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politics paper 2 - USA > Congress > Flashcards

Congress Flashcards

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1
Q

Define Congress

A

The legislative Branch of the federal governement, consisting of the house of respresentatives and the senate

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2
Q

Define Bicameralism

A

A legislature with 2 chambers, The House of Representatives and The Senate

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3
Q

Define Fillibuster

A

A tactic in the Senate where a senator speaks at a length to delay or block legislative action

Political stalling

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4
Q

Define Cloture

A

A senate procedure to end a fillibuster, requiring 60 votes

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5
Q

Define ‘pork-barelling’

A

where a representative proposes an amendment to legislation that will benefit a certain group in their constituency

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6
Q

how often are senators re-elected

A

every 6 years with 1/3 every 2 years

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7
Q

how often are the house of representatives re-elected

A

every 2 years - making them more responsive to public opinion than senators

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8
Q

when do midterms take place

A

inbetween presidential elections

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9
Q

CASE STUDY

Give an example of how the president normally looses seats in the mid-terms

A

In 2018 midterms The Democrats gained control of the house by winning 40 republican seats

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10
Q

what is an incumbent

A

a member of congress looking to be re-elected

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11
Q

CASE STUDY

Give an example of incumbents having a financial advantage over challengers

A

In the 2022 senate election on average the incumbents raised $29 million and the challengers raised $2million.

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12
Q

CASE STUDY

Give an example of how the incumbents are very hard to defeat

A

In 2022 senate election all 28 incumbents won

first time since 1914

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13
Q

Give an example of how incumbents vote to support their constiuency

A

In Trumps 2nd impeachment in 2022 only 7/50 republican senators voted to convict due to large trump supporters in their state’s/districts

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14
Q

Give an example of sucessful pork barelling

A

Republican senator Ted Stevens secured legislation for ‘a bridge to nowhere’ to an alaskan island that only housed 50 people but cost $223 million.

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15
Q

factors affecting voting behavior in congress - PARTIES

give 2 examples of the increase in party line voting

A
  1. No republican voted for Bidens inflation reduction act 2022 whereas 1 democrat voted against
  2. No Democrat voted for Trumps tax cut and jobs act 2017 whereas 13 republicans voted against
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16
Q

factors affecting voting behavior in congress - CAUCUSES

Give an example of A caucus that spreads across political parties

A

The congressional black caucus - significantly supported justice and police act in 2021 following george floyd’s murder

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17
Q

factors affecting voting behavior in congress - CAUCUSES

Give an example of A republican caucus

A

The house freedom caucus - most far right caucus, very supportive of trump and chaired by scott perry
Also played a key role in the removal of republican house speaker kevin mcarthy

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18
Q

factors affecting voting behavior in congress - CAUCUSES

Give an example of a democrat caucus

A

The congressional progressive caucus - extremely left wing and members include berney sanders
Attempt to pass legislation such as Medicare for all and green new deal but have been unsucessful

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19
Q

factors affecting voting behavior in congress - LOBBYISTS

how many lobbyists are estimated in washington

A

12,000

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20
Q

factors affecting voting behavior in congress - LOBBYISTS

What is the most important way pressure groups and lobbyists can influence congress

A

By donating to campaigns - through Politican Action Commitees (PAC’s)

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21
Q

factors affecting voting behavior in congress - PRESSURE GROUPS

Give an example of how interest groups can mobalise public opinion over certain topics

A

The NRA sucessfully prevented Obama passing legislation that would limit guns dispite clear support of this bill

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22
Q

factors affecting voting behavior in congress - CONSTITUENCY

Give an example of a representative voting against their party line due to hvaing a marginal seat and a constituency with lots of support for the other party

A

Democrat Joe Machin often votes with republican as he is the west virginian senator who have voted for trump in 2016 and 2020 - this resulted in him being re-elected as senator in 2018

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23
Q

factors affecting voting behavior in congress - CONSTITUENCY

Give an example of democrat Joe Machin voting republican

A

Joe Machin was the key vote to confirm republican supreme court justice BRETT KAVANAUGH 2018

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24
Q

factors affecting vo ting behavior in congress - CONSTITUENCY

Give an example of congresspeople voting along party lines dispite opposing it themselves

A

only 10 republicans supported Trumps second impeachment in 2022 dispite many opposing trump when he was nominated as a republican nominee in 2016

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25
# Does Congress preform it's representaive role effectively? Give an example of congress effectively representing through congressional elections
HOR being represented every 2 years and senate every 6 complement each other well HOR - delegate model, represent short term changes and public opinipn SENATE - trustee model, sheltered from public opinion so can uphold key principles of the us constitution that they think fit.
26
# Does Congress preform it's representaive role effectively? Give an example of Congressional elections not being representative (2 points)
1. sucess rates of incumbents show they have little impact as nothing changes 2. house is elected too frequently so representatives are too focused on fundraising and not on representing
27
# Does Congress preform it's representaive role effectively? Give an example of how congress is descriptively representative
Representation in congress has improved E.G 118th has 137 non-white members 113th had 86 10 year difference between the two
28
# Does Congress preform it's representaive role effectively? Give an example of how Congress is not descriptively representative
1/4 of congress in non-white compared to 41% of the population of the USA Therefore congress does not pass legislation that does not pass legislation that is important to this 1/4 e.g police reform act 2021
29
# Does Congress preform it's representaive role effectively? Give an example of how Congress represents interests well (2 points)
1. Representatives spent a lot of time in there state / district and host town hall meeting to hear public opinion 2. Join relevent committes that are important to the economy of their constituency E.G House Agriculture commitee is chaired by pennsylvania's Glenn thomspon bc pensylavnia has 5800 farms at the timeof his election (2017)
30
# Does Congress preform it's representaive role effectively? Give an example of how Congress does not represent interests (2 points and 2 examples)
1. Congresspeople are too focused on local interest than national interest - E.G pork barrelling legislation rather than passing national budgets 2. Representatives are too focused on fundraising rather than representing - E.G in an election year representatives spend 50% of their time fundraising and 50% representing their constituency
31
# The legislative process in congress name all 6 stages of the legislative process in congress
1. first reading 2. comitte stage 3. timetabling stage 4. debate on the floor and vote 5. reconcilliation of bill 6. president signs/vetoes
32
# The legislative process in congress Give an example of the first reading of a bill in congress
The CHIPS and science act was first introduced under a different name - The Supreme Court Security Funding Act, introduced by Tim Ryan in 2021
33
# The legislative process in congress How many standing committees are there in the senate and the house?
16 in the senate and 20 in the house
34
# The legislative process in congress Give an example of a bill being passed through the commitee stage
The Supreme Court Security Funding Act was passed through the house by the House Appropriations commitee
35
# The legislative process in congress How is the timetabling of a bill being debated decided in the senate?
Decided between majority and minority leaders in the senate
36
# The legislative process in congress How is the timetabling of a bill being debated decided in the house?
By the House Rules Committee HRC can also decide on how much a bill can be ammended so it is very important
37
# The legislative process in congress At what stage of passing legislation can a fillibuster be imposed in the senate?
During the third reading - when the bill is being debated and voted for on the floor of the senate
38
# The legislative process in congress Give an example of a bill being passed after the third reading by the house and the senate seperately (2 points)
1. House passed Supreme Court Funding Act 2. Senate passed it with significant amendment like its name - CHIPS and Science Act | july 27th
39
# The legislative process in congress What are the two solutions to reconsilliate a bill that has been amended differently throughout the two chambers
1. Conference commitee decide on one version of the bill (has both members of the senate and the house in it) 2. informal negotiations take place between party leaders or there is an exchange of amendments between 2 chambers
40
# The legislative process in congress Give an example of a bill being reconcilled after debated and voted for
The house accepted the CHIPS and Science Act amendment a day after the senate had passed it
41
# The legislative process in congress If the president veto's a bill, what are Congress's two options?
1. amend the bill and present the president with a new version hoping he will pass the new one 2. Overide presedential veto with a 2/3 majority in both houses.
42
# The legislative process in congress What is a pocket veto
The president can leave a bill on his desk without signing it and if it is not signed after 10 congressional days then it will become law
43
# The legislative process in congress Give an example of the president signing legislation
On August 9th 2022 Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act
44
# Key Differences in the House and the Senate where are bills more likely to be amended?
in the senate
45
# Key Differences in the House and the Senate How do the Senate and the House differ in how long a representative can speak in a chamber
1. In the House, representatives are limited to 40 minute speeches 2. Senate can fillibuster to block a bill
46
# Key Differences in the House and the Senate Give an example of the Longest Fillibuster
In 1957 Civil Rights Act, Stom Thurmond spoke for 24 hours 18 minutes.
47
# Key Differences in the House and the Senate How can a fillibuster be ended?
Through Cloture motion requiring 60 votes in the senate which is very hard to achieve
48
# Key Differences in the House and the Senate If there is a tie in a vote in the house what happenes?
The Bill does not get passed
49
# Key Differences in the House and the Senate If there is a tie in the senate vote what happenes?
The vice president can vote to break a tie
50
# Committees in congress Give two reasons why committees are so important
1. They can effectively veto legislation 2. Allow members of congress to use specialized knowledge to represent important areas of interest in their district/state
51
# Strenths of the Legislative Process Give 4 strengths of the legislative process
1. Bipartisan in times of crisis 2. Multiple veto points in process ensure scrutiny 3. Commitees ensure expertise and specialization 4. president veto is a balancing tool
52
# Strenths of the Legislative Process Give an example of Bipartisan in times of crisis
The CARES Act being passed in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
53
# Strenths of the Legislative Process Give an example of two specialist committees that are a strength of the legislative process
1. House Appropriations Committee 2. Senate foreign relations committee
54
# Weaknesses of the Legislative Process Give 3 weaknesses of the legislative process
1. High rate of legislative failures 2. Fillibuster is a tool for minority obstruction 3. Influence of lobbyists and pressure groups
55
# Weaknesses of the Legislative Process Give an example of the high rate of legislative failure
In the 117th Congress, 2% of bills were passed many not being critical issues like renaming post offices
56
# Weaknesses of the Legislative Process Give an example of a successful fillibuster from a minority to obstruct a bill
Fillibuster of the DREAMS Act 2010
57
define Gridlock
A failure of Congress to agree on legislation, meaning new laws cannot be passed
58
Define divided government
Occurs when different political parties hold the presidency and at least one chamber of congress
59
Define unified government
Occurs when one party holds the presidency, the HOR and the senate
60
how many Americans approve of the way congress handles it's job
hovered at around 20%
61
how many % of all bills are passed
2-3% of all bills which has fallen since the 1980's when 6-7% of bills became law
62
what are 3 arguments to say that congress uses it's oversight function effectively
1. congress can impeach and try the president for wrong doing 2. president must work closely with senate during treaty negotiations to secure ratification 3. the senate can refuse executive appointments
63
What are 3 arguments that congress does not effectively fulfill its oversight fuction
1. No president has ever been removed by the impeachment process 2. senate has sometimes refused to ratify reasonable treaties which isolated the US from key global agreements e,g, 1919 treaty of versailes and woodrow wilson 3. confirmation of executive appointmnets is highly politicised
64
explain the longest government shutdown in congressional histroy
2018-2019 - Donald Trump - lasted 35 days and estimated to have cost government 2.3 billion
65
what are 3 arguments to say that congress does use the power of the purse effectively
1. powerful check on executive 2. executive may make concessions to congress in order to avoid a shutdown 3. government shutdowns are very rare
66
what are 3 arguments to say that congress does not use the power of the purse effectively
1. Presidents are unable to reduce the size of the federal budget so US debt continues to increase 2. 'pork-barrelling' is an uneccessary use of taxpayers money 3. Trumps use of declaring a national emergency to bypass congress' power of purse may create a precedent that can be used in the future by other presidents
67
# CASE STUDY Speaker of the house Nancy pelosi
became first female speaker of the house in 2007 to 2011 and re-elected in 2019 led house democrats to impeach trump in 2019
68
what are competative electoral districts
districts in the US electoral college system where either party has a realistic chance of winning
69
How have the number of competative electoral districts decreased
1997- 164 competative districts 2020 - 91 shows increase in partisanship
70
Give a recent example of bipartisanship in congress
The First Step Act 2018 which reformed the criminal justice system 2020 CARES ACT - complete unianimous senate vote and almost unanimous house vote
71
what are 4 types of congressional committees
1. Standing committees 2. select committees 3. House rules Committee 4. Conference committee
72
give an example of a house select committee in action
The House Select Committe on Benghazi 2014-2016 was set up to investigate the 2012 terrorist attack on the US embassy in Benghazi, Libya they interviews more than 100 witnesses and spent 2 years and $7 billion on the investigation
73
what is the house rules committee
sets the 'rules' for bills and had 2:1 majority of the party in the house speaker uses the their partys control of the committee to decide what is debated on the floor
74
# house rules committee what are open and closed rules
open rules allow congress(wo)men to suggest amendments whereas closed do not
75
Example of the house rules committee setting a rule
in the 115th congress 2017-2019 56% of bills were debated under closed rules which gives minority party less ability to shape government bills
76
give an example of how the chair of the house rules comitte is an important role
chair from 2013-2019 Republican Pete Sessions recieved millions of donations to his campaign funds from pressure groups
77
what are conference committees
set up to consider a specific bill (mainly temporary)
78
Give an example of how conference committees have decreased
104th congress (1995-97) there were 67 conference committee reports whereas in the 115th (2017-2019) there was only 7
79

politics paper 2 - USA (9 decks)

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