Politics - US Congress

How many representatives in the house?

435

How long do representatives in the house serve?

2 year terms

How many senators?

100

How long do senators serve?

6 year terms

How much of senate are up for reelection every election?

1/3

How long must you be a US citizen for to serve in the House?

At least 7 years

How long must you be a US citizen for to be a senator?

At least 9 years

What % of the House are women?

27%

What race are underrepresented?

Hispanics make up 18% of population but only 9% of congress

What % of congress have a uni degree?

99%

What percent of congress are Christian?

88%

What % of the US population are Christian?

71%

Which 2 senators weren’t Republican or Democrat?

Bernie Sanders and Angus King

What is Americans attitude to Congress?

Unproductive and should pass more laws and interfere less with everyday life.

What are the 3 roles of Congress?

Passing legislation, representing the people and overseeing the executive

How many states have 1 representative in the House?

7

Who was the House Republican speaker as of 2024?

Mike Johnson

What must Congress approve?

Federal budgets

What was the last vote to impeach?

2018 democrats tried to impeach Trump

How many vetos were overridden in 2016?

1/12

What committees investigate actions of the executive?

Select and Standing committees

What did the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty ban in 1999?

Banned testing of nuclear weapons

What proportion needed to override a presidential veto?

2/3

What proportion do amendments need?

2/3 then sent to states for approval

What proportion needed to impeach a public official?

Majority

When do gov shutdowns happen?

When neither Congress of executive can compromise

Pork Barrell meaning?

Getting money for certain area in return for support of Congress

Who needs to vote for a formal declaration of war?

Both Houses

Who can propose a bill?

Committes, President, Congress, individuals and Pressure groups

What is a junket?

When a subcommittee go on a fact finding trip

When do most bills die?

In the committee stage

What is an open bill?

Any amendments can be made

What is a closed bill?

Complicated and can’t be amended

What is a special bill?

Only certain people can amend bill and only certain amendments can be made

How is filibuster ended?

By a 60% majority

What is the 1st stage of the legislative process?

Introduction and referral of bills

What is the 2nd stage of the legislative process?

Committee consideration

What is the 3rd stage of the legislative process?

Calendars and scheduling

What is the 4th stage of the legislative process?

House Floor

What is the 5th stage of the legislative process?

Senate floor

What is the 6th stage of the legislative process?

Sent to president (executive business in the senate)

What is the 7th stage of the legislative process?

Bicameral Resolution

What is the 8th stage of the legislative process?

Presidential actions

What is the 9th stage of the legislative process?

Public law

What are the decisions a president can make on a bill?

Sign, veto or ignore

What do select committees deal with?

A specific certain issue

What committees are mostly temporary?

Select committees

Permanent select committee example?

Senate select committee on Intelligence (SSCI)

In 2017-2020 what did the SSCI investigate?

Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections

What do select committees carry out?

High-profile and detailed hearings in the public interest

How do select committees scruntise the executive?

Through potential congressional investigation.

What reduces investigations credibility?

Through potential politisation

What did the House Select Committee on Benghazi (2014-2016) investigate?

The 2012 terrorist attack on US embassy in Benghazi

How much did the House Select Committee on Benghazi spend investigating?

$7 million

What type of committees are permanent?

Standing committees

What do standing committees focus on?

Specific area of policy

How many house standing committees are there?

20

How many senate standing committees are there?

16

How are parties represented?

In the same proportion as in the house or senate

What do standing committees do?

Hold hearings and carry out investigation

What is the House rules committees role?

Sets ‘rules’ for bills. Decides how long bills can be on the floor of the house and if amendments can be made

How many members of house rules committee?

13

What did Republican Pete Sessions use donations to his campaign funds from pressure groups to advance?

His disliking of Marijuana

When does the Conference committee happen?

When House and Senate pass different versions of a bill.

What is a conference report?

When the conference committee merge the house and senates versions of a bill.

Between 1995-97 how many conference reports were there?

67

Between 2017-19 how many conference reports were there?

7

Why do part leaders dislike conference reports?

Because they have no control in this stage

What do party leaders do to avoid conference reports?

They ask members in one chamber to adapt the other chambers bill

What is averagely the proportion of bills that have turned into laws in the 21st century?

3%

What amendment did the conservative democrats make Obama make?

Forced him to remove the more radical public health insurance option from the Affordable Care Act of 2010

Who’s healthcare reforms were too divisive for congressional democrats and the proposals weren’t voted on?

Bill Clinton

What is almost impossible with a divided gov?

To pass any landmark legislation

What percent of George W. Bush’s vetos were overturned?

33%

How do senators + representatives communicate with constituents?

Visits to their state/district including ‘town hall’ meetings. Letters + emails from constituents to keep informed of their views

Why do members of congress lobby the executive branch?

For funds or policies that will benefit their constituents

Why may federal gov allocate funding to states of districts?

To secure support of key members of congress?

How did legislation in 2011 aim to limit pork barrel funding?

By stopping the process of ‘earmarking’ federal funding to a specific project in a member of congress’s district/state.

How did the 2011 legislation to limit pork barrelling have a negative impact?

Pressure group citizens against gov waste found much lower levels of ‘pork’.

What problems do constituents go to congress members for?

Benefit payments or citizenship

How do congress members help their constituents?

Use their staff

What are congressional caucuses?

A group of members of congress who work together to achieve similar legislative aims.

In 2021 how many members did the House Freedom Caucus have and what was their aim?

45 republicans with a commitment to limited gov and more state freedom

What is an example of a bipartisan caucus?

Bipartisan heroin and opioid task force.

In 2018 what did the House Freedom Caucus oppose?

Trump’s budget, forcing him to depend on democrat voted to pass the bill.

What do the majority and minority leaders do?

Plan legislative agenda and coordinate their party for votes and debates

Why is party unity key?

To achieve legislative aims

What is the role of the speaker?

To determine legislative agenda and choose members of conference and select committees.

How does the constitution signify the speaker?

They are 2nd to V.P in presidential succession.

Who was the first female speaker of the HoR?

Nancy Pelosi 2007

How is party discipline?

Traditionally weak.

Why is party discipline weak?

The whips power to enforce party unity is limited

What does separation of powers prevent party leaders from doing?

Offering gov positions to congress members in exchange for support

What do senate party leaders determine?

Who will serve on different committees

What do party leaders need to do?

Convince congress members to support the party’s agenda.

How did Trump show some change in party discipline?

In 2018 midterms many of his critics resigned and were replaced by more supportive members.

Is party discipline stringer in UK or US?

UK

What is hyper-partisanship?

A sharply polarised situation in which political parties are in strong disagreement

Reason for increased hyper-partisanship?

Reduced number of competitive electoral districts

How many competitive electoral districts in 1997?

164