Political Science 1
Final Exam
Due Date: December17, 2017
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For your final exam you will be required to write an essay where you will analyze the current United States Congress. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenatePlease demonstrate your ability to be analytical in understanding the role which political party affiliation and ideology play in determining public policy. Please assume the role of a congress member and answer the following questions:Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate
1. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.
2. How many Republicans, Democrats, Independents, are in the House and the U.S. Senate?
3. Identify a bill that would introduce if you were a member of Congress. Research the issue. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateWhy is the issue important? Who will it impact? What are the pros and the cons of the issue. As a member of Congress, determine your political party affiliation. Which committee would you send this bill to in the House? Who are the members on this committee? What is the party affiliation for each member? Which committee would you send this bill to in the Senate? Who are the members on this committee? Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateWhat is the party affiliation for each member?
4. How many votes would you need for your bill to pass the House committee? How many votes would you need for your bill to pass the Senate committee? Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateHow might the political party affiliation of each member affect whether your bill survives the committee?
5. If your bill reaches the House floor, how many Democrats, Republicans, and Independents might vote for your bill? Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateIf your bill reaches the Senate floor, how many Democrats, Republicans, and Independents might vote for your bill?
6. Will the bill survive Congress? Why or why not? Please elaborate.
please include work cited page
Helpful Resources:
http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/cong.aspx
http://www.house.gov (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
https://www.senate.gov
The world over, there are varied systems of parliament. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateIn the United States of America, the system of parliament in place is bicameral in nature and it consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. These two chambers of the federal government have their capital in Washington, D. C, where they meet and legislate on multifarious laws depending on their respective jurisdictions. Initially, the Congress used to be comprised of members from two parties: Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateThe Republican Party, which goes by the moniker The Grand Old Party (GOP), and the Democratic Party. However, there has been a shift in the nature of representation in the recent past wherein members of other smaller groups, from the Independents to Libertarians, have made it to the Congress. Having said that, the status quo is still pretty much dominant and they determine the fates of various bills and policy changes that pass through the chambers. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate
The last time that there was a proper election to choose Congressional members was in the year 2014. During this year, the Republicans gained unprecedented history in their battle for supremacy against the Democrats and progressives. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateRiding on the wave that was created by the disruptive Donald Trump and some of the unpopular policies of the departing Barack Obama to conservatives, the Republicans became the majority party in the House whilst Democrats became the minority party. Indeed, the Republicans gained control of both houses of Congress as well as the Senate. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate The Republicans boasted of 54 members in the Senate and also a whopping 248 seats in the House of Representatives. However, after the mid-term primaries, the present number stands at 239 Republicans in the House of Representatives, 193 Democrats and zero Independents (clerk.house.gov). Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateIt is instrumental to note that the clerk.house.gov states that there are 3 unfilled seats in the House, which would bring the total number to 435 members. In the Senate, there are a total of 52 Republicans, 46 Democrats and 2 Independents. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate
If I were a member of Congress, I would supplement the efforts of Sen. Cory Booker D-N.J on the legalization of marijuana at both the federal and state levels. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateThe crux of this bill would be expunging individuals who have been incarcerated due to possession and use of marijuana. The bill is important on various fronts. One, it will give justice to people who have been wrongly convicted of possession and use. Two, it will retroactively ensure that all those who are convicted are released and their records wiped. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateThird, it will give states powers to invest in marijuana research as well as encourage researchers to legally explore the use of marijuana in the treatment of numerous ailments. In its current legal state, marijuana has been used to criminalize and incarcerate a whole generation of black men and women. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateTherefore, the issue is significant since the current laws possess racial undertones and its potential in the medical field is being suppressed by retrogressive conservative laws. The Bill, if passed, will majorly give reprieve to the members of the black community. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate
The bill has various pros as mentioned above. First, it will ensure that black individuals who have been wrongfully convicted are pardoned. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateSecond, it is going to address one of the most fundamental racial issues of our time. Third, the bill will expand the realms of marijuana’s use in medicine. On the other hand, there is only a single disadvantage in the sense that it will be costly to implement the provisions of the bill and certain criminal elements may benefit from it. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateNevertheless, it is worth noting that the number of these criminals will be negligent in the grand scheme of things and they can be easily monitored by the police. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate
If I were a Congressional member, I would be affiliated to the Democratic caucus. The Democrats and Independents provide progressive policies that are relevant to the current state of our nation. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateUpon the completion of the bill, I would send it to the Committee on Judiciary, specifically the Constitution and Civil Justice subcommittee. This Judiciary Committee consists of the following Republicans: Steve King, Ron Desantis, Louie Gohmert, Krean C. Handel and a vacancy. On the other hand, the Democrats that make the committee are: Steve Cohen, Jamie Raskin, and Jerrold Naddler. In the Senate, the Bill would be sent to the Judiciary Committee that has the following members from the Republican side: Chuck Grassley (IA), Orrin G. Hatch (UT), John Cornyn (TX), Ted Cruz (TX), Jeff Flake (AZ), Thom Tillis (NC), Lindsey Graham (SC), Michael S. Lee (UT), Ben Sasse (NE), Mike Crapo (ID), and John Kennedy (LA). Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateThe Democrats have Diana Feinstein (CA), Patrick Leahy (VT), Dick Durbin (IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) Amy Klobuchar (MN), Al Franken (MN), Christopher A. Coons (DE), Richard Blumenthal (CT) and Mazie Hirono (HI) (senate.gov).
Upon reaching the House, the bill will need an approval of the Judiciary Subcommittee. For this to happen, a vote will be undertaken to determine the kind of report that the full committee will adopt. According to the standing orders, the committee needs to have a third of its members to take the vote, upon which a simple majority suffices for the adoption of the report (house.gov). The same procedure applies to the Senate committee-a simple majority of the quorum at both the committee and subcommittee level.Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate The bill is essentially a progressive one in nature. Consequently, Democrats will vote for the bill while Republicans will oppose it at the committee level. Given that the Republicans are the majority, the bill might not survive.
However, should the bill reach the house floor, I am guaranteed of receiving 193 votes from the Democrats and none from the Republicans. I would have expected to receive all the votes from Independents if they were in the house. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. SenateOn the Senate floor, I would anticipate 46 Democratic votes plus the 2 votes from the 2 Independents. On the Republican side, I would expect at least 2 from their Senators who come from predominantly liberal and black electorates.
If the Bill reaches the both the bicameral houses, it is highly likely not going to succeed. As already mentioned, the Republicans are the majority in both chambers. Yes, the Bill could pass the House and head to the Senate. In the Senate, the best it can do is a tie.Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Nevertheless, according to the Senate Standing Orders, such a tie can only be broken by the Vice-President Mike Pence. Given his history, he is a staunch religious person who subscribes to the conservative line of reasoning to the effect that marijuana is illegal and it should remain so. Determine which party is in the majority and in the minority in both the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate As such, he will not break ranks with his party on such a bill. Therefore, the bill is doomed to failure.