| What were the key principles that the Founding Fathers wanted Congress to fulfill? | -Checks and Balances, with checks Within the Legislature, and between the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary
-Different term lengths providing different Representation in Congress. Senators are every 6 Years, making them less sensitive to Public opinion than Members of the House of Representatives, which are every 2 years
-Protecting State Interests. The Senate demonstrates this clearly, with each state getting 2 Senators and only 2. This protected Smaller States, though enrages the big states such as California and Texas. |
| What are the Requirements to be a member of Congress? | -For the House: Members must be at least 25 Years Old, and have been a Citizen for 7 years
-For the Senate: Members must be 30 years old, and have been a Citizen for 9 Years |
| What are the Main Differences between the House and the Senate? | -Total Membership: 435 in the House, 100 in the Senate
-Title of Member: Representative vs Senator
-Term Length: 2 Years vs 6 Years
-Constituency: District vs State
-Number per State: Roughly Proportional to Population vs 2 per State |
| Who is the most Powerful Person in the House of Representatives?
-Why are they the most powerful? | -This is the Speaker. The House Majority Party will provide the Speaker, and will attempt to Unite their party and give out Policy Leadership.
-They are also Second in line for the President, after the Vice President
-Often, they will determine the Agenda of the Majority Party, and so thus the House in general. |
| What role does the House Majority, and Minority Leaders, do in Congress? | -The House Majority Leader is seen as the speaker's Deputy.
-The Minority Leaders in both Chambers head the Minority Party and aim to be Speaker or Majority Leaders. |
| Describe the election cycle for the House and the Senate | -Elections for the House and the Senate take place every 2 Years, via the FPTP system
-Every member of the house is put up for election, whilst only a third of Senators are put up for elections. That is because Senators have 6-year terms
-This allows for the House to have frequent checking up on, and the Senate to have intervals, but still allows the Majority party to retain some control of the Senate
-It can also be seen as a Check on how well the President is doing. Usually, they lose seats and their Majority overall, with only 7 US Presidents increasing their seats in one Chamber, and 2 US Presidents doing both. |
| Who is the
1. Speaker of the House
2. House Majority Leader
3. House Minority Leader
-And what is the current Composition? | 1. Mike Johnson, since October 25th 2023
2. Steve Scalise, since January 3rd 2023 (R)
3. Hakeem Jeffries, since January 3rd 2023 (D)
-Out of the 435 members, 222 are Republicans, 213 are Democrats |
| Who is the
1. Vice President / President of the Senate
2. Senate Majority Leader
3. Senate Minority Leader
-And what is the Current Composition? | 1. Kamala Harris, since January 2021
2. Chuck Schumer, since January 2021
3. Mitch McConnell. Since January 2007
-Out of the 100 Senators, 49 are Republican, 48 are Democrats, and 3 are Independents, that side with the Democrats usually. |
| Why can Midterm elections be significant? | -Presidents can see a Major Decline in Power by losing Congress Control. Legislation may screech to a Halt
-Midterms can change the Policy direction of America
-It can lead to major Gridlock between the President and Congress, or even between Congress itself |
| What happened to Obama after the 2010 Midterms elections? | -The Democrats had lost control of the House, making it hard for Obama to do his legislative goals.
-During the elections, the Republican Party made a National pledge: The Pledge to America. This gave the Speaker, John Boehner, a mandate to change.
-The failure of Both sides to agree on Budget issues led to a 16 Day Federal Government Shutdown in 2013. When the Democrats lost control of the Senate in the 2014 Midterms, because of legislation gridlock, led to Obama's legislative goals dead in the water. |
| What powers does the House of Representatives have only? | -Bring forward Impeachment Charges: This can happen when the House wants to charge any public official. This must relate to reason, bribery, or a High Crime Misdemeanour. Trump in 2019 and 2021 had impeachment charges brought against them. A Simple Majority is needed
-Elect the President if no candidate gets 50% of the Electoral College: Each state in the House gets one vote on the President of the USA. However, the FPTP makes this scenario hard to achieve, and only been seen in 1800 and 1824.
-Considering Money Bills: Revenue raising bills, such as Taxes, must begin in the House. Comparing it to other bills, where they can begin in the Senate as well. The Senate does have a say in the Money Bills, and can Amend or Reject. |
| What powers does the Senate have only? | -Try an Impeached official. If the House votes for Charges, the Senate holds the trial. 2/3 of the Senate must vote for the Removal of the President to occur. Both impeachments trail Trump's failure in the Senate.
-Ratify Treaties: Only the Senate can accept/reject treaties from the President. The Senate allowed for the START Treaty in 2010 but rejected the UN Treaty on disabled rights in 2012. Executive Agreements are seen as a way to Bypass the Senate
-Confirm Presidential Appointments: Over 1200 Positions are scrutinized and Voted on by the Senate. The Senate will investigate and hold committee hearings, then vote to confirm the Appointment with a simple majority needed. With the Majority in the Senate, Trump got some pretty interesting figures such as Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary. (Guns in schools to not allow Grizzly Bears!) |
| Between the Senate and the House, which Chamber has more Significant Exclusive powers? | -The Senate is seen as more significant, as it can use its exclusive powers more Regularly, and has more Impact on Presidential Power and US Public Policy
-The fact that it can vote on Impeaching the President, or block his Cabinet positions is Huge. |
| Which Concurrent Powers does Congress have? (Both the House and the Senate) | -Legislation: Article I gives all Legislative Power to Congress. Both Chambers's approval is needed for any Legislation to be given to the President. Congress can Amend, and reject Presidential Blocks. 2017 saw the American Healthcare Act (trying to reform Obamacare) which was accepted by the House, but Blocked by the Senate
-Amending the USCON: Power here is shared between Congress and the States. 2/3 of each Chamber is needed for an Amendment to be considered
-Declare War: Ambiguity lies here, because of the President being the Commander-in-chief. But the Founding Fathers gave Congress the power to begin Military Conflicts. 1942 was the last time this happened, with the Declaration of War against Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania. |
| Case Study: What happened between Biden and the AUMF? | -Congress last declared war in 1942, but obviously, the US has engaged in numerous wars after WW2
-Congress has allowed military Actions via AUMF - Authorization of the Use of Military Force. This was in response to 9/11. It allows the President tot use 'Necessary and Appropriate force against attacks.
-The AUMF for Iraq was repealed in 2023, due to the President mis using it |
