1. Chapter 6 Congress

2. The Powers of Congress Section 2

3. Legislative Powers The Founders of the constitution placed clear limits on the powers of Congress. These restrictions determined what Congress and each of its houses may or may not do. The Founders of the constitution placed clear limits on the powers of Congress. These restrictions determined what Congress and each of its houses may or may not do.

4. Expressed Powers Known also as delegated powers. and those listed specifically in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution. The first 17 clauses list those powers. Known also as delegated powers. and those listed specifically in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution. The first 17 clauses list those powers.

5. Expressed Powers Power to collect taxes, to borrow money, to regulate foreign and interstate commerce, to set up a postal system, to maintain armed services, to declare war, and to regulate immigration and naturalization. Power to collect taxes, to borrow money, to regulate foreign and interstate commerce, to set up a postal system, to maintain armed services, to declare war, and to regulate immigration and naturalization.

6. Implied Powers Those powers not stated explicitly in the Constitution. Those powers not stated explicitly in the Constitution. Implied Powers come from necessary and proper clause, which is often called the elastic clause. Can be found in Clause 18 of Article I, Section 8. Implied Powers come from necessary and proper clause, which is often called the elastic clause. Can be found in Clause 18 of Article I, Section 8.

7. Implied Powers The clause is called elastic clause because it allows Congress to stretch its authority to carry out expressed powers. The clause is called elastic clause because it allows Congress to stretch its authority to carry out expressed powers.

8. Taxing and Spending Congress has the power to collect taxes to pay for the operating expenses and services government provides to its citizens. Congress has the power to collect taxes to pay for the operating expenses and services government provides to its citizens. All bills to raise and spend money must start in the House of Representatives. All bills to raise and spend money must start in the House of Representatives. The Senate will approve all appropriation bills. The Senate will approve all appropriation bills.

9. Taxing and Spending Two-step process to spend money. Two-step process to spend money. Authorization Bills create projects like the space shuttle program and establishes how much money can be spent on them. Authorization Bills create projects like the space shuttle program and establishes how much money can be spent on them. Appropriation bills provides the money for each program or activity. Appropriation bills provides the money for each program or activity.

10. Regulating Commerce Congress through Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 has the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce. This includes trade and other economic activities among the states. Congress through Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 has the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce. This includes trade and other economic activities among the states. These include laws dealing with air traffic, railroads, trucking, radio, television, air pollution, and the stock market, all come from the clause. These include laws dealing with air traffic, railroads, trucking, radio, television, air pollution, and the stock market, all come from the clause.

11. Foreign Relations and Treaties Only Congress can declare war. Only Congress can declare war. They can create, maintain, and oversee and army and navy. They can create, maintain, and oversee and army and navy. The Senate must approve treaties the president makes with other countries. The Senate must approve treaties the president makes with other countries.

12. Non-legislative Powers Granted through the Constitution. Granted through the Constitution. One power, the power to propose Constitutional amendments by two-thirds vote in both houses. One power, the power to propose Constitutional amendments by two-thirds vote in both houses. Most important may be to check the power of the other branches of government. Most important may be to check the power of the other branches of government.

13. The Power of Approval and Removal Power to approve or reject the president’s nominees for various high-ranking officials, including Supreme Court justices, federal judges, and ambassadors. Power to approve or reject the president’s nominees for various high-ranking officials, including Supreme Court justices, federal judges, and ambassadors.

14. Non-legislative Powers In charge of counting electoral votes in presidential elections. If no candidate receives a majority, the House picks the president from the top three vote getters; the Senate chooses the Vice President. In charge of counting electoral votes in presidential elections. If no candidate receives a majority, the House picks the president from the top three vote getters; the Senate chooses the Vice President. Impeachment process starts in HOR, if majority accepts charges, the Senate then acts of as a jury and decides official’s guilt or innocence by a two-thirds vote. Impeachment process starts in HOR, if majority accepts charges, the Senate then acts of as a jury and decides official’s guilt or innocence by a two-thirds vote.

15. Non-legislative Powers Takes a two-thirds vote in the Senate to convict and remove a person from office. Takes a two-thirds vote in the Senate to convict and remove a person from office. Most recent impeachment in the HOR was of Bill Clinton. The Senate tried and acquitted the President. Most recent impeachment in the HOR was of Bill Clinton. The Senate tried and acquitted the President.

16. Oversight and Investigation Overseeing government action. Checking to see if the Executive branch puts into practice the many laws Congress has passed. Overseeing government action. Checking to see if the Executive branch puts into practice the many laws Congress has passed. Investigation into government wrongdoings such as the 1986 Iran- Contra affair. The Watergate scandal of 1973-1974. Investigation into government wrongdoings such as the 1986 Iran- Contra affair. The Watergate scandal of 1973-1974.

17. Powers of Congress Chart Page 148 Money Powers Money Powers Collect taxes (Expressed) Collect taxes (Expressed) Taxes to support public schools, and welfare programs (Implied Powers) Taxes to support public schools, and welfare programs (Implied Powers)

18. Powers of Congress Chart Page 148 Commerce Powers Commerce Powers Regulate foreign and interstate commerce. (Expressed) Regulate foreign and interstate commerce. (Expressed) Power to prohibit discrimination in restaurants, hotels, and other public accommodations. (Implied Powers) Power to prohibit discrimination in restaurants, hotels, and other public accommodations. (Implied Powers)

19. Powers of Congress Chart Page 148 Military & Foreign Policy Powers Military & Foreign Policy Powers Declare War (Expressed) Declare War (Expressed) Drafting people into the armed services. (Implied Powers) Drafting people into the armed services. (Implied Powers)

20. Powers of Congress Chart Page 148 Other Legislative Powers Other Legislative Powers Laws of Naturalization (Expressed) Laws of Naturalization (Expressed) Limit the number of immigrants. (Implied Powers) Limit the number of immigrants. (Implied Powers)

21. Limits on Power Can not favor one state over another, tax interstate commerce, or tax exports. Can not favor one state over another, tax interstate commerce, or tax exports. Enacting laws that interfere with legal rights of individuals. Bill of Rights violations. Enacting laws that interfere with legal rights of individuals. Bill of Rights violations.

22. Limits on Power Can Not: Can Not: Suspend Writ of Habeas Corpus Suspend Writ of Habeas Corpus Passing Bills of Attainder Passing Bills of Attainder Pass Ex Post Facto laws Pass Ex Post Facto laws