The Powers of Congress & How A Bill Becomes A Law December 11, 2015 Objective: To better understand the powers of the legislative branch
Article on Mandela What do you know about Mandela? What is Apartheid? Homilies: sermons Bumptious: self-assertive, proud Grandee-aristocrat Pernicious-tending to cause death or serious injury Doggedly: stubbornly perservering Obstinately: stubborn Preternaturally: beyond the natural What do you know about Mandela? What is Apartheid? Homilies: sermons Bumptious: self-assertive, proud Grandee-aristocrat Pernicious-tending to cause death or serious injury Doggedly: stubbornly perservering Obstinately: stubborn Preternaturally: beyond the natural
Powers Granted to Congress Financing Government Collect taxes, borrow & print money Regulating and Encouraging American Trade and Industry Foreign & domestic trade Roads & Post Offices Defending the Country Declare war Maintain Army & Navy Financing Government Collect taxes, borrow & print money Regulating and Encouraging American Trade and Industry Foreign & domestic trade Roads & Post Offices Defending the Country Declare war Maintain Army & Navy
Powers Granted to Congress Create Laws Congress established National Courts Providing for Growth Regulate immigration/naturalization Govern territories and provide admission of new states
Implied Powers Implied powers given to congress that are powers that are not specifically stated in the constitution. Elastic Clause Allows Congress to stretch delegated powers Example National Military Academies “necessary and proper” to defend U.S. Implied powers given to congress that are powers that are not specifically stated in the constitution. Elastic Clause Allows Congress to stretch delegated powers Example National Military Academies “necessary and proper” to defend U.S.
Power to Impeach Ability to impeach federal officials Impeach = Formally accuse Charges drawn in House Trial held in Senate Senators act as jury 2/3 of the senate must vote guilty for the person to be removed from office. 17 impeached 7 Found Guilty (all judges)
Special Powers House of Representatives Start Impeachment Process All bills for raising money start in House If no presidential candidate gets enough electoral votes then House elects president House of Representatives Start Impeachment Process All bills for raising money start in House If no presidential candidate gets enough electoral votes then House elects president
Special Powers Senate All impeachment trials held in Senate If no vice-presidential candidate gets enough electoral votes then Senate selects VP All treaties must be approved by 2/3 Senate Certain high officials appointed by President must be approved by majority of Senate Supreme Court Justices Senate All impeachment trials held in Senate If no vice-presidential candidate gets enough electoral votes then Senate selects VP All treaties must be approved by 2/3 Senate Certain high officials appointed by President must be approved by majority of Senate Supreme Court Justices
Limits on Power Passing Ex Post Facto Laws Law that applies to an action that occurred before law was passed Passing Bill of Attainder Law that sentences person to prison w/o trial Suspending the Writ of Habeas Corpus Requires that an accused person be sent to court Times of rebellion or invasion Passing Ex Post Facto Laws Law that applies to an action that occurred before law was passed Passing Bill of Attainder Law that sentences person to prison w/o trial Suspending the Writ of Habeas Corpus Requires that an accused person be sent to court Times of rebellion or invasion
Limits on Power Taxing Exports Passing Laws that Violate the Bill of Rights Favoring Trade of a State Granting Titles of Nobility Withdrawing Money without a Law Taxing Exports Passing Laws that Violate the Bill of Rights Favoring Trade of a State Granting Titles of Nobility Withdrawing Money without a Law
Limits on Power Supreme Court has power to decide if Congress has over stepped powers Article I, Section 9 spells out these specific limits
Why is the Elastic Clause useful?
Bill on Capital Hill
How Does a Bill Become a Law?
Where a bill begins…
Bill Proposed
Introduced
Committee
Subcommittee
Bill Reported
The House Floor
The Vote
Bill Goes through the Senate
Bill Sent to White House
Signed by President
Vetoed By the President
Veto Override