Powers of Congress Chapter 10 & 11

Members of Congress

US House of Representatives 435 Members Apportionment – representation is based on size of population. Today 1 rep for every 650,000 citizens. Elected every two years.

Gerrymandering

House Qualifications Formal – Informal Must be at least 25 years old Must have been a citizen of the US for at least 7 years. Must be a resident of the state you represent. Informal Name recognition Party affiliation Gender Ethnicity

U. S. Senate

Size, Election, Terms Two Senators from every state (100) Elected to Six year terms 17th Amendment -1913 - provided for the direct election of Senators.

Qualifications 30 + years of age Citizen of US for 9+ years Resident of the state they represent.

Members of Congress Ch 10 Sec 4

Personal/Political Backgrounds 535 Members Not a true representative cross section of the population. Typically white males aged 50 Breakdown of Minorities in House and Senate 43 African Americans, 26 Hispanics, 6 Asian Americans, 1 Native American – House 1 African American, 3 Hispanics, 1 Asian American, 1 Native Hawaiian - Senate

Personal/Political Backgrounds Typically College Educated 70 Women in the House, 16 in Senate Typically from the state they represent

111th Congress

Chapter 11 Powers of Congress

Representatives to their The Job Legislators Representatives to their Constituents Committee Members Servants Of their Constituents Politicians

Representatives of the people Represent the people through votes. How do they vote? Trustee – believe that each question they face deserves to be judged on its own merit. Delegate – vote solely on what their constituents would want. Partisan – vote uniformly along party lines. Politico – attempt to combine the first three

Committee Members All reps & Senators serve on a committee. Committees screen all issues/bills and decide what goes to the floor for a vote. Oversight Function – process by which Congress, through committees, checks to see that the various agencies in the executive branch are working effectively.

Servants Each representative & Senator works to serve their constituents. How? Passports Small business loans Application to a military academy Etc…..

Range of Power Expressed Powers – Explicit in the wording of the Constitution Implied Powers – by reasonable deduction from the Expressed Powers. Inherent Powers – by creating a national government (non-legislative powers)

Expressed Powers - Taxing Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1 – gives Congress the power to tax. Purpose – Common defence and welfare…protect American businesses.

Expressed Powers - Taxing Limits on Taxing Congress can only tax for public purposes. No Tax levied on exports. Direct taxes must be apportioned by population. All indirect taxes must be uniform across the country. Article I, Sec 8, Clause 2 – gives Congress the power to borrow money on the credit of the country. No limits

Expressed Powers - Commerce Article 1, Sec 8, Clause 3 – gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and between States. Gibbons v. Ogden 1824 – USSC provided a broad view of what was deemed commerce…

Expressed Powers - Currency Article 1, Sec 8, Clause 5 – “power to coin money and regulate the value thereof” First Federal use of paper money not until the Civil War.

Expressed Powers – War powers Article 1, Sec 8, Clauses 11-16 Only Congress can declare war Raise an Army & Navy Call forth a militia War Powers Act 1973 -

Expressed Powers - other Naturalization Postal Powers Copyrights & Patents Weights and Measures Power over Territories Eminent Domain Judicial Powers

Implied Powers Article 1, Sec 8, Clause 18 – Necessary and Proper Clause McCulloch v Maryland 1819 – USSC rules in favor of a liberal view of implied powers.

Nonlegislative Powers Article V US Constitution – gives Congress power to propose amendments by a 2/3 vote in both houses. Electoral Duties – 12th Amendment gives Congress power to chose a President if no one wins a clear majority. Senate chooses the VP. 25th Amendment – Congress has to approve a VP successor if present VP leaves office early.

Nonlegislative Powers Impeachment – process by which a President can be removed from office. House – brings charges (Impeach) Senate – holds a trial to decide on removal. Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton

Nonlegislative Powers Executive Powers Appointments – Senate gets to approve all major Presidential appointments. Treaties – Senate must ratify all treaties made by the President.

Sleeping or otherwise placing your head on your desk EQUALS 60 Minutes!!!!