CHAPTER 6 POWERS OF CONGRESS LEGISLATIVE POWERS EXPRESSED

CHAPTER 6 POWERS OF CONGRESS

LEGISLATIVE POWERS EXPRESSED POWERS – ARTICLE 1 SECTION 8 27 POWERS IN 18 CLAUSES IMPLIED POWERS NECESSARY AND PROPER CLAUSE ARTICLE 1 SECTION 8 CLAUSE 18 Mc. CULLOCH v MARYLAND 1819

EXPRESSED POWERS EXAMPLES : THE 2 MOST IMPORTANT POWERS OF CONGRESS ARE – 1. TAXING 2. COMMERECE

OTHER POWERS INCLUDE : COINING MONEY WAR POWERS COPYRIGHTS/PATENTS POSTAL BANKRUPCY – THIS IS A CONCURRENT POWER SEE CHART PAGE 159

NON-LEGISLATIVE POWERS CHOOSE A PRESIDENT IF NO CANDIDATE HAS A MAJORITY OF ELECTORAL VOTES HAPPENED IN 1800 AND 1824 REMOVAL POWER MAY REMOVE ANY FEDERAL OFFICIAL FROM OFFICE HOUSE MAY IMPEACH SENATE WILL CONDUCT THE TRIAL

CONFIRMATION POWER APPROVE PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS BY THE SENATE RATIFICATION POWER SENATE HAS POWER TO RATIFY TREATIES AMENDMENT POWER CONGRESS MAY PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT

INVESTIGATION AND OVERSIGHT INVESTIGATIVE POWER STANDING OR SELECT COMMITTEES MAY CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS

ORGANIZATION OF CONGRESS II. PRESIDING OFFICERS 1. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE - LEADER OF THE MAJORITY PARTY IN THE HOUSE - ELECTED AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH TERM OF CONGRESS DUTIES – MAINTAIN ORDER, APPOINT MEMBERS TO SPECIAL COMMITTEES

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE - SIGNS ALL BILLS PASSED BY THE HOUSE - MAY VOTE ON ANY MATTER BEFORE THE HOUSE. MUST VOTE TO BREAK ANY TIE VOTE IN THE HOUSE; MAY VOTE TO CREATE A TIE VOTE IN THE HOUSE

2. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE -VICE PRESIDENT - PRESIDES OVER THE SENATE FLOOR - CANNOT DEBATE TOPICS - VOTES ONLY TO BREAK A TIE -NOT AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE SENATE

3. PRESIDENT PRO TEM - MAJORITY PARTY LEADER OF THE SENATE - PRESIDES IN THE ABSENCE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

OTHER OFFICERS MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL FLOOR ACTION MAJORITY WHIP COMMUNICATION LINK BETWEEN THE FLOOR LEADER AND THE OTHER HOUSE MEMBERS; MAKES SURE MEMBERS KNOW WHEN A VOTE IS BEING TAKEN

MINORITY FLOOR LEADER ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL FLOOR ACTION MINORITY WHIP COMMUNICATION LINK BETWEEN THE FLOOR LEADER AND THE OTHER HOUSE MEMBERS; MAKES SURE MEMBERS KNOW WHEN A VOTE IS BEING TAKEN

PARTY CAUCUS CLOSED MEETING OF THE MEMBERS OF EACH POLITICAL PARTY IN EACH HOUSE OF CONGRESS DUTIES: ELECT THE LEADERS CREATE A PLATFORM TO FOLLOW

COMMITTEES 1. 2. THIS IS WHERE THE REAL WORK OF CONGRESS IS DONE DEMOCRATIC STEERING COMMITTEE REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES

TYPES OF COMMITTEES STANDING COMMITTEES - PERMANENT COMMITTEES - FIXED JURISDICTION - MEMBERS SERVE AS LONG AS THEY ARE ELECTED - ESTABLISH VARIOUS SUB-COMMITTEES TO SPECIALIZE IN EACH TOPIC

SELECT COMMITTEES ◦ ◦ LIMITED TIME TO SERVE WORK ON SPECIAL PROBLEM OR TOPIC

JOINT COMMITTEE - EQUAL NUMBER OF MEMBERS FROM THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE - A TYPE OF JOINT COMMITTEE THE JOINT COMMITTEE IS TO RESOLVE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE VERSIONS OF THE SAME BILL