Congress
Feb. 22 1. Vocab. Quiz 2. Article (Washington Post – This is what America would like without gerrymandering) 3. Notes/discussion over Congressional Powers 4. Congress Quiz Tuesday, Feb. 23 and Congress Test Monday, Feb. 29 You will be able to describe the different powers of Congress.
The most powerful person in the Senate is the ______. The most powerful person in the House is the _______. The Rules committee is found in the _______________. The ________________ emphasizes foreign policy.
1. to collect taxes 2. Borrow Money 3. Regulate foreign and interstate commerce 4. Provide for naturalization 5. Coin money 6. To punish counterfeiters of federal money 7. To establish post offices 8. Grant patents and copyrights 9. Create courts inferior to the supreme court 10. Define and punish crimes at sea 17. Exercise exclusive jurisdiction over DC and other federal properties 18. Make all laws necessary and proper to the execution of any other expressed powers
The non-legislative powers Constitutional Amendments Electoral duties Impeachment Executive powers Investigatory power
Electoral Duties The 12th Amendment says that if no candidate receives a majority of the electoral votes for President, the Hor, voting by states, must decide the issue. (has been used twice) The Senate must also choose a vice president when no candidate wins a majority of the electoral votes. The vote is not by states but by individual senators. (has been used once) The 25th Amendment provides for the filling of a vacancy in the vice presidency. The president nominates a successor, subject to a majority vote in both houses of congress. (has been used twice)
Impeachment The house has the sole power of impeachment, to accuse or bring charges. The senate has the sole power to try, to judge, sit as a court in impeachment cases Impeachment requires only a majority vote in the house; conviction requires a 2/3 vote in the senate. The penalty for conviction is removal from office. 17 impeachments, 2 were presidents (Andrew Johnson and bill Clinton) the rest were federal judges. 7 federal judges have been removed from office.
Executive powers All major appointments made by the President must be confirmed by the senate by a majority vote, The president makes treaties “by and with the advice and consent of the senate,… provided two thirds of the senators present concur.”
Investigatory power Congress has the power to investigate any matter that falls within the scope of its legislative powers. Congress exercises this authority through its standing committees, and their subcommittees, and often through special committees, as well.