Congress

Question 1

The Connecticut compromise

Answer 1

The Connecticut compromise created a bicameral legislature in which states are equally represented based on population size with 435 seats and in the Senate states are represented equally with 100 seats.

Question 2

Example of equal legislative power: PPAACA

Answer 2

between 2010 and 2014 the House of Representatives voted over 50 times to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but the Senate defeated each attempt.

Question 3

what makes the senate appear more prestigious?

Answer 3

Many presidents come from the Senate and not the house-such as President Barack Obama and vice president Joe Biden.

Question 4

Example of equal legislative power, BSEOI:

Answer 4

In 2013, the Senate passed the border security, economic opportunity and immigration modernization act but the House of Representatives refused to even debate the bill.

Question 5

the senate is more prestigious- effect of filibusters and unlimited debate

Answer 5

Senate rules allow for unlimited debate, making it possible to filibuster-dragging out a debate to prevent a vote on a bill. A filibuster can only be ended by cloture (60 votes). The need for a supermajority gives individual senators significant power.

Question 6

What power does the constitution give the senate in relation to the president and where is this in the constitution?

Answer 6

Article 2 Section 2 of the constitution-the advice and consent clause, states that the president shall have power by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, providing two thirds of the senators conquer.

Question 7

What treaty did the senate reject in 1999?

Answer 7

the comprehensive test ban treaty which would have banned all nuclear test explosions but was rejected by the Senate in 1999.

Question 8

NAFTA as an example of the senate not having all the power over treaties

Answer 8

The North Atlantic free trade agreement 1994 was opposed by 156 Democrats in the house. This was because although it looks like treaty the North Atlantic free trade agreement was technically not a treaty.

Question 9

what does the second part of the advice and consent clause state?

Answer 9

The senate’s consent is needed for a number of important presidential appointments such as justices to the Supreme Court, heads of executive agencies like NASA, cabinet secretaries, US ambassadors, ect

Question 10

How does the senate have some power over revenue bill?

Answer 10

Article one Section 7 of the constitution-the origination clause says that all bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills.

Question 11

The house has the power to impeach, but what power does the senate have?

Answer 11

the senate’s power to conduct the trial and determine guilt has more lasting consequence.

Question 12

What percentage of the 118th congress do women make up?

Answer 12

Women make up more than a quarter (28%) of all members of the 118th Congress – the highest percentage in U.S. history, and a 59% increase from the 112th congress.

Question 13

What % do women make up of the senate and congress?

Answer 13

A record 128 women are serving in the newly elected House, accounting for 29% of the chamber’s total. In the Senate, women hold 25 of 100 seats, tying the record number they held in the 116th Congress.

Question 14

What percentage of democrats in congress are women vs republican?

Answer 14

Women make up a much larger share of congressional Democrats (41%) than Republicans (16%).

Question 15

How many and what % of congress are from a minority ethnic group?

Answer 15

Overall, 133 lawmakers identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian American, American Indian, Alaska Native or multiracial. Together, these lawmakers make up 25% of congress..

Question 16

What percentage of the population are Hispanic compared to the house?

Answer 16

In 2022, there were 64, million Hispanic people in the US, making up 19% of the population. In congress, Hispanic people make up 46 members of the House of representatives, and just 6 members of the senate. These figures equate for 11% of the house.

Question 17

What percentage are African Americans of congress vs the population?

Answer 17

The African American population of the US accounts for 12.61%. There are 59 African Americans within the HoR. This accounts for 13.4% of the house. However, there are only 3 African American members of the senate.

Question 18

What were created after the 1990s census and why?

Answer 18

15 African American majority districts and line Hispanic majority districts were created after the 1990 census. This made it much easier for these districts to elect African American or Hispanic representatives.

Question 19

what % of congress identify with a religious faith?

Answer 19

Members of the House and Senate overwhelmingly (96%) identify with a religious faith. Only 71% of Americans claim a religious affiliation.

Question 20

what % of congress are Christian?

Answer 20

Nearly 88% of members of Congress identify as Christian, compared with only 63% of U.S. adults overall.

Question 21

what % of the population are Jewish and Muslim compared too congress?

Answer 21

6% of members of Congress identify as Jewish, compared with 2% of the overall population. 0.6% of Congress identify as Muslim (3) compared with 1% of the total population

Question 22

what % of the republican party are Christian compared to the democrat party?

Answer 22

The Republican congressional delegation is a staggering 99% Christian (268 out of 271), with the rest Jewish or unknown.

Question 23

Wealth of the 113th congress

Answer 23

The 113th Congress was the wealthiest on records, out of the 535 members 268 had a net worth of over $1 million.

Question 24

Congressmen and everyday jobs

Answer 24

The average member of Congress spent less than 2 percent of his or her entire pre-congressional career doing the kinds of working-class jobs most Americans go to every day.

Question 25

congressmen and college degrees

Answer 25

An overwhelming majority of 96% of congressional members hold a college education. For an average 4 year course, this would cost around $104,000 to attend, which is highly unattainable for most

Question 26

Earmarks

Answer 26

Provisions that allocate funds for projects or tax exemptions for businesses in particular districts or states. They are attached by members to benefit their district but are often criticised as pork barrel spending. Senator Robert Byrd was an example of this, a chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee he was able to secure billions of federal funds for dams and highways in West Virginia securing his re-election.

Question 27

How can it be said that constituents do not influence congress voting- disapproval ratings?

Answer 27

Congress’s approval rating has long been around 10% yet 95% of incumbents were re elected in 2014. It is incredibly hard to unseat an incumbent and because of clear ideological divides, congressmen do not have to vote with constituents in mind.

Question 28

What limitations have been placed on earmarks?

Answer 28

2010, the house appropriations committee implanted new rules that banned members from making ear marks for profit making corporations. The House Republican caucus later banned Republicans from adding a marks to appropriations bills.

Question 29

how political parties influence congressmen voting: increased partisan voting 1990 to 2012

Answer 29

in 1990 only around 50% of votes a majority of democrats oppose a majority of republicans, compared to almost 75% in 2012

Question 30

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 2010 as an example of increased party unity

Answer 30

passed without a single republican vote.

Question 31

In 2013, what % of times did republicans vote unanimously in the house and democrats in the senate?

Answer 31

In 2013 the Republicans in the house voted together (unanimously) on 35% of votes. In the Senate the Democrats voted unanimously on 52% of votes

Question 32

influence of the executive- Obamas support in the house 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013:

Answer 32

When President Obama stated his position on a vote, he want the houses support by 94% in 2009 and 88% in 2010 when there was a democrat majority in the house. However in 2011 he won 32% of the houses support when stating his position, 20% in 2012 and 21% in 2013 when there was republican majorities in the house.

Question 33

Obamas support in the senate after announcing his position on a vote 2009 and 2013

Answer 33

In the Senate where the Democrats maintain their majority, he won 99% of votes in 2009 and 85% in 2013.

Question 34

Citizens United v FEC 2010

Answer 34

gave corporations First Amendment rights. This led to the creation of super PACs which can make unlimited donations from individuals, Co operations and trade unions. Cannot donate to candidates but instead spend on TV ads.

Question 35

First reading

Answer 35

The first stage in both the house and the Senate is the first reading. This is simply a formality. There is no debate or vote on the bill. The bill is then assigned to the most relevant standing committee.

Question 36

Committee stage

Answer 36

In Congress, bills have to pass through standing committees to make it onto the floor of congress for a vote- they are the first crucial hurdle bills have to pass through. Many bills are pigeon holed in the committee stage. Committees can hold hearings on the bill hearing evidence from experts, constituents, the executive branch and interest groups.

Question 37

In the 113th Congress how many bills were referred to the standing committees, and how many made in through?

Answer 37

8565 bills were referred to the standing committees, 613 bills were reported on by the standing committees, and 296 were signed into law by the president.

Question 38

3rd stage of the legislative process: Timetabling

Answer 38

the hundreds of bills reported by the committees must wait to be allocated some of the limited time available on the floor of the chamber

Question 39

Hastert rule

Answer 39

This is a rule adopted by the republican speaker Dennis Hastert 1999 to 2007 who would not allow a floor vote on a bill unless a majority of Republicans supported the bill. If members want a bill to be debated they can create a discharge petition which forces a debate on a bill.

Question 40

Discharge petition

Answer 40

Forces a debate on a bill- this isn’t easy as it requires an absolute majority of 218 signatures. The bipartisan campaign Reform Act 2002 was forced to debate by discharge petition. The fair minimum wage act of 2013 was stuck in the education workforce committee and the Democrats collected 195 signatures, but needed 218, so the bill was unable to progress.

Question 41

Second Reading:

Answer 41

First time that the entire chamber can debate and amend the bill. A voice vote is used for non controversial bills and a roll call vote is used if 1/5 of members request it, which records the votes of individual members.

Question 42

Debate in the second reading

Answer 42

Amendments can be recommended but the bill can only be passed by the house once the committee has been dissolved. Unlike in the house, in the Senate nearly all motions are not subject to any debate limits- this enables Filibusters.

Question 43

Third reading

Answer 43

final debate on the bill before it is sent to the other chamber.

Question 44

Conference committees

Answer 44

Temporary committees formed to resolve the differences between the house and the Senate versions of the bill. Once the bill has the support of a majority of house conferees and the Senate conferees, the conference report can be sent for straight up and down vote on the floor.

Question 45

Presidential action

Answer 45

Once a bill has passed in both the house and the Senate the president has three options. They can sign the bill into law-bill signing ceremonies can be used claim credit. They can leave the bill without signature and the bill will automatically become law after 10 days. Or they can veto the bill, and overriding this veto requires a 2/3 majority in both houses.

Question 46

Current house of reps speaker

Answer 46

Mike Johnson (republican)

Question 47

Selection process for the speaker of the house of representatives

Answer 47

Article one section two of the constitution states that the House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers. Elected by the house on the first day of the new Congress-ultimately chosen by the majority party.

Question 48

Roles of the speaker of the house:

Answer 48

presiding officer-administrative head of the house, gives them influence over the legislative process
Representative-represents constituents in their district.
Party leader-leader of the majority of the house.
Appoints committee chairs

Question 49

The senate speaker

Answer 49

The Senate does not have a speaker like the house, the president of the Senate is the vice president who has a deciding vote. However the vice president rarely presides over matters in the Senate and instead the Senate chooses a president pro tempore (for the time being). .

Question 50

Current majority and minority leaders in the house

Answer 50

Current majority leader: Rep. Steve Scalise. Current minority leader: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries
Have a role over legislative agenda and the media.

Question 51

The senate:

Answer 51

Current majority leader: Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Current minority leader: Mitch McConnel (R-KY).
In the Senate the majority and minority leaders play much more significant role as there is no speaker. They set the legislative agenda in the Senate, influence committee assignments and represent the party in the media.

Question 52

In the US members of Congress are chosen by voters in primary and largely raise their own funds meaning whips and party leaders are less significant. What bills in Obamas presidency showed this?

Answer 52

The American recovery and reinvestment Act 2009 was supported by 244 Democrats and opposed by 10.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 2010 was opposed by 34 house Democrats, and supported by 219.
26 house Democrats and one senator voted against the 2010 Dodd frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Question 53

How did the democrats limit the power of committee chairs in the 1970s?

Answer 53

In 1971 house Democrats limited each member to chair no more than one subcommittee. The 1973 subcommittee Bill of Rights gave subcommittees a clear jurisdiction, In 1975 house Democrats to replace three senior challenging the longstanding seniority rule.

Question 54

Committee chair powers

Answer 54

Established the committees agenda.
Calls for hearings and selects witnesses.
Presides over hearings and mark up sessions.
Controls the committees budget.
Prepares the committee report on a bill.
Works with party leaders to set floor schedule.
Decides roles of subcommittees.
Represents the committee in the media.

Question 55

How did the republicans limit chair powers in 1995?

Answer 55

They restored many full committee chairs powers, meaning they could appoint subcommittee chairs and aside membership. They introduced 6 year terms for chairpersons. They enhance the speaker’s power to appoint chairs and decide which committee to refer each bill to. They ended the seniority rule.

Question 56

example of congressional oversight from standing committees: thehealth.gov hearings October 2013

Answer 56

the House Energy and Commerce Committee conducted an investigation into a $3,000,000 website which was broken at launch. The committee held hearings where they questioned some of the contractors who built the website, and also Secretary of Health and Human services.

Question 57

The Watergate Hearing

Answer 57

The Senate Select Committee on campaign practises investigated claims that president Nixon’s re-election committee had hired men to break into the Democratic National committee’s office to steal campaign details. The investigation led to several convictions and Nixon’s resignation.

Question 58

The Bengazhi hearings

Answer 58

the house Select Committee on Benghazi was established in May 2014 to investigate the 2012 attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi in which the US ambassador and three other Americans were killed.