tax cuts in 2017 received no democrats voters in congress overall - The tension between parties i.e. divided government can cause gridlock as opposing parties in congress and the executive can cause conflict/disagreement e.g. Obama - The influence of party ideology on voting can be implied via the increasing party unity in the house e.g. 73% in party unity in votes (2016 HOR) -Leadership of congress is controlled by parties

Question 47

Give evidence that parties aren't important in congress

Answer 47

- views of constituents can often be more important and outweigh party consideration e.g. JD vance - The factions within parties allow for compromise and increased legislative output due to easier cooperation - parties have no control over candidate selection and so congressional members can dissent from party line voting

Question 48

What are some factors that influence the relationship between congress and the president?

Answer 48

- Party control - Party polarisation - Policy area - Election cycle - Presidential poll rating - National events

Question 49

How does party control effect the relationship between congress and the presidency?