Simone Lawson
The United States Congress is one of the three coequal branches of government, and the US Constitution grants it significant powers. The two main constitutional powers of Congress are its legislative authority and its ability to impeach. Congress is the only branch of government that can make new laws or change existing laws. This includes the power to tax and spend for the general welfare and common defence, borrow money, regulate commerce with states, other nations, and Native American tribes, and establish citizenship naturalization laws and bankruptcy laws. Congress also has the authority to impeach a sitting President in office, with the House of Representatives bringing articles of impeachment and the Senate responsible for the impeachment trial.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Legislative Powers | Congress can make new laws, change existing laws, and override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives |
| Authority to Enact Legislation and Declare War | Congress can assemble troops, enter into agreements with other states, and engage in war |
| Investigative Powers | Congress can define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas and offences against the law of nations |
| Financial Powers | Congress can borrow money, coin money, regulate the value of money, and fix the standard of weights and measures |
| Powers Over the Government | Congress can confirm or reject Presidential appointments and pass laws to carry out the powers vested in the government |
| Limitations | Congress cannot pass ex post facto laws or bills of attainder, which are laws that punish a person without a trial jury |
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What You'll Learn
- Congress can enact legislation and declare war
- Congress can borrow money
- Congress can regulate the value of money
- Congress can define and punish piracies and felonies at sea
- Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives (and vice versa)
Congress can enact legislation and declare war
The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, forming the legislative branch of the federal government. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact legislation and declare war, among other powers.
Congress has the sole power to enact legislation, which includes the ability to make new laws and change existing ones. This power is derived from Article I of the Constitution, which vests all legislative powers in Congress. This means that Congress can pass bills and laws that carry out the powers vested in the government by the Constitution.
In exercising its legislative power, Congress must assemble at least once a year, with the ability to appoint a different meeting day if needed. Each House is responsible for judging the elections, returns, and qualifications of its members, and a majority constitutes a quorum to conduct business. However, Congress is limited in its powers by the Constitution, which prohibits the passage of ex post facto laws and bills of attainder, protecting fundamental rights.
The power to declare war is also vested in Congress by the Constitution. This means that Congress has the authority to decide when the country engages in war, with certain exceptions, such as in cases of invasion or imminent danger. This power is balanced by the President's ability to veto bills passed by Congress, including those related to declarations of war. However, Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Overall, the constitutional powers of Congress to enact legislation and declare war are essential to its role as a coequal branch of the US government. These powers enable Congress to shape the country's laws and policies, as well as make critical decisions regarding national security and foreign affairs.
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Congress can borrow money
The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and it is one of the three coequal branches of government. Ascribed significant powers by the Constitution, Congress is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing ones.
One of Congress's main constitutional powers is the ability to borrow money. This power is implied to help Congress maintain the Federal Reserve Board. This power to borrow money is accompanied by the power to coin money, regulate its value, and regulate the value of foreign coin. Congress also has the power to punish the counterfeiting of the securities and current coin of the United States.
The Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact legislation, confirm or reject Presidential appointments, and declare war. Congress assembles at least once a year and each house is the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its members.
Congress's powers are limited by the Constitution, which includes protections of fundamental rights, such as the prohibition of ex post facto laws, bills of attainder, and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.
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Congress can regulate the value of money
The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and it is one of the three coequal branches of government. Ascribed significant powers by the Constitution, Congress is the only branch of government that can make new laws or change existing ones.
Article I of the Constitution enumerates the powers of Congress and the specific areas in which it may legislate. This includes the power to regulate the value of money, as outlined in Article I, Section 8. This section states that Congress has the power:
> "To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures."
This means that Congress has the authority to determine the value of the country's currency and to make changes to that value as needed. This power also extends to regulating the value of foreign currency within the United States. Additionally, Congress can borrow money, which implies the power to maintain the Federal Reserve Board.
The "`necessary and proper` clause" in Article I, Section 8, Clause 18, further grants Congress implied powers that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution. These implied powers allow Congress to pass laws that are necessary and proper for carrying into execution the powers vested in the government. This clause provides Congress with the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and interpret the Constitution in a way that allows them to address new issues.
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Congress can define and punish piracies and felonies at sea
Article I of the U.S. Constitution outlines the powers granted to Congress. One of these powers is the ability to "define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations". This clause empowers Congress with the authority to establish laws and penalties pertaining to piracy and other serious crimes occurring at sea.
Piracy, a longstanding issue since the inception of maritime trade, has been a persistent concern for lawmakers. The inclusion of this clause in the Constitution reflects the importance of addressing criminal acts committed on the high seas. Congress, through this provision, is tasked with creating and enforcing laws that specifically target piracy and felonies in these waters.
The phrase "high Seas" refers to international waters, which lie beyond the territorial waters of any single nation. This clarification is crucial because it establishes the jurisdiction of Congress in addressing crimes committed outside the boundaries of any particular state or country. By specifying "high Seas," the Constitution ensures that Congress has the authority to address piracy and felonies in international waters.
Congress's power to define and punish piracies and felonies at sea is not without limits. The Constitution, committed to the protection of fundamental rights, prohibits certain legislative actions. For instance, Congress cannot pass ex post facto laws, which criminalise actions after they have been committed. Similarly, bills of attainder, which allow the punishment of individuals without a trial by jury, are not permitted. These restrictions safeguard the rights of individuals while still allowing Congress to effectively address piracy and felonies on the high seas.
In summary, the constitutional power granted to Congress to define and punish piracies and felonies at sea enables it to create and enforce laws targeting such crimes in international waters. This authority is an essential tool in maintaining law and order on the high seas, ensuring that piracy and serious maritime crimes are addressed through appropriate legislation and penalties.
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Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives (and vice versa)
The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and it is the only branch of the government with the power to create and change laws. This is known as the legislative power, and it is vested in Congress by Article I of the Constitution.
Congress has several significant powers, including the ability to declare war, confirm or reject presidential appointments, and investigate. However, one of its most notable powers is the ability to override a presidential veto.
When a bill is passed by Congress, the President has the power to veto it, which means the bill is rejected and sent back to Congress. However, if Congress can muster a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, they can override this veto, and the bill becomes law without the President's approval. This is a crucial check on the power of the President, ensuring that Congress can push through legislation even if the President disagrees.
The ability to override a veto with a supermajority vote is a powerful tool for Congress, allowing it to assert its will over that of the President on critical issues. This power dynamic between the legislative and executive branches is a key feature of the US political system, with the Constitution carefully balancing the powers of each branch to maintain a healthy democracy.
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