Constitutional Powers

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Constitutional Powers
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I. Congress
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A. The House of Representatives

• Considered more representative than the Senate
  because of its size , term of office and
  qualifications for office.
• Revenue bills must start in the House.
• The impeachment
• process must also start
• In the house

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B. The Senate

• 1. The Senate has more difficult qualifications,
  its members serve longer terms and it is a
  smaller body than the House.
• 2. The Senate tries impeachment cases and
  approves presidential appointments and treaties.

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C. Joint Powers of Congress

1. Enumerated or delegated powers of the
   constitution are specifically listen in Article
   I, Section 8 of the Constitution.
2. Congress also has the power to make all laws
   necessary and proper known as the necessary and
   proper or elastic clause.
3. The Commerce Clause gives Congress the power to
   regulate interstate Commerce.
4. Many laws including Obamacare and
   anti-discrimination laws originate from this
   clause

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II. The Executive
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A. The President

• Strictest qualifications of all three branches
• The President has the power to
• act as commander and chief
• Make treaties with the consent of the Senate
• Appoint ambassadors and justices with the consent
  of the Senate
• Sign legislation or veto legislation

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• 3. The electoral college was created to enable a
  select group of voters to have the final say on
  who becomes President and Vice President

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B. The Vice President

1. President of the Senate (has the deciding vote if
   there is a tie)
2. Next in line to succeed the president in case of
   death
3. The 25th amendment gives the president the power
   to temporarily hand over power to the Vice
   President in the case of an emergency.

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III. Judicial Powers

• A. No direct responsibility or accountability to
  the public
• B. Marbury V. Madison established the principle
  of judicial review.

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IV. Amending the Constitution
Stage 1 Amendment Proposal
Stage 2 Amendment Ratification
Amendments may be Proposed by
Amendments may be ratified by
A 2/3 Vote of both houses of Congress
3/4 of the fifty state legislature
Or
Or
¾ of special constitutional conventions called
by the states
A constitutional Convention called by Congress on
petition of 2/3 of the fifty states.
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V. Limitations on Power

1. Due process to defendants involved in criminal
   cases
2. Allowing all 3 branches to check each other
3. Establishing a Bill of Rights as the first ten
   amendments
4. Giving the states all other powers that no not
   already belong to the federal government.