Where Power Lies in Congress

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WHERE POWER LIES IN CONGRESS

SAMUEL COVE

Each chamber of Congress has a different focus of power. The reasons for this are partly because of the Constitution. With the Senate, it gives the power to ratify or reject treaties (such as the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty) and confirm executive (often ambassadorial) appointments. Further, Senators are appointed per state rather than per district, this contributes to giving them a more national (and international) outlook, rather than for the 'folks back home'. These factors increase the Senate's influence over foreign affairs.

Although it could be argued that this 'power' in the Senate is only in theory. With Presidential Executive Agreements used in place of treaties more often, and EXOP officials having much power, thus reducing the importance of executive confirmations. These factors undermine the Senate's power.

The Senate also has the power to confirm (e.g. Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Samuel Alito) or reject (e.g. Harriet Myers, forced to withdraw after conservative pressure) Supreme Court appointments; a potentially long-reaching power that far outstrips the individual term of any congressmen (6 and 2 years for the Senate and House respectively) - although it should be noted that the high rate of incumbency makes this effect slightly lessened. Individual Senators are often seen as having a higher prestige than members of the House - perhaps because of each of the reasons above, but also how each Senator is '1%' of the Senate, compared to less than a quarter of that for each House member - '1/435th'. Indeed, very rarely (if ever) do Senators later become members of the House, it is usually the other way around - for example Bernie Sanders.
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However in Homeland policy, the House has traditionally been the chamber to spend most time reviewing and drafting legislation. Also the House has the ability to choose the President (vs. The Senate choosing the Vice-President) in an electoral tie, and furthermore the House is the only chamber which can actually bring about the removal of the Executive in the first place via impeachment. The House is also known for a much stronger party unity, for example the existence of the House Rules Committee which symbolises this. With the greater number of House members it is unsurprising that the ...

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