A-Level Politics: US Congress and the Presidency

This material covers two of the US institutions studied in the comparative politics component of A level Politics (USA): Congress and the presidency. The category's existing material sets US and UK institutions side by side; this one studies the US institutions in their own right and in the detail the essay questions expect.

The first strand is Congress: the House of Representatives, with 435 members elected every two years, and the Senate, with two senators per state serving six-year terms. Students learn the exclusive powers of each chamber (revenue bills and impeachment in the House; confirmation, treaty ratification by two thirds and impeachment trials in the Senate), the legislative process with its standing committees and the House Rules Committee, the filibuster and the 60-vote threshold for cloture, and the effect of equal representation of states on the Senate. Oversight and divided government, with the gridlock it often produces, complete the strand.

The second strand is the presidency: the formal powers of the Constitution (commander in chief, veto, appointments, treaties, pardons), the informal and unilateral tools presidents rely on (executive orders, signing statements, executive agreements, the power to persuade), and the Executive Office of the President created in 1939.

The third strand is the balance between the two: veto and override arithmetic, impeachment and conviction, the War Powers Resolution of 1973, and the evidence for and against the claim that the US has an imperial presidency, including the fact that Congress has not formally declared war since 1942.

The quiz has twelve questions, several with vote counts to interpret (a 55-vote Senate majority facing a filibuster, a treaty with 58 supporters, an override attempt with 290 votes in the House and 64 in the Senate). The flashcards give eighteen key terms and rules. The written work has eight extended questions, from explaining the legislative process to evaluating whether Congress is an effective check on the president, each with a reference answer and key points. The oral exam asks questions one at a time and expects comparisons with the UK where relevant.

Constitutional rules are stated as they stand and historical examples are used; the material names no current politicians, so it remains accurate whoever holds office. It is practice material and does not reproduce any exam board's questions.

• Describe the structure of Congress and the exclusive powers of each chamber
• Explain the legislative process, including committees, the filibuster and cloture
• Calculate whether a veto override or treaty ratification succeeds
• Explain the formal and informal powers of the president and the role of EXOP
• Explain the impeachment process and the War Powers Resolution
• Evaluate the imperial presidency argument and the effectiveness of congressional checks

Practice material written by Zestly, based on the US Congress and presidency content of the A level Politics comparative component (for example Pearson Edexcel, USA option) and on the US Constitution.