1. Ch6 Congress
6.2 The Powers of Congress

2. 1.Legislative powers -law making powers
-three types (expressed, implied, non legislative)
-expressed powers
-written down and specific
-Congress has power to declare war
-power to create, maintain,& oversee army & navy

3. -implied powers
-not written in the Constitution
-found in clause 18 or elastic clause -allows Congress to exercise implied powers ex. Air force

4. -taxing and spending
-power to collect taxes
-all tax bills begin in the House of Representatives
-bills to spend money begin in House
-2 steps
-authorization bills
-create projects
-set amount to be spent
-appropriations bills
-provide the money
-no agency can spend money w/o approval of Congress

5. -regulating commerce (trade)
-power to regulate foreign(other countries)
and interstate (between states) trade
-sets up powers for air traffic, radio, trucking, TV
-foreign relations and treaties
-only Congress can declare war
-power to create and maintain army and navy
-Senate must approve treaties president makes w/other countries
-PLEASE REFER TO CHART ON P.149

6. 2. Non-legislative powers
-non law making powers
-propose constitutional amendments
-pick president if no majority winner
-house picks president
-senate picks vice-president
-most important power to check other branches
-approval and removal
-Senate can approve or reject presidential
appointments
-ex. Supreme Court judges
-Congress can remove federal officials
for serious wrongdoing.

7. -the house is the only one that may begin impeachment proceedings
-if the house votes to impeach, Senate acts as jury
-convict
-remove
-2 presidents have been impeached but not removed
-Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton
-power is not used often

8. -oversight and investigation
-watchdog authority not granted in Constitution but overseeing government activities is part of job
-standing committee’s review how executive branch enforces laws Congress has passed
-conduct special investigations
-1986 Iran-Contra affair
-Watergate

9. 3. Limits on power -Congress can not
-pass laws that limit freedom of speech or
religion
-suspend the writ of habeas corpus
-pass bills of attainder
-punish a person w/o jury trial
-pass ex post facto laws
-interfere w/rights of states
-ex public schools
-other limits come from checks and balances
-Supreme Court can declare laws passed by Congress unconstitutional
-President can veto laws passed by Congress
-Congress can over-ride veto