The Non Legislative Powers Chapter 11 Section 4

Key Terms Successor Impeach Acquit Perjury Censure Subpoena

Constitutional amendments Article V says that Congress may propose amendments Need 2/3’s of each house Congress can also a national convention, but only if requested by 34 or 2/3’s of the states

Electoral Duties House can be called to elect a President 12th amendment states if no one receives a majority of electoral votes, the House voting by state can settle the issue Each state casts one ballot

Electoral Duties Senate must choose a Vice president if no candidate wins a majority of electoral votes Vote by individual Senators

Electoral Duties House has chosen a President twice Thomas Jefferson 1801 John Quincy Adams 1825 Vice President only once Richard M. Johnson in 1837

Electoral Duties 25th Amendment provides for filling the vacancy of vice presidency Successor-a replacement, someone to fill a vacancy President nominates and the Houses hold a vote (need a majority)

Electoral Duties The process was used twice Gerald Ford was confirmed 1973 Nelson Rockefeller 1974

Impeachment Constitution provides that all civil officers of the United States “Be removed from Office on Impeachment for, conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors Politics has been the root of most impeachments

Impeachment House has the sole power to impeach Impeach- to accuse, bring charges. Senate has the sole power to try-to judge, to sit as a court in impeachment cases

Impeachment Requires only a majority of the House Conviction requires 2/3’s of the Senate The Chief Justice presides over the Senate when the president is tried

Impeachment Penalty is the removal from office Senate can also prohibit a convicted person from ever holding office. The person can then be tried in the criminal courts

Impeachments There have been 17 Seven convictions All seven persons removed were federal judges Two presidents impeached Andrew Johnson 1868 Bill Clinton 1991 Both aquitted

Andrew Johnson Removal grew out of turmoil from the Civil War Johnsons became then17th President following Lincoln’s assassination Became enmeshed in a series of disputes

Andrew Johnson Radical Republicans controlled both Houses President Johnson was conciliatory to the South as Lincoln wished Republicans wanted a harsher approach to Reconstruction Senate fell one vote short

Impeachment Bill Clinton Impeachment came out of an inappropriate relationship First article charge perjury-lying under oath Members of the House supported it. Senate never convicted him

Impeachment Richard Nixon resigned from office House voted on articles of impeachment Subpoenas-a legal order directing one to appear and produce evidence Nixon ignored the subpoenas

House would impeach and the Senate would convict Nixon Nixon resigned August 9, 1974 Several Cabinet members and presidential assistants were convicted of felonies

Executive Powers All major appointments are made by the President Confirmed by the Senate and brought up for a vote Cabinet members are rarely rejected Senate has only rejected 12 of 600

Executive Powers Treaties Made by the President with the advice of the Senate 2/3’s of Senate must concur President consults with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Treaties Senate may Accept or reject Treaties sometime considered in Executive session House hold the purse strings and is sometimes consulted

Power to Investigate Congress can investigate anything under its jurisdiction House and Senate do this with standing committees

Power to Investigate Inquiries are held 1. gather information for legislation 2. oversee operations of various agencies 3. focus public attention on a particular matter 4. expose questionable activities 5. promote interests of a member of Congress

Power to Investigate Three little known agencies in Congress 1. Congressional Budget Office- committee of both houses taxing, spending, budget related matters 2. Congressional Research Service in the Library of Congress-hundreds of employees provide information on any subject 3. Government Accountability Office-called Congress’s watchdog, monitors government work