The Core Duty Of Congress As Per The Constitution

The main task of Congress is to create legislation. Congress is a bicameral legislature made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives is composed of members elected every two years by the people of the states, while the Senate is composed of two senators from each state who serve six-year terms. Congress has a variety of powers, including the ability to declare war, regulate commerce, raise an army and navy, establish federal courts, and make rules regarding immigration and naturalization. Congress also has investigative powers and plays an important role in checking and balancing the power of the other branches of government.

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To make laws

The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, forming the legislative branch of the federal government. Congress's main task is to make laws, and it is the only part of the government that can do so or change existing laws.

Congress's law-making power is established in Article I of the Constitution, which enumerates Congress's powers and the specific areas in which it may legislate. Congress can also enact laws deemed "necessary and proper" for the execution of the powers given to any part of the government under the Constitution.

The process of making a law starts with a bill, which must be introduced by a member of Congress. It is then referred to a committee for review, which can approve, amend, or reject it. If it is not rejected, the bill moves through different committees and subcommittees where it is debated. After approval by a full committee, the bill is voted on. Once a bill has passed one chamber, it is sent to the other chamber for debate and approval. A bill must pass both houses of Congress before it goes to the President for consideration.

Congress also has the power to establish post offices and post roads, issue patents and copyrights, fix standards of weights and measures, and establish courts inferior to the Supreme Court.

To 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. Congress has been ascribed significant powers by the Constitution, including the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war.

The power to declare war is one of Congress's foremost responsibilities under the Constitution. This power is explicitly mentioned in Article I of the Constitution, which enumerates the powers of Congress. The ability to declare war is an essential aspect of Congress's role in national defence and foreign policy. It allows Congress to make critical decisions about when and how to engage in armed conflict, ensuring that the decision to go to war is in the hands of the people's representatives.

Congress's authority to declare war is further reinforced by its power to raise and maintain the armed forces and make rules for the military. This includes providing for the calling forth of the Militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions. Additionally, Congress has the power to grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water. These powers enable Congress to effectively manage military engagements and ensure the security of the nation.

However, critics have charged that the Executive Branch, including the President, has at times usurped Congress's authority to declare war. This accusation highlights the ongoing debate about the balance of powers between the Legislative and Executive Branches in matters of national security and foreign affairs. The power to declare war, as granted to Congress by the Constitution, serves as a crucial check on the Executive Branch's influence in these areas.

In conclusion, the power to declare war is a fundamental responsibility of Congress under the Constitution. It empowers Congress to make critical decisions about the use of military force and ensures that such decisions are subject to democratic oversight and accountability.

To raise and support armies

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. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to raise and support armies. This power is derived from Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which outlines Congress's powers regarding war.

Historically, the English king had the power to initiate wars and raise and maintain armies and navies. However, the framers of the US Constitution vested these powers in Congress, aware that such powers had been used to the detriment of the liberties and well-being of Englishmen. The English Declaration of Rights of 1688 also provided that the king could not maintain standing armies without the consent of Parliament.

The power to raise and support armies is intended to act as a check on the president's commander-in-chief powers. Congress is responsible for approving the military budget for the Department of Defense annually, which the president can veto. This funding mechanism ensures that the will of the governed plays a role in any war effort. If public support for a war wanes, constituents can express their opposition through their representatives in Congress.

Congress's authority to raise and support armies has been upheld by the Supreme Court, which has recognized the constitutional validity of conscription acts. The Court has held that the federal government's power to raise and maintain armies supersedes states' rights to maintain militias.

In summary, the power to raise and support armies is a critical responsibility vested in Congress by the Constitution. It serves as a check on the executive branch and ensures that the United States' war efforts reflect the will of the people.

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To admit new states into the Union

The United States Constitution, which came into effect on June 21, 1788, in the nine states that had ratified it, grants Congress the power to admit new states into the Union. This power is derived from the Admissions Clause, also known as the Admission Clause or the New States Clause, which is outlined in Article IV, Section 3, Clause 1 of the Constitution. This clause authorises Congress to admit new states beyond the original thirteen states that existed when the Constitution came into effect.

The process of admitting new states into the Union typically involves several steps. Firstly, the people of a territory or region must demonstrate a desire for statehood and have a sufficient population to support it. Congress then passes an enabling act, authorising the people of that territory to draft a proposed state constitution as a prerequisite for admission. This enabling act outlines the mechanism for the territory's admission, including the ratification of their constitution and the election of state officers. While the use of an enabling act is a common historical practice, there have been instances where territories have been admitted without one.

The Admissions Clause contains two main limitations on congressional power in admitting new states. The first limitation is based on the constitutional text and relates to the formation of a new state from the territory of an existing state. The drafting history of the Clause suggests that the Framers intended for new states to be formed with the consent of the existing state from which they are formed. However, this consent requirement is not always necessary, as demonstrated by the admission of Texas, which was an independent republic before its annexation and admission as a state in 1845.

The second limitation is known as the equal footing doctrine, which is rooted in long-standing congressional practice and judicial interpretations of the Admissions Clause. According to this doctrine, all new states must be admitted on equal terms with the same powers of sovereignty and jurisdiction as the original states. This principle was established by the Northwest Ordinance, which set the precedent for the expansion of federal sovereignty and the admission of new states rather than the expansion of existing states' sovereignty. The equal footing doctrine was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in Lessee of Pollard v. Hagan (1845), asserting that the Constitution mandated the admission of new states on the basis of equality.

The admission of new states into the Union has been a politically charged process at times, with congressional Republicans playing a significant role in the admission of new states to advance their agenda. For example, West Virginia became a new state in 1861 with the support of a pro-Union faction of Virginia, despite only controlling a fraction of the state. Additionally, proposals have been made to admit Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico as states to ensure equal representation and address political disparities.

To impeach the President

The United States Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate, forming one of the three coequal branches of government. Congress has several jobs under the Constitution, including the power to enact legislation, declare war, and confirm or reject Presidential appointments.

Congress has the power to impeach and remove the President, federal judges, and other federal officers. Impeachment is a formal process that can be initiated by the House of Representatives, which can result in the removal of the President from office and their disqualification from holding any other office within the United States.

The House of Representatives has the sole power to initiate impeachment proceedings. A simple majority vote in the House is required to approve articles of impeachment. Once approved, the process moves to the Senate, which conducts a trial. During the trial, Senators act as the jury, with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding. A two-thirds majority vote in the Senate is required to convict and remove the President from office.

It is important to note that impeachment does not result in criminal penalties. However, once impeached and removed from office, the President can still be indicted, tried, and punished according to the law.

Throughout history, the impeachment process has been invoked on rare occasions. The House of Representatives has initiated impeachment proceedings against a few Presidents, including Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton. The process holds significance as a check on the power of the President, ensuring accountability and upholding the balance of powers between the branches of government.

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