How many members of African American members of Congress are there currently?
44
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How many Hispanic members of Congress are there currently?
33
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What powers do both houses of Congress enjoy?
Pass legislation, override president's veto, initiate constitutional amendments, declare war and confirm a newly appointed VP
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What individual powers does the Senate have?
Confirm appointments, ratify treaties, try cases of impeachment and elect VP if the electoral college is deadlocked
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What individual powers does the House of Reps have?
Initiate money bills, impeachment and elect President if the electoral college is deadlocked
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What is the role of the House speaker?
Act as presiding officer of the House, interpret and enforce the rules of the House, decide on points of order, refer bills to Standing Committees, appoint select committees and conference committee chairs and House Rules Committee
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What is the role of majority/ minority leaders?
Act as day-to-day director of operations, hold press briefings to talk about party's political agenda and act as liason with Congress and the WH
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What is the role of congressional Standing Committees?
Perform Committee Stage of bills and conduct investigations within their policy area,
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What is the role of the House Rules Committee?
To prioritise bills coming from the committee stage in the legislative process onto the House floor for their second reading
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What is the role of Conference Committees?
To reconcile differences between the 2 houses when the same bill comes through the 2 houses in different forms
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What do Congressional Select Committees do?
Ad hoc committees which are established when a bill does not fall into a standing committee catergory or will be too time consuming
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How do people come to chair congressional committees?
Drawn from majority party in that house, seniority rule which has now developed into a secret ballot but still seems to apply
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Give a brief synopsis of the legislative process
First Reading, Committee Stage, Timetabling, Second Reading, Third Reading (these take place in both houses), Conference Committee (if required) and then Presidential Action
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What options does the president have once the bill is passed to him?
Veto, Sign into Law or Leave on his desk
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What % of times does the president's veto stick?
94%
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What factors affecting a Congress members voting?
Political party, constituents, administration, pressure groups, colleagues and staff and personal beliefs
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How did Congress' oversight of the executive change in January 2007?
Democrats took over Congress for first time since Bush had become president = more people dismissed from executive branch in first 3 weeks than throughout the rest of Bush's administation
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In 2008 what % of Americans (according to a poll) approved of Congress?
14%
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Explain what is meant by the term 'gridlock'
It signifies the failure to get an action on policy proposal
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
How many members of African American members of Congress are there currently?
Back
44
Card 3
Front
How many Hispanic members of Congress are there currently?
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