2.3 Interpretations and debates around Congress

Question 1

3

How would you structure an essay on the effectiveness of Congress at fulfilling its roles

Answer 1

• Representative function
• Legislative function
• Oversight function

Question 2

4

Describe recent changes that have affected the role and powers of Congress

Answer 2

• Modern weaponry has nullfied need for declaration of war - Congress forced to use AUMFs to control funding for military operations
• Modern expanded presidency - presidential election policies expected to be enacted
• Reconcilliation bills since 1974
• Impeachment more frequently used

Question 3

4

Describe reconcilliation bills

Answer 3

• Bill passed under special congressional process
• Requires only simple majority in both Houses
• set up to expedite passage of certain federal budget legislation in the Senate
• Procedure overrides Senate filibuster rules, whcih effectively requires 60-vote supermajority for passage

Question 4

3 - (4) (3) (3)

Describe the argument that parties are significant in Congress

Answer 4

• Partisanship and floor action
  
  • most votes party-unity votes
  • e.g. Betsy DeVos
  • leadership decided on party lines e.g. Hakeem Jeffries
  • divided government leads to congression leaders effectively becoming leaders of the opposition
• Parties dominate legislative agenda
  
  • House Speaker can acclerate or slow bills
  • Commitee chairs (majority chair) can ‘pigeon-hole’
  • House Rules Committee (dominated by majority party)/Senate Majority leader decides timetabling
• Elections fought on party basis
  
  • party affiliation significant to winning election and therefore affect voting behaviour
  • voters expect parties to enact national agenda e.g. Contract with America
  • all 535 members are Republicans/Democrats or indepdents who caucus with a party

Question 5

3 - (3) (2) (4)

Describe the argument that parties are not significant in Congress

Answer 5

• Partisanship can be weak
  
  • e.g. Biden bipartisan ifrastructure bill scaled down from $4trn to $1trn
  • whipping system very weak (see below)
  • many votes are non party-unity votes
• Individuals hold greater power over legislative agenda in Senate
  
  • fillibuster
  • unanimous consent
• Other considerations more significant to re-election
  
  • Congressional caucuses, constituents, lobbyists and interest groups influence voting behaviour
  • factions within broad ideology of parties more pivotal
  • e.g. Liz Cheney deselection
  • Kevin McCarthy ousted as speaker after opposition from powerful Freedom Caucus

Question 6

3

Outline the proportion of congressional votes that are party-unity votes

Answer 6

• 2020:
• House: 70%
• Senate: 64%

Question 7

3

Describe Hakeem Jeffries (Dem) offer to become House Speaker

Answer 7

• Deadlock over electing Hosue Speaker after Kevin McCarthy ousting
• Jeffries offered to become House Speaker by uniting Democrats and moderate Republicans
• Offer rebuffed and right-wing Mike Johnson elected, despite reservations of moderate Republicans

Question 8

3

Why are whips and party discipline weak in the US?

Answer 8

• Candidates chosen via local primaries where name recognition trumps support from central party
• Funding not dependent on central party HQ
• central HQ therefore much weaker

Question 9

1

Give an example that shows the power of specific Congress members

Answer 9

• Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer called for resignation of Israeli PM Netanyahu