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Congress - Coggle Diagram
Congress
Representation
Connecticut Compromise 1787: bicameral system, Reps= proportional to population. Senate= equal rep
Senators may be on committees rep specific interests to their state: Joe Manchin Senate Energy Committee 2010-2024 when West Virginia's economy is reliant on coal.
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elections
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❌ Winner takes all=disproportionate, third parties unlikely to be elected in. Constant campaign= raise lots of money on a regular basis + encourages elitism. Citizens v FEC 2010 Sc ruled campaign donations are free speech. Incumbency advantage for re-election: 2022 all 28 incumbent senators successful and 98% reps. Gerrymandering. Only 14%of districts in 2022 midterms were competitive due to geographical polarisation, gerrymandering + FPTP
Social representation: ✅ 2023-5 congress most diverse= 28% reps and 12% senators ethnic minorities. 13 members LGBTQ compared with 4 in 2011. 29% reps were women. ❌ 25% seantors in 2024 feamle. WHite americans under 60% of US but 75% of Congress. 13% born outside US population only 3% congress. 51% assets worth $1m+ compared to under 10% population.
Rising levels of partisanship: 2009-21 senators loyal on 64% party votes compared to 56% in 1996-08= influenced by narrow majorities. DEmocrats voted 96% party lines 2019-21
Gridlock: House D= 7%+ liberal, R= 25%+ cons. Senate R= 28%+ cons, D= 6%+ liberal. Gridlock between centrists and party increased: 2013 Obama failed to pass assault weapons after Blue Dog opposition. 2018 Trump's attempt to pass AHCA failed rejected by 4 senators Collins, Murkowski + McCain. However Bipartisan Problem Solvers Committee passed Bipartisan Infrastructure law 2021 and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed 65-33.
function
roles
House Speaker: deciding which legislation to vote on, scheduling + chairing debates
The Senate majority leader: scheduling debates, controlling which legislation to vote on . Once a year they can use budget reconciliation to pass a spending package without filibuster. Mitch McConnell 2017 under Trump used it to pass Tax cuts and Jobs act.
passing legislation
All bills must approved by both houses before signed into law. If president chooses to veto= Congress can pass 2/3 of both house and senate. Propose amendments w supermaj. needed to pass amendment to states.
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Applying oversight
Scrutinises legislation, analyse policy +spending, conduct investigations, vote to confirm/block presidential appointments/treaties.
Filibusters exist in Senate: require 60 votes for a cloture motion 3/5 of Senate. Cory Booker 25 hr NATO appt.
providing representation
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Political representation: extent to which members can vote/ act in a way that represents their constituents/public
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limits
Whilst both houses have to vote on formal war declaration: 1950, the US entered war with Korean through model UN and not going through Congress
Legislation has now become tricky to pass: 1983-1999 5% bills became law. 2013-2023 2% bills became law. Obama + Assault Weapons Ban bill.
Too dominated by special interests: influential congressional committees have lots of power (4% bills pass).
Susan Collins successfully amended bills to fund projects in Maine (home state) that cost $575m+ as she was on 4 seperate committees
Chuck Schumer made 59 earmarks worth $80m to NY during Inflation Reduction Act 2022= up for re-election during mid terms
2022: Rodgers received $300,000 in donations from oil + gas companies as a member of House Energy and commerce Committee that she went onto chair
oversight
Congress approves all federal spending = Biden accepted several compromises for 2024 budget including removing a provision restricting US investments in China
Congress monitors spending through Appropriations Committees which regulate federal spending + allocate appropriate amounts of funding= June 2024 over $185m for labour,health + education
When they can't agree = shutdown= 2025 43 day shutdown over an extension on expiring tax credits for health insurance Trump.
House Oversight Committee can create sub-committees= formed to investigate Afghanistan + COVID. Oversight more intense in a divided gov= 1990s, 140+ hours on Clinton and Christmas Cards whereas 2000s only 12 hours on Abu Ghraib prison scandal= House committees spent 25% 2021-23 rather than 35% 2019-21 during a divided gov
Senate oversees treaties: S Foreign Relations committee scrutinises every treaty, vote is held 2/3= 2018 Senate ratified US- Mexico-Canada trade agreement by 89-10
oversees nominations: confirmation hearings. Mike Pence had to cast breaking vote for Betsy DeVos' appointment for Secretary of Education 2017. Andrew Puzder resigned in 2017. Sc= Brett Kavanaugh faced 39+ hrs of questioning over college SA.
Foreign policy: ❌Presidents are choosing to sign exec treaties . No treaties ratified or even negotiated under Biden, one under trump (US-M-C). Biden negotiated the Aukus deal with Auz and UK as exec agreement. ✅ Congress has approved incremental funding packages supporting Ukraine , supported military aid to Israel.
Demand subpoenas= 2019 REpublicans accused D of using their powers for partisan purposes when investigating Trump's tax returns. CLinton and private email 2016
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HOR + SENATE
House of Reps: 435 members, Each representative is elected by : a congressional district, Leader of the largest party = house speaker. States are divided into congressional districts with one rep per district. In 2024 CA=52 members
Senate: 100 senators= 2 for each state. 6 year terms. Leader of the largest party is the Senate majority leader
Congressional elections= every 2 years, one at same time as presidential, other halfway through 4yr term. Federal elections Tuesday after the first monday in nov. All of HOR re-elected, 1/3 of senate
symmetrical bicameralism. Presidents have to persuade both chambers often controlled by different parties. Both chambers need to vote for declaration of war + can establish investigations.
Congress v Parliament
similarities
core functions
bill must be agreed by both chambers (HoL after 1 year) , committee systems used for scrutiny/amendments.
Most significant democratic rep bodies. FPTP used HoC and Congressional elections. Congressional districts similar to constituencies- 1 MP. Both still under representative.Both dominated by 2 main parties
Committees can subject cabinet to questioning, impeachment and vote of no confidence
differences
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In the UK Cabinet appointments are under the PM's prerogative powers therefore doesn't have scrutiny whereas in the US the Senate oversees nominations
legislation has more scrutiny in congress . President has limited control over legislation in congress but PM with a majority can ensure priorities are passed.
parliament has more direct and frequent oversight of the exec= PMQs, HoC, Liaison Committee= president only questioned in confirmation hearings/ special investigations. COngress has more scrutiny over appointments.
Both chambers elected in congress, HoL appointed life peers. HoL members do not represent geographical areas while congressmen rep districts or states. Broader party rep in parliament 20% MPs elected in 2024 not L or C whereas no 3rd party reps in Congress