This is an evidence document for the Congress topic of the new US politics spec. This has put me on track for a comfortable A* in the 2023 exams (recent essays have scored 27+/30)
Representation
● In 2016, women made up 19% of the House and 21% of the Senate
● The House is more racially diverse as they can redraw district boundaries to group ethnic minorities
together
● North Carolina’s 12th district groups small towns across 100 miles of Interstate 85, allowing African-
American women to represent them
Powers of Congress
● The House and the Senate have concurrent powers that include
○ Creating legislation (delegated in Article 1)
■ Trump asked for tax cuts, and Congress passed the Tax Cuts Act 2018
■ Obama wanted healthcare reform and congress passed the Affordable Care Act 2010
○ Overseeing the executive branch (implied power)
■ After the 2016 presidential election, 4 committees investigated Trump in relation to
collusion with Russia
○ Overriding a presidential veto
■ In 2016, Congress overturned Obama’s veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of
Terrorism Act
■ Congress also overturned
■ Trumps veto of the National Defense Authorisation Act
○ Initiating amendments such as the Bill of Rights
○ Declaring war (last happened in 1941)
■ In more recent times, Congress has been sidelined and asked to approve action already
taken, like in Iraq
● Some powers are exclusive to the House
○ Only the House can begin the consideration of money bills, but they still have to pass through
the Senate
○ Bringing charges of impeachment against the President
■ Trump was impeached in 2019 for obstruction of Congress and 2021 for inciting
insurrection on January 6th
○ Choosing the President if the Electoral College is deadlocked (only happened twice in 1800 and
1824)
● Some powers are exclusive to the Senate
○ Ratifying treaties
■ In 2010, the Senate ratified Obama’s START Treaty with Russia
■ Caveat: In 2015, Obama used an executive agreement to enact his Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Russia. This was then repealed by
Trump
○ Confirming appointments
■ In 2016, the Senate rejected Obama’s Supreme Court Nominee, Merrick Garland, by
refusing to hold a confirmation vote
■ In 2018, the Senate confirmed Trump’s appointment of Mike Pompeo as replacement
Secretary of State
○ Trying cases of impeachment
■ In 2010, the Senate removed Judge Thomas Porteous from the Supreme Court
■ In 2021, the Senate aquitted Trump of impeachment in regards to the January 6th
insurrection
Committees
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