Unit 2 Legislative

Congressional Powers

Powers of Congress including lawmaking, taxation, declaring war, and oversight

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically listed in Article I, Section 8

Denied Powers

Powers Constitution prohibits Congress from exercising

House Powers

Initiates revenue bills, impeaches officials, chooses president if no Electoral College majority

Senate Powers

Confirms appointments, ratifies treaties, tries impeachment cases

Speaker of the House

Leader of House; controls debate and legislative agenda

President of the Senate

Vice President; presides over Senate and breaks tie votes

Redistricting

Redrawing district boundaries every 10 years after census

Gerrymandering

Redrawing districts to favor a party or group

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Established “one person, one vote”; districts must be equal in population

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Racial gerrymandering unconstitutional

Trustee

Representative uses own judgment to make decisions

Delegate

Representative votes based on constituents’ wishes

Pork-Barrel Spending

Funding for local projects to benefit constituents

Logrolling

Legislators trade votes to support each other’s bills

Committees

Small groups in Congress that review, amend, and advance bills

Bill Process

Bill introduced → committee review → debate/vote in both houses → president signs or vetoes