US Congress flashcards

Congressional caucus

Groups of legislators who share special interests and meet to pursue common legislative objectives e.g. black caucus, women’s caucus, Hispanic caucus

Divided government

When the House of Representatives, Senate and presidency are not all controlled by the same party.

Filibuster

When a senator gives a prolonged speech on the floor of the Senate in order to obstruct legislative progress of a bill or confirmation of an appointment to the Executive and judiciary.

Gridlock

A situation where the president and Congress are equally powerful, preventing each other from acting, resulting in difficulty passing legislation.

Incumbency

The current holder of a political office re House or Senate seat or the presidency e.g. Donald Trump is the incumbent president.

Mid-term elections

Congressional elections held mid-way through a four-year presidential term

Oversight

The ability of one branch of government to supervise the work of another.

Partisanship

A situation in which Congressmen/women are incredibly loyal to their party, even when it results in gridlock

Unanimous consent

A senator or congressman/woman may request unanimous consent on the floor to set aside a specified rule of procedure so as to expedite proceedings.

Article I, Section 1 states about congress…

“All legislative powers granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.”

Representation

In the House, larger states get more seats e.g. California (pop: 39,000,000) gets 53 seats, while Wyoming (pop: 580,000) gets 1 seat. The House is capped at 435 seats. In the senate, each state gets 2 senators regardless of size of population. Therefore, the Senate has 100 Senators.

Is the 119th Congress the ‘most representative ever?’

• Most racially and ethnically diverse in history

• Women make up 28% of voting members

• First openly transgender member of Congress

• Youngest Congress by average age

• Most representative ever, but it does not fully represent population e.g. 51% women in population, but only 28% of Congress

119th Congress-make-up

• Senate

  • Democrat: 45

  • Independent: 2

  • Republican: 53

• House

  • Democrat: 213

  • Republican: 220

Senate leadership

• President: J.D. Vance (R)

• Majority Leader: John Thune (R)

• Minority Leader: Chuck Schumer (D)

House leadership

• Speaker: Mike Johnson (R)

• Majority Leader: Steve Scalise (R)

• Minority Leader: Hakeem Jeffries (D)

Standing committee

A permanent group of Senators or Representatives that meets regularly to work on a specific subject or area of policy. The Senate has 16 and the House 20. They recommend funding levels for government operations and new and existing programs. Some may have additional powers e.g. Appropriations committees recommend legislation providing a budget for federal agencies and programs.

House Rules Committee

A standing committee with a job to prioritise bills. It is said to be the ‘traffic cop’ of the House. When bills are reported out of committee, it is up to the HRC to decide among all the bills submitted and which ones make it to the floor and when, as well as setting the rules of debate and vote ahead. As a result, it is a powerful committee to be on in Congress. Made up of 13 members, 9 of the majority party and 4 of the minority party.

Conference committees

Reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill. Consists of members of both houses. When the Conference committee has come up with an agreed version of the bill, this must be agreed to by a vote on each floor of the house.

Select committees

Have an ad-hoc membership. Set up either when an investigation does not fall within the policy area of one standing committee, or is likely to be very time-consuming e.g. January 6th Committee.

What is the difference between the Virginia and New Jersey plans?

The Virginia Plan was supported by larger states who wanted congressional seats to be assigned proportionally. The new Jersey plan was supported by smaller states who wanted equal representation by each state. Led to the Connecticut compromise, where the House was to be proportional, and the Senate to have equal representation.

What is impeachment and why does Congress hold this power?

An impeachment is effectively a charge brought against a federal official in order to put them on trial in the Senate. This acts as a limit on Presidential power, ensuring that they are not able to do as they choose, and forms part of a system of checks and balances.

Congress relationship with the Declaration of Independence

• The Framers made it clear why they favoured a Congress and not a king, as they described George III as a “prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be ruler of a free people.”

• James Madison was equally wary of a single legislature dominating the republic. A bicameral legislature would prevent this, each part acting as a check on the other

House of Representatives

• Members represent congressional districts

• 435 members

• Must be at least 25

• Must reside in the state you represent

• Two-year terms

• Must be a US citizen for 7 years

Representation in House

• 125 women

• 61 African Americans

• 50 Latinos

Senate

• Members represent the whole state

• 100 members

• Must be at least 30

• Must reside in the state you represent

• Six-year terms

• Must be a US citizen for 9 years

Representation in the Senate

• 26 women

• 5 African-American s

• 6 Latinos

What does bicameral mean?

A legislature that is split into 2 houses that are separate assemblies, chambers or houses: The House of Representatives and Senate. This ensures division of legislative power and effective checks and balances.

Why was the Senate originally unelected, with each state given two senators?

The Senate was unelected to act as a safeguard against popular sovereignty ans ensure that every state would have a voice in the new federal government regardless of its size.

Election cycle

Congressional elections take place every 2 years in November. A House term lasts 2 years, while a Senate term lasts 6. All elections use FPTP, which may explain the 2 party system.

Why was Joe Biden’s success in the 2022 midterms unexpected?

• Surge and decline theory suggests the President’s party suffers losses in midterms

• TIB it lacks the pull that successful and high profile presidential campaigns provide by bringing their supporters to the polls and persuading independents to support them

• Therefore, Biden’s midterm wins contradicted this and got a unified Democratic government. Only 3 presidents and managed this before.

House powers

• Power of the purse

• Bring charges of impeachment

• To choose the president if the electoral college is deadlocked

Concurrent powers

• To create legislation

• To override the President’s veto

• Propose constitutional amendments

• Declare war

• Confirm a new vice President

• Investigation of federal officials

Senate powers

• Ratify treaties

• Confirm appointments

• Try cases of impeachment

• Choose the vice president if the electoral college is deadlocked

When it comes to the distribution of power, what is the main difference between the US Congress and the UK Parliament?

In the UK, most powers are held by the Commons, as only it has the power to veto legislation completely. In the US however, the lower and upper houses have different stated powers, as well as having an equal right to veto legislation.

Who are the leaders of the house and what is their role?

• Leader of the majority party is Speaker of the House