US Congress - A Broken Branch
- Created by: kieranjones
- Created on: 14-03-15 09:42
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- US Congress - A Broken Branch
- Yes - It is a Broken Branch
- Congress cannot get things done!
- Gridlock has cause the 112th Congress (2011-13) to be the least productive Congress since records began in 1948, only passing 561 bills.
- In October 2013, House Republicans forced the federal government to shut down partial, demanding that Obama withhold his healthcare law as to save the debt ceiling.
- Bipartisanship is Dead!
- The idea of bipartisanship is that it times of divided government, the parties must compromise to be able to govern the USA>
- Since the Republicans took control of the House in 2011, they have resisted the, at the time, Democratic Senate and President.
- For example: The Republicans in 2014, sought to resist President Obama's immigration executive order by blackmailing him into cancelling the order in return for federal funding as to prevent another shut down.
- Safe-seats push parties to the ideological extremes!
- Redistricting has caused parties to secure safe-seats in states for their parties.
- The Cook Political Report found that only 20% of seats were competitive in 2013, compared to over a third in 1998.
- Congress has now become unrepresentative. The democrats lost the House, despite having 1.4 million more votes.
- Campaigning in safe-seat areas has become difficult and therefore candidates have turned to their ideological extremes. For example: Michelle Bachmann.
- The Cook Political Report found that only 20% of seats were competitive in 2013, compared to over a third in 1998.
- Redistricting has caused parties to secure safe-seats in states for their parties.
- Polarization is increasing!
- Obama's voting in the Senate was far liberal and after his victory, the GOP moved strong right.
- In 2011, the most liberal Republican was more conservative, than the most conservative Democrat!
- For example: Over the issue of Abortion, 67% of Democrats are Pro-Choice, whereas 69% of Republicans are Pro-Life as of a 2014 poll.
- In 2011, the most liberal Republican was more conservative, than the most conservative Democrat!
- Obama's voting in the Senate was far liberal and after his victory, the GOP moved strong right.
- Congress cannot get things done!
- No - it isn't a Broken Branch
- Law Approval of Congress is nothing new!
- In 2004, Congress had an approval rating of 59% for law-making, so American's seem content with Congress's law-making ability.
- However, a new poll was taking 10 years later in 2014, which showed a massive decrease of this statistic to only 14%!
- In 2004, Congress had an approval rating of 59% for law-making, so American's seem content with Congress's law-making ability.
- It does pass a lot of legislation!
- Congress still passes legislation even in periods of what is considered to be gridlock.
- For example: 2007-08 the Democrat controlled Congress faced major legislation such as additional funding to Afghanistan and a $200 Billion economic stimlus package despite George Bush as President.
- Congress still passes legislation even in periods of what is considered to be gridlock.
- It is strong on representation
- Congress is far more representative when it is a 'divided government' since it is showing that all views are being considered when passing legislation.
- It is a far better vehicle for representation that the Presidency.
- Congress is far more representative when it is a 'divided government' since it is showing that all views are being considered when passing legislation.
- Law Approval of Congress is nothing new!
- Yes - It is a Broken Branch
- No - it isn't a Broken Branch
- Law Approval of Congress is nothing new!
- In 2004, Congress had an approval rating of 59% for law-making, so American's seem content with Congress's law-making ability.
- However, a new poll was taking 10 years later in 2014, which showed a massive decrease of this statistic to only 14%!
- In 2004, Congress had an approval rating of 59% for law-making, so American's seem content with Congress's law-making ability.
- It does pass a lot of legislation!
- Congress still passes legislation even in periods of what is considered to be gridlock.
- For example: 2007-08 the Democrat controlled Congress faced major legislation such as additional funding to Afghanistan and a $200 Billion economic stimlus package despite George Bush as President.
- Congress still passes legislation even in periods of what is considered to be gridlock.
- It is strong on representation
- Congress is far more representative when it is a 'divided government' since it is showing that all views are being considered when passing legislation.
- It is a far better vehicle for representation that the Presidency.
- Congress is far more representative when it is a 'divided government' since it is showing that all views are being considered when passing legislation.
- Law Approval of Congress is nothing new!
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