1. The Congress as a whole House and the Senate

2. Key roles Legislators- Make laws. Committee Members- Serve on Committees Constituent Service- Services provided to the people that live in their district.

3. Oversight Function Congress oversees actions by the government and can investigate actions they see fit, even the executive branch. This is a great example of checks and balances.

4. Compensation Members of the House and Senate earn $174,000.00 per year. Committee Chairs and members of the leadership receive more. When Congress began, members were paid $6.00 per day.

5. Powers Congress obtains their powers from the U.S. Constitution Express Powers- Expressly written in the Constitution. Implied Powers- Derived from the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution:

6. Expressed Powers Regulate Commerce, including trade. Power to Tax Power to Borrow Currency Power Bankruptcy Laws War Powers- Declare and fund wars (90 Day exclusion) Rules for Naturalization Postal Power Copyrights and Patents Federal Crime and Court Regulations

7. Implied Powers Necessary and Proper is pretty broad… How it has worked: Borrowing Power-Creation of Federal Reserve Taxing Power- Make tax evasion a crime Commerce Power- Set minimum wage laws

8. Impeachment The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach, bring charges. (Majority Vote Needed) The Senate has the sole power to judge, sit as a court in impeachment hearings. (2/3 vote needed)

9. The Senate

10. Elections and Terms The constitution says that the Senate shall be composed of two senators from each state (New Jersey Plan) The Constitution stated that the Senate was to be chosen by state legislatures, not the people. The 17 th Amendment changed this. Six Year Terms Terms are staggered, 33/33/34 up every two years.

11. Qualifications for the US Senate At least 30 years old Citizen for 9 years Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown