Powers of Congress

Learning Objectives To outline the powers bestowed on Congress by the Constitution To identify the exclusive and concurrent powers of both Houses of Congress To examine the relative importance and prestige of the House and the Senate

Powers of Congress Read Article 1 Section 8. Make a bullet pointed list of the explicit powers the US Constitution bestows on Congress. Make another list of any implicit powers the US Constitution bestows on Congress. What do you notice?

Powers of Congress The Constitution gives Congress some explicit powers like the power to ‘coin money’. Whereas other powers are vague like the power to ‘provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States’. Some powers Congress has are concurrent to both houses, whereas others are exclusive to just one house.

Powers of Congress Nature of powersHouse of RepresentativesSenate Exclusive Powers Initiate money bills Impeachment Elect president if Electoral College is tied Confirm appointments Ratify treaties Try cases of impeachment Elect vice-president if Electoral College is tied Concurrent Powers Pass legislation Override the presidential veto Initiate constitutional amendments Declare war Confirm a newly appointed vice-president p

Why is the Senate regarded as more prestigious than the House of Representatives? IntroductionParagraph 1 P A C E Paragraph 2 P A C E Paragraph 3 P A C E Paragraph 4 P A C E Conclusion

Pass the Parcel; Peer Improvement Give your Essay Map to the group to your right. Examine their essay map. Make any corrections/alterations/improvements you can think of. Continue passing the essay maps around until you have your original Essay Map back.

Is the Senate more prestigious than the House? YES Senators represent the entire state Senators serve longer Senators are only 1 of 100 Senators are more likely to chair a committee/sub- committee/hold a position of leadership Senators enjoy greater name recognition (state- wide/nation-wide) Senate is recruiting pool for presidents and vice-presidents Senators enjoy significant exclusive powers House members frequently seek election to the Senate CORE ARGUMENTS

NO Both houses have equal power in the passage of legislation – the key function of Congress Both houses must approve the initiation of constitutional amendments Senators and Representatives receive an equal salary Is the Senate more prestigious than the House? CORE ARGUMENTS

Make a judgement…

Homework Reading and Note Taking, Chapter 5, The Legislative Process p