Review of 6-1 (highlight key words)
1. (Compare House and Senate notes) Why would the Senate be known as the “Upper House”?
2. What is this cartoon saying about incumbents (members that keep winning re-elections)?
3. Which house is reapportioned every 10 years? What does this mean?
4. So what exactly does Congress do…?
Reynolds v. Sims (1960)
(get your court cases out)
Voting is a reserved power. Should states be forced to draw districts to represent equal amounts of population?
Supreme Court said…YES! states legislatures must ensure equal representation amongst districts
6-2 Powers of Congress
I. Powers of Congress
-Article One gives Congress certain powers:
-enumerated (#ed 1-18 in Article I of the Constitution)
-expressed (they’re written in the Constitution)
-exclusive (only belong to Congress; not the states)
-delegated (have been given to Congress)
-Examples:
-implied (suggested thru N & P or Elastic Clause)
-Examples:
II. Limits of Congress
-Article 1 also denies Congress of certain powers; Examples:
-Congress shall not take away writs of habeas corpus or issue bills of attainder or ex post facto laws
-also limited by system of checks and balances
-ex. of Ex. Branch check: _________
-ex. of Jud. Branch: _____________
-and also the 10th Amendment (reserves powers for state gov’ts)
-and our 2 Party System (Democrats and Republicans keep each other in check)
III. Additional Powers from Article 1 (non-legislative)
-Power to Investigate: current laws, future laws, appointments, and impeachment
-legislative oversight: watch over Ex. agencies
-Power to Propose Amendments
-Power to Impeach (trial of removal of a Presidents/fed’l judges)
-Executive oversight
-The War Powers Resolution of 1973: federal law that checks the president's power to commit the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of Congress (can vote to pull troops out of combat ; 60-90 days)
IV. Powers of each House:
1. Must start all appropriation bills (money, budget, taxes)
(power of the purse)-- Power of the House whereby all revenue producing bills must be introduced in the House of Representatives
2. Picks President if no majority winner in Electoral College
3. Begins the Impeachment Process (acts as the grand jury)
B. Senate
1. confirms Presidential Appointments (people he gives jobs to); example
2. Approves all Treaties the President signs w/ foreign nations
3. Acts as jury in impeachment trial