1. What was the makeup of the Congress that began in 2009 with Obama's first term? The Democrats held a 16-seat Senate majority and a 79-seat House edge.
2. What is the current makeup of the Congress (Before the new one takes office in January)? Now the Republicans are the majorities in both chambers.
3. Why is a 60 vote majority so critical in the Senate? It means they can enjoy a filibuster-proof majority.
4. When did the Republicans take control of each house of Congress? The Senate fell into Republican hands in 2014, and the House in 2010.
5. Why was Republican John Boehner forced out of his role as Speaker of the House? His fall began with a 2012 fiscal cliff agreement; republicans wanted billions in spending cuts in exchange for tax increases, and Boehner tried to pass a Republican spending bill known as Plan B. Conservatives wanted him to stand up to Obama and threatened to recall him as speaker. Boehner then resigned after helping seal the current budget deal.
6. What has been the main issue that Obama & the Congress have been fighting over? Tax cuts and other fiscal disagreements, additionally, they have been fighting over Obamacare.
7. How are the Tea Party Caucus and the Freedom Caucus different from other Republicans? Both are way more conservative than normal Republicans, and advocate for quickly passing conservative bills.
8. What is happening to moderate Democrats and moderate Republicans? Which types of elections are they losing to lose their seats? Now, there are less moderates, and more polarization within the parties. Because of gerrymandering, mid term elections call for reapportionment.
9. Why does the article predict that there will be little conflict between the president and Congress over his last year in office? The Speaker and Majority Leader are not interested in passing any big major bills in Obama's last year, attributed to the lame-duck period. Congress will continue to pass bills to keep the government funded, but they will not touch on anything major just yet.
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