1. The Powers of Congress

2. Limited Government
Can’t suspend the:
Writ of Habeas Corpus-
Court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person
Can’t pass any:
Bills of Attainder
Laws that punish a person w/o access to a jury trial
Ex post facto laws
Laws that make an act a crime after the act has been committed
-Article One
-Congress is given certain powers
-defined in Article 1 of the Constitution
-Congress is denied certain powers
-defined in Article 1
What Congress can’t do:
Can’t favor one state over another
Can’t tax interstate trade
Can’t tax exports

3. No government agency can spend Money without approval from Congress
4 Powers of the House
1. ”power of the purse”-- Power of the House whereby all revenue producing bills start in the HoR
2. authorization bills- allow beginning of projects and AUTHORIZE how much MONEY can be spent
No government agency can spend Money without approval from Congress

4. 4 Powers of the House
3. Appropriation bills- provide MONEY for each program decide how much will be appropriate to spend
4 Picks President if no winner (tie) in Electoral College

5. 3 Powers of the Senate -Approves Presidential Appointments
“Pres appoints, Senate approves…such as with Supreme Court Justices”
-Approves all Treaties
“Pres appoints, Senate approves”
-Acts as jury in Impeachment cases

6. Other Limits
-10th Amendment
Remember: any powers denied to national gov’t (congress) and given to STATES
Checks and Balances System
Each branch of government exercises some control over the others!

7. Congress may pass laws........but the President can veto them.
The President can veto laws but Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 vote.
The President and Congress may agree on a law but the Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional.
The President can appoint Judges and other government officials but Senate must approve them.
Supreme Court judges have life terms but they can be impeached