The Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives in the 2010 midterm elections. Four years later, the Republicans also won a majority in the Senate. A year later, a bill was introduced in the House to address some issues in the healthcare system. The 21st Century Cures Act was designed to increase the speed of new medical product development, to encourage the collaboration between government and private sectors, and to increase funding for biomedical research to find cures and treatment for illnesses and disease. After House passage, the bill moved to the Senate, which also had a Republican majority. The Senate added amendments and passed the bill by a wide majority with only 4 Democrats and 1 Republican voting against the bill.

Democratic President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on December 13, 2016, citing many positive aspects of the new law, including advancing cancer research and addressing bipartisan healthcare policy.

After reading the scenario, please respond to A, B, and C below.

A. Referencing the scenario, describe the party control of government when the 21st Century Cures Act was passed and explain how that party control could have affected the process by which the bill described above became a law.

B. Referencing the scenario, explain why a Democratic senator following the trustee model of representation might have cast a vote against this bill.

C. Describe another power of Congress (other than lawmaking), that could affect this legislation after its passage. Explain how that power described might affect the success of this legislation.