US Congress

What was Congress initially designed for

So it would represent the interests of both local districts + states - and so that legislation passed would distinguish between federal law and autonomy of individual states

How is Congress structured?

Bicameral - made up of 2 houses - House of Representatives (lower house - states represented proportionally to their population - directly elected) and the Senate (states represented equally - elected from 1914)

When/how long are Congress elections

Congressional elections every 2 years (compared to 4 years for a president)

Senators serve every 6 years - with Senate up for re-election every 2 years

Powers of House of reps?

-Considers money bills

-Brings charges of impeachment

-If Electoral College is deadlocked, they choose the president

powers of Senate

-Ratifies treaties

-If Electoral College is deadlocked, chooses VP

-Tries cases of impeachment

What can both the House of Reps and Congress do?

-Creating legislation - President has to ask to pass legislation e.g Obama asked for healthcare reform which became the Affordable Care Act (2010)

-Oversees the executive branch - can vote on budgets of all the executive departments - e.g both houses investigated allegation of Trump working with the Russians in the 2016 presidential election

-2/3 majority in both houses can override Presidents veto - e.g Congress overrode 4 out of 12 of Bush’s vetoes during his 8 years in office - in 2007 his veto of the Water Resources Development Bill was overrode - overrode just one of Obama’s vetoes - 2016 overrode his veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act

-Initiating amendments to Constitution with 2/3 majority e.g amendments in the Bill of Rights

-Declaring war

-Confirming an appointed VP

compare the house to senate

functions of congress?