The US Congress
the structure of Congress
the functions of congress
interpretations and debates around congress
comparing congress and parliament
THE STRUCTURE OF CONGRESS
BICAMERAL
- one of the compromises at the Philadelphia convention
- allows for both equal and proportional representation
- 435 - house; elections every 2 years
- 100 - senate; elections every 6 years
CONCURRENT POWERS
LEGISLATION
- equal
- neither override each other
- must agree to the proposed law in the same form before it goes to the exec
- pres has to ask Congress to pass legislation
OVERSIGHT OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
- implied in article 1, section 8 that allows them to investigate any subject within their
powers
- after the 2016 genelec, both houses of Congress began to investigate Trump
and his alliance with the Russians through different oversight committees
OVERRIDING THE PRESIDENT'S VETO
- ⅔ majority in both houses
INITIATING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
- ⅔ majority in both houses
DECLARING WAR
- both houses must agree
- only happened on 5 occasions with the most recent being the 1941 war on Japan
- can be sidelined by the pres - the pres can send troops which means Congress has
to declare war because if they take it back America looks like they don't know what
they're doing
, EXCLUSIVE POWERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPS
MONEY BILLS
- only the house can begin the consideration of money bills since their main
responsibility is managing the economy (whilst the Senate's is long term issues since
they hold the position for 6 years)
CHARGES OF IMPEACHMENT
- first step: the power to accuse and charge
- used 21 times
- eg. Trump in 2019 and 2021
EXCLUSIVE POWERS OF THE SENATE
RATIFYING TREATIES
- ⅔ majority
CONFIRMING APPOINTMENTS
- simple majority to appointments to both the judiciary and executive branch
- judiciary → important because they have life tenure
TRYING CASES OF IMPEACHMENT
second step: power to determine whether guilty or not with a ⅔ majority
IS THE SENATE MORE PRESTIGIOUS?
YES NO
represent the entire state - bigger mandate both houses have equal power in the
passage of legislation which is their key
serve longer terms - can deal with longer function
term issues, seen as a more valued job
because they have more freedom to do both houses must approve the initiation of
what they want (act more as trustees) constitutional amendments (⅔ majority)
one of only 100 - bigger voice both houses conduct oversight of the
executive
more likely to chair a committee or
sub-committee because there are less of both fulfil a representative function
them to choose from
equal salaries - same value in the eyes of
seen as a recruiting pool for presidential the state
and vice presidential candidates
have significant exclusive powers eg.
ratifying treaties and confirming appts
house members frequently seek election to
the senate but not the other way around
(self-fulfilling prophecy)
the structure of Congress
the functions of congress
interpretations and debates around congress
comparing congress and parliament
THE STRUCTURE OF CONGRESS
BICAMERAL
- one of the compromises at the Philadelphia convention
- allows for both equal and proportional representation
- 435 - house; elections every 2 years
- 100 - senate; elections every 6 years
CONCURRENT POWERS
LEGISLATION
- equal
- neither override each other
- must agree to the proposed law in the same form before it goes to the exec
- pres has to ask Congress to pass legislation
OVERSIGHT OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
- implied in article 1, section 8 that allows them to investigate any subject within their
powers
- after the 2016 genelec, both houses of Congress began to investigate Trump
and his alliance with the Russians through different oversight committees
OVERRIDING THE PRESIDENT'S VETO
- ⅔ majority in both houses
INITIATING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
- ⅔ majority in both houses
DECLARING WAR
- both houses must agree
- only happened on 5 occasions with the most recent being the 1941 war on Japan
- can be sidelined by the pres - the pres can send troops which means Congress has
to declare war because if they take it back America looks like they don't know what
they're doing
, EXCLUSIVE POWERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPS
MONEY BILLS
- only the house can begin the consideration of money bills since their main
responsibility is managing the economy (whilst the Senate's is long term issues since
they hold the position for 6 years)
CHARGES OF IMPEACHMENT
- first step: the power to accuse and charge
- used 21 times
- eg. Trump in 2019 and 2021
EXCLUSIVE POWERS OF THE SENATE
RATIFYING TREATIES
- ⅔ majority
CONFIRMING APPOINTMENTS
- simple majority to appointments to both the judiciary and executive branch
- judiciary → important because they have life tenure
TRYING CASES OF IMPEACHMENT
second step: power to determine whether guilty or not with a ⅔ majority
IS THE SENATE MORE PRESTIGIOUS?
YES NO
represent the entire state - bigger mandate both houses have equal power in the
passage of legislation which is their key
serve longer terms - can deal with longer function
term issues, seen as a more valued job
because they have more freedom to do both houses must approve the initiation of
what they want (act more as trustees) constitutional amendments (⅔ majority)
one of only 100 - bigger voice both houses conduct oversight of the
executive
more likely to chair a committee or
sub-committee because there are less of both fulfil a representative function
them to choose from
equal salaries - same value in the eyes of
seen as a recruiting pool for presidential the state
and vice presidential candidates
have significant exclusive powers eg.
ratifying treaties and confirming appts
house members frequently seek election to
the senate but not the other way around
(self-fulfilling prophecy)
