Evaluate The View That The Senate Is More Powerful And Prestigious Than The House Of Representatives

AGREE 1 - Legislative powers

Senate more powerful as senators can block and delay legislation e.g filibustering

Ted Cruz spoke for more than 21 hours ,including reading the book Green Eggs and Ham , in the senate to oppose the ACA and push for defunding.

DISAGREE 1

Legislative powers

HoR holds significant exclusive powers to initiate revenue raising bills

Republican rep Jodey Arrington initiated the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025) in the HoR. This was a huge spending bill which made Trumps 2017 tax cuts permanent, removes environmental tax credits introduced by joe Biden and raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion.

AGREE 2

Foreign policy powers

Senate has exclusive power to ratify treaties.

2020 the senate ratified USMCA – trumps replacement for the NAFTA trade deal. This created the words largest free trade area and increased workers regulation laws to decrease migration

DISAGREE 2

Foreign policy powers

Both the house and senate are required to formally declare war. Also both chambers have ability to authroise military action and defence spending.

Congressional declaration of war against Japan in 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, leading the U.S. into World War II

AGREE 3 OVERSIGHT

Whilst the House can initiate impeachment proceedings, the senate holds the trial and can exclusive convict and remove a preseidnt

A conviction in the senate requires 2/3rds senate vote and has the final power to fomally remove officials

In his 2^nd impeachment trial, Trump was acquitted by the Senate for his role in the January 6^th attack on the U.S Capitol.

DISAGREE 3 OVERSIGHT

The House has exclusive constitutional powers to impeach a president

Used against Nixon, Clinton and Trump

2021 the House voted to impeach Donald Trump. U.S house judiciary committee launched a formal investigation, gathered evidence and subpoenaed documents