Congress Flashcards
What powers are given to Congress in the constitution?
Legilsate (inc presidential veto override)
Representation (need for elations, now including Senate)
Amend the constitution (2/3 in each chamber)
Declare war
List the exclusive powers of the House
Impeachment (Johnson 1836, Clinton 1998, Justice Samuel Chase 1804)
Elect the president if no candidate has over 50% of electoral college’s vote
Begin consideration of money bills
List the exclusive powers of the Senate
Try and impeachment case
Elect VP, if not candidate reaches 50% of ECV
Ratify treaties
Confirm executive appointments
What factors are responsible for high incumbency rates?
Use of office- establish popularity and attract major donors
Safe seats and gerrymandering
Pork-barrel politics
Financial advantage
Which factors effect voting behaviour in Congress?
Public opinion/ constituency
Part/ party leaders
Caucuses
Interest groups and lobbyists
What path does a bill take to be passed?
Initiated by Congress our president
Debated and amended by Committees in both Houses
Senate floor or HR committee
Full House votes and Full Senate Votes- both chambers must agree to a compromised bill
The president either signs or vetos
Explain some differences between the House and Senate in legislative function
HR committee
Senate has unlimited debate time for a bill
Senate can filibuster (longest was Thurmond in 1957 who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes against civil rights
Give some strengths of the legislative process
Checks and balances- prevents tyranny, compromise
Quality policy- detailed consideration
Individual and state rights are protected
Give some weaknesses of the legislative process
Inefficiency/ low output
Partisanship
Poor quality legislation
Give some factors which limit impact of Congress
The president can veto eg Obama veto of ACA repeal 2016
Partisanship
Congress is internally divided
SC- eg Shelby County v Holder 2013 overturned key sections of the Voting Rights Act
List checks and balances (on the theme of congressional oversight)
Vote on presidential proposals
Vote against laws supported by president eg 2017 when Trump couldn’t pass American Health Care Act despite republican majority in both chambers
Amend laws supported by president
Determine funding for presidential projects
Proposing legislation
Overturn presidential veto
Declare war
Senate ratification of appointments
Senate ratification of treaties
Impeachment and removal members of executive branch
Give some factors which influence relationship between Congress and president
Who has majority in both chambers Foreign or domestic policy? Opinion/ support of public Mandate- stronger and more recent Effectiveness of presidents persuasion and leadership
What power does Congress have over the SC?
Can effectively overturn a ruling
eg when voting age was lowered to 18 in 26th amendment, the effectively overturned the Oregon v Mitchell 1970 ruling
Individual justices can be impeached and removed
Constitution states Congress can decide the number of justices
What three changes in recent years have changed congressional power?
The rise in importance of military and foreign policy- increasingly controlled by presidency . Congress has attempted to exert authority with the War Powers Act 1973
The nationalisation of mid-term elections has centralised power in the hands of the House speaker, significant rival to the president
Partisanship
Arguments for Congress being representative
Separate elections for Congress and President
Two elected chambers- complimentary representation
Frequent and fair elections
