Differences Between HOR & Senate:
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Representatives:
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Senate:
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Lower house
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Upper house
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435 members
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100 members
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Represent a congressional district
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Represent entire state
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Serve two-year terms
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Serve six-year terms
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Must be at least 25 years old
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Must be at least 30 years old
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Must be US citizens for at least seven years
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Must be a US citizen for at least nine years
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Must be a resident of the state they represent
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Bicameral system: made up of two houses
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Does
Congress Mirror America In Terms Of Gender, Ethnicity, Religion and
Background:
- Women have been significantly under-represented in Congress. The Democrats tried to focus on this issue in 1992 by declaring it the year of the woman however in 2018, a record amount of women were in Congress – 104. In this sense Congress does not look like America.
- There were little to none ethnic minorities in Congress but all this changed when Obama became POTUS and a huge swing in these numbers flew. After the 2018 mid-terms, there are 123 ethnic minorities in Congress, which is more than the number of women in Congress. Around 12% of Congress is made up of ethnic minorities but 17% of America is made up of ethnic minorities.
The
Powers Of Congress:
- Law Making: Article I of the Constitution states that all legislative power is granted to Congress. They have a say in tax bills and the first say in money bills. Both houses must agree to the proposed law.
- Overseeing The Executive Branch (Investigation): Congress establishes and votes on the budgets of all executive departments and agencies of the federal government, done through select committee.
- Overriding The POTUS Veto: They can override the POTUS’s veto of a bill. Congress don’t often veto bills, Obama only got vetoed 12 times.
- Confirming Appointments: Must confirm all appointments made to the federal judiciary and many of the appointments to the executive branch. The POTUS must seek the approval of Senate for replacement appointments.
- Ratifying Treaties: Senate can ratify treaties negotiated by the POTUS. The POTUS should keep Senate fully informed on any treaties.
- Initiating Constitutional Amendments: A constitutional amendment must be approved by 2/3rds majority in both houses before it can be sent to the states for their ratification.
- Impeaching And Removing Public Officials: Representatives has the sole power of Impeachment. Congress cannot be impeached
- Confirming An Appointed VPOTUS: Can confirm a VPOTUS who has been elected.
- Declaring War: Both houses must agree on the declaration of war in order for it to happen
Joint Powers of Both Houses:
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Sole Powers of the Senate:
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Sole Powers of the House:
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Law making
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Confirming appointments
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Beginning consideration of money bills
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Overseeing the executive branch
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Ratifying treaties
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Overriding POTUS veto
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Initiating Constitutional amendments
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Impeaching and removing public officials
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Confirming an appointed VPOTUS
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Declaring war
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Electing POTUS & VPOTUS if EC deadlock
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Is The Senate More Prestigious Than The House:
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Yes:
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No:
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Senate represent the entire state
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Both houses have equal power in passage of legislation –
Congress’s key function
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Senators serve longer terms
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Both approve the initiation of Constitutional amendments
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Senators are only 1 of 100
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Both houses conduct oversight of the executive branch
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Senators are likely to chair a committee or sub-committee or hold
some other leadership position
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Both fulfil a representative function
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Senate is seen as a recruiting pool for POTUS & VPOTUS.
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Both receive equal salaries.
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Senators possess significant exclusive powers
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House members seek election to the Senate, but not the other way
round.
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Standing
Committees:
- A permanent policy specialist committee of Congress playing key roles in both legislation and investigation.
- Typical Senate committee has 18 members whilst the House has 30-40 members. They work according to the majority basis in both houses. Right now in the House, the majority will be Democrat therefore the committee will have a Democrat majority.
- Seek assignments on committees that are closest to the interests of their district or state e.g agriculture.