The Legislative Branch Founders expected this to be the most important branch Didn’t want them to have too much power They gave Congress expressed powers (powers directly stated in the Constitution) –Most of them are itemized in Article 1 Section 8

Enumerated Powers Numbered 1 to 18 in Article 1 Section 8 5 deal with economic legislation –Levy taxes –Borrow money –Regulate commerce –Coin money –Punish counterfeiting

Enumerated Powers 7 provide for defense –P–Punish piracies –D–Declare war –R–Raise and support armed forces –P–Provide a navy –R–Regulate the armed forces –C–Call forth the militia –O–Organize the militia

Enumerated Powers Naturalizing citizens Establish post offices Securing patents and copyrights Establishing courts Governing the District of Columbia

Enumerated Powers Elastic clause (stretches the power of Congress) –G–Gives Congress the right to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers expressed in the other clauses of Article 1 –B–Broad interpretation (McCulloch vs. Maryland)

History of congress 1 st home: Federal Hall (Lower Manhattan, NY) Was moved to Philadelphia in 1790 House met downstairs/Senate met upstairs 1795: 4 permanent committees formed

History of congress 1 st Congress: Senate = 24 bills/House = 143 bills Today 10,000 bills are introduced yearly Congress was only a part time job back then Today they are in Washington D.C. almost year-round

House Information Qualifications –25 years old –U.S. citizen for 7 years –Legal resident of the state which they are representing –Traditionally live in the district they represent Based on population 2 year terms

House Information 435 voting members 4 delegates (no vote): District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, Virgin Islands 1 resident commissioner (no vote): Puerto Rico No limit on number of terms Elected in November of even numbered years

Senate information Qualifications –30 years old –U.S. citizen for 9 years –Legal resident of the state they represent 100 members 2 from each state 6 year terms Elected in November of even numbered years 1/3 of them run for reelection every 2 years

Characteristics of people in congress ½ of members are lawyers Large percentage involved in banking, business, and education Typically white middle-aged men House = 364 men/71 women Senate = 84 men/16 women House = 232 Democrats & 203 Republicans Senate = 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans, & 2 Independent

Characteristics of people in congress House –364 Caucasian –40 African American –27 Hispanic –4 Asian & Pacific Islanders Senate –95 Caucasian –2 Hispanic –2 Asian & Pacific Islanders –1 African American