congress

where are the powers of congress outlined?

article 1

tyranny

• oppressive / cruel rule

• for founding fathers, this was british rule

bicameral

legislature made up of 2 chambers

house of representatives

• directly elected every 2 years, 435 + 6 non-voting members

• nr of representatives = proportional to population

• popular sovereignty

• includes speaker of the house, majority / minority leaders / whips

senate

• appointed by state legislatures, elected every 6 years, 100 senators

• each state gets 2 senators regardless of pop

• safeguard against popular sovereignty, make sure that all states get equal say

• includes VP, president pro tempore (in absence of VP), maajority / minority leaders

popular sovereignty

principle that all govt authority is derived from consent of the people being governed

people are the source of political power

unique powers of the house

• power of the purse

• initiate charges of impeachment

• choose president if electoral college is deadlocked

unique powers of the senate

• ratify treaties

• confirm appts (SC judges / president)

• try cases of impeachment

• choose the VP if electoral college is deadlocked

concurrent powers of house / senate

• make legislation

• override presidential veto w/ 2/3 majority (all trump’s 10 vetoes came after he lost house in 2018 midterms)

• initiate constitutional amendments

• declare war

• investigations (jan 6th insurrection, trump’s link russian interference in 2016 election)

subpoena

ability of congress to order someone to attend a hearing and compel them to give evidence

incumbent

person who currently holds a political office, usually referring to president, senator / member of the house

benefits of incumbency

• name recognition

• ability to raise more money / need to spend less (2020 senate rep leader mitch mcconnell spent $65 mill on campaign vs democrat challenger’s $90 mill)

• provided with website to outline their beliefs / policy history

where are implied powers of congress derived from?

• necessary and proper clause (‘elastic clause’, allows congress to make any laws that help it to achieve its enumerated powers)

• commerce clause (allows congress regulatory power over foreign / interstate trade)

• both in article 1

functions of congress

• legislation

• representation

• oversight of other branches

legislation

• lengthy / time-consuming process

• multiple veto points

• intro / committee / scheduling / floor action / resolving differences / presidential action

pigeon-holing

• a bill that is put into congressional committee but not given any hearings / further action → ‘dies’ in committee stage

• around 90% bills = pigeon-holed

• 3% of total bills successfully passed since 2011