POWERS OF CONGRESS NOTES
STRUCTURE
A. Bicameral Congress
STRUCTURE
1. House of Representatives
a. Number of members?
-- 435
b. Term of Office?
-- 2 year terms
STRUCTURE
1. House of
Representatives
c. Speaker of the Housepresiding officer of the
House, chosen by and
from the majority party in
the House
John Boehner- Ohio (R)
STRUCTURE
1. Senate
a. Number of members?
-- 100
b. Term of office?
-- 6 year terms
STRUCTURE
1. Senate
c. President of the Senate- Vice President of the
United States
d. President Pro Tempore- member of the Senate
that presides in the absence of the President of
the Senate
e. Majority Floor Leader- in charge of scheduling
daily legislative agenda (what bills will be
discussed and voted on and when)
PROCEDURES
A. Necessary and Proper Clause- (Elastic Clause)
Constitutional clause that gives Congress the
power to make laws which helps in executing
its powers
B. Bills must be passed by both houses of
Congress before it is sent to the President
PROCEDURES
C. Revenue Bills- focus on methods for raising
money (taxes and tariffs). Must originate in
the House of Representatives
D. Filibuster- tactic used in the Senate to delay
cloture (time limit) during the open debate
process.
ECONOMIC POWERS
1. TAX- pass income tax, excise tax, import tax or
tariffs
2. BUDGET- approves borrowing and spending
money (power of the purse)
3. REGULATE TRADE- between states and U.S.
and other nations
ECONOMIC POWERS
4. COIN MONEY- create money system and
approve printing of money
5. ESTABLISH BANKRUPTCY LAWS- determines
who can declare bankruptcy and regulations
for bankruptcy filings
CITIZENSHIP POWERS
1. IMMIGRATION LAWS- determines who can
legally live in the U.S.
CITIZENSHIP POWERS
2. NATURALIZATION LAWS- determines the
process of becoming a citizen
a. Jus Soli- citizen if born on U.S. soil
b. Jus Sanguinis- citizen of born to an American
parent
c. Naturalization- born elsewhere and moved to the
U.S.
CITIZENSHIP POWERS
3. EXPATRIATION LAWS- determines how one can
lose citizenship (only for naturalized citizens)
JUDICIAL POWERS
1. IMPEACHMENT OF FEDERAL OFFICIALSremove federal officials from office
2. INCREASE/DECREASE SIZE AND/OR NUMBER
OF FEDERAL JUDGES/COURTS
JUDICIAL POWERS
3. DEFINE FEDERAL CRIMES AND
PUNISHMENTS- determines what is a federal
crime and punishments for these crimes
FOREIGN RELATIONS AND WAR POWERS
1. RATIFY TREATIES- approves treaties with other
nations (President signs)
2. ESTABLISH AND SUPPORT MILITARY
-- create new branch of military
-- send money to support troops
-- determine number of military bases
FOREIGN RELATIONS AND WAR POWERS
3. DECLARE WAR- however, President sends
troops
4. GOVERN CAPTURED LANDS AND
TERRITORIES- can create rules for these lands
ELECTORAL POWERS
1. SELECT PRESIDENT WHEN NO MAJORITY IN
ELECTORAL COLLEGE- House of
Representatives votes
2. APPROVES VICE PRESIDENT NOMINEE WHEN
THERE IS VACANCY- President nominates
ELECTORAL POWERS
3. CONFIRMS PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTSapproves cabinet positions, judicial
appointments, and other administrative
nominations
OTHER POWERS
1.
2.
3.
4.
Create Post Office
Create weights and measurements system
Create copyright and patent system
Investigate federal matters
OTHER POWERS
5. Participate in Constitutional Amendment
process
6. Enabling Acts
-- help territories become states
-- have final say in territories becoming states