Title: The United States Congress The United States Constitution Article One
1The United States CongressThe United States
Constitution Article One
2The Two House Congress
- The Congress is bicameral. It is divided into two
houses - The House of Representatives
- Representation based on population
- The United States Senate
- Representation based on equal votes per state (2)
- Each house must vote separately on all bills
3Which Party Currently Holds the Majority of Seats
in Both Houses of Congress?
4(No Transcript)
5Why must all Tax/Revenue Bill originate in the
House of Representatives?
- Tax/Revenue bills originate in the H.O.R. because
the framers designed the House to be the part of
the Federal Government that is most responsive
(closest) to the people. (Taxation WITH
Representation) - Representatives in the House are closest to the
people because they have the smallest
constituency, and face the voters most often.
(every 2 years)
6The Powers of Congress(Enumerated/Delegated
Powers)
- THE POWER TO TAX
- Raise the money needed to run the government and
fund the treasury.
7The Powers of Congress(Enumerated/Delegated
Powers)
- To Borrow Money
- Additional money may be needed to fund money (if
tax receipts are not enough)
8The Powers of Congress(Enumerated/Delegated
Powers)
- Regulate Commerce
- Responsible to make sure businesses are
responsibly run, and trade is regulated.
9The Powers of Congress(Enumerated/Delegated
Powers)
- To Coin Money
- Only the federal government prints the currency
(replacing the system under the Articles of
Confederation)
10The Powers of Congress(Enumerated/Delegated
Powers)
- Declare War, Raise Support the Armed Forces
- Only the Congress can Declare War, however, the
President is the Commander in Chief of the Armed
Forces
11The Powers of Congress(Enumerated/Delegated
Powers)
- Establish Naturalization Procedures
- Regulate immigration and set procedures for
people to become American citizens
12The Powers of Congress(Enumerated/Delegated
Powers)
- Establish a Post Office
- Help the nation communicate
13The E L A S T I C Clause
- The Elastic Clause/Implied Powers
- Congress may make all laws that are necessary and
proper for carrying out its other powers. - The Elastic Clause allows the Congress to change
with the times and regulate industries which were
unforeseen when the Constitution was first
written (airline, TV, Communications, Auto ECT)
14Limits of Congressional Power
- Congress CAN NOT
- Tax EXPORTS
- Grant titles of nobility
- Favor the ports of one state over those of
another state - Suspend the writ of habeas corpus except in an
emergency
15COMING SOON!
How does a BILL become a LAW?
16Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see
them being made.
Otto von Bismark
17Rep Introduces a bill, The Speaker refers the
bill to committee
Rules Committee places bill on calendar for
entire House of Reps
Committee studies bill, hold hearings, Makes
changes, Sends bill to rules committee
If the Senate passes a different bill, the bill
goes to a conference committee
House debates bill, may make changes, vote on bill
Bill is introduced to Senate, debated voted on.
If bill passes both houses, it goes to the
President for his signature
HS members resolve differences, and send bill
back to their respective chambers
18Influence of Pressure Groups
- Special Interest Groups, PACs (Political Action
Committees), Lobbyists try to influence the
law-making process. - Businesses, Unions, farmers, Senior Citizens, and
others all use their influence, and campaign
contributions to influence the political system. - Lobbying for a bill is a feature of the unwritten
Constitution.
19Why is the Law Making Process so Complicated?
- The law making process can involve thousands of
people! - The Framers created this process to allow for
citizen input into the legal process, remember,
they feared abuses of power by the government
wanted to prevent tyranny by high government
officials - Out of hundreds of bills that are introduced in
Congress, only a few actually become laws.