congress - structures, powers and composition

• congress is thought to be what?

  unproductive and unpopular

  • in 2018 fewer than 20% of americans thought that congress worked
• what structure does congress have?

  bicameral
• what are the weaknesses of the legislative process in congress?

  houses dont work together until the end

  can override a veto

  president can veto

  gridlock

  long and complicated system

  lots of power to committees

  relied heavily on super majorities which are hard to achieve
• what are the strengths of the legislative process in congress?

  lots of ways it can fail which means there's sufficient scrutiny

  the president can veto bills

  the committees exist to effectively scrutinise bills

  long, complex system -> scrutiny, debates and questioning bills are of a high quality if they pass

  it has always worked for the US so why change it
• what is cloture?

  the procedure to end a filibuster - 3/5 majority of senators must vote
• What is fillibustering?

  talking at length to kill a bill
• what is divided government?

  when congress is held by two parties
• when does gridlock occur?

  when congress is unable to pass legislation effectively
• do most bills make it past the committee stage?

  no -> only 3-5% make it
• what must happen before a bill is sent to the president?

  it is introduced and debated by committees in both chambers
• who makes up the party leadership in the HoR?

  floor leaders
• who makes up the party leadership in the senate?

  constitutionally mandated officers
• what are some reasons as to why the senate is NOT more prestigious than the HoR?

  both houses have equal power in the passage of legislation

  both houses must approve the initiation of constitutional amendments

  both houses conduct oversight of the executive branch

  both houses fulfil a representative function

  members of both houses get equal salaries
• what are some reasons as to why the Senate is more prestigious than the HoR?

  senators represent the entire state

  senators serve longer terms

  senators are only 1 of 100

  senate is seen as a recruiting pool for presidential candidates senators poses significant exclusive powers

  HoR members frequently seek election to the senate but not the other way around
• it is often thought that the senate is more what?

  powerful and prestigious
• what proportion of congress is re-elected each year?

  all of the HoR and 1/3 of the senate
• when did the senate become directly elected?

  1914 - 17th amendment
• what are the features of the Senate?

  upper house

  100 members 6 year terms

  must be 30+

  must be a US citizens for at least 9 years

  must reside at the state that they represent
• what are the features of the House of Representatives?

  lower house

  435 members

  serve two year terms

  must be 25+

  must be a US citizens for at least 7 years

  must be a resident of the state they represent
• what led to the bicameral system in america

  the connecticut compromise