US Congress

Question 1

What are term lengths for senators and for congresspersons?

Answer 1

Senators - 6 years
Congresspersons - 2 years

Question 2

How many senators and congresspersons are there?

Answer 2

Senators - 100
Congresspersons - 435

Question 3

Which party controls each chamber?

Answer 3

Senate - Democrats
House - Republicans

Question 4

Which 4 powers are unique to the Senate?

Answer 4

1. Try an impeachment case
2. Elect a VP is no candidate has over 50% of the vote
3. Ratify treaties
4. Confirm executive appointments

Question 5

Which 3 unique powers does the House have?

Answer 5

1. Initiate an impeachment
2. Elect the President if no candidate has at least 50% of the vote
3. Begin consideration of money bills

Question 6

What is gerrymandering?

Answer 6

The political manipulation of electoral boundaries to benefit a party or a socioeconomic group

Question 7

What percentage of congresspersons and of the population are minorities, women, LGB, and christian?

Answer 7

Minorities - 25% vs 41% of population
Women - 28% vs 50.8% of population
LGB - 3% vs 7% of population
Christian - 88% vs 63% of population

Question 8

What are the 4 stages of passing primary legislation?

Answer 8

1. Introduction and sponsoring
2. Committee stage
3. Rules of the debate considered
4. Floor debate

Question 9

What is a filibuster and how is it overruled?

Answer 9

A Senate motion to block the passage of legislation
Overruled by 60% majority vote

Question 10

Which committee decides the rules of the House and how?

Answer 10

The House Rules Committee - timetables legislative debate and sets the rules for debates

Question 11

What are the 3 types of rules for debates?

Answer 11

1. Open rules - any amendments
2. Closed rules - no amendments
3. Modified rules - some amendments

Question 12

What are 8 obstacles to the passage of legislation?

Answer 12

1. Divided government
2. Committee pigeonholing
3. Presidential veto
4. House Rules Committee timetabling
5. Amendments on the floor or in the committee
6. Bicameral legislature
7. Filibustering
8. Limited influence of party whips

Question 13

What are 3 benefits of difficult passage of legislation?

Answer 13

1. High quality legislation
2. Representation of constituent views
3. Prevention of tyranny

Question 14

What are 3 drawbacks of difficult passage of legislation?

Answer 14

1. Low output of legislation
2. Partisanship
3. Too much compromise

Question 15

What is the power of the purse?

Answer 15

Congress’s constitutional ability to tax and spend public money for the federal government

Question 16

What is an impoundment?

Answer 16

Where the president refuses to spend the money given to him

Question 17

What are the 3 provisions of the War Powers Act 1973?

Answer 17

1. The collective judgement of congress and the president applies when troops are deployed overseas
2. The president must notify congress within 48 hours of using military forces
3. The president must end foreign military action after 60 days unless congress authorises it

Question 18

What are the 2 types of committees in the US?

Answer 18

1. Standing committees
2. Select committees

Question 19

What percentage of bills pass through the committee stage?

Answer 19

10%

Question 20

What is congressional oversight?

Answer 20

The powers given to congress to hold the other branches of government to account

Question 21

What are the 3 main forms of congressional oversight?

Answer 21

1. Impeachment
2. Senate advice and consent
3. Committee hearings

Question 22

What is a subpoena?

Answer 22

Congressional committees’ power to legally demand documents and testimony from anyone

Question 23

Who was the latest successful example of impeachment, when, and why?

Answer 23

Judge Thomas Porteous, 2010, 4 counts of improper behaviour

Question 24

How many presidents have been impeached and who are they?

Answer 24

4 - Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump (twice)

Question 25

Which 4 things constitute effective representation?

Answer 25

1. Reflection of the public demographically 2. Representation of constituent interests 3. Most able candidates selected 4. Representation of different views

Question 26

Which 3 things constitute effective legislation?

Answer 26

1. High output of bills 2. Fair scrutiny of bills 3. Wide appeal of passed laws

Question 27

Which 2 things constitute effective oversight?

Answer 27

1. Willingness to engage in oversight measures 2. Fair and balanced judgements on government behaviour