| What are the 3 Main Functions of Congress? | -Representation
-Legislation
-Oversight |
| What is the Incumbency re-election rate in US Congress? | -In the 2022 Elections, the House was 94.5% and the Senate was 100%. Insane. |
| Why is the Incumbency re-election rate so high? | -The Winner-takes-all Electoral System (FPTP) creates safe seats. This means the person in office will always be likely to get Re-Elected as they represent the party with Dominant Support. An example is Don Young, who has been in the House since 1973, until he died in 2022. Alaska has only voted for Republican candidates for the 21st Century
-Being an Incumbent gives them advantages that Political rivals can not enjoy. Incumbents have more name recognition, leading to more media coverage and effective campaigns. Furthermore, the use of pork-barrel legislation allows for benefiting their constituencies when a congressional bill is being discussed.
-How easy it is for money to be raised when you're an incumbent Senator or House member, which in turn, helps how effective the campaign can be.
-Gerrymandering: A party in control of the State Legislature can draw up Congressional district boundaries for their State. The Dominant Party can thus maximize its winning chances by Manipulating the borders. This makes the House incumbency re-election rates High. |
| Why can it be said that High Incumbency Rate be seen as both Negative and Positive? | -The Representative function of Congress is harmed as the number of competitive electoral races plummets to only a few. The Incumbent has no threat of being removed so doesn't care all that much about its people.
-But it can allow experienced politicians in office with a great understanding of the US political system. |
| How can Parties and Caucuses influence voting behaviour within Congress? | -Members of Congress will often vote for their Party because they agree naturally - why else though they be a member
-It can be said that 'hyper-partisanship' has made opposing political parties limit each other. For example, blocking a bill from the other party just because it's the other party
-Primaries can lead to more loyalty towards Constituents and not the Party Leader - Speaker Paul Ryan, who was Republican and had a Majority in the House - had to withdraw a bill repeating Obamacare, despite the Republican's stance on it.
-Congressional Caucuses also can influence voting, as the common Goal or Ideology of its members will make them vote in the same Direction |
| How can the Constituency influence voting behaviour within Congress? | -Because of the frequent election cycle, the public opinion is influential in many Congressional people. This can make them more influenced by the people rather than the party leader.
-Sometimes the Incumbent, and their opponents, highlights the individual voting record in electoral campaign, revealing they had opposed Party Lines to support their Constituency. 11 Republicans voted against Trumps proposal for a Border Wall.
-Pork-Barrell politics can also be seen as an indicator that Constituents really do influence the Congressional voting behaviour |
| How can Pressure Groups and Lobbyists influence Voting Behaviour within Congress | -PGs can influence Politicians via Persuasion and mobilizing Key Groups to Support/Oppose a Candidate
-PGs can provide essential Funding for a Candidate, in return for Support in their Area. In 2019, a Pro-Gun Group: the National Rifle Association (NRA) raised $350 million. Compared to Gun Control Groups like Everytown for Gun Safety, they raised $100 million
-Lobbyists can be influential too due to Connections with Politicians in Congress, and luring the Congressional Person into an attractive role within the Lobbying Firm, after they leave office. In 2022: 453 former members of Congress was working in a Lobbying Capacity as Advisors or Lobbyists |
| What are the Key Characteristics of the Legislative Process in Congress? | -Congress is Proactive and not just Reactive. It does respond to Presidential Proposals, but can also Initiate Legislation. An Example can be the Electoral Count Reform Act 2023
-Congress is Active: Since Congress is separated from the Executive, Congress can Amend or Defeat Government Proposals. Joe Biden faced significant resistance from his Build Back Better, leading to only just a few things of the Bill passing
-Legislation is to be Agreed by both the Senate and the House. They both have Co-Equal Legislative Power
-Many requirements for a Bill to become Law. To get through, 50% is needed in each Chamber, a Series of Committees.
-Lack of Party Unity makes it much more Harder to Pass Legislation. Obama faced a Gov Shutdown in 2013 for 16 days, after a disagreement on the funding of Obamacare (Republicans controlled the House)
-President is Influential in Legislation and can set the Agenda. The Power to Veto is quite powerful as 2/3 of the House and Senate must agree to Overturn it, which is rare. |
| Why is the Legislation Process seen as Weak? | -It takes too long for Legislation to be Passed. Lots of Compromises and Amendments
-Process leads to Poor-Quality Legislation. Output of legislation can be based on Pet Projects and Ideological Interests - not the Public Interest.
-Pork-Barrell Politics increases the National Debt for projects not of National Concern. In 2023, there were 7.4k Earmarks for $26.1 Billion. Liberals and Fiscal Conservatives hate this
-Hyper-Partisanship has made these weaknesses much more Stronger. If Congress is Divided, expect nothing to be done... |
| Why is the Legislative Process seen as Strong? | -Process reflects the Founding Fathers wishes. Preventing Tyranny via incentivizing Compromises between different Interests. Wants Pluralism
-Legislation being blocked can be seen as upholding Limited Government
-Deliberative Process can allow Higher Quality Legislation by blocking Rushed decisions
-The Legislative Process respects the Rights for the Individual and the State
-In other words, it was made to be hard to pass laws |
| Why can there be Legislative Differences between the House and the Senate? | 1. House: Amendments to Legislation must be Relevant to the Proposed Act. While in the Senate, Amendments can be like the House, or be completely Unrelated to the Bill. (when dealing with the Zika Crisis, several Republican Senators wanted to limit Abortion within the bill)
2 House: The process on which bills are Debated and When, and the rules, are done via the House Rules Committee. The Committee is dominated by the Majority Party. Senate: No Committee present here to the Agenda of the Senate is done by the Whole Chamber.
3. House: No Scope for a Filibuster with a vote always scheduled, thanks to the House Rules Committee. Only the Speaker can Filibuster. In the Senate: Senators can Filibuster, and prevent the Bill from being Voted on. 60 Votes are needed to end the Filibuster, which can mean 60 Votes needed for Legislation to be passed.
4. House: Unanimous Consent can be used, but only for non-controversial issues, usually. Representative Massie used this to delay the $2 Trillion Covid COVID-19 bill in March 2020. Senate: Much more Unanimous Consent. Used to see what Bills are debated when and the rules attached. Majority and Minority Leaders will work together to reach an Agreement. Sometimes, Unanimous Consent used to pass a Bill like the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act 2016 |
| What does Filibuster mean? | -Refers to when an Individual will Prevent a Vote by talking during the Debate. This can prevent legislation from being Passed or Appointments to be Confirmed because there is no Vote! |
| Why can it be seen that Congress is so Impactful for USA | -Social Policy: Congress legislates on the Economy, Healthcare, Education, and much more. Millions of Americans daily lives are affected
-Political Processes: Voting Procedures, Power of States and President are all discussed in Congress |
| Why may Laws passed by Congress be seen as Effective? | -Often based on Different Interests and Views. Promotes the Variety that the USA contains. Pluralist Democracy
-Laws are checked through Many Stages in Congress. This should make Robust Legislation |
| Why may Laws passed by Congress be seen as Ineffective? | The legislative process is so Complicated that Bills being passed can be so Vague and Incoherent that it's just Useless
-Members of Congress being able to add Amendments - Pork-Barrel Politics - led to Increases for the Fed for quite Questionable Projects. Is money being Wasted? Also, Remember Senators adding unrelated Amendments |
| How can it be said that the Impact of Congress is Limited? | -Influence of the Presdient as they can just veto the Legislation
-Divided Government in Congress makes Agreements so Frustrating
-Partisanship makes Consensus so extremely Difficult
-Supreme Court can Overturn Legislation seems as Unconstitutional |
| What factors can affect the Relationship between Congress and the President? | -Party Control: If the President's Party has a Majority in Congress then a more Cooperative Relationship is Established. Obama though couldn't work Cooperatively with Congress due to a Divided Government
-Policy Area: Dual Presidency Theory suggests that the President is more Constrained in Domestic Policy, but more Free in Foreign Policy. Executive Agreements, or initiating Military Action without Congressional consultation are examples (Houthi Rebels)
-Popularity with the President: A More Popular President can hold more Influence when popular as Congress respects the President's wishes. This may override Party differences
-Partisanship: Long term rise in Partisanship between the Democrats and Republicans is very influential. If the President has a Majority, there usually is less resistance to their agenda |
| How can Congress check on other Branches of Government? | -Congressional Committees: Committees can investigate Executive Action or see Legislative Proposals which usually amend or block Presidential law. The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability is looking into Biden's family's Domestic and international business dealings.
-Vote on Presidential Proposals: Congress can block Presidential Proposals like Funding for Trump's Wall or Funding for Ukraine
-Ratification of Appointments and Treaties: The Senate can Hugely Impact the President's power to carry out Foreign Policy. Merrick Garland never got to be Appointed because the Senate never Voted!
-Impeachment and Removal: This is the Nuclear Power that Congress has, but only used when the President has messed up. Nixon and Trump both have had Impeached cases but has never been sucessful, ish |
