WHAT SYSTEM IS THE USA ?
a bicameral system
WHAT ARE THE 2 CHAMBERS OF THIS BICAMERAL SYSTEM ?
the Senate and the House of Representatives which constitute the Congress
WHAT IS THE COMPOSITION OF THE 2 CHAMBERS ?
HOR : the seats are apportioned on a population basis, there are 453 Representatives, the smaller States got one (Alaska) and the bigger 53 (California), about 1 representative for 600,000 people
Senate : 2 seats per State, i.e. there are 100 Senators
WHAT ARE THE TERM LENGTH ?
HOR : every 2 years, they are all running at the same time, the election are at the same time as the presidential’s and mid-term election as well
Senate : elected for 6 years, staggered election (1/3 renewed every 2 years)
WHAT ARE THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS ?
Treaty ratification: Senate only
Appointment confirmation (SC): Senate only
Impeachment: Senate casts the final vote.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT MAKE-UP OF THE 2 CHAMBERS ?
HOR: short majority, Nancy Pelosi is the leader of the Democrats and the speaker of the House
Senate: short majority. In case of a tie, it’s the Vice President who has the decisive vote (=tie-breaking vote). 48 Democrats, 50 Republicans and 2 independents
Kamala Harris, Vice President of the US (Democrats)
Mitch McConnell, Senate Republican leader
Chuck Schumer, Senate Democratic leader
WHAT ARE THE MAJORITIES ?
Democratic President:
Democratic majority in Senate and HOR
Conservative majority in the Supreme Court
WHAT IS THE FILIBUSTER RULE ?
In certain cases, Senate rules permit a senator, or series of senators, to speak for as long as they wish
It is designed out of a commitment to unlimited debate
The goal is to prevent action on legislation by stalling the debate, making it possible for a minority or an individual Senator to force the majority to give in to their demands
It can only be shut down with a cloture vote which requires a vote of 60 Senators
It enables to force a degree of restraint and compromise in the Senate
Current record: 24 hours for one person
WHAT IS THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF CONGRESS ?
to craft and pass laws
WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO PASS A LAW ?
a bill is introduced in the Senate or House
the bill is studied in committees
full vote
the conference committee have to reconcile the Senate and House bills
final vote
signature by the president/ or veto (it can be overridden by a 2/3 majority vote in both houses ➔ THE BILL BECOMES A LAW
WHAT ARE THE 2 CRUCIAL POWERS ?
Power of the purse (to raise and spend money)
Power of the sword (to declare—and fund—wars)
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ?
The President can veto legislation
The Vice-President can break a tie in the Senate
BUT
Congress can override a veto with 2/3 vote
Senate confirms presidential appointments
Congress controls budget
Congress can impeach and remove the President from office (majority vote in the House to impeach, then 2/3 vote in Senate to forcibly remove the President from power
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE JUDICIAL BRANCH ?
Judicial review
Congress can initiate constitutional amendments
Senate confirms federal judges and Justices’ appointments
Congress sets the size of the SC and can create inferior courts
Congress can impeach and remove Justices and federal judges from power
WHY CONGRESSMEN ARE TECHNICALLY THE CORNERSTONE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY ?
They are in the 1st article of the Constitution
control of the purse and sword
directly elected
WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS INTEFERENCE THAT AFFECT THE CONGRESSMEN’S VOTE ?
Subject to the view of their constituents
Subject to interest groups and lobbies
Subject to party discipline
WHY ARE THE CONGRESSMEN SUBJECT TO THE VIEW OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS ?
They are elected to do 2 jobs:
lawmaking body for the entire nation
representing and advancing the interest of their respective district or State
WHY ARE THE CONGRESSMEN SUBJECT TO INTEREST GROUPS AND LOBBIES ?
Because they mobilize followers and later help with re-election by contributing money to Congressmen’s campaign
WHY ARE THE CONGRESSMEN SUBJECT TO PARTY DISCIPLINE ?
parties are a logical support and give visibility in election. There is a rise of partisanship. When the government is divided, there is a risk of gridlock: overseeing and checking turns into blind obstruction (shutdown/ impeachment ...)
WHAT IS THE PORK-BARREL POLITIC ?
the attitude of Congressmen who try to capture federal funds − sometimes diverting them from more needed purposes− for their own district or State, thus trying to ‘bring home the bacon’ to their constituents.
Last changed11 days ago