Republicans may now control the House of Representatives – but there’s a catch

The lack of a significant majority will come back to bite the GOP, says Chris Stevenson

House of cards: fragile alliances mean unrest could happen inside the US Capitol chambers (AP)

Many days after Republicans hoped to announce they had taken control of the House of Representatives, the threshold has finally been passed – but the crowing tweets from GOP leadership seemed a little forced given the slim majority the party will hold.

While the Republicans have taken the House from the Democrats, the Senate remains with Joe Biden’s party – indeed, the Democrats may even increase their majority by one if the run-off in Georgia falls their way next month – and the absence of a clear majority in either chamber makes things difficult for both parties.

Control of the House allows the Republicans to put up significant roadblocks to President Biden’s legislative agenda, with their majority allowing the GOP to block any bills passed by the Democratic Senate from getting a vote on the House floor (let alone being voted through), a hurdle that must be jumped in order for bills to be passed to the White House for signature into law. The new House speaker (Nancy Pelosi will probably be replaced by the GOP’s Kevin McCarthy) will also be loath to hand Biden and the Democrats any policy wins ahead of the presidential election in 2024, lessening the likelihood of the bipartisan cooperation needed to get bills passed through both chambers.

For the president and the Democrats, retaining control of the Senate means the upper chamber will be able to pass Biden’s judicial nominees, allowing the party to redress the balance shift that took place under the administration of Donald Trump, which installed conservative judges in courts across the country. A Biden administration means more liberal appointments and, if the need arises, the ability to fill a spot in the Supreme Court if one opens up in the next couple of years.

One of the other major powers the Republicans gain by taking control of the House is the ability to launch congressional investigations in the chamber – and they will use that to undermine the president. From the White House’s handling of the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, to decisions around the Covid-19 pandemic, the US-Mexico border and even the overseas business dealings of Biden’s son, Hunter, very little will seemingly be off limits.

However, this could be a double-edged sword for the GOP. Their slim majority means they are reliant on all Republicans; in a party filled with Trump acolytes and those on the extreme fringes of the GOP, the party’s leadership have to tread a narrow line. A few votes could block must-pass bills, such as an increase in the country’s debt ceiling to enable spending, as individuals hold their party to ransom to push their own agenda. Right now, neither party enjoys total unity, leaving plenty of room for mischief.