CIVICS 101 (OR: What you need to know before you call and scream about the Democrats)

FEDERAL (OR NATIONAL) LEVEL

So you’re mad at the United States House of Representatives. Just how well do you understand the rules of Congress (the “process”)?

1) How many total members does the US Congress have? 435

2) How many are Democrats? 233

3) What percentage of 435 is 233? 53.6%

4) How many are Republicans? 202

5) What percentage of 435 is 202? 46.4

6) How many votes does it take to override a Presidential Veto? 2/3 of the members

7) What is 2/3 of 435 (remember: the total number of members of Congress – see #1): 290

8) Ah! So how many extra votes (assuming the Democrats vote in a block) are needed? 57 extra votes

9) The U.S. House of Representatives holds responsibility for drawing up articles of Impeachment. It needs a simple majority of the total votes to pass (218 votes)

Now - call the Bush Republicons to complain about being obstructionists!

And you’re mad at the United States Senate too? Just how well do you understand the rules of the Senate?

1) How many total members does the US Senate have? 100

2) How many are Democrats? 49

3) How many are Republicans? 49

4) Hey! That’s only 98! What about the other two members? One identifies himself as an Independent Democrat (Joe Lieberman), and one identifies himself as an Independent (Bernie Sanders).

5) What percentage of 100 is 49? 49%

6) What percentage of 100 is 2 (remember: there are 2 independents)? 2%

7) How many votes does it take to override a Presidential veto? 2/3 of the members

8) What is 2/3 of 100? 66.66 – If you are saying to yourself, “You can’t have .66 of a person!” you are correct. Round it up – make that 67.

9) Ah! So how many extra votes are needed to override a Bush veto (and let’s assume that the Democrats vote in a block, Joe Lieberman continues to vote with Bush, and Bernie Sanders continues to support progressive policies – which means 50 votes for Democrats and 50 votes for Republicans)?

17 extra votes

10) The U.S. Senate holds responsibility to TRY the impeachment. In order to have the votes to impeach 2/3 of the total votes are needed (67 votes or 17 more votes than the number of Democrats and the progressive independent)

Now - call the Rove Republicons to get with your program!!!

STATE LEVEL

And, while we are on the subject, you aren’t thrilled with the Texas Legislature either. In fact, you are really unhappy with the Texas House of Representatives . Fair enough. Just how well do you understand the rules of the Texas House?

1) How many total members does the Texas House of Representatives have?

150

2) How many are Democrats? 69

3) What percentage of 150 is 69? 46%

4) How many are Republican? 81

5) What percentage of 150 is 81? 54%

6) How many votes does it take to override a Gubernatorial (Governor’s) Veto? 2/3 of the members (see how it mirrors the Congressional rules?)

7) What is 2/3 of 150 (remember: the total # of the Tx. House of Representatives is 150 – see #1 of this section)? 100

8) So how many votes would be needed to override a veto, assuming that the Democrats voted in a block? 31 extra votes

And the Texas Senate? Yes, you are mad at them too. What are the rules (procedures) of the Texas Senate?

1) How many total members does the Texas Senate have? 31

2) How many are Democrats? 11

3) What percentage of 31 is 11? 35.48%

4) How many are Republicans? 20

5) What percentage of 31 is 20? 64.52%

6) How many votes does it take to override a gubernatorial (Governor’s) veto? 2/3 of the members

7) What is 2/3 of 31 (and also remember that the Lt. Governor serves as the President of the Senate and only VOTES IN THE CASE OF A TIE)?

20.667 If you are saying to yourself, “You can’t have .667 of a person!, you would be correct. Let’s call it 21. You need 21 votes to override

8) So how many votes would be needed to override a veto, assuming that the Democrats voted in a block? 11 extra votes