Would you rather sit in the Senate or the House of Representatives?

Created by: tom.williams16
Created on: 25-01-18 16:47


	Would you rather sit in the Senate or the House of Representatives?
	Advantages Longer terms - 6 years - Allows Senators more time to gain influence over decisions and have longer to represent their states on a national level By definition the Senate is more powerful - Each senator is 1/100 as opposed to 1/435 - therefore any decision carries more power More recognised on a personal level which allows them to be more likely to hold senior administrative posts in the future (such as VP or POTUS) - As seen with many Presidents (Obama, JFK etc...) and Vice Presidents Senate hears the impeachment trial if it is to occur Power to ratify treaties Confirm appointments to senior posts to the judiciary and executive Filibuster - Constitutional power to unlimited deabte	Disadvantages Originate all money bills Power to set financial agenda and control the 'purse strings' of government though Ways and Means and Appropriations committees Pork barrel legislation - gains constituent support for re-election Greater local representation - They can focus on their constituents due to representing a single district as opposed to representing a whole state Power to start the impeachment process Elect POTUS if electoral deadlock occurs 'National House' - voted in by means of population of state/district Limited debate 2 year term limit - held accountable for decisions
	Evaluation Whilst there is considerable differences between both houses, it's important to note that things such as the passage of legislation must go through both houses concurrently, and all forms of representatives get paid the same; thus making them relatively equal. However, the Senate has ties with its aristocratic history and has always had more influence over the legislative branch.

Would you rather sit in the Senate or the House of Representatives?

Advantages

Longer terms - 6 years - Allows Senators more time to gain influence over decisions and have longer to represent their states on a national level
By definition the Senate is more powerful - Each senator is 1/100 as opposed to 1/435 - therefore any decision carries more power
More recognised on a personal level which allows them to be more likely to hold senior administrative posts in the future (such as VP or POTUS) - As seen with many Presidents (Obama, JFK etc...) and Vice Presidents
Senate hears the impeachment trial if it is to occur
Power to ratify treaties
Confirm appointments to senior posts to the judiciary and executive
Filibuster - Constitutional power to unlimited deabte

Disadvantages

Originate all money bills
Power to set financial agenda and control the 'purse strings' of government though Ways and Means and Appropriations committees
Pork barrel legislation - gains constituent support for re-election
Greater local representation - They can focus on their constituents due to representing a single district as opposed to representing a whole state
Power to start the impeachment process
Elect POTUS if electoral deadlock occurs
'National House' - voted in by means of population of state/district
Limited debate
2 year term limit - held accountable for decisions

Evaluation

Whilst there is considerable differences between both houses, it's important to note that things such as the passage of legislation must go through both houses concurrently, and all forms of representatives get paid the same; thus making them relatively equal. However, the Senate has ties with its aristocratic history and has always had more influence over the legislative branch.

Get Revising

Would you rather sit in the Senate or the House of Representatives?

Would you rather sit in the Senate or the House of Representatives?

Advantages

Disadvantages

Evaluation

Comments

Similar Government & Politics resources: