 The Articles of Confederation had set up a unicameral legislature, meaning Congress only had one house.  James Madison’s Virginia Plan recommended a bicameral legislature, containing two houses, based on each state’s population.  William Paterson’s New Jersey Plan recommended a unicameral legislature with each state receiving one vote

 Presented by Roger Sherman  The House of Representatives would be based on each state’s population.  The Senate would have two people from each state selected by the state legislatures.  This system remained in place until the 17 th Amendment was passed in 1913 allowing citizens to also elect their Senators.

From Article I, section 8 of the Constitution

1. Assess and collect taxes 2. Provide for the common defense 3. Provide for the general welfare 4. Borrow money on the credit of the US 5. Regulate business with foreign countries 6. Regulate interstate commerce 7. Regulate commerce with Indian tribes 8. Establish naturalization rules 9. Establish bankruptcy laws

10. Coin and regulate the value of money 11. Regulate the value of foreign money in the US 12. Fix the standard of weights and measures 13. Punish counterfeits 14. Establish post offices 15. Promote the progress of science and useful arts 16. Establish patents and copyrights

17. Establish federal court system 18. Punish piracy on the high seas 19. Punish the offenses against the laws of nations 20. Declare war 21. Raise and support an army 22. Provide and maintain a navy 23. Regulate the land and naval forces

24. Call the militia (the National Guard) to suppress insurrections and repel invasions 25. Organize and arm the militia 26. Govern the District of Columbia 27. Build forts, docks, and other buildings on government property  These are the enumerated powers of Congress.

 Admit new states to the US  Propose Amendments to the Constitution  Collect federal income tax  Ensure civil rights  Determine whether a president is mentally or emotionally disabled and thus unable to continue in office

 The Constitution gives Congress the right to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its enumerate d powers.  This is the elastic clause because it stretches the authority of Congress.  Elastic Clause powers  Establish a national banking system  Regulates the railroads and airlines  Interstate commerce regulations

 Arrest and keep people in jail without a reason  Punish someone for a crime without a jury trial  Punish someone for something they did that was legal at the time  Put a tax on an individual  Tax products made in one state and sold in another  Spend money without first having a budget  Grant titles of nobility

ONLY THE HOUSE CAN  Impeach federal officials  Elect a president if no candidate wins the majority of the electoral votes ONLY THE SENATE CAN  Convict and remove federal officials  Elect a vice-president if no candidate wins the majority of the electoral votes  Approve ambassadors  Approve federal judges  Approve members of the President’s Cabinet

 Membership  Senate ▪ Two senators from each state ▪ 100 members total  House of Representatives ▪ One representative from each Congressional District ▪ 435 members total (per the Reapportionment Act of 1929) ▪ The government takes the national census every ten years to adjust Congressional Districts based on present populations

 Supervised by the Speaker of the House (an elected member of the majority party) (John Boehner)  In line for the presidency behind the Vice President  There’s also a majority and a minority floor leader, each elected through a caucus, who try to swing votes a certain way; assisted by whips

 Supervised by the President of the Senate (the Vice President)  The President Pro Tempore is elected to deal with the daily Senate business (Patrick Leahy)  Also elect a majority and minority leader to represent their political parties; assisted by whips

Elections House of Representatives Senate Minimum Age25 years old30 years old US CitizenshipAt least 7 yearsAt least 9 years ResidenceWithin the state; but usually within the congressional district Within the state Elected Term2 years6 years Each house of Congress has certain requirements for those that want to be elected.

 Meet in Sessions (one session is held each year); begin in January and continue until adjournment in the fall  The 20 th Amendment requires Congress to meet at noon on the third day of January to organize the upcoming biennium (two-year period); each biennium is a “Congress”  The first “Congress” was held from 1789 – 1790  We’re in the 112 th Congress ( )