HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT 1 Role and Powers of Congress Section 1: Role of Congress Section 2: Houses and Members of Congress Section 3: Powers of Congress CHAPTER 5

A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role and Power of Congress 2 Section 1: Role of Congress Objectives: What influences how members of Congress vote? What purpose do congressional investigations serve? Why is it important for members of Congress to serve their constituents?

A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role and Power of Congress 3 Section 1: Role of Congress Influences on the voting decisions of members of Congress: personal beliefs constituents’ interests interest groups’ concerns political party loyalty

A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role and Power of Congress 4 Section 1: Role of Congress Purpose of congressional investigations: to examine the performance and operations of government agencies to look into scandals and abuses in federal agencies

A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role and Power of Congress 5 Section 1: Role of Congress Reasons members of Congress should serve their constituents: to detect changes in constituents’ attitudes or problems with federal programs to represent their constituents’ interests

A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role and Power of Congress 6 Section 2: Houses and Members of Congress Objectives: How do the houses of Congress differ in their structure and membership? How are congressional districts drawn? What is the typical profile of a U.S. congressmember?

A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role and Power of Congress 7 Section 2: Houses and Members of Congress Differences in the structure and membership of Congress: House of Representatives 435 members two-year term representation determined by population members required to be at least 25 years old, U.S. citizens for at least seven years, and legal residents of the states they represent Senate 100 members, or two members from each state six-year term members required to be at least 30 years old, U.S. citizens for at least nine years, and legal residents of the states they represent

A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role and Power of Congress 8 Section 2: Houses and Members of Congress Congressional districts are drawn according to the population distribution as indicated by each official census every 10 years.

A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role and Power of Congress 9 Section 2: Houses and Members of Congress Typical profile of a U.S. congressmember: has at least a college degree is a white male over 40 years old

A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role and Power of Congress 10 Section 3: Powers of Congress Objectives: To what main areas of governing do Congress’s expressed powers apply? What special powers does Congress hold? What are the implied powers of Congress? What constitutional limits exist on congressional powers?

A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role and Power of Congress 11 Section 3: Powers of Congress Congress’s expressed powers: government finance regulation of commerce national defense law enforcement national sovereignty

A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role and Power of Congress 12 Section 3: Powers of Congress Congress’s special powers: impeach federal officers approve treaties and presidential appointments decide elections under certain circumstances

A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role and Power of Congress 13 Section 3: Powers of Congress Congress’s implied powers: As provided by the Elastic Clause, Congress can expand its expressed powers in order to respond to situations unforeseen by the framers of the Constitution.

A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role and Power of Congress 14 Section 3: Powers of Congress Limits on congressional powers: judicial review the Tenth Amendment Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT 15 Chapter Wrap-Up 1.What role do constituents, interest groups, and political parties play in the policies made by Congress? 2.What are Congress’s three main roles? 3.How are congressional districts for the House of Representatives determined?

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT 16 Chapter Wrap-Up 4.What qualifications does the Constitution set for senators and representatives? 5.What types of powers does Congress hold? 6.What powers are denied to Congress by the Constitution?