US Chapter 3 - Congress.

CONGRESS
Key Topics
 What is the structure of Congress?
 What is the composition of Congress?
 What powers does Congress possess?
 How do the House of Representatives and the Senate compare?
 How important are Congressional committees?
 How are laws made?
 How effective is Congress in its legislative role?
 How effective is Congress in its oversight of the executive branch?
 How effective is Congress in its representative role?
 What determines the way members of Congress vote?
 What role do parties play in Congress?
 What are the principle similarities and differences between the US Congress and UK parliament?



There is a built-in ‘negative bias’ towards Congress by the American people:
→ July 2016; 13% approved of the work done by Congress, with 83%
disapproving
→ Congress is unproductive therefore unpopular – however there are
paradoxes;
→ While Americans disapprove of Congress, they approve of and elect their own
member of Congress
→ While Americans call for Congress to do more, many want limited
government interference

The Structure of Congress
 Congressional district: A geographical subdivision of state represented
by a member of the House of Representative – American equivalent of a
constituency
Congress is bicameral; the House of Representatives and the Senate. At the
Founding Fathers convention some delegates wanted equal state representation,
some wanted proportional state representation.
The compromise; two chambers – lower house (House of Representatives) is
proportional but upper house (Senate) is equal

House of Representatives Senate
 lower house  upper house
 435 members  100 members (2x 50 states)
 represents a congressional district  represent entire state
 serves 2-year terms  serve 6-year terms
 must be at least 25 years old  must be at least 30 years old
 must be US citizen for at least 7  must be US citizen for at least 9

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