Democrats Took Back Congress. Here's What They Can and Can't Do With That Power
The presumptive next speaker of the US House of Representatives had reason to be giddy Tuesday night: Next year, Democrats will take control of both chambers of Congress after a blowout victory.
TL;DR
- Democrats have gained control of both the House and Senate, creating an opportunity to implement their agenda.
- Incoming House leadership plans to use oversight committees to investigate the Trump administration, including potential conflicts of interest and abuses of power.
- The Senate Democrats can now confirm or block presidential nominations, including Supreme Court vacancies.
- While the House can impeach a president, conviction in the Senate requires a two-thirds majority, making removal unlikely.
- President Trump's veto power poses a significant challenge to Democrats enacting legislation, as overriding a veto requires supermajorities in both chambers.
- Internal Democratic Party divisions, particularly on issues like aid to Israel, could impede consensus.
- Past efforts to limit the president's foreign policy actions, such as the war in Iran, have been difficult to enforce despite congressional passage.