Role and Powers of Congress

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Role and Powers of Congress
CHAPTER 5

• Section 1 Role of Congress
• Section 2 Houses and Members of Congress
• Section 3 Powers of Congress

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Section 1 Role of Congress

• Objectives
• What influences how members of Congress vote?
• What purpose do congressional investigations
  serve?
• Why is it important for members of Congress to
  serve their constituents?

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Section 1 Role of Congress

• Influences on the voting decisions of members of
  Congress
• personal beliefs
• constituents interests
• interest groups concerns
• political party loyalty

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Section 1 Role of Congress

• Purpose of congressional investigations
• to examine the performance and operations of
  government agencies
• to look into scandals and abuses in federal
  agencies

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Section 1 Role of Congress

• Reasons members of Congress should serve their
  constituents
• to detect changes in constituents attitudes or
  problems with federal programs
• to represent their constituents interests

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Section 2 Houses and Members of Congress

• Objectives
• How do the houses of Congress differ in their
  structure and membership?
• How are congressional districts drawn?
• What is the typical profile of a U.S.
  congressmember?

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Section 2 Houses and Members of Congress

• Differences in the structure and membership of
  Congress
• House of Representatives
• 435 members
• two-year term
• representation determined by population
• members required to be at least 25 years old,
  U.S. citizens for at least seven years, and legal
  residents of the states they represent
• Senate
• 100 members, or two members from each state
• six-year term
• members required to be at least 30 years old,
  U.S. citizens for at least nine years, and legal
  residents of the states they represent

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Section 2 Houses and Members of Congress

• Congressional districts are drawn according to
  the population distribution as indicated by each
  official census every 10 years.

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Section 2 Houses and Members of Congress

• Typical profile of a U.S. congressmember
• has at least a college degree
• is a white male over 40 years old

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Section 3 Powers of Congress

• Objectives
• To what main areas of governing do Congresss
  expressed powers apply?
• What special powers does Congress hold?
• What are the implied powers of Congress?
• What constitutional limits exist on congressional
  powers?

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Section 3 Powers of Congress

• Congresss expressed powers
• government finance
• regulation of commerce
• national defense
• law enforcement
• national sovereignty

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Section 3 Powers of Congress

• Congresss special powers
• impeach federal officers
• approve treaties and presidential appointments
• decide elections under certain circumstances

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Section 3 Powers of Congress

• Congresss implied powers
• As provided by the Elastic Clause, Congress can
  expand its expressed powers in order to respond
  to situations unforeseen by the framers of the
  Constitution.

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Section 3 Powers of Congress

• Limits on congressional powers
• judicial review
• the Tenth Amendment
• Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution

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Chapter Wrap-Up

• 1. What role do constituents, interest groups,
  and political parties play in the policies made
  by Congress?
• 2. What are Congresss three main roles?
• 3. How are congressional districts for the House
  of Representatives determined?

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Chapter Wrap-Up

• 4. What qualifications does the Constitution set
  for senators and representatives?
• 5. What types of powers does Congress hold?
• 6. What powers are denied to Congress by the
  Constitution?